With only eight teams playing and the need to choose a FanDuel roster for the playoffs, there are fewer obviously viable running backs, which makes certain the position is going to be full of make-or-break scenarios for a whole host of rosters.
Fantasy football advice, Wild Card weekend: FanDuel running backs
It feels like the top tier of running backs is just about absent from NFL’s Wild Card weekend.Click here to get a 100% deposit bonus on FanDuel
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Plenty of superstar receivers -- Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Calvin Johnson -- are playing this weekend. But standout running backs Marshawn Lynch, Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson have byes. Matt Forte, Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles didn't make the playoffs. Heck, Le'Veon Bell is out this weekend with an injury. We're low on helpful running backs for this week.
In preparing for weekly fantasy roster selection, I’m ranking the running backs (and all the positions) based on their FanDuel salaries. More than just a straight player ranking, salary rankings take into account player value. The example I’ve used is that 150 yards and two scores is great for any player, but if that player is $4,500, he’s helping you far more than if he is $8,900.
The biggest/weirdest caveat this weekend is Ben Tate. With Bell's injury, the Steelers signed Tate (must be nice to go from "dumped by Cleveland and Minnesota" to "in the playoffs") to help out. Some combination or Josh Harris and Dri Archer will likely be the lead ball-carrier for Pittsburgh Saturday, but Tate could be involved as well, and with his late roster addition, he isn't even in the week's player pool. In theory, Tate could seize the main job this weekend, gain a bunch of yards and score a bunch of touchdowns, and it would be a complete wash for FanDuel, as no one would be able to capitalize.
Here are this week’s running back rankings, with thoughts afterward:
Running backs
| Rank | Running Back | Team | Opponent | Salary |
| 1 | Jeremy Hill | CIN | @IND | $7,400 |
| 2 | Joique Bell | DET | DAL | $6,600 |
| 3 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | @DET | $9,000 |
| 4 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | ARI | $6,500 |
| 5 | Kerwynn Williams | ARI | @CAR | $5,200 |
| 6 | Justin Forsett | BAL | @PIT | $7,000 |
| 7 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | @IND | $6,900 |
| 8 | Josh Harris | PIT | BAL | $5,600 |
| 9 | Dan Herron | IND | CIN | $5,400 |
| 10 | Reggie Bush | DET | @DAL | $5,600 |
| 11 | Zurlon Tipton | IND | CIN | $5,000 |
| 12 | Joseph Randle | DAL | DET | $4,800 |
| 13 | Dri Archer | PIT | BAL | $6,600 |
| 14 | DeAngelo Williams | CAR | ARI | $5,200 |
| 15 | Theo Riddick | DET | @DAL | $4,800 |
| 16 | Lance Dunbar | DAL | DET | $4,500 |
| 17 | Trent Richardson | IND | CIN | $4,500 |
| 18 | Fitzgerald Toussaint | BAL | @PIT | $4,500 |
| 19 | Stepfan Taylor | ARI | @CAR | $4,800 |
| 20 | Bernard Pierce | BAL | @PIT | $4,500 |
| 21 | Mike Tolbert | CAR | ARI | $4,500 |
| 22 | Fozzy Whittaker | CAR | ARI | $4,500 |
- As I mentioned Friday, Hill is the single most appealing investment for me this weekend. With obvious flaws in the situations for other primary running backs, Hill is relatively affordable and in a prime situation, especially with Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green likely out.
- Murray has played well despite his hand surgery a few weeks ago. If forced to commit, I'd be okay with him this week as well. But he carries a $9,000 price tag and is facing an elite run defense. He still ranks highly, but he scares me.
I don't particularly want to use any running back outside of the top four above. Williams isn't great, but he's affordable. Forsett was great earlier, but struggled down the stretch. The Colts' guys are terrible; the Steelers' guys are unproven. As many running backs as could be involved this weekend, there just aren't many who will likely actually be good.
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