Dynasty Rankings: Running Backs
As explained in Thursday's Quarterback Rankings, I haven't updated my Dynasty league blog since before the draft. Since I'm finally getting around to mass updates, I'm rolling them out on Pancake Blocks one position at a time, with Running Backs on the agenda today.
A few notes of interest on the running backs:
1. As most of you know, I'm an unabashed Chris Johnson true believer. I make no apologies for his high ranking and firmly believe he's a special talent and a true nucleus player for Dynasty leaguers.
2. Tier two is a bottleneck. The last could be first and the first could be last. I'm perfectly willing to admit that the two top rookies may be too high, but the rest of the backs in that tier have significant questions preventing them from holding down true stud status. The rookies, though, have the talent and opportunity to be RB1s for a long time.
3. Clinton Portis is too low, I know. But I just have no interest in being left holding the bag when he falls off the cliff . . . and I get the feeling the cliff is coming like a freight train.
4. Darren McFadden is too high and Steve Slaton is being disrespected. Very possible. I think Slaton lacks staying power just as I believed that players like Willie Parker and Joseph Addai lacked staying power. McFadden still has a chance to be special.
OK, on to the rankings. . . .
RUNNING BACKS
Tier One
1. Adrian Peterson, MIN | Age: 24.5 | Value Score: 100
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX | Age: 24.4 | Value Score: 98
3. Chris Johnson, TEN | Age: 23.9 | Value Score: 97
4. Steven Jackson, STL | Age: 26.1 | Value Score: 95
5. Matt Forte, CHI | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 93
Tier Two
6. Frank Gore, SF | Age: 26.2 | Value Score: 87
7. Michael Turner, ATL | Age: 27.5 | Value Score: 87
8. DeAngelo Williams, CAR | Age: 26.4 | Value Score: 85
Tier Three
9. Knowshon Moreno, DEN | Age: 22.2 | Value Score: 76
10. Beanie Wells, ARI | Age: 21.1 | Value Score: 75
11. Marion Barber, DAL | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 74
12. Brian Westbrook, PHI | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 73
13. Marshawn Lynch, BUF | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 73
14. Ronnie Brown, MIA | Age: 27.7 | Value Score: 72
15. Brandon Jacobs, NYG | Age: 27.2 | Value Score: 72
16. Jonathan Stewart, CAR | Age: 22.5 | Value Score: 70
17. Darren McFadden, OAK | Age: 22.0 | Value Score: 70
18. Steve Slaton, HOU | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 69
19. Pierre Thomas, NO | Age: 24.7 | Value Score: 69
Tier Four
20. Clinton Portis, WAS | Age: 28.0 | Value Score: 62
21. Donald Brown, IND | Age: 22.4 | Value Score: 60
22. Reggie Bush, NO | Age: 24.5 | Value Score: 60
23. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD | Age: 30.2 | Value Score: 59
24. Kevin Smith, DET | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 57
25. Ryan Grant, GB | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 55
Tier Five
26. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT | Age: 22.2 | Value Score: 46
27. Ray Rice, BAL | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 44
28. Derrick Ward, TB | Age: 29.1 | Value Score: 43
29. Shonn Greene, NYJ | Age: 24.1 | Value Score: 42
30. Felix Jones, DAL | Age: 22.3 | Value Score: 42
31. Willie Parker, PIT | Age: 28.8 | Value Score: 40
Tier Six
32. Joseph Addai, IND | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 32
33. LeSean McCoy, PHI | Age: 21.2 | Value Score: 32
34. Cedric Benson, CIN | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 29
35. Laurence Maroney, NE | Age: 24.5 | Value Score: 28
36. Larry Johnson, KC | Age: 29.8 | Value Score: 28
37. Thomas Jones, NYJ | Age: 31.0 | Value Score: 27
38. Willis McGahee, BAL | Age: 27.9 | Value Score: 26
39. Jamaal Charles, KC | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 24
40. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 22
41. Michaeal Bush, OAK | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 20
Tier Seven
42. Darren Sproles, SD | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 14
43. Andre Brown, NYG | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 13
44. LenDale White, TEN | Age: 24.7 | Value Score: 12
45. Le’Ron McClain, BAL | Age: 24.7 | Value Score: 11
46. Fred Jackson, BUF | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 11
47. Tashard Choice, DAL | Age: 24.8 | Value Score: 10
48. Leon Washington, NYJ | Age: 27.0 | Value Score: 9
49. Jerious Norwood, ATL | Age: 26.1 | Value Score: 9
50. Jamal Lewis, CLE | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 8
51. Julius Jones, SEA | Age: 28.0 | Value Score: 7
Tier Eight
52. Jerome Harrison, CLE | Age: 26.5 | Value Score: 5
53. Earnest Graham, TB | Age: 29.7 | Value Score: 5
54. Chester Taylor, MIN | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 5
55. Sammy Morris, NE | Age: 32.5 | Value Score: 4
56. Fred Taylor, NE | Age: 33.6 | Value Score: 4
57. Brandon Jackson, GB | Age: 23.9 | Value Score: 4
58. Justin Fargas, OAK | Age: 29.6 | Value Score: 4
59. James Davis, CLE | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 3
60. Arian Foster, HOU | Age: 23.1 | Value Score: 3
Comments
everyone needs to stop bein so butt-hurt over lt bein ranked as low as he is. keep in mind that its a dynasty ranking, not a 2009 ranking.
