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Playing the right running back matchups is critical to having a successful week of scoring in your fantasy football leagues in Week 4. Some of you are still reeling from missing Christian McCaffrey's points every week and need to find viable solutions to keep your playoff hopes alive. At Sportkeeda, we will bring you the top 24 rankings in Half-PPR leagues weekly to help you make those tough decisions. We will highlight the best matchups against the most susceptible rush defenses in the NFL.
Fantasy Football RB Rankings: Week 4
Fantasy Football RB Picks: Best Matchups of the Week
1] Saquon Barkley vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saquon Barkley has been one of the premier running backs in fantasy football through three weeks of the season and has a surprisingly enticing matchup this weekend against a Buccanneers team that has been advantageous to running backs this season.
Barkley has had three solid performances to begin the year and is only behind New Orleans' Alvin Kamara (27.2) in fantasy points per game at 26.8 this season. Barkley leads all running backs with 351 rushing yards through three games and shares the league lead with Kamara with four rushing touchdowns. He has ripped nine explosive runs of 10 or more yards, which is the most by any rusher this season, and leads all running backs in touches per game at 24.3.
Todd Bowles' defensive unit has been underwhelming against running backs this season, allowing rushing touchdowns to Brian Robinson Jr., David Montgomery, and Jaleel McLaughlin in consecutive weeks to start the season. Tampa Bay has allowed the fourth-most goalline rush attempts (18) through three weeks and the most goalline touchdowns to the three backs listed above, plus Jayden Daniels in Week 1.
Bowles' unit has dealt with multiple injuries, none more significant than Pro Bowl DT Vita Vea. The 347-pound Vea is recovering from a Grade 2 MCL sprain he suffered in Week 2 and his status is still murky going into Week 4. Tampa Bay will also be without second-year defensive tackle Calijah Kancey for the second week running, leaving Bowles with some patchwork on the defensive line against Barkley and the Eagles.
Watch for Vea's availability the closer we get to gameday, but if he can't go, expect another productive day from the star running back this weekend and a strong possibility of an RB1 finish.
2] Najee Harris vs Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis remains one of the most viable defenses to target for running backs in fantasy football, and Najee Harris is lined up for one of this week's best matchups.
The Colts gave up 159 yards to Joe Mixon and 151 yards to Josh Jacobs and have given up a league-worst 15 explosive runs of 10 yards or more and 63.3 touches a game to running backs. Last week, we went out on a limb and recommended D'Andre Swift in Week 3, and he was a fourth-down pitch from paying off the gamble. Ultimately, the Swift play didn't pay off, and in hindsight, that says more about the state of the Bears' rushing attack than it does about the ability of the Colts' rush defense.
Harris will have more opportunities for fantasy points this week with backup Jaylen Warren ruled out with a knee injury. There's always a chance quarterback Justin Fields steals a rushing touchdown, but hopefully, Pittsburgh will use the bruising back instead. Harris has one goalline attempt this season, but that could all change this Sunday against this suspect rush defense.
3] Zack Moss vs Carolina Panthers
The term "must-win" is comical in the NFL because every game feels that way these days. But this is a must-win for a desperate Bengals team after going 0-3 to start the season. If that isn't enough pressure, the Bengals are visiting former franchise quarterback Andy Dalton.
Dalton stepped off the bench last week and lifted the Panthers from the depths of despair by throwing over 300 yards and three touchdowns. But the NFL is a week-to-week business with new challenges each week. Dalton may have given the offense some stability, but the Panthers are still suspect on the defensive side of the ball.
Carolina's defense has allowed the fifth-most yards to running backs this season while giving up a second-worst 2.5 yards before contact at the line of scrimmage. The Panthers have also allowed the fourth-most touches per game to running backs with 52.3 through three games. Cincinnati's Zack Moss has had two rushing touchdowns in his first three games, and he could be flying under the radar as a viable RB2 contributor this week.
Moss' backup, Chase Brown, threatens his production potential as the second-year back was impressive in his limited opportunities last week against Washington. He continues to be a player to watch as we get deeper in the season; however, Moss is the only running back to record a goalline carry this season, which leaves Brown unstartable for now.
