Sleeper running backs
These are players who might be on waivers or sitting on your bench that you might want to consider giving a look.
Le'Ron McClain at Indianapolis
McClain is still in a rotation with Willis McGahee, but he has still been a very productive player and by far the best runner on the Ravens. Throw on top of that he's facing a team that has major problems stopping the run up the middle and McClain is a very good choice to start if one of your regulars is on the bye.
Tim Hightower vs. Dallas
Hightower doesn't get many touches with Edgerinn James around, but he has become the go-to back in the red zone for a team that is fifth in the league in scoring. And judging the way Dallas' last few games have gone, scoring will not be at a premium on either side.
Michael Pittman vs. Jacksonville
Pittman had a little bit of value as the goal line back for the third-highest scoring offense in the NFL. Now with Selvin Young out, Pittman takes a larger role in the offense and goes up against a Jacksonville team that is 21st in the league in defense. The Jaguars gave up 99 yards and 5.8 yards per carry to Mewelde Moore, so Pittman is a pretty good bet to put up some numbers.
Correll Buckhalter at San Francisco
Buckhalter is the undisputed starter for the Philadelphia Eagles, who see this week's game as a must-win. San Francisco has been pretty terrible against the run, and last week was no different as they gave up 137 yards and two touchdowns to the motley crew of Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, LaMont Jordan and Laurence Maroney.
Ryan Grant at Seattle
Grant has been a major disappointment for a lot of owners this season, but he has been showing signs of improvement. He picked up 83 yards on a season-high 18 carries against Atlanta last week and this week faces a team in Seattle that got completely run over by the Giants last week. The Packers are not the Giants by any means, but they could have a very successful day running the football.
Running backs to avoid
These are guys who really have unfavorable matchups that you will want to stay away from if at all possible.
Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan at San Diego
It's not that San Diego is good against the run. The problem is you never can tell who is going to get the carries for the Patriots. Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots' coaching staff is very good at finding not only weaknesses in the opposition, but in their own players and how to hide those weaknesses. That leads to a lot of mixing and matching. Who would have thought Kevin Faulk would have been a big part of the offense last week after rushing just once for six yards the game before?
Steve Slaton at Miami
The Miami Dolphins are a lot of things, but a bad defensive football team they are not. Slaton has had a very good season, but can't be considered a good bet against a defense that is giving up 79 yards on the ground per game and stopped Ladanian Tomlinson cold, even before he re-injured his toe.
Joseph Addai at Baltimore
It was not all that long ago that you wouldn't dream of sitting Addai against anyone, but times have changed. Addai has yet to have a 100-yard game, even against weak defenses such as Jacksonville and Houston. Against good defenses such as Minnesota and Chicago, he had a combined 64 yards.
Christopher Maza - Chris Maza is a sports writer based out of the Greater Springfield area in Massachusetts. He has been published in several publications in ...
