Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

This week’s running back rankings are some of the most challenging of the season. In addition to the usual bye-week woes we’ve got a number of backfields in flux. Most notable is in Houston, where Steve Slaton was benched for the game after fumbling on his first carry a week ago. Ryan Moats stepped in and simply shredded the predictably poor Bills on the ground to the tune of 23 carries for 126 yards (5.5 YPC) and 3 TDs. It was Buffalo, but the impressive effort cannot be denied – especially when you factor in Moats far superior ball security to Slaton.

The numbers were career highs for Moats across the board, but it wasn’t entirely unprecedented. Recall back in the final six weeks of the 2005-06 season when Moats helped fill in for an injured Brian Westbrook and posted 55 carries for 278 yards (5.1 YPC) and 3 TDs. Meanwhile, Slaton has managed a meager 3.1 YPC on his 110 rushes this season with 7 fumbles. That simply won’t do.

Is Slaton being exposed as the undersized, incomplete back the caused him to slip to the 89th pick in 2008? It seems as if, and you can bet the Texans will go after another RB this offseason. For now, though, he’s still ridiculously dangerous in the passing game and Slaton’s 2008 season earned him the cachet to assume he’ll bounce back at some point. He’s holding off Moats in the rankings. For now. And we’re being cautious with both.

Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell also continued their season-long committee dance on Monday night as Bell was given 17 carries to Thomas’ 14. Thomas continued his trend of proving to be the far superior and more complete back though, putting up 91 yards and a TD with his rushes and adding 2 receptions for 9 yards and another TD while Bell ineffectively churned out just 49 yards on the ground. I know they don’t want to overwork Pierre, but he and this offense are so damn good you have to consider him a RB1 in fantasy right now and Bell, who is still getting a lot of work and scoring chances, just a decent flex play.

Another high-profile tandem to keep an eye on as Sunday draws near is LeSean McCoy and Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia. Everything I’m reading in Philly papers indicates Westbrook is expected to participate but will not be a full go, leaving the starter’s carries to the explosive rookie. McCoy proved he deserved to see more work going forward with 82 yards and a TD on just 11 carries against the Giants last week (albeit 66 of those came on one touch). I think McCoy is the better, if less complete, back right now. We have him aggressively ranked at home against the Cowboys this week and have left Westbrook off for now, but owners of both will want to check in on Westbrook’s status over the weekend.

It’s a good chance to take a test drive on your big waiver-wire pickup of Jamaal Charles this week. The Chiefs are on the road, but the Jaguars rush defense is nothing spectacular ( 128+ YPG, 4.3 YPC) and Kansas City has little option but to feed Charles with Larry Johnson and his putrid 2.7 YPC mercifully out of the picture. The 2008 third-round pick hasn’t seen much opportunity, but he boasts a career 5.3 YPC on 90 rushes. Charles is shiftier, faster and better than Diapers. He’s also more of a team player …

See also:
- Week 9 QB Rankings
- Week 9 WR Rankings
- Week 9 TE Ranks
- Week 9 DEF Rankings

1. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. KC
2. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. TEN
3. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ SF
4. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens @ CIN
5. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. BAL
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons vs. WAS
7. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphons @ NE
8. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers @ NO
9. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. CAR
10. Brandon Jacobs, New york Giants vs. SD
11. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis colts vs. HOU
12. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ TB
13. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. ARZ
14. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ PHI
15. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions @ SEA (Time to produce, friendo)

Running back rankings 16 through 36, after the jump…

16. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles vs. DAL
17. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers @ DEN
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ NYG
19. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos vs. PIT
20. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins @ NE
21. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks vs. DET
22. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants vs. SD (Check Status)
23. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ ATL
24. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans @ IND
25. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs @ JAC
26. Ryan Moats, Houston Texans @ IND
27. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals @ CHI
28. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers @ NO (Check Status)
19. Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots vs. MIA
30. Mike Bell, New Orleans Saints vs. CAR
31. Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals @ CHI
32. Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers @ NYG
33. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys @ PHI
34. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints vs. CAR
35. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. GB
36. Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos vs. PIT

See also:
- Week 9 QB Rankings
- Week 9 WR Rankings
- Week 9 TE Ranks
- Week 9 DEF Rankings