Fantasy Football Rankings Updtaes: Running Backs

A month after my initial ranks here are my adjustments, some acknowledging my under/overestimations of players, some changing information coming out of OTAs and some because of injuries.

Tier 1: Elite (Prev. Rank)

1)      Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (2)

2)      LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (1)

3)      Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (4)

4)      Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (3)

5)      Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (5)

6)      Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (6)

There were no changes to those players that reside in Tier 1 but I did rearrange a bit. Last set of rankings here.

Tier 2: Talented With Questions

7)      Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins (11)

8)      Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (12)

9)      Arian Foster, Houston Texans (9)

10)  Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7)

11)  DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (19)

12)  Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions (10)

13)  Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (8)

14)  Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams (15)

15)  Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (14)

16)  C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills (13)

17)  Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (16)

18)  Chris Johnson, New York Jets (17)

19)  Montee Ball, Denver Broncos (18)

New addition to this tier is Murray who moved up 8 spots. I still have questions about his ability to stay healthy but he will be the lead back there and the receiving corps is shallow. Also of not Morris and Bernard move up because of youth, talent and opportunity and Martin moves down because of last year’s injury and the noise coming out of Tampa Bay.

Tier 3: Starters and High End Platoons

20)  Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville Jaguars (31)

21)  Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills (21)

22)  Shane Vereen, New England Patriots (20)

23)  Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (22)

24)  Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals (26)

25)  Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints (23)

26)  Ben Tate, Cleveland Browns (25)

27)  Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (27)

28)  Shonn Greene, Tennessee Titans (24)

29)  Steven Ridley, New England Patriots (29)

30)  Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans (30)

31)  Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (32)

32)  DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers (24)

33)  Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (35)

34)  Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (36)

Gerhart is one of the biggest movers of the running backs, I have him up 11 spots based on opportunity and lack of challenge to his position, my belief that he has the ability to make the leap to bell cow and the fact that I ranked him too low the first time. I bumped Ellington up to fringe starting fantasy back because of the fact that there is a lack of talent in the Cardinals backfield and the continued insistence of the Arizona coaching staff of making him the feature back. Added Rice, Williams, Stewart and Richardson into this tier because they should all get carries (Rice is facing suspension) and should be on good enough offenses.

Tier 4: Questionable Starter or Prove It Platoon Players

35)  Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints (37)

36)  Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles (38)

37)  Joique Bell, Detroit Lions (45)

38)  Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins (NR)

39)  Sepfon Taylor, Arizona Cardinals (39)

40)  Jacquizz Rodgers, Atlanta Falcons (28)

41)  Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons (44)

42)  James Starks, Green Bay Packers (NR)

43)  BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals (40)

44)  Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (41)

45)  David Wilson, New York Giants (NR)

46)  Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams (NR)

47)  Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers (42)

48)  Donald Brown, San Diego Chargers (48)

49)  Maurice Jones-Drew, Oakland Raiders (43)

50)  Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins (NR)

51)  LaGarette Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers (46)

Rodgers drops down because of production in opportunities last year and worries about his size that still permeate in Atlanta. Miller moves into the rankings and this tier with the injury and the unknown surrounding Moreno and the fact that year three often sees a RB make a jump after a disappointing start. Starks and Mason are backups that should see carries just by virtue of their depth chart slot. Thomas comes into the rankings because of Moreno. Bell is a legitimate receiving threat and Bush is oft-injured even if it’s just the accumulation of nagging issues.

Tier 5: Deep Dives or In-season Pickups to Watch

52)  Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts (47)

53)  Knowhson Moreno, Miami Dolphins (33)

54)  Khiry Robinson, New Orleans Saints (NR)

55)  Christine Michael, Seattle Seahawks (NR)

56)  Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (NR)

57)  Chris Ivory, New York Jets (49)

58)  Knile Davis, Kansas City Chiefs (NR)

59)  Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos (NR)

60)  Andre Brown, Houston Texans (50)

61)  Bryce Brown, Buffalo Bills (NR)

62)  Mike James, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NR)

63)  Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers (51)

64)  Kendall Hunter, San Francisco 49ers (NR)

65)  Roy Helu, Washington Redskins (52)

66)  Mikel LeShoure, Detroit Lions (53)

67)  Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders (NR)

68)  Vick Ballard, Indianapolis Colts (54)

Moreno drops because of camp injuries and his extensive injury history. Robinson, Michael and Hill all need to be kept in sights by fantasy players as camp and the season begin. Brown is oft-injured and the backup to Foster and I have little faith in him. Tolber is option three on the Panthers and Murray was on IR the entirety of his rookie campaign.

The biggest changes now will be camp surprises and injuries. I have nailed down my order much to my liking and shouldn’t need to adjust much going forward.