There have been a lot of changes to our running back rankings, as injuries and position battles play themselves out. Who is on the rise? Who is falling down our draft board? Let’s take a look (the number in parenthesis was his previous ranking:
- Arian Foster – Houston Texans (1)
- Ray Rice – Baltimore Rice (2)
- LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles (3)
- Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans (4)
- Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars (5)
- Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders (7)
- Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers (6)
- Matt Forte – Chicago Bears (8)
- Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks (10)
- DeMarco Murray – Dallas Cowboys (11)
- Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings (16)
- Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs (15)
- Trent Richardson – Cleveland Browns (9)
- Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams (12)
- Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills (14)
- Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers (13)
- Doug Martin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17)
- Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants (18)
- Reggie Bush – Miami Dolphins (19)
- Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons (20)
- Darren Sproles – New Orleans Saints (21)
- Shonn Greene – New York Jets (22)
- Stevan Ridley – New England Patriots (23)
- Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals (24)
- BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Cincinnati Bengals (25)
- Willis McGahee – Denver Broncos (26)
- Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers (28)
- Kevin Smith – Detroit Lions (31)
- Ben Tate – Houston Texans (NR)
- Evan Royster – Washington Redskins (NR)
- Cedric Benson – Green Bay Packers (NR)
- Toby Gerhart – Minnesota Vikings (32)
- C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills (33)
- Daniel Thomas – Miami Dolphins (34)
- DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers (35)
- Michael Bush – Chicago Bears (36)
- Peyton Hillis – Kansas City Chiefs (37)
- Mark Ingram – New Orleans Saints (30)
- LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NR)
- David Wilson – New York Giants (NR)
Dropped from the rankings – Bernard Scott, Jahvid Best, James Starks, Donald Brown
Thoughts:
- Roy Helu already appeared to be slipping on the Radskins’ depth chart. Now, according to Chris Russell (via Twitter), “Roy Helu has Achilles tendonitis”. Long-term Helu may be the back to own, but if you are drafting right now Evan Royster is looking like the guy to target. As it is, with Mike Shanahan running the offense you never know what’s going to happen, so this may be a situation you want to avoid. That said, Shanahan has a track record of developing backs that no one envisioned, so taking the flier on Royster has definite upside.
- We all know about the injury to Ryan Mathews and how it could limit his carries early in the season, even if he is able to play in Week 1. That in itself is still in question, though that’s the goal. Still, we all know the potential that he has to breakout this season. He does drop a little bit, but the top of the rankings are riddled with question marks at this point. That keeps him as a late first round option at this point.
- Adrian Peterson has been removed from the PUP list, meaning he’s on his way back to full health. Will he be ready for Week 1? That is still unknown. Is he going to get the bulk of the carries or is he going to share touches with Toby Gerhart? At the very least, in the early going you would think Gerhart would get an increased role in the offense. While Peterson is an elite talent and on the rise, we have to keep him outside the Top 10 for now.
- It was thought that Doug Martin was going to be the lead back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At this point reports don’t seem to agree with that. According to the team’s Twitter feed, “Coach Schiano says the Bucs’ backfield is still a ‘fluid situation.’ He won’t force it, and will let the lead back emerge. “ In other words, LeGarrette Blount is very much still in the mix. I still believe it will be Martin, but fantasy owners need to keep a close eye on this situation as the preseason progresses.
- I talked about Cedric Benson and why he was a RB3 when talk first surfaced of the signing. For that, click here.
Make sure to check out our 2012 fantasy football rankings:
I have the 9th pick in a 10 team ppr league. If AP is there for me which I think he will, how can I pass up that freakish of an athlete who I believe will be playing week 1 or week 2?
I can understand the thought process and am not completely against it. The thing is, with your first round pick you do not want to assume too much risk either. While AP has a chance to be the top RB, depending on the news and his health, he also could greatly disappoint.
Considering your draft spot you likely could take a “safer” top option in Round 1 and grab AP with your R2 pick (though it depends on the draft, obviously).
I agree with the Professor. Personally I am risk averse in the first 2 rounds, but if you want to take on some risk, I would grab McFadden with one of those picks, I think less risk and a little more upside. And looking for Charles in the 3rd round if he is there could be another value/reward pick with some risk
14 team employee league where most people stick to the stupid espn rankings to see who they are picking so you can kind of guess who is going where…
if drafting 10 or later looking at DMC or Forte…which one you like better? also looking at Lloyd vs Jordy Nelson/ Brandon Marshall in the 3rd
Green-Ellis vs Martin in the 4th…
what do you think is better draft
Rodgers (1st) and Martin(5th) or
Rice/McCoy(1st rd) and Ryan(5th)?
thanks
I’d definitely go McFadden of the RB
As for the WR, I know the talk about Lloyd in camp, but I wouldn’t touch him in the 3rd round. It’s definitely Nelson for me.
Green-Ellis/Martin is tough, based on the recent news in TB. I want to say Martin, but he is the riskier pick.
As for which draft is better, scoring will help determine but I’d go Rice/McCoy in the first round.
14 team keeper league, auction format. Only one RB plus a RB/WR flex. Which two (all can be kept at very low auction $ values).
- DeMarco Murray
- Fred Jackson
- Donald Brown
- Victor Cruz
Originally leaned Murray and Jackson but with only one starting RB, I”m thinking of maybe keeping Cruz and using that savings to go after a top tier back and WR depth.
What is the scoring system? Is it PPR?
Murray is a definite keeper. The scoring probably will decide if it’s Jackson or Cruz. Even if it is just one RB and a FLEX, having Jackson/Murray cheap would allow you to go after the top WR/QB.
Standard scoring. Not ppr. I’m leaning Jackson/Murray and gong after top tier QB and WR.
Yea, that sounds like a pretty good plan to me. It is close, though, and Jackson could lose touches to Spiller.
Still, a cheap RB is hard to let go.
The other wrinkle is that they would both be kept at the same price. I’m guessing Cruz goes for the higher auction price so that makes the decision a bit tougher.
How much could you keep each for?
$17. Total auction budget of $200.
At that price I would definitely keep Jackson. It is about market for Cruz, but below Jackson’s