Fantasy Football 17-18: 5 Running Backs to Start in WEEK 4

The running back position is the backbone of any football team because of their versatility on the field, their ability to pick defenses apart with both strength and foxiness and also run along the sideline displaying their pace and ability to read situations and find open spaces.

Well, here are the 5 must start Running Backs for WEEK 4:

Todd Gurley/RB/Los Angeles Rams:

Todd Gurley after a successful run

A change in the coaching staff may have revived Todd Gurley and if his early season form is to be paid attention to then we may be in for a repeat of his rookie year heroics. Coming off a very productive Week 3 where he ran for 113 yards on 28 attempts for 2 touchdowns and hauled in 5 of his targets for 36 yards and 1 TD.

He currently leads the Rams in rushing attempts(63), rushing yards(241), rushing touchdowns(4), targets(17) and is the joint leader in receptions(13) and receiving touchdowns(2).

This week he's up against a Cowboys secondary which has allowed 4.2 yards per carry (ranked 17th in the league). With the form he is in, expect him to put up some impressive numbers again.

Chris Thompson/RB/Washington Redskins:

Chris 'TouchDown' Thompson

Just days before the game against Oakland, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden stated that Chris Thompson will only be a third-down back even with Rob Kelley and Jordan Reed injured and boy did he prove him wrong on Sunday Night. He ran 38 yards on 8 attempts while also catching 6 of his targets for impressive 150 yards and a touchdown.

Rookie Samaje Perine the lead running back for Redskins at the moment, left the match after a tackle in the 4th quarter and seemed to have injured his hand. If Perine joins Redskins injured list then look for Thompson to have more involvement in the rushing game.

In week 4 he faces the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs who have allowed an average of 4.3 yards per carry and 13.7 yards per reception with 6 TD's in their last 3 games. With Redskins having an early bye in week 5, expect the Thomson to give it his all before a well-deserved break.

Christian McCaffrey/RB/Carolina Panthers:

McCaffrey leaving everybody chasing his shadow

McCaffrey finally showed why he rated so highly by football scouts and experts alike, as he had his first 100 yard game of NFL career when he caught 9 of his targets for 101 yards and ran 16 yards on 4 rushing attempts on Sunday.

His performance can be credited to the fact that Kelvin Benjamin, one of Newton's primary target had to leave the game in the first quarter due to injury, but this turned advantageous for McCaffrey as he became Newton's premier target in Benjamin's absence. The Panthers are still waiting for Benjamin's diagnosis and if he becomes unavailable due to injury then McCaffrey can be in some more performances like these.

In week 4, he suits up against the reigning champions New England Patriots, who for some reason have been leaking yards at will allowing 5.1 yards per carry and 13.3 yards per reception with 10 TD's. While Benjamin's absence might make him the team's primary receiving option he still has to prove that he is better than Stewart to become the primary rusher for The Panthers.

Duke Johnson Jr./RB/Cleveland Browns:

Chase Duke Johnson at your own risk

This 3 year NFL veteran out of Miami currently leads the Browns in targets(18), receptions(11) and rushing yards(160) at the end of week 3. He is coming off a great game versus the Colts where he ran for 23 yards on 2 attempts and caught 6 of his targets for 81 yards for 1 TD.

The time is ripe right now to have him on your team because of the really weak rushing performance by Isaiah Crowell, who has a disappointing average of 2.9 yards per carry in 3 games. Johnson is next in line for the job of starting back and if browns really have any intention of winning they need to get Crowell performing or give the ball to Johnson.

This week he faces a Bengals side which is giving up 4.1 yards per carry and 10.8 per reception. So, even if he does not get the starting job you can still get feast on the amount of receiving yards he's accumulating.

Wendell Smallwood/RB/Philadelphia Eagles:

Smallwood during his 80 yard performance

Another running back who is going to benefit from an injury is Smallwood, Darren Sproles the premier back for the Eagles suffered a broken hand against New York Giants and is out indefinitely which opened a spot in the back position and Smallwood drafted seamlessly into it.

In his Sproles' absence, Smallwood shared the running back duty with LeGarrette Blount, rushing for 71 yards in 12 attempts and catching 1 target for 9 yards. Next up for the Eagles are the Los Angeles Chargers, who have allowed 4.7 yards per carry and 10.6 yards per reception.