It’s blackout Wednesday. I don’t have the mental capacity or time for anything clever, witty, or inspiring right now. Good luck.
Tier 1 – Potential Top Scorers
1. David Johnson (ARI) @ ATL
2. Le’Veon Bell (PIT) @ IND
3. Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) vs. WAS
Tier 2 – High-End RB1s
4. Jay Ajayi (MIA) vs. SF
5. DeMarco Murray (TEN) @ CHI
6. Melvin Gordon (SD) @ HOU
7. LeSean McCoy (BUF) vs. JAC
8. Lamar Miller (HOU) vs. SD
Tier 3 – Low-end RB1s
9. Todd Gurley (LA) @ NO
10. Thomas Rawls (SEA) @ TB
11. Spencer Ware (KC) @ DEN
12. Theo Riddick (DET) vs. MIN
Tier 3.5
13. Frank Gore (IND) vs. PIT – Will be leaned on heavily against a soft run defense… who knows if Scott Tolzein can keep all 11 out of the box though.
14. Matt Forte (BUF) vs. JAC
15. Carlos Hyde (SF) @ MIA
16. LeGarrette Blount (NE) @ NYJ
17. Robert Kelley (WAS) @ DAL
Tier 4 – RB2s
18. Devonta Freeman (ATL) vs. ARI – My dud of the week. Tevin Coleman returns, and Freeman hasn’t been lighting it up by any means in his absence. Stir in the toughest run defense in the league, and this feels like an off week for Freeman.
19. Rashad Jennings (NYG) @ CLE
20. Latavius Murray (OAK) vs. CAR
21. Jordan “Don’t call me Justin” Howard (CHI) vs. TEN
22. James Starks (GB) @ PHI – Has scored in two straight and is seeing steady volume. Highly underappreciated.
23. Jonathan Stewart (CAR) @ OAK
Tier 4.5
24. Doug Martin (TB) vs. SEA
25. Wendell Smallwood (PHI) vs. GB – This ranking assumes at least Ryan Mathews is sitting, and possibly more.
26. Devontae Booker (DEN) vs. KC
27. Terrance West (BAL) vs. CIN – Solid bet at a TD
28. James White (NE) @ NYJ – Lewis is lurking, and could snatch this job at any minute. For now, White’s involved enough to be a viable PPR start.
29. Jeremy Hill (CIN) @ BAL
Tier 5 – Last startable names
30. Mark Ingram (NO) vs. LA
31. Tevin Coleman (ATL) vs. ARI
32. Darren Sproles (PHI) vs. GB QUESTIONABLE – His ranking is very much in flux with his questionable health. Could rise or be erased depending on any updates.
33. Kenneth Dixon (BAL) vs. CIN
34. Dion Lewis (NE) @ NYJ
35. Tim Hightower (NO) vs. LA
36. Chris Ivory (JAC) @ BUF
37. Bilal Powell (NYJ) vs. NE
38. Matt Asiata (MIN) @ DET
39. Duke Johnson (CLE) vs. NYG
40. Isaiah Crowell (CLE) vs. NYG
Tier 6 – I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel
41. Chris Thompson (WAS) @ DAL
42. Jerick McKinnon (MIN) @ DET
43. Paul Perkins (NYG) @ CLE
44. Jeremy Langford (CHI) vs. TEN
45. Derrick Henry (TEN) @ CHI
46. Rex Burkhead (CIN) @ BAL
47. TJ Yeldon (JAC) @ BUF
48. Damien Williams (MIA) vs. SF
49. Mike Gillislee (BUF) vs. JAC
50. Alex Collins (SEA) @ TB – Worth a speculative add for sure.
