CFL running back rankings ahead of week 7. A lot of changes to the rankings this week with big performances by many, and some surprisingly low numbers from others.
Stars of the Week:
1st Star: James Butler (HAM)
14 carries for 127 yards, 9.1 yards per carry, 1 touchdown, and 3 receptions for 40 yards.
2nd Star: A.J. Ouellette (TOR)
14 carries for 95 yards, 6.8 yards per carry, and 2 receptions for 10 yards.
3rd Star: Kevin Brown (EDM)
10 carries for 76 yards, 7.6 yards per carry, 1 touchdown, and 2 receptions for 8 yards.
Other Week 7 Articles:
Mike Mitchell’s Power Rankings
Previous Running Back Rankings
Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings
1. Dedrick Mills, Calgary Stampeders, Previous Ranking #RB2
For the first time this season Dedrick Mills was held to under 5 yards per carry. He rushed 11 times for 36 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown. He also caught 1 of his 2 targets for 12 yards. Mills is tied with A.J. Oullette in rushing yards per game at 77.3.
2. A.J. Ouellette, Toronto Argonauts, Previous Ranking #RB5
A.J. Ouellette looked fully charged after Toronto’s bye week. He had 14 carries for 95 yards (6.8 average) He also caught both of his targets for 10 yards. His dominant yards per carry provided Toronto with excellent run support. He had a long play in which he gained over 25 yards and had a nice hurdle but the play was negated by a penalty. Ouellette is tied with Dedrick Mills in rushing yards per game at 77.3.
3. Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Previous Ranking #RB1
Brady Oliveira was contained on his runs by Ottawa in week 6. He rushed 9 times for 16 yards (1.8 yards per carry). He did catch 3 of his targets for 93 yards. One of his receptions was a 63-yard play which ended up being the biggest play by either team in the game. He had another 43-yard reception but fumbled the ball on the play resulting in a turnover.
4. Jamal Morrow, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Previous Ranking #RB4
Jamal Morrow rushed 9 times for 37 yards (4.1 yards per carry). He was also surprisingly the leader in targets for Saskatchewan in week 6 against Calgary as he caught 8 of his 9 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown.
5. James Butler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Previous Ranking #RB7
James Butler had his best game of the season. He seemed unstoppable against Edmonton. He had 14 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown. His longest carry was for 37 yards. He had 5 carries greater than 10 yards and 2 over 20. He had a bit of a slower start to his season compared to last year as he came into this game with a 4.1 yards per carry. Butler averaged 9.1 yards per carry in Hamilton’s win over Edmonton.
6. Taquan Mizzell, BC Lions, Previous Ranking #RB3
Missed week 5’s game against Montreal due to an injury and BC was on the bye week for week 6. Mizzell has had an excellent rookie CFL season thus far.
7. Kevin Brown, Edmonton Elks, Previous Ranking #RB6
Kevin Brown had a good stat line against Hamilton with 76 yards on 10 carries (7.6 average). He had a very impressive carry for 50 yards. Without that carry Brown would have had 9 carries for 26 yards (2.9 average). The Elks desperately need Brown to be able to pick up yards on the ground more consistently.
8. William Stanback, Montreal Alouettes, Previous Ranking #RB6
Stanback had 12 carries for 53 yards (4.4 average) in the loss to Toronto. He also caught 4 of his 5 targets for 14 yards. Montreal made a point to establish the run giving him the ball 10 times in the first half, but then went away from the run in the 2nd half giving Stanback just 2 second-half carries. Jeshrunn Antwi did have 4 carries in the 2nd half. Montreal only rushed the ball 2 times in the 4th quarter. So far this season, Montreal’s offense has become predictable in the aspect that they abandon the run when it is crunch time.
Stanback is a talented runningback on a team that as of yet has made minimal commitment towards establishing the run so far this season.
9. Devonte Williams, Ottawa Redblacks, Previous Ranking #RB10
Devonte Williams played his first game since being moved to the injured list following week 1. Against Winnipeg, he rushed 8 times for 36 yards (4.5 yards per carry).
10. Andrew Harris, Toronto Argonauts, Previous Ranking #RB10
Harris ran strong against Montreal in the Argonauts’ week 6 win. He had 3 carries for 21 yards (7 yards per carry) and caught both of his targets for 10 yards. His touch load is far below A.J. Oullette’s but he has looked very good when given the ball.
Harris has a 5.4 yards per carry on his 16 touches and a touchdown so far this season as well as 4 catches for 34 yards..
11. Shaun Shivers, BC Lions, Previous Ranking #RB10
In his CFL debut in week 5 Shivers had 14 carries for 63 yards (4.5 average) and 73 receiving yards on 2 catches. BC is on the bye week. It is yet to be seen how BC will utilize him when Taqun Mizzell is healthy again.
12. Walter Fletcher, Montreal Alouettes, Previous Ranking #RB12
Fletcher did not have a touch in week 5 before being moved to the 1-game injured list for week 6.
13. Johnny Augustine, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Previous Ranking #RB13
Augustine did not have a touch in week 6 for the 2nd week in a row. Despite Brady Oliveira only getting 1.8 yards per carry on his 9 attempts, Augustine was not given an opportunity to try to help get Winnipeg’s run game going.
Injured players and practice roster players are not included in this ranking but are listed below with their previous ranking.
(IR) Ka’Deem Carey, Calgary Stampeders, Previous Ranking #RB1
Had only 7 carries for 43 yards (6.1 average) before suffering an injury in week 1.
(PR) De’montre Tuggle, Ottawa Redblacks, Previous Ranking #RB9
After a big game in week 4 Tuggle had a quieter day against Hamilton in week 5. He had 11 carries for 30 yards (2.7 average). He also caught 2 of his 4 targets for 13 yards
Tuggle was demoted to the practice roster for Ottawa’s game in week 6 with the return of Devonte Williams.
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