Running Back Rating takes into account a player’s performance so far this year, and his weekly matchup, to come up with a numeric grade for how he’ll do in a particular game.  Running Back Rating is determined using the following formula:

RUNNING BACK RATING = 
(Average Rushing Yards Per Game + Average Receiving Yards Per Game + (Average TDs Per Game x 50) + (100 yd. games / games played x 50) + (Carries Previous Week x 2.5) + (Opponent's Average Rushing TDs Allowed Per Game x 20) + Opponent's Average Rush Yards Allowed Per Game) / 4
(For a detailed explanation of the formula CLICK HERE.)

RUNNING BACK RATINGS: WEEK 7

1. Ray Rice: 100

1. Ryan Mathews: 100

3. Darren McFadden: 99.3

4.  Matt Forte: 95.8

5. Michael Turner: 94.5

6. Beanie Wells: 93.6

7. Daniel Thomas: 81.5

8. Ryan Torain: 80.1

9. Rashard Mendenhall: 79.1

10. Adrian Peterson: 75.5

10. Tim Hightower: 75.5

12. Willis McGahee: 73.9

13. Arian Foster: 73.6

14. Maurice Jones-Drew: 71.2

15. Jahvid Best: 70.5

16. Mike Tolbert: 69.6

17. Darren Sproles: 68.2

18. Marshawn Lynch: 65.6

19. Shonn Greene: 64.7

20. Chris Johnson: 63

21. Mark Ingram: 62.8

22. Peyton Hillis: 60.5

23. Pierre Thomas: 59

24. Reggie Bush: 57.8

25. DeAngelo Williams: 56.7

26. James Starks: 56.5

26. Jonathan Stewart: 56.5

28. Steven Jackson: 55.8

29. LaDainian Tomlinson: 53.2

30. Ryan Grant: 43.3


Week 7 Observations:

*Both Torain and Hightower have had big weeks and rank in the top ten.  Who will get the bulk of the carries this week (assuming Hightower isn’t still injured), is anyone’s guess.

*Top running backs Fred Jackson, LeSean McCoy, and Frank Gore are all on bye.  So are Ahmad Bradshaw, who’s coming off a monster game, and workhorse Cedric Benson.

*As a result, don’t expect too many good games from running backs this week.  Only eight backs have a rating over 80.


NOTE:

*If a backup is starting in place of an injured starter, the backup will not be on this list unless he has had enough playing time to get an accurate estimation of how he'll perform.

*The following players need to have a major role in at least one more game so that there is sufficient data for an accurate analysis: Earnest Graham, Jackie Battle, Montario Hardesty, DeMarco Murray.

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