It's nearly impossible to predict when players will come out of nowhere and put up a huge week from a fantasy perspective, but if you can find that type of player, then you have a significant advantage over your opposition.
One position that owners like to load up on is running back, so some of you might find yourselves thin in terms of runners right now. With that in mind, here are three forgotten backs who should have big days in Week 5.
Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts
Now that the Colts actually have the threat of a passing game with Curtis Painter under center, running room might be easier to come by for Joseph Addai. While Addai hasn't had the greatest season, he has put up some decent numbers over the past couple weeks.
Two weeks ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Addai ran for 86 yards and a touchdown, but his biggest obstacle has been a lack of carries. Addai is averaging 4.6 yards per tote, but he has been handed the ball just 50 times in four games.
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the worst run defenses in the game thus far, so the Colts will likely look to get Addai integrated early in the game. There's no guarantee that increased playing time will lead to success, but Addai has done well in a limited sample size.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis - New England Patriots
The emergence of rookie Stevan Ridley last week would seem to make BenJarvus Green-Ellis obsolete in New England, but he's still more useful than one might think. The fact is that Green-Ellis actually had his best performance of the season last week with 75 yards and a score against Oakland.
With teams keying on Tom Brady and the passing game, it stands to reason that the Patriots will continue to run the ball more. The New York Jets have been surprisingly soft against the run this season, so the bruising Green-Ellis may exploit that this week.
Even if Green-Ellis doesn't have a huge yardage game against the Jets this week, he's a good bet to score. "Law Firm" has found pay dirt in three of the season's first four games, and at the rate the Pats get into the red zone, he will have his chances against New York.
Thomas Jones - Kansas City Chiefs
Following Jamaal Charles' season-ending ACL tear, Thomas Jones was expected to shoulder much of the workload at running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. While that has been the case, Dexter McCluster has been the more effective runner and has been more widely accepted in fantasy circles.
Even so, McCluster can't handle a full allotment of carries due to his slight frame. Because of that, Jones will be the go-to guy if the Chiefs wish to employ a grind-it-out rushing attack. That strategy would be wise this week against an Indianapolis Colts' defense that struggles mightily against the run.
Jones' 2.8 yards-per-carry average makes him a risky play, but the Colts struggle against backs of all shapes, sizes and ages. If Jones can't make an impact in this particular game then he probably has nothing left, but I would bet that he'll turn in a solid performance.
Jorge Posada Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis Kevin Russo
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