Top 40 Running Backs for Week 4 Fantasy Football
Can Nick Chubb have a bounce-back week? Is Antonio Gibson's breakout performance going to be replicated?
Last week was the first week I came out with my top 40 players for Fantasy Football at Running Back and Wide Receiver and also my top 25 fantasy players at Quarterback and Tight End. However, these rankings regularly fluctuate based on performances and matchups so they will likely change a lot every single week. Last week, Zack Moss showed us that he is a very consistent Fantasy Football player and that he continues to be a viable flex/RB2 option week in and week out with the Bills’ high-powered offense. Antonio Gibson had a 73-yard touchdown reception that reminded us of how good of a receiver he can be since he played that position in college.
I would not be so confident in continuing to trust Antonio Gibson in Fantasy because the Washington Football Team’s offense looks horrendous and the playcalling by Rivera has been skeptical. Last year Austin Ekeler missed many games due to injury, but so far this year he has been healthy and has reminded us he is a top 3 or 4 Running Back for PPR (Points Per Reception) Fantasy Football leagues.
Just like last week, if I have Zack Moss higher than Chubba Hubbard, it means I think Zack Moss will produce more for you in Fantasy for this week. I want to help all of you guys win your Fantasy Football leagues and I know these rankings will help you make some tough sit/start decisions. Furthermore, here are how the rankings stack up for Week 4.
Top 40:
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Henry will continue rushing for big numbers against the worst team in the league this weekend (the Jets). Expect 150+ yards of rushing with 2 touchdowns. Anything less will be surprising.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Harris has become a PPR monster because of his ability to catch passes and pick up receiving yards consistently. Even with a below-average QB passing to him, Harris continues to perform week in and week out. The Packers won’t be able to contain him with their below-average defense.
Joe Mixon, Cincinatti Bengals
I don’t love Mixon since he is so injury-prone and is bound to get hurt at some point this season. Nonetheless, Mixon continues to rush for big yardage and touchdowns and it should be no different against the second-worst team in the league in the Jaguars.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler is the prototypical PPR Fantasy Football player with his consistency in both the passing and the running game. Ekeler continues to catch 5+ receptions per game for roughly 50 yards while also rushing for 50-60+ yards per game on limited attempts.
This high-powered offense is going against a weak Las Vegas Raiders defense and as long as Ekeler is used properly by head coach Brandon Staley, then he is bound for a huge week with 17+ fantasy points.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
The Giants’ defense has been awful the past couple of weeks, even if the score isn’t indicative of that. So, even against a decent defense, Kamara is going to continue to produce big-time fantasy points with his reception numbers, rushing yards, and touchdowns both in the passing and the running game. I would not be surprised if Kamara ends up finishing as RB1 this week.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Yes, the Packers are playing a tough defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers, but did you see what Aaron Jones was able to do against a better defensive line in the 49ers? Yea, he ended up rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown and that production should go up even more against the Steelers.
Dalvin Cook/Alexander Mattinson, Minnesota Vikings
One of these Running Backs will play and the other will not. Whichever one does play will be the 7th overall RB for the week so make sure you are prepared for either of these guys to start. Mattinson had a huge week against the Seahawks in both the passing and the rushing game and Dalvin Cook is Dalvin Cook so whichever one plays will continue to dominate in PPR leagues.
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
Montgomery is going to be running against an awful Lions defense who cannot contain the run to save their life. Justin Fields has struggled and Matt Nagy does not know how to coach the passing game, so I am assuming the run will be the bulk of the offense. Play him and Montgomery should have his best week yet which is why he ranks 8 this week.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb is going to score a touchdown or two against this awful Vikings defense as long as Kareem Hunt’s snaps are limited. However, you never know with this Browns team since they use both Running Backs. If Chubb gets the bulk of the run game unlike last week, then Chubb could finish higher than this.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
Gibson had a big receiving week against the Bills, but expect him to be more involved in the run game this week. The Falcons defense is terrible and gave up tons of yards to Saquon Barkley. Gibson is a better runner and pass catcher than Barkley and should be able to produce big numbers this week in PPR against the Falcons.
Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboys
After a big week where Elliot silenced haters and took over the offense, he is poised for another big week against Carolina. If Carolina did not have a good defense, Elliot would be ranked higher, but for fantasy owners of Elliot that were concerned that Tony Pollard was going to become the RB1 on the Cowboys, you can sleep well now knowing Elliot is the RB1 and Pollard isn’t close to taking his job.
