RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (Arizona)

Percent owned (ESPN): 10.5%

William Powell appeared to break out as Arizona’s new lead back week 6 against Buffalo, but he fumbled a kickoff return early against Minnesota and barely saw any action, very unfortunate for anyone who picked him up and started him this week. LaRod Stephens-Howling took over as the lead back in his absence and given his performance against a solid Minnesota run defense, 149 all purposes yards and a touchdown on 24 total touches, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to be giving back the starting job anytime soon…unless, you know, he fumbles or something.

RB Rashad Jennings (Jacksonville)

Percent owned (ESPN): 13.6%

MJD is out for at least this week with a foot injury and if it’s a Lisfranc injury, which the coaches wouldn’t rule out, he could be out much longer. In his absence, Jennings would be the lead back. Many people have dropped the popular preseason sleeper since MJD returned from his holdout and played well as the lead back, but he’ll be the guy in Jacksonville for now and he showed in the preseason he’s capable.

RB Montario Hardesty (Cleveland)

Percent owned (ESPN): 8.5%

Hardesty has rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the last 2 weeks in relief on Trent Richardson, who has left both games with an injury. He may shut it down this week just to rest up with the Browns going nowhere fast, so Hardesty could be the lead back this week.

RB Jonathan Dwyer (Pittsburgh)

Percent owned (ESPN): 18.5%

Dwyer finally got a chance to be a feature back this week and made the most of it, rushing for 122 yards and 17 carries. Isaac Redman and Rashard Mendenhall could be back this week, but they might not be and even if they are, Dwyer’s performance might have allowed him to jump the two disappointing backs on the depth chart. Remember, coming into this game, Pittsburgh was last in the league in yards per carry.

RB Daryl Richardson (St. Louis)

Percent owned (ESPN): 11.4%

Richardson is not only splitting carries pretty evenly with the veteran Steven Jackson, he’s arguably outperforming him with 213 total yards on 33 total touches in the last 3 weeks. There’s been some rumors that Jackson could be traded before this week’s deadline and even if he isn’t, Richardson’s role could expand even more in the next few weeks.

RB Phillip Tanner (Dallas)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.9%

Working behind two injury prone backs, Tanner got 13 carries this week, though only managed 30 rushing yards, along with a catch for another 8. DeMarco Murray is uncertain for this week and Tanner could continue to split carries with Felix Jones, whose also always an injury risk.

RB Kendall Hunter (San Francisco)

Percent owned (ESPN): 13.7%

Kendall Hunter continues to get a decent amount of work behind Frank Gore, with 214 total yards and a score in his last 4 games. Frank Gore should be good to go this week after getting hurt late last week, but it’s just a reminder of how injury prone Gore is. Hunter is worth a bench stash because he’s getting some work and would be in line for a much bigger load if Gore gets hurt.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]