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
From this list you have me thinking about things and changing my mind...
i am in a keeper league where i can only keep two and i have 3 top RBs in Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson AND LT2, what two do i keep now?!?!
Posted by: dudouble | May 25, 2009 03:20 PM
You did say keeper league, right dudouble?
If that is in ANY way a serious question then, I'll do everything in my power to find a spot for you in one of my leagues.
Posted by: Juggs | May 25, 2009 04:24 PM
I bet Kevin Smith has a better year than Johnson. Titans offense will be terrible.
Posted by: tom | May 25, 2009 06:12 PM
yeah, and the lions' offense will set records.
the titans' offense blows detroit's out of the water and there isn't even a discussion.
Posted by: re: to tom | May 25, 2009 08:47 PM
How does the Titans offense blow the Lions out of the water? Is it the super sweet Kerry Collins? Or the complete and total lack of WR's? Honestly who is their best WR? A rookie most likely? They have a good running game. But are completely one dimensional and needed a fantastic defense to give them a ton of chances.
The Lions have Calvin, who will draw double teams at least regardless of who is throwing the ball. Culpepper is not a world beater either, but he is as good a QB as Collins. And I too like Smith. I don't know that I think he is going to have a better year than Chris Johnson. But to say that the Titan's offense blows Detroit's away is stupid. Go through it on paper and actually look at the offense's player by player instead of spouting off based on last years record.
Posted by: Mark | May 25, 2009 11:54 PM
Please people. These are DYNASTY/KEEPER rankings and NOT re-draft rankings.
Rookies can be had cheaper and they have more tread on their tires. Of course they are more valuable in long term formats.
2008 Example. Jon Stewart went for six bucks in my re-draft auction and 16 in my dynasty auction. Chris Johnson went for 11 in my keeper league and only seven in my re-draft.
Stop spitting on good - FREE - content. Get a clue before you spew.
FWIW, I thought the rankings were solid. I'd peg down Steven Jackson for injury reasons, but overall, I thought it was on the money. Good info.
Posted by: Peter Davidson | May 26, 2009 08:27 AM
there's little to like here. Many inconsistencies. If you like the rookies so much, why not rank the future feature backs accordingly, guys like Rice, Mendenhall. You over value opportunity and completely ignore the ever important football details. Your ranking of jones-Drew is a perfect example of this. Yeah, Fred Taylor is gone, but that doesn't mean Jones-Drew gets his stats added to his. Don't forget, The Jags are a bad team with no other offensive talents