DeAndre Swift, Detroit Lions
Swift is playing the Bears this week, but with Swift’s continued consistency in both the passing and run game, that should not matter. Swift is poised for another big day and so is his RB mate Jamaal Williams.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
The 49ers gave up 82 yards to Aaron Jones so Carson should be able to have a similar day in San Francisco this weekend. If he scores a TD and gets around 80 yards, he will outperform this #13 position. However, if he does not score a TD, he will finish lower than 13th probably.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Yes, Taylor has severely disappointed fantasy owners this year not even ranking in the top 15 of RB’s when he was drafted on average as the 5th RB in PPR leagues. Nyheim Hines has gotten a lot of looks in the passing game, and for whatever reason, the Colts can’t seem to get their run game going. Yes, the Colts have injuries on the offensive line which could be limiting Taylor’s production, but the playcalling in the run game has also been horrendous.
Going against the Dolphins this week could be tough for Colts Running Backs, but Jonathan Taylor is still Jonathan Taylor and you have to start him every single week, hoping he will breakout and go back to 2020 Jonathan Taylor form.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
After Carlos Hyde got a lot of snaps at the beginning of the game against the Cardinals last weekend, Robinson was given the keys to the run game and picked up 25 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Robinson should be able to produce again against a below-average Bengals defense as long as Urban Meyer gives him the snaps.
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
A lot of people rank Sanders as low as 23 and only as high as 19, but he is going up against a really bad Cheifs defense and should be able to produce a touchdown or two. The snaps Sanders got against the Cowboys was concerning, but the Eagles were missing a couple of linemen and they should have better protection for the run game this weekend. Sanders will outperform his position and have a huge week in my opinion.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Cheifs
Edwards-Helaire is a wild card for me since he wasn’t involved in the offense at all in the first two weeks, then caught a ton of passes and ran for a ton of yards in Week 3 against the Chargers. Edwards-Helaire could end up replicating that performance against the Eagles or he could bust and return to the first two weeks Edwards-Helaire production. No one knows, which is why I rank him 17th.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
A PPR god in recent memory, Hunt does his best work in the passing game but still runs for some big yards and should still catch 5 receptions even if Nick Chubb is given 70 percent of the snaps. However, if the Browns give Hunt snaps like they did last week, Hunt will finish higher than 18th overall for sure.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
New Orleans is very dominant on defense, which is why Barkley drops to 19th for this week, even after a surprisingly productive week against the Falcons. I just can’t see the Giants putting up more than 14 points with their lackluster play-calling and the inconsistencies of Daniel Jones and Barkley himself. Because of that, Barkley is a bust this week for me, but if he booms, he will finish much higher than 19th.
Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills
Why do people keep hating on Moss? Ranking him in the 30’s every week after he continues to put up 16 fantasy points consistently. Moss’s production is here to stay for now with him being a huge receiving target for Josh Allen who will have another big week. Play him as a flex option this week and he will at least give you 14 fantasy points.
Elijah Mitchell/Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers
Whichever one of these two is deemed the starter for Sunday against the Seahawks will undoubtedly outperform this position. However, they both could share snaps and as a result share points which is why they are both ranked #21. The 49ers are playing an abysmal run defense in the Seahawks and we will see how the snaps are shared on Sunday. I could not start either of these guys with confidence though.
Chubba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
McCaffrey’s backup is going to have to carry the load of the run game pretty much all by himself and he should do just fine. I don’t agree with the predictions of 15 fantasy points just because Sam Darnold and D.J. Moore/Robby Anderson should account for most of the fantasy points on the offense. Hubbard should hover around 12-13 fantasy points which makes him the 22nd overall RB for this week.
Cordarelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Patterson has become super consistent in PPR leagues. We know he is going to catch 5+ receptions for 40 yards and run for maybe about 20 or 30 yards. He may even get his usual touchdown which would outperform his 23rd overall ranking. Either way, just because of how Patterson is used in the passing game, he is much more valuable in PPR leagues than his backfield mate Mike Davis.