Posted by: eric m | May 24, 2009 04:20 PM
Attention Brian:
Yes, Tim Hightower is not listed. The author obviously thinks that Hightower is not a top 60 dynasty RB, which could be explained by his dismal performance last year, combined with the Cardinals 1st round draft choice of a replacement for Hightower. But please feel free to target him in all 2009 drafts.
Posted by: malc | May 24, 2009 06:40 PM
half the post's here are disgustingly laughable - why don't you guys just start your posts by declaring your man-love for your fave RB, THEN start slinging mud at the authour - might as well, your posts dont fool anyone anyway...
Look, if anyone wants to stack their entire Board based solely upon what's written here, go ahead - and please join my league while ur at it LOL. Wess is offering a "starting point" for your consideration/decision-making, and providing opinions/evidence to support his views - which is alot more than most of the donkeys criticizing him here ever could...
Lastly, I love reading posts from those who have no clue what the strategy of a Dynasty league is about: EVERY year is a "Win NOW" year, with the added benefit of being able to PREPARE a team to win in future years. Last year, I got T. Jones cheap to help me make run, but knowing full well he was prolly useless to me by the start of this year. Likewise, when Mendenhall went on IR, some fool dropped him so I got him "stashed" for free knowing he'd never play a single down for me last year - maybe not this year either - but eventually, he may be the one to replace a stud RB on my team with a SEAMLESS loss of productivity at the RB position. And that's why these guys are ranked the way they are: "X player will do better for you this year than Y, but Y's value 2 years from now will prolly be more than Z, even though Z will outperform Y THIS year"...its just like a real NFL team; the Jets drafted Greene cuz they know that TJ won't produce like last year forever. And your Dynasty team needs to look at things the same way.
Nice list Wess...keep it up
Posted by: dukee | May 24, 2009 07:33 PM
BTW, LOVE SJax this year, clearly top-5 potential this year AND going forward IMO...I think Thomas has a good year now that uncertainty in NO is gone...like Wells much more than Moreno because of situation, McDaniels will be just as bad for Fantasy backs (i.e. NE coaching strategy) as Shanny was...
Posted by: dukee | May 24, 2009 07:43 PM
No doubt a great talent, but I hesitate with Chris Johnson because 1.) his team died down the stretch last year 2.) his quarterback has more miles on him than Brett Favre with no real backup in sight and 3.) he'll be on the field less this year without Haynesworth to force other teams into 3-and-outs. Add to it that Lendale will continue to vulture a few TDs.
Posted by: Fantasy Phil | May 24, 2009 10:07 PM
Hey Knuckleheads, it's DYNASTY rankings, not rankings for 2009.
Posted by: Kellu | May 25, 2009 04:38 AM
How is Marshawn Lynch in 3rd tier below unproven rooks like Wells? Lynch is the lead back on his team, gets lots of looks in passing game and is only 23! he'd be in my top 5 dynasty. the guy will star for years over older and lesser talents like Gore and Jones Drew. just because he's suspended for a few games this year shouldnt affect his dynasty status.
Posted by: john | May 25, 2009 10:45 AM