Week 2 Running Back Value Rankings
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Here are theScore's running back back value rankings for Week 2 (Thursday night game excluded):
Value Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| LeGarrette Blount (NE) | vs. MIA | 9 |
| C.J. Anderson (DEN) | vs. IND | 9 |
| Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) | at WAS | 9 |
| Latavius Murray (OAK) | vs. ATL | 9 |
| Rashad Jennings (NYG) | vs. NO | 9 |
| David Johnson (ARI) | vs. TB | 8 |
| Jonathan Stewart (CAR) | vs. SF | 8 |
| T.J. Yeldon (JAX) | at SD | 8 |
| Terrance West (BAL) | at CLE | 8 |
Jimmy Garoppolo proved that he is more than capable of running the Patriots' offense, even without Rob Gronkowski and behind a banged up O-line. He should be able to get the Pats out to an early lead, leaving Blount to tow the rock to victory. He had 22 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against a strong Cardinals defense.
If there's one thing we learned about the Broncos offense in Week 1, it's that Anderson, and not Demaryius Thomas, will now be the featured offensive weapon. He had 139 scrimmage yards and two scores against the Panthers and will now get to face a weak front seven. His ability to pass block and catch balls out of the backfield gives him a huge ceiling.
Mid-Tier Targets
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Ingram (NO) | at NYG | 7 |
| Ryan Mathews (PHI) | at CHI | 7 |
| Danny Woodhead (SD) | vs. JAX | 7 |
| Ameer Abdullah (DET) | vs. TEN | 7 |
| Matt Jones (WAS) | vs. DAL | 7 |
| Charles Sims (TB) | at ARI | 7 |
| Giovani Bernard (CIN) | at PIT | 6 |
| Christine Michael (SEA) | at LA | 6 |
| DeAngelo Williams (PIT) | vs. CIN | 6 |
| DeMarco Murray (TEN) | at DET | 6 |
| Tevin Coleman (ATL) | at OAK | 6 |
| Lamar Miller (HOU) | vs. KC | 6 |
| Eddie Lacy (GB) | at MIN | 6 |
| Arian Foster (MIA) | at NE | 6 |
| Justin Forsett (BAL) | at CLE | 5 |
| Jeremy Langford (CHI) | vs. PHI | 5 |
| Melvin Gordon (SD) | vs. JAX | 5 |
| Spencer Ware (KC) | at HOU | 5 |
| Devonta Freeman (ATL) | at OAK | 5 |
With lots of scoring expected in the Saints at Giants matchup, you can expect Ingram to find the end zone at least once. He is a threat on the ground and through the air, so regardless of game flow he will be a key contributor.
Jones struggled to get anything going on the ground on Monday night, but he has a much better matchup in Week 2. Dallas' front seven is much worse than Pittsburgh's.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley (LA) | vs. SEA | 4 |
| Doug Martin (TB) | at ARI | 4 |
| Duke Johnson Jr. (CLE) | vs. BAL | 4 |
| Theo Riddick (DET) | vs. TEN | 4 |
| Jeremy Hill (CIN) | at PIT | 4 |
| Frank Gore (IND) | at DEN | 3 |
| Carlos Hyde (SF) | at CAR | 3 |
| Adrian Peterson (MIN) | vs. GB | 3 |
| Thomas Rawls (SEA) | at LA | 2 |
| Jamaal Charles (KC) | at HOU | 2 |
| Isaiah Crowell (CLE) | vs. BAL | 2 |
It's tough to invest a big chunk of your salary into Gurley. Though he is very talented, the Rams are an absolute dumpster fire offensively. His lack of ability in the receiving game really hurts his value considering L.A. will likely be trailing throughout the contest.
Though Peterson is one of the greatest backs of all-time, he has struggled under the lights in his career. His Y/A and Y/G in 1:00 pm ET games are 5.1 and 104.7 respectively, but those numbers plummet to 3.8 and 69.6 in night games. The Packers boast a stout run defense.