Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

With Week 10 marking the end of the dreaded bye weeks, fantasy owners were breathing a sigh of relief, looking forward to have the full compliment of running backs at our disposal. Well, that was until this past weekend’s games happened, which were filled with a rash of injuries to running backs like we have never seen before. As many as six running backs left the game due to injuries, and most of them did not return.

Running back continues to be the most important position in fantasy football, and a rash of injuries like we saw last week can really cripple a fantasy team as you look to make a run toward the playoffs. Fantasy owners will likely be without the services of Atlanta’s Michael Turner, Miami’s Ronnie Brown, Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook, Washington’s Clinton Portis, Seattle’s Julius Jones and possibly Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson, who remains questionable. So, as you try to piece together your starting lineup around all the injuries, the Bruno Boys are here with the Week 11 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings.

1. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Buffalo

Maurice Jones-Drew had 24 carries for 123 yards with a touchdown in a Week 10 victory over the New York Jets. It was another very good outing for MJD who has rushed for 530 yards with seven touchdowns over his past four games. He leads the league with 12 rushing touchdowns this season, but did upset fantasy owners when he took a knee at the one-yard line late in the game to set up a game winning field, while it appeared that he could have easily gotten into the end zone. He did apologize to his fantasy owners in his press conference after the game, but that will do little to alleviate the pain many fantasy owners felt as a result of not getting those six extra points. However, MJD will make it up to them in week 11 when he faces the Bills. Buffalo possesses the league’s worst rush defense and is giving up 173 rushing yards per game, while allowing 14 rushing touchdowns. MJD is a must start, per usual.
Point Projection: 24 points

2. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) @ Houston

In a Week 10 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Chris Johnson did about all a fantasy owner could ask for. He had 26 carries for 132 yards with two touchdowns, and he, also, added nine receptions for 100 yards. It was another outstanding performance for a running back that has arguably been the best in the league of late. Over his last four games, Johnson has not rushed for less then 128 yards, and he has scored six touchdowns in his last three games. Johnson should remain in your starting lineup this week when faces the Houston Texans on Monday night. Houston is allowing 108.7 rushing yards per game and has yielded 12 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Point Projection: 21 points

3. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Seattle

With 18 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns, Adrian Peterson had another very good outing last week against the Detroit Lions. The only downside to his performance in a Week 10 victory was the fact that he lost two fumbles. Still, he remains an elite fantasy running back. He was a consensus No. 1 fantasy pick this season, and he has not disappointed his owners with 923 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Continue to use Peterson as a No. 1 starting fantasy running back every week. He has a good match-up this week against Seattle, a team that allowed 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns to rookie Beanie Wells of the Arizona Cardinals last week.
Point Projection: 19 points

4. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) vs. Arizona

Steven Jackson rushed for 131 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown in a loss to the New Orleans Saints last week. It was the third straight game that he has eclipsed 130 rushing yards and the second straight in which he scored a touchdown. He continues to be the focal point of the Rams’ offense this season as he has carried the ball 16 or more times in each of St. Louis’ nine games this season. Jackson is the NFL’s third leading rusher with 915 yards, and he has caught 33 passes for 231 yards. He should be used as a RB1 every week, including this week against an Arizona defense that is ranked No. 8 against the rush.
Point Projection: 18 points

5. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Kansas City

Rashard Mendenhall had a rough outing against the Cincinnati Bengals in a Week 10 loss. He had 13 carries for 36 yards in the game, his worst statistical performance since taking over the staring running back role in Pittsburgh in Week 4. He should have a bounce back game this week against Kansas City. The Chiefs have the 27th ranked rush defense this season, giving up 141.3 rushing yards per game with nine touchdowns on the season. Mendenhall should be used as a No. 1 fantasy running back in all formats this week.
Point Projection: 18 points

6. Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Indianapolis

Ray Rice had 20 carries for 89 yards with a touchdown in a Week 10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. He, also, added three catches for 15 yards and has 1,113 total yards from scrimmage this season. He has scored five touchdowns over his last four games and is the clear-cut No. 1 running back in Baltimore. He is a dual threat running back in the mold of a young Brian Westbrook and has significant weekly fantasy value no matter the match-up. Continue to use Rice as a RB1 this week even against an Indianapolis Colts’ defense that has been solid against the run, as Indy has been decimated by injuries of late.
Point Projection: 17 points

7. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) vs. Miami

Playing through a knee injury that caused him to miss a good portion of the Panthers’ practice in preparation for Week 10, DeAngelo Williams gained 92 yards on 19 carries during last week’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He, also, added one catch for 30 yards as the knee injury sure didn’t appear to slow him down much. Williams has been one of the best fantasy football running back this season, and over his last five games, he has rushed for 640 yards with five touchdowns. Continue to use Williams as a No. 1 fantasy running back this week as Carolina takes on a Miami Dolphins defense that is giving up under 100 yards rushing per game, but has allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 17 points

8. Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins) @ Carolina

With Ronnie Brown leaving last week’s game in the third quarter with a foot injury, Ricky Williams was called upon to carry the full load at running back in the second half of the Dolphins Week 10 victory over Tampa Bay, and he did not disappoint. He had 20 carries for 102 yards in the game, giving him 105 carries for 558 yards with six rushing touchdowns this season. Williams will be the Dolphins featured back this week with Brown expected to miss the Thursday Night game with the foot injury, and he should be used as a RB1 in a good match-up this week against the Carolina Panthers.
Point Projection: 16 points

9. Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Oakland  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Cedric Benson left the Bengals Week 10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers early, with what is being called an abductor muscle strain, and he did not return. He finished the game with seven carries for 22 yards, the first time this season that he did not get at least 16 carries in a game. With 205 carries for 859 yards and six touchdowns on the year, Benson has been a workhorse for Cincinnati this season. He is officially listed as questionable for this week’s game against the Oakland Raiders. If he plays, he should be considered a must-start RB1 against the Raiders, who have given up more than 155 rushing yards per game and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Make sure Benson is active for the game if you plan on using him this week.
Point Projection: 16 points

10. Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) @ Green Bay

For the first time since gaining 207 rushing yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, Frank Gore broke the 100-yard rushing mark in a game. He had 25 carries for 104 yards with a touchdown in a Week 10 victory over the Chicago Bears. Gore had missed two games with an injury earlier in the season, but he is finally starting to look healthy again. He has rushed for 83 or more yards in each of his last three games and has also scored a touchdown in each contest. Gore has a tough match-up this week as the Packers rank No. 4 in rushing yards allowed and have yielded just three rushing touchdowns this season. However, even with the tough match-up, he should remain in your starting lineup this week as a low-end No. 1 running back this week.
Point Projection: 16 points

11. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) @ Tampa Bay

After posting double digit fantasy points two weeks in a row, Pierre Thomas had just 11 carries for 37 yards in a Week 10 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Reggie Bush led the Saints in rushing yards in the game, but fantasy owners should note that Thomas’ 11 carries were a team high. He continues to get a bulk of the carries, and more often than not, he has the rushing yards to prove it. He has rushed for 492 yards with six total touchdowns this season, and even after a poor performance last week, he should be in consideration to be in your starting lineup each and every week. Use him as a low-end No. 1 running back option this week against the Buccaneers, who have allowed more than 167 rushing yards per game and 10 rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 16 points

12. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) vs. Cleveland

With 150 carries on the season for 515 yards and three touchdowns, Kevin Smith has been a bit of a disappointment for fantasy owners who drafted him as a No. 2 fantasy running back. In all fairness to Smith, he does play for the Detroit Lions, and he has faced some of the better run defenses in the NFL as he has had to face the Minnesota Vikings twice, including this past week when he rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries with a lost fumble, to go along with the Green Bay Packers, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, who all rank in the top-12 in rushing yards allowed this season. A Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns should be exactly what Smith needs to have a breakout game. Use him as a low-end RB1 this week against the Browns, who are ranked No. 31 against the rush this season.
Point Projection: 16 points

13. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) vs. Philadelphia

In a Week 10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Matt Forte did not have a good rushing performance as he gained just 41 yards on 20 carries. He did lead the Bears in receiving, though, as he gained 120 yards on eight catches in the game. He has not had the sophomore season many fantasy owners were hoping for when they took him as a top-five pick in most drafts this past summer as he has gained 861 yards from scrimmage through the first nine games and has added three touchdowns on the year. Forte should be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back this week against an Eagles defense that allowed 21 fantasy points to San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson last week.
Point Projection: 15 points

14. Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) @ Baltimore **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Joseph Addai missed a good deal of playing time during the Colts come from behind victory over the New England Patriots last week. Addai’s absence for a large part of the game was due to the fact that he hurt his fingers when his hand was hit by a defenders helmet while scoring a touchdown on a screen pass in the first quarter. After missing playing time in the first half, he returned after halftime and had a productive fantasy performance. He finished the game with 68 yards of total offense and added two touchdowns. It is the second week in a row that Addai has scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown, giving him seven touchdowns over his last five games and nine total touchdowns this season. It appears that he will be able to play through any pain caused by the injury to his fingers, and he should be used as a RB2 this week against solid Ravens defense.
Point Projection: 14 points

15. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers) @ Denver

In what was his best rushing performance thus far this season, LaDainian Tomlinson had 24 carries for 96 yards with two touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10. He still has yet to go over 100 rushing yards in a game this year, but he posted a multiple touchdown effort for the second time in three weeks. Tomlinson had a slow start to the season mostly due to injuries, but he appears to be as healthy as he has been in a couple of years and is running the ball well. He should be used as a No. 2 running back this week against Denver, as he had over 100 total yards in Week 6 against the Broncos.
Point Projection: 14 points