Running back, still the most important position in fantasy football, is doing its best to rival wide receiver for most volatile position, too. Three weeks into the 2022 NFL season, we've seen myriad injuries, breakouts, and busts at RB. With all these variables in mind — as well as matchups, obviously — our Week 4 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues see some interesting swings from the previous few weeks.
For now, let's go over the most newsworthy developments at RB. The top story: King Henry is back. In Week 3, Derrick Henry led the Titans (@ Colts in Week 4) to victory over the Chiefs with 85 yards and a touchdown. He should have finished with three TDs, but Tennessee QB Ryan Tannehill snuck a one-yarder and tight end Geoff Swaim caught a two-yard score.
Joining Henry atop the list of stud Week 3 RBs, Nick Chubb (@ Falcons) continues to impress; Christian McCaffrey (vs. Cardinals) looks like he's back to his dominating ways; and Dalvin Cook (vs. Saints) finally got the ball rolling only to suffer a shoulder injury. No stranger to missed time, Cook could be inactive this week, and his absence would pave the way for Alexander Mattison to become a must-start against the Saints in London.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
We'll get full details of Cook's injury early this week, and we'll also be waiting for further word on David Montgomery, whose knee injury opened things up for second-year back Khalil Herbert to enjoy a breakout Week 3. Herbert (@ Giants) amassed 40-plus yards in each of the first two weeks despite playing fewer than 30 percent of snaps and garnering single-digit carries, but he exploded for 20 carries, 157 yards, and two TDs after Monty's injury. He could be a weekly fantasy x-factor if he continues to see 20-plus touches.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
As far as healthy committees are concerned, the Jaguars' James Robinson (@ Eagles) has once again emerged as the clear RB1 of this offense, which has actually become quite good under Doug Pederson. The Seahawks' Rashaad Penny (@ Lions) remains the lead dog over intriguing rookie Kenneth Walker III; Atlanta's Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Browns) has little to no pressure from rookie Tyler Allgeier; and Devin Singletary (@ Ravens) continues to see the vast majority of touches (18 in Week 3) in Buffalo. The one rookie who has taken over his backfield: Houston's Dameon Pierce (vs. Chargers), who looks like a prime candidate to jump into the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. All of these backs are in good spots for big Week 4s, and none of their handcuffs are worth much standard-league consideration outside of maybe Walker because of the matchup.
WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Some backfields continue to feature two start-worthy RBs, including Denver's Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III (@ Raiders), Green Bay's Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon (vs. Patriots), and Detroit's D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams (vs. Seahawks). We still feel Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott could be supplanted by Tony Pollard soon (vs. Commanders), and we wonder if Arizona's James Conner (@ Panthers) or the Raiders' Josh Jacobs (vs. Broncos) will continue to see RB1 usage if they continue to underwhelm. For now, consider all flex backs even in tough Week 4 matchups.
WEEK 4 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Trending up among committee RB members: New England's Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Packers) out-touched (and outplayed) Damien Harris last week, but New England draws a good Green Bay defense in Week 4. Harris still has value, especially in standard leagues, but Stevenson appears to have a higher ceiling in PPR leagues. Jets rookie Breece Hall (@ Steelers) out-touched Michael Carter, too, but both are middling options against Pittsburgh. Chase Edmonds (@ Bengals) scored two TDs for Miami against Buffalo's elite defense, but his efficiency was still lacking and Raheem Mostert out-touched him (eight to seven). Neither is much more than a low-end flex this week.
WEEK 4 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Cam Akers (@ 49ers) and JK Dobbins (vs. Bills) had roller-coaster Week 3s -- and could both wind up the workhorses in their above-average offenses — but we're tempering expectations for now against stud defenses in Week 4. Consider both fringe flex backs in 12-team leagues, and that goes for Darrell Henderson, too. Similarly, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ Buccaneers) managed a TD in Week 3, but with zero rushing yards on seven carries -- the same amount as Jerick McKinnon -- he's a low-end flex in a tough matchup this week. He has a little more value in PPR leagues, but clearly that's not a situation you can trust.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 4 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Titans |
| 2 | Christian McCaffrey, Panthers vs. Cardinals |
| 3 | Nick Chubb, Browns @ Falcons |
| 4 | Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Bears |
| 5 | Derrick Henry, Titans @ Colts |
| 6 | Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Saints |
| 7 | Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Jets |
| 8 | Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Texans |
| 9 | Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Vikings |
| 10 | Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. Chiefs |
| 11 | Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Raiders |
| 12 | Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Seahawks |
| 13 | Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Dolphins |
| 14 | Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Commanders |
| 15 | James Robinson, Jaguars @ Eagles |
| 16 | Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Giants |
| 17 | Rashaad Penny, Seahawks @ Lions |
| 18 | Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Jaguars |
| 19 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Browns |
| 20 | Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Patriots |
| 21 | Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Chargers |
| 22 | Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Cowboys |
| 23 | James Conner, Cardinals @ Panthers |
| 24 | AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Patriots |
| 25 | Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Rams |
| 26 | Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Broncos |
| 27 | Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Commanders |
| 28 | Melvin Gordon III, Broncos @ Raiders |
| 29 | Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Packers |
| 30 | Devin Singletary, Bills @ Ravens |
| 31 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ Buccaneers |
| 32 | Breece Hall, Jets @ Steelers |
| 33 | Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Falcons |
| 34 | Damien Harris, Patriots @ Packers |
| 35 | Michael Carter, Jets @ Steelers |
| 36 | Cam Akers, Rams @ 49ers |
| 37 | Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Bengals |
| 38 | JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Bills |
| 39 | Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams @ 49ers |
| 40 | Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Bengals |
| 41 | Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Lions |
| 42 | Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Eagles |
| 43 | Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Rams |
| 44 | Nyheim Hines, Colts vs. Titans |
| 45 | J.D. McKissic, Commanders @ Cowboys |
| 46 | Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Browns |
| 47 | Zack Moss, Bills @ Ravens |
| 48 | Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Buccaneers |
| 49 | Craig Reynolds, Lions vs. Seahawks |
| 50 | Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Bills |
| 51 | Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Colts |
| 52 | Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Vikings |
| 53 | Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Dolphins |
| 54 | Brandon Bolden, Raiders vs. Broncos |
| 55 | Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Jaguars |
| 56 | James Cook, Bills @ Ravens |
| 57 | Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. Chargers |
| 58 | Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Saints |
| 59 | Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Jaguars |
| 60 | Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Panthers |
| 61 | Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Buccaneers |
| 62 | Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Jets |
| 63 | Sony Michel, Chargers @ Texans |
| 64 | Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Chiefs |
Week 4 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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