Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

He was your first-round pick, but it still took some balls to start Frank Gore on Monday Night. Then again, if you took Frank Gore with your first-round pick there was a good chance you weren’t in contention last week. Coming into the game Gore had single-digit carries in two of the last three games, including 9 carries and 2 receptions for just 30 total yards at Seattle in Week 13 – the team he tore up for 246 total yards and 2 TDs in Week 2.

So yeah, the 25 carries for 167 yards and a TD against Arizona were a surprise. Keep in mind, though, that was largely the result of playing with the lead all game after Arizona stubbornly refused to maintain possession of the football in the first half, and that Gore’s opponent this week, the Eagles, boast a stout rush defense. That said, they’ll be throwing the book at Alex Smith and the 49ers would be wise to keep the ball on the ground again. Gore is a strong RB2 option.

So much for Larry Johnson eating into Cedric Benson’s carries. Since Benson’s return from a hip injury he’s been thrust back into the dangerously overused lead-back role with 52 (!) carries for 206 yards over the last two weeks. In those games LJ has tallied 5 carries… for 8 yards. As I’ve mentioned before, it seems like the best way to attack the San Diego defense is with a power running game and underneath passing game. Their rush defense isn’t anything special, and I expect the Bengals to ride Benson once again.

You never expect strong options to keep emerging on the wire this late in the season, but every year they do. It’s the nature of football. This week Houston’s Arian Foster is the latest waiver-wire pickup you can plug directly into your lineup and feel pretty good about it. Injuries killed his draft stock, but Foster has talent. He fits perfectly into the Houston system with great hands, good size, and decisive cutting. From what I’ve heard he’s been a Gary Kubiak favorite since training camp and the Texans are going to feed the kid and see what they have. Playing a horseshit St. Louis Rams rush defense (147.2 YPG, 19 TDs allowed – 2nd in the NFL), Foster has fantasy football hero written all over him.

Pittsburgh faces a tough, complete Packers defense that is on a serious roll right now. That’s the bad news for Rashard Mendenhall; the good is that he’ll be given the Steelers’ third-down opportunities this week and he could be featured heavily in a grind-it-out game where the weather could be a factor.

Things are set up nicely for Laurence Maroney owners: the guy got 22 carries last week, he’s scored 8 TDs in the last 8 weeks, and he draws the NFL’s worst rushing defense in Buffalo this week. You have to like those odds. The odds also favor rookie Knowshon Moreno, who gets a fantastic matchup in Oakland this week and should dominate the carries with Correll Buckhalter expected to miss the game.

We don’t expect Brian Westbrook to play, and thus we haven’t ranked him. We also don’t expect you to be starting an Eagles running back if you’ve made it this far.

I love Beanie Wells’ downhill running style, and I expect it to be a very long hill this week in Detroit. Humble projection: 17 carries for 85 yards and 2 TDs.

See also:
- Week 15 QB Ranks
- Week 15 WR Ranks
- Week 15 TE Ranks
- Week 15 DEF Ranks

Frank Gore Photo Credit: Icon SMI

1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans vs. MIA
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ CAR
3. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens vs. CHI
4. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. IND
5. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. ATL
6. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins @ TEN
7. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE
8. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals @ SD
9. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. MIN
10. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts @ JAC
11. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. GB
12. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos vs. OAK
13. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers @ PHI
14. Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots @ BUF
15. Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals @ DET
16. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams vs. HOU

Running back rankings 16 through 37, after the jump…

17. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
18. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ PIT
19. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ WAS
20. Arian Foster, Houston Texans @ STL
21. Quinton Ganther, Washington Redskins vs. NYG
22. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
23. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ NO
24. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers vs. CIN
25. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears @ BAL
26. Chris Jennings, Cleveland Browns @ KC
27. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals @ DET
28. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants @ WAS
29. Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons @ NYJ (Assuming Turner is out)
30. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
31. Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks vs. TB
32. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys @ NO
33. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. MIN
34. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
35. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks vs. TB
36. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs @ SEA
37. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles vs. SF

See also:
- Week 15 QB Ranks
- Week 15 WR Ranks
- Week 15 TE Ranks
- Week 15 DEF Ranks