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
Like I mentioned earlier in the DeAndre Swift write-up, Williams will also be a big part of the offense for the Lions against the Bears this weekend. Williams won’t get as many touches as DeAndre Swift, but he is the 24th overall RB for this week because of his ability to catch passes and run for big yards if given the opportunity.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Elliot is the clear #1 back for the Cowboys, meaning Pollard is the clear #2 in the backfield. However, Dallas still uses both of their backs consistently and Pollard is a big boom/bust player for this week. He could produce a touchdown like he did in Week 2, or he could only produce 7 fantasy points like last week and in Week 1.
Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos
Gordon III is the clear #1 option for the Broncos in front of Javonte Williams. The Ravens are up and down on the defensive end which could lead Gordon III to have a great day or a terrible day. I don’t think there is anything in between making him a huge boom/bust player for this week.
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
Hines barely gets any rushing attempts and finds his fantasy value in the passing game. Hines has managed to be consistent all three weeks to start the season and I would be surprised if Wentz doesn’t target Hines at least 4-7 times this week for big yardage. He is up against a tough defense especially in the secondary and linebacker positions, but Hines should do just enough to maintain his value.
Darius Henderson/Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams
Even though the Cardinals have a weak defense, have you guys seen what Matthew Stafford has done through the air? I mean, why wouldn’t he pass 50 times against this weak Arizona defense this weekend. This is why Henderson and/or Michel don’t have much value this week. One of them won’t play and one of them will, but they will undoubtedly be limited in a shootout which seems inevitable.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Playing a tough defense in the Ravens and being behind Melvin Gordon III does not give Williams much fantasy value. Sit him this week without question, unless you want to lose. He has yet to produce one good week for fantasy all season long. I wish I could put him lower because he is the most overrated Running Back in the NFL, but Denver does use the two RB system which is why Williams is ranked #29.
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins
Gaskin does his part every week but the Dolphins just can’t seem to get him or a run game in general involved on the offensive end. Because of that, and that they are going against what is a supposed good defense, Gaskin’s value is in the actual game not in Fantasy Football, where he is limited tremendously.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Harris is the lead back for the Patriots rushing attack, but who knows if there will be one against the dominant Bucs. Odds are that the Patriots will be playing from behind the whole game which probably means a whole lot of passing for Mac Jones. I don’t know why this is even the Sunday night game as this will undoubtedly be a wipeout in the Bucs favor. Harris’ fantasy outlook is limited this week.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
Another one of the most overrated RB’s in the league is Chase Edmonds who will not get you over 13 or 14 fantasy points any week of the season. James Conner is honestly a better rusher and possibly even a better pass catcher than Edmonds, so it is mind-boggling that Edmonds continues to still get the majority of the snaps. Regardless, this will be a shootout without much running so both Edmonds and Conner won’t get much value unless they catch a touchdown.
Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders
Barber isn’t bad at all. He has arguably been more productive in one-two weeks than the other Raiders RB’s. Jacobs had two TD’s the first week which made him a good fantasy option, but now he is hurt and when he is back he won’t even be used much. Barber is very consistent and the only reason why I would not play him is that the Raiders will pass the whole game against the Chargers.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team
Antonio Gibson’s backfield mate is a killer in the passing game even though he didn’t show up last weekend. He will be back with a vengeance this week, but he is too risky to start with confidence.
Ty’Son Williams, Baltimore Ravens
Williams just was not used as much last weekend and I think that will be the case again against the Broncos this weekend. The Broncos have the best-run defense in the league and because of that I think that not only will Williams be limited in his fantasy value, but Latavius Murray and Lamar Jackson as well.
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Conner is a good option off of the bench any week except this week. The Rams have an elite defense, but that does not matter because this game will be a shootout and both Conner and Edmonds won’t be used because of that.
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons
Davis has disappointed fantasy owners every week this year and against the Washington Football Team that won’t be any different. One of the best defensive lines in the league will wreak havoc on Matt Ryan and Davis and Patterson. However, Davis doesn’t catch passes like Patterson which is why Patterson is obviously ranked higher.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills
Singletary is now the clear second option in the backfield for Josh Allen, especially in the passing game. Also, all of the Red-Zone touches go to Zack Moss so there isn’t a point to play Singletary the rest of the year if Moss’s production continues.
James White, New England Patriots
White will be the second option behind Harris but as I said before, don’t start any of the Pats RB’s in this game because they will be playing from behind the whole game.
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He could get some touches but this is going to be a pass-heavy offense again against Brady’s former team. Don’t trust Fournette.