Top Ten Running Backs
1. Adrian Peterson – Adrian Peterson is one of the league’s elite running backs and coming off of a 43 catch season and slated for a 90/10 split with Chester Taylor now with the Bears, AP will likely end the year as the #1 overall fantasy back.
2. Chris Johnson – The Chris Johnson holdout is a cause for concern as is the fact that every day he holds out his backup earns the trust of his coaches. Ringer has likely worked himself into a 80-20 split and will help keep CJ2K fresh. He has a definite chance to repeat as the #1 overall fantasy running back but let’s not draft on past performance.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew – Maurice Jones-Drew is a wrecking ball of a running back and will be heavily involved in every facet of the Jaguars offense. Next to Steven Jackson, MJD is essentially the only feature back in the NFL, but this may also be due to their relatively poor backups. MJD is a fantasy owners dream and getting the third overall pick is almost as good as the #1 this year….it just eliminates the guess work.
4. Steven Jackson – Steven Jackson is the most talented and complete back in the NFL. Unfortunately for him he has been stuck on the Rams. However things are looking up, he is still relatively young and with Sam Bradford and a legit wide receiver corps Steven Jackson may finally be given some breathing room on the ground in which he can operate….and dominate.
5. Frank Gore – Frank Gore will be running behind a dramatically improved draft infused offensive line and will likely challenge for the NFL lead in yards from scrimmage. Draft Gore with confidence as high as #3 overall, though his value range is anywhere after the 3rd pick.
6. Michael Turner – Michael Turner is expected to return to his 2008 form after a mildly disappointing season in ’09. He has entered OTA’s in great shape and is ready to once again be the fantasy force that made him an arguable top 3 pick last year.
7. Ryan Mathews – Ryan Mathews…rare is it for a coach to give us a total touch projection for a rookie running back, but Norv Turner gave fantasy football GM’s a gift: 250+ carries and 40+ catches. This is a power back with good hands who will fit right in with the Chargers offense and will likely see open lanes due to the strength of the passing game (with V-Jax of course).
8. Ray Rice – Ray Rice was exceptional last year but we expect him to take a step back. Still looming are power backs and goal-line vultures Willis McGahee and McLain, and with the addition of Boldin, Rice will not be as involved in the passing game. 60 catches is a more reasonable number than the 78 he managed last year (18th in NFL including WR’s and TE’s)
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Mendenhall is the feature back this year and should start the season with some high carry games as Big Ben will be suspended. This may give him an inside track on being the most valuable back in the 1st half. Do not be mistaken though, Mendenhall has the talent to be the #1 overall fantasy running back and it probably will not be long before he cracks the top 5. Fantasy sleeper Jonathan Dwyer’s presence is concerning as he fits the power back mold the Steelers covet and may gain some touches if Mendenhall stumbles or continues to fumble.
9 Shonn Greene – Shonn Greene will be running behind one of the most dominant offensive lines in the NFL, the only thing holding him back from being ranked higher on this list is the looming presence of LaDanian Tomlinson who has more than enough left to succeed behind the Jets vaunted line. A upright power back Greene is an injury risk as well, but don’t be afraid to select Green over names like DeAngelo Williams, Jamaal Charles and Ryan Grant.
10. Cedric Benson – Cedric Benson is one of the rare 80-20 time share backs and with his breakout campaign last season in the books, this former ‘bust’ is a major boom for the Bengals and his fantasy owners alike. Not a sexy name, and others will pass due to his history, make them regret it….
11. Jahvid Best – You probably think I am crazy but there is not much chance Jahvid Best does not finish the season as a top-12 fantasy running back. With that said he will still probably go sometime after round 3 in earlier drafts so take advantage while you can as the fantasy community will slowly wise up. Even with Morris and the returning from injury Smith on the roster Best remains a lock for fantasy superstardom.
12. Brandon Jacobs – Brandon Jacobs was running on a bum knee all of last season and it was noticeable in his game performance. Now totally healthy and with something to prove the ‘human freight train’ will crack double digit TD’s behind the ultra-talented New York Giants offensive line, he is in a 70-30 timeshare with Bradshaw which is why he is not listed higher on this list.
Why was he left off?
Jamaal Charles – Thomas Jones is a potential goal-line vulture and is likely to be in a 60-40 split with TJ. Ideal touches per game for Charles is 14-18.
Ryan Grant – Not an exciting back, James Starks presents the first credible threat Grant has seen to starting job. The sometimes scrambling Aaron Rodgers also poaches TD’s.
Jerome Harrison – Montario Hardesty was drafted to claim the starting position, and he will. Like many in the fantasy community Holmgren and the Browns view Harrison as more of a third-down, change-of-pace back who is not built to pound the ball 30 times a game or hold up for 300+ carries.
Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams: The presence of the other precludes them from this list.
DeAngelo Wiliams/Jonathan Stewart: The presence of the other precludes them from this list.
2 Comments
Rice at #8 ???…You are kidding, right?? lol
Rankings are subjective but in standard leagues this is where I have him rated as of right now in PPR I have him as a top-4 back….