Fantasy Football Week 4 Running Back Rankings: Le’Veon Bell Back On Top After Debut
Early-season injuries have forced fantasy football owners to shuffle the running back positions on their rosters, but as the quarter mark of the 2015 NFL season nears, we’re starting to find out which players can be trusted.
Let’s take a look at the best running backs for Week 4 in our weekly rankings.
1) Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4 Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2015 Stats: 19 ATT, 62 yards, 1 TD
Bell played well in his season debut in Week 3, picking up a touchdown and tallying more than 100 total yards. With Ben Roethlisberger out for more than a month because of an injury, Bell should become an even larger part of the Steelers offense.
2) Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders
Week 4 Opponent: Chicago Bears
2015 Stats: 52 ATT, 248 yards, 2 TD
Murray ran for 139 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, and he has another favorable matchup on Sunday versus a Bears defense that gives up an average of 135 yards on the ground.
3) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
2015 Stats: 48 ATT, 231 yards, 4 TD
The Bengals defense is solid, but Charles is a must-start every weak as one of the best running backs in the league. Even if the Chiefs trail early and are forced to pass, Charles will be a constant target of quarterback Alex Smith.
4) Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Week 4 Opponent: Denver Broncos
2015 Stats: 59 ATT, 291 yards, 2 TD
Denver has the sixth-best run defense, but Peterson is among the best players in the league and will be a focal point of the Vikings offense regardless of the score. He also leads the league in rush yards.
5) Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Week 4 Opponent: Oakland Raiders
2015 Stats: 59 ATT, 276 yards, 1 TD
Even if the Bears abandon the run early, Forte still should be productive as a pass-catcher against one of the worst passing defenses in football.
6) Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
Week 4 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
2015 Stats: 32 ATT, 140 yards, 1 TD
Lacy is another week removed from an ankle injury in Week 2, and the 49ers defense allows 98 rush yards per game with five rushing touchdowns overall.
7) Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys
Week 4 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
2015 Stats: 48 ATT, 203 yards, 3 TD
Randle dominated the Falcons defense in the first half of Sunday’s game with three touchdowns, and he should find the end zone multiple times again versus a Saints defense giving up 126 yards on the ground per game.
8) Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Week 4 Opponent: Houston Texans
2015 Stats: 52 ATT, 184 yards, 4 TD
Freeman racked up a career-high 141 yards and three touchdowns against a good Cowboys defense in Week 3. He won’t put up those numbers again, but the Houston defense is giving up 108 yards on the ground per game.
9) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Week 4 Opponent: Detroit Lions
2015 Stats:
Here’s the latest update on Lynch’s status.
[tweet https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/648621992908734464 align=”center”]
Lynch is aided by the fact Seattle plays on Monday night, which means he has an extra day to rest and recover. Detroit has given up 112 rush yards per game and a league-high five rushing touchdowns. Unless Lynch’s status worsens, starting him is worth the risk.
10) Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers
Week 4 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
2015 Stats:
I’m a little higher on Gordon than most other experts, but this could be his breakout game because the Browns have given up the most rushing yards in the league.
Thumbnail photo via Joshua Lindsey/USA TODAY Sports Images
