2015 Fantasy FootballAndrew Miller

2015 Fantasy Football: Week 4 DFS Running Backs

Welcome to Week 4 of the fantasy football season. As always, these player selections are for DraftKings – the best daily fantasy site out there. Stats for fantasy points allowed come from NFL.com.

Expensive

Latavius Murray – $6,300 at Chicago – Murray’s carries, yards and fantasy points have all risen each week this season, and he’s scored in each of the last two games. He also has at least 80 total yards in every game, so his floor is pretty high. He’s a good play in both cash and GPP games this week. The Oakland offense has been better than expected, and that only helps Murray, who has 11 catches already. Chicago’s allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to running backs already on the year to go with 4.78 yards a carry.

Mark Ingram – $6,000 vs. Dallas – Ingram did just fine with Luke McCown (or whichever McCown was quarterbacking for New Orleans) last week, finishing with 99 total yards, a touchdown and five catches. He’s averaging over 90 total yards a game, and he’s scored twice even with the Saints offense slumping. The last time we saw Dallas “play” defense it was getting gashed for 193 total yards and three scores by Devonta Freeman. The Cowboys have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs, and Ingram has a good combination of usage, matchup and situation (home, with a backup quarterback) to feel comfortable playing him this week.

Middle-Tier

Joseph Randle – $5,500 at New Orleans – Randle has a similar situation to Ingram, and if Week 3 was any example of the future it’s going to be good for Randle. In his first game post-Romo Randle rushed for 87 yards on 6.7 per carry and scored three times. He’s now averaging over 90 total yards a game, and he also has a nice floor to feel comfortable with especially with what should be an increase in usage with Brandon Weeden at quarterback. New Orleans has allowed 442 total yards to running backs in three games. Again, Randle’s usage, situation and opponent are a great trio this week.

Frank Gore – $4,700 vs. Jacksonville – Gore has steadily gotten better each week this season already, and his matchups at least from here on out should make his production go up. He was this close to having a touchdown and 20 more yards in Week 2, so he hasn’t done too bad all things considered. Indy should be able to put up the points against Jacksonville this week after the Jags allowed 123 yards and four scores to New England runners last week. He’s more a cash game play here, but the price is right to play him in some GPPs if you want.

Cheap

Danny Woodhead – $4,700 vs. Cleveland – Woodhead had a down week in Week 3, but, hey, it happens. He still had three catches for 32 yards, and after losing I think they’ll try to get him more involved this week especially with Philip Rivers banged up. Cleveland allowed 155 rushing yards and two scores to the Jets in Week 1, and the Oakland running backs ran all over the Browns on the ground and through the air last week.

Chris Johnson ($4,500) and David Johnson ($4,200) – vs. St. Louis – Both guys are good plays against a bad run defense, and one that gives up big plays to running backs in the air. The Rams are ninth in running back receptions and seventh in running back receiving yards, and they’re also fifth in rushing yards allowed. They’ve also allowed three running back scores. Both of them are capable of having big days here. I’d side with CJ in cash games and DJ in GPPs.

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