Fantasy: Week 4 Rankings - Running Backs (Analysis)

Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. This year he's first overall after three weeks. Follow the links to see his rankings for Week 4. 

A final rankings update will be available on Sunday morning.

Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K

Running Backs

• The surprising 2-1 Cowboys are winning games with a strong offensive line that is opening up all kinds of room for DeMarco Murray to run. Murray is the NFL's leading rusher with 385 yards and is the number one option at the position this week. He's dealt with injuries in the past, but when healthy, Murray is proving he is one of the best backs in the league. 

• Le'Veon Bell has surprised us all with just how much work he did to improve his game in the offseason. Bell looks like a completely different back, the kind you select in the first round of fantasy drafts. Any chance of acquiring Bell via trade went out the window with his 147-yard performance against the Panthers last Sunday night. If you own him... enjoy. 

• Injuries have forced the Chargers to turn to Donald Brown as their feature back. Sometimes ranking is easy, like when a running back receiving the majority of his teams carries faces the Jaguars. Brown won't post RB1 numbers often, but this week you can count on it. 

• These rankings are done on the assumption Jamaal Charles and Arian Foster will be back in the lineup for their respective teams this weekend. If they miss another game, Knile Davis would be a fringe top-10 play and Alfred Blue would become a solid RB2 for Week 4. 

• Alfred Morris is running hard, but he just hasn't made the kind of plays that draw attention to a running back. I'd be happy to have Morris on my team, especially for this week's matchup with the Giants defense that allowed 6.0 yards per carry to Alfred Blue last week. New York is expected to be without linebacker Jon Beason once again, which is a big blow to their run defense. 

• Rashad Jennings received 34 carries last Sunday, and with a short week the team has suggested they will be conscious of his workload. That could mean more touches for backup Andre Williams, against a Redskins defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Jennings is ranked 11th, mainly due to bye weeks. I'm not as high on him this week as I have been recently. 

• Sometimes you just get a feeling about a player and this week the signs are pointing to a big game from Khiry Robinson. Filling in for the injured Mark Ingram, Robinson had 69 yards in last week's win over the Vikings, but didn't find the end zone. The Saints should be able to handle the Cowboys, which will lead to plenty of touches and multiple goal-line looks for Robinson in Dallas. 

• DeAngelo Williams should have no competition (for once) in the Panthers backfield, because of injuries to Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert. His matchup with the Ravens isn't ideal, but he is the lone man standing in Carolina and that will make him a valuable play this week. 

• Joique Bell and Reggie Bush will have to deal with the Jets defensive front, which is allowing an NFL best 55.0 rushing yards per game. Their contributions will mainly come through the passing game this week. 

• Somehow Toby Gerhart paid off a bouncer and snuck back into my top 30, despite the fact I said I would banish him if he had another bad week. He did have his best game of the season in Week 3, but that's not saying much. He will need to do better than nine carries for 32 yards and two catches for 31 yards, if he wants to be a top-30 back after bye weeks pass. 

• Bishop Sankey's time is coming in Tennessee. If you believe in his chances to become the team's feature back this season, now is the time to make a move for him.