Bye Weeks: None

Start 'Em

Steven Jackson @ Cle
That’s two straight 100-yard games (159 & 130) for S-Jax - he’s been running hard on all cylinders since the Rams Week 5 bye. Not that he needed it, but he got a little boost last week with QB Sam Bradford’s return to the lineup – an upgrade over A.J. Feely. Regardless, fantasy owners have taken note of Jackson’s 54 carries over the last two weeks and the workhorse of the Rams offense is in line for another heavy load of 20-plus carries. It doesn’t hurt that Cleveland has allowed an average of 144 rushing yards per game. Just be sure to keep an eye on the foot injury that popped up on Wednesday’s practice report.

Reggie Bush vs. Was
Fellow RB Daniel Thomas has been either struggling - or slow to recover from his hamstring injury - and Reggie has made the most of his own opportunities in recent games. Last week, Bush was 8 yards shy of his second consecutive 100-yard game, which would have been quite a feat considering he had just one 100-yard rushing day (12/24/06) in 60 games with the Saints. Bush is averaging 4.9 yards per carry in his first season in Miami, but a closer look reveals an ugly 2.98 in his first four games. Something changed after their Week 5 bye; in the four games since, he has averaged 6.42 yards per carry. The Redskins sing a similar tune - in their first four games they allowed 84.5 rushing yards per game; since their bye: 160.8 rushing yards per game.

DeMarco Murray vs. Buf
If you’ve watched Murray, you’ve seen a special player make the most of the opportunity presented to him. RB Felix Jones will be back sooner or later, but that shouldn’t affect Murray all that much. Jones can’t hold a candle to Murray and will be better served as a change-of-pace back. Murray leads all NFL RBs who have 50 or more rush attempts with an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Buffalo has allowed 10 TDs on the ground, 1 shy of the worst mark in the league. They are not going to be able to contain Murray; the Bills have allowed opponents 4.6 yards per carry this season, and that includes the Redskins hollow team effort of 11 carries for 26 yards. It’s time to lock Murray in and throw away the key.

Jackie Battle vs. Den
Since staking his claim to the Chiefs lead RB job in Week 5, Battle finally found the endzone in Week 8, his 3rd career NFL score. He has 68 carries in his last four games, compared to 51 carries in his first 4-plus seasons (including the first 4 games of 2011). He’s a viable flex play this week showing value with an average of 4.4 yards per carry on the season. The Broncos have been tough against the run, but I like Battle and the Chiefs to come out swinging after they pulled a disappearing act versus Miami last week. If anything, he’ll continue to receive the bulk of the carries going forward.

Bench 'Em

Beanie Wells @ Phi
Many had Wells as a solid RB1 last week against the Rams, who easily have one of the worst run defenses in the league, and I couldn’t blame them. In Week 8, Beanie had a TD and a solid 83 yards rushing against the top-tier defense of the Ravens. But between Wells’ bulky knee, the ineffectiveness of the Cardinals offense and QB John “Safety” Skelton filling in for the underperforming Kevin Kolb, you really can’t trust Wells right now. Consider keeping him on your bench, not only for this week in Philadelphia, but until November 27, when a hopefully healthy Beanie gets a rematch against the Rams.

Roy Helu @ Mia
Shanny strikes again. I don’t actually believe that RB Ryan Torain will steal much of Helu’s thunder this week, but it is odd that just two days after saying Torain will only play when Helu gets tired, Head Coach Mike Shanahan refused to name Helu his starting RB in Miami. Well, you know this routine by now. PPR owners took note of Helu’s ridiculous totals of 17 targets and 14 receptions last week (he’s a trustable PPR-flex), but the Dolphins are actually good against the run. They are tied for 5th (Vikings) in the NFL allowing opponents just 3.8 yards per carry and tied for 2nd (Ravens, Lions) in allowing just 3 TDs on the ground.

0 rushing TDs allowed by the 49ers.

Brandon Jacobs / Ahmad Bradshaw @ SF
No need to spend much time here. Even if Bradshaw returns this week, he is unlikely to receive a normal workload and neither player is a recommended option against the 49ers stout run defense. San Francisco remains the NFL’s only team that has not allowed a rushing TD. Opponents have 163 rush attempts against the 49ers, the lowest total in the league, for 3.5 yards per carry and just 70.8 yards per game.

Chris Ogbonnaya vs. StL
Don’t let the appeal of the lion’s share of carries dictate a start this week for Ogbonnaya. He definitely had a tough Week 9 matchup in Houston, but he did nothing to illustrate that he would perform well in a great matchup like he has this week against the Rams. The last two games, he has rushed for 65 yards on 24 carries, a paltry 2.71 yards per carry average. Wins are precious in fantasy right now and Ogbonnaya is not the answer; I wouldn’t trust him in a flex role. You also have to consider that the Rams just may have a turned a corner in their run defense, as they have allowed an average of just 63 rushing yards per game in their last two.

Wide Receivers