The Running Back Rating equation takes into account both a running back’s performance in previous weeks and the strength of the run defense a RB is going up against to come up with a numerical rating that indicates what sort of game you can expect from players.

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.


90-100: EXPECT A GREAT GAME
Three running backs who will most likely be drafted within the top six or seven picks of your fantasy draft next year are in this top tier.

Ray Rice, BAL (@CLE): 97.1

Arian Foster, HOU (ATL): 95.4

Matt Forte, CHI (KC): 91.4


80-89.9: SOLID RB1s
Thursday night’s game might have zero implications for the NFL playoffs, but it could have fantasy football playoff implications with two very good running backs playing (McCoy and Lynch).

Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC (SD): 89.3

LeSean McCoy, PHI (@SEA): 87.1

Frank Gore, SF (STL): 86.9

LeGarrette Blount, TB (CAR): 84.8

Ryan Mathews, SD (@JAC): 84.7

Marshawn Lynch, SEA (PHI): 82.3

DeMarco Murray, DAL (@ARI): 81

Beanie Wells, ARI (DAL): 80.3



60-79.9: COULD GO EITHER WAY (RB2s and Flex)
The majority of RBs you might consider.  You’re rolling the dice with these backs.

Chris Johnson, TEN (@BUF): 79.5

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE (IND): 78.4

Michael Turner, ATL (@HOU): 78.1

Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (GB): 77

Kevin Smith*, DET (@NO): 75.4

Willis McGahee, DEN (@MIN): 74.8

Michael Bush, OAK (@MIA): 74.6

Reggie Bush, MIA (OAK): 74.5

Cedric Benson, CIN (@PIT): 69.8

DeAngelo Williams, CAR (@TB): 69.1

Jonathan Stewart, CAR (@TB): 68.3

Darren Sproles, NO (DET): 67.9

Roy Helu, WAS (NYJ): 66.2

Steven Jackson, STL (@SF): 64.9

Mike Tolbert, SD (@JAC): 64.3

Rashard Mendenhall, PIT (CIN): 63.6

Shonn Greene, NYJ (@WAS): 63

Pierre Thomas, NO (DET): 62.7

Peyton Hillis, CLE (BAL): 62.4

James Starks, GB (@NYG): 61.9

Mark Ingram, NO (DET): 61.6


50-59.9: DON’T EXPECT MUCH
If Brandon Jacobs finds out he rated a 58.2 he’ll probably beat someone up.


Brandon Jacobs, NYG (GB): 58.2

Ben Tate, HOU (ATL): 54.8

Donald Brown, IND (@NE): 50.6




LOWER THAN 50: NOT A GOOD IDEA
You’re in bad shape if you’re considering starting one of these two.

Joseph Addai, IND (@NE): 49.9

Jackie Battle, KC (@CHI): 46.9


Not Enough Data: CJ Spiller, BUF (TEN); Toby Gerhart, MIN (DEN)




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