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Week 4 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 4

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Johnson cut into D'Andre Swift's usage last week, resulting in 8 carries and 5 catches. Their roles could be reversed – or even more favorable for Johnson – against L.A. The O-line remains an issue, but game script should at least favor rushing with the Bears installed as 3-point home favorites.

D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift’s sitting on only 1.8 YPC through three games. A recent report from ESPN suggests that Roschon Johnson might see the bulk of the work against Los Angeles.

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs, Packers

The Vikings have allowed only 3.7 YPC, but Jacobs remains a solid fantasy starter in his current role. He’s hit 15 touches in all three games. While he’s yet to find the end zone, look for his TDs to rebound in short order.

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones enters a showdown with his old team on a hot streak. Through three games, he ranks eighth among RBs in PPR points. Only two RBs have topped his 14 targets. Green Bay sits 20th in rush defense DVOA.

Ty Chandler, Vikings

Chandler’s played exactly 35% of the snaps in each game. He remains a low-upside FLEX in deeper formats.

New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Kamara's pure volume makes him a solid RB1, even in games where he struggles. Last week, Kamara only had 3.3 yards per carry, but ran the ball 26 times for 87 yards. He also had three receptions for 40 yards. The Falcons have been solid against opposing RBs, but Kamara's touches and receptions make him an easy top-5 option at RB.

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson got all of the Falcons goal line carries last week and continues handling over 70% of the backfield touches for the Falcons. The Saints just gave up 156 rushing yards and two TDs against Saquon Barkley, so this is a potential smash spot for Robinson.

Denver Broncos at New York Jets

Javonte Williams, Broncos

Javonte fumbled last week and essentially was benched after that. He has been terrible with 24 carries for 52 yards on the season, but they keep giving him carries. Volume and receiving usage may be enough to keep him in RB3 territory.

Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos

McLaughlin got a TD last week but is only averaging 2.2 yards per carry on the season. With Mclaughlin not being used much as a receiver, he offers little value and is only a high end RB5

Breece Hall, Jets

Hall has scored in every game this season and continues to be a factor as a receiver. The Broncos run defense has been solid, but Hall's volume and talent give him RB1 overall potential.

Braelon Allen, Jets

Allen has become more than a handcuff getting about a third of the Jets RB touches over the last two weeks. He can be a low end RB3 with his receiving ability and red zone snaps.

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

No RB has handled a larger share of his team’s opportunities (carries plus targets) so far. Barkley could get the ball even more in a road game that’s likely to exclude WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

White has watched Bucky Irving rush for more yardage in each of the first three games. HC Todd Bowles said after Week 3 that the rookie has earned more playing time. White maintains some value with his receiving role (tied for fifth-most targets among RBs). And he could control the Week 4 backfield if Irving’s hamstring injury knocks him out against the Eagles.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving has out-rushed Rachaad White each of the first three weeks. HC Todd Bowles said after Week 3 that the rookie has earned more reps. But then Irving popped up on this week’s injury report with a hamstring issue. He has tried to downplay the significance, but the rookie went from limited Wednesday to no practice Thursday. We’ll see about his game status. But even if he’s active, the hamstring is probably enough to keep Irving out of any starter consideration – given his already-limited role.

Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers

Zack Moss, Bengals

Moss continues to be a near workhorse RB quadrupling Chase Brown's snaps last week. He count the end zone and had five catches, getting some pass game use. The usage makes a solid RB2 this week.

Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown has looked tremendous and been efficient on the ground. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry last week. But, he only played 14 snaps while Zack Moss dominates the touches. Brown will need to spring a big run to be worthwhile, so he is an RB4 this week.

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard had an eye-popping 114 yards rushing and another 55 receiving last week, with a TD on top. He had 75% of the RB touches in the game and is the clear #1 until Jonathon Brooks returns. The Bengals have been a bottom-10 defense in fantasy points given up to RBs, so Hubbard has RB2 upside if the Panthers offense gets going again.

Miles Sanders, Panthers

Sanders came in last week while the Panthers were up big and scored a TD. That is unlikely to happen here, but the Bengals have been pretty bad against the run. Sanders is an low end RB4 that needs a TD to be relevant

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne's fantasy output has been hurt by Jacksonville's offensive struggles. But he's averaging 4.6 yards per carry and continues to control goal-line and pass-catching work. That keeps Etienne safely inside RB2 territory for Sunday's game against the Texans, who just coughed up 148 total yards and a score to Vikings RB Aaron Jones last week.

Cam Akers, Texans

Akers got game-scripted out of last week's loss vs. the Vikings. But he handled 9 of 11 RB carries (82%). With the Texans now 6.5-point home favorites over the Jaguars, look for more rushing work for Akers this week. Jacksonville has been a middling run defense so far, ranking 13th in DVOA and 15th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris came away from last week’s game with a shoulder sling and then sat out this week’s first practice. But he returned for a full Thursday workout and should be all set for the game. Jaylen Warren, meanwhile, looks likely to not play with a knee injury. That only boosts the touch upside for a guy who has seen 17+ carries in every game so far. The Colts matchup presents a defense that yielded 150-yard rushing performances each of the first two weeks, before it faced Chicago’s crappy backfield in Week 3.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Steelers

Patterson makes sense this week for leagues that score return yardage. He figures to have more of an offensive role with Jaylen Warren (knee) likely out. Just don’t expect too much behind Najee Harris, who ranks eighth in the league in opportunity share through three weeks.

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Three TDs and two 100-yard games have slightly masked that Taylor is hurt by a lack of receiving opportunities. He sits 11th in PPR points and eighth in half-PPR. But he’s just 15th among RBs in expected PPR points per game and 13th in half-PPR. That doesn’t threaten his fantasy-starter status, even for a challenging matchup with Pittsburgh this week. But it’s worth watching for progress in the Colts’ pass offense. A lack of movement there might position Taylor as a sell candidate.

Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders

Zamir White, Raiders

White has been a disappointment with 32 carries on the season for only 102 yards and he hasn't found the end zone yet. Alexander Mattison has outplayed him, but White continues to get the bulk of the carries. He is a low end RB3 who will need to score to be fantasy relevant against a fairly stout Browns run defense.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Mattison has yet to have more than five carries in a game this season, but he has found the end zone once every game so far. That will be the hope for any useful fantasy day for him, making Mattison an RB4 this week.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford took most of the carries this past week, but he was still ineffective. He had 70 total yards and did not find the end zone. The Raiders run defense is extremely poor and was just torched by Chuba Hubbard. Ford is a high end RB3 with upside.

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers

Carson Steele, Chiefs

Steele played 62% of Kansas City's offensive snaps last week and led the backfield with 17 carries and 72 rushing yards. He lost passing-down snaps to RB Samaje Perine, and the likely 2024 debut of Kareem Hunt this weekend adds some uncertainty to Steele's workload. But we're still projecting him to lead the Chiefs in carries. And the spot is good with Kansas City 7-point favorites against a banged-up Chargers squad.

Samaje Perine, Chiefs

Perine tallied six carries and four targets last week. He should continue handling most passing downs vs. the Chargers this weekend, despite the likely 2024 debut of RB Kareem Hunt. That makes Perine worth a look in PPR leagues for owners hurting at RB.

J.K. Dobbins, Chargers

Dobbins registered season highs in snap rate (65%), carry share (75%), and target share (15%) last week. He continues to claim a bigger share of this backfield. But Dobbins will have his work cut out for him this weekend. The Chargers will be without starting OTs Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater vs, the Chiefs, while QB Justin Herbert battles a high-ankle sprain. The Chargers are 7-point underdogs with an ugly 16.5-point implied total.

Washington Commanders at Arizona Cardinals

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

With Austin Ekeler sidelined, Robinson shouldn’t hurt for touches. He faces a Cardinals run D that’ll be without DT Justin Jones (triceps). 

James Conner, Cardinals

We're willing to look past Conner's massive Week 3 dud. After all, it came against a strong Detroit run D. That matchup improves this week against a Washington front sitting 28th in rush defense DVOA.

New England Patriots at San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Mason, 49ers

Mason ranks top 10 among RBs in success rate and rush yards over expected per attempt. Now, he's a 10.5-point home favorite against New England.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Here’s HC Jerod Mayo on three season-long fumbles from Stevenson. "We always say that ball security is job security, and we're all disappointed in the three fumbles," Mayo said. He understands that. It's definitely a point of emphasis (Wednesday). We'll go out there and practice in full pads. Those guys need to be hit and need to get hit. I would also say that I have confidence in that room as a whole, not just Rhamondre. I think (Antonio Gibson) has done a good job. (JaMycal) Hasty's ready to go. He prepares like a starter every week. We have to take care of the ball." Mix in the tough matchup at San Francisco, and Stevenson is more of a FLEX option.

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens

James Cook, Bills

Cook has run for 3 TDs this year and caught another. He continues to get the goal-line carries for the Bills and has tremendous upside in as good an offense as this. Though Josh Allen will get his, Cook is an RB1 with top-10 upside this week.

Derrick Henry, Ravens

Henry ran 25 times last week for 151 yards and two TDs. If the Ravens run him like that, he can be an RB1, even in PPR leagues. But, that won’t happen because HC John Harbaugh wants to keep Henry fresh. The Bills are a solid run defense, so Henry may ultimately have trouble. He settles as a high-end RB2 in PPR leagues.

Justice Hill, Ravens

If the Ravens get down early, Hill will get on the field more for passing work. This could be a game where they are down two scores in the first half and need more Hill. He is a risky play, but has PPR upside. Hill is a solid RB4 this week.

Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Achane came back to earth last week alongside an ineffective (and injured) Skylar Thompson. We expect Tyler Huntley to start vs. Tennessee, but it’s Achane’s anticipated volume that continues to supply RB1 hope.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

We expect Mostert to return from a chest injury on Monday Night Football. Given Miami’s issues at QB, Mostert should regain a sizable role in what should be a run-focused offense.

Tony Pollard, Titans

The Dolphins have allowed 28.5 and 25.7 PPR points to James Cook and Zach Charbonnet over the past two weeks. Tyjae Spears remains part of the backfield rotation, but he’s been the 1B option thus far.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Despite landing on the injury report (ankle), Spears looked healthy in Week 3. He’ll have extra time to rest this week, as the Titans play on Monday night. The real issue, though, remains the presence of lead back Tony Pollard. Spears hasn’t topped 8 touches in any game this season.

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

Ken Walker, Seahawks

Walker managed a limited practice Wednesday after missing his second straight game with an oblique injury. That matched his status for the final practice of last week, after Walker opened by missing the first two workouts. We’ll likely have to watch through Saturday to know his chances of playing Monday night at Detroit. But a returning Walker would likely reclaim the backfield lead – albeit for a difficult matchup against a pass-funnel defense.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Walker managed a limited practice Wednesday after missing his second straight game with an oblique injury. That matched his status for the final practice of last week, after Walker opened by missing the first two workouts. We’ll likely have to watch through Saturday to know his chances of playing Monday night at Detroit. But a returning Walker would likely reclaim the backfield lead – albeit for a difficult matchup against a pass-funnel defense.

David Montgomery, Lions

Seattle has played good all-around defense through three weeks but has rated stronger against the pass (first in DVOA) than vs. the run (fourth). Detroit, meanwhile, carries the eighth-lowest pass rate vs. expectation and heads into Monday night as the home favorite. That should mean an at least solid workload for Montgomery, who has logged 17+ carries and 18+ touches in each of Detroit’s victories so far (11 carries, 15 touches in the loss).

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs trails David Montgomery only slightly in opportunity share, as they rank 15th and 20th league wide so far. That has allowed 15+ touches each week for Gibbs, who could prove especially effective against Seattle. The Seahawks have performed well on defense overall, but LB looks like the weakest spot. Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker rank ninth and 12th, respectively, among Seattle defenders in Pro Football Focus grade. Baker’s hamstring injury only further challenges that position group. Don’t be surprised if Detroit targets Seattle’s LBs with Gibbs this week.

Got Other Start-Sit Questions?

Matt and Jared run through some of the bigger Week 4 lineup questions in this preview show ...

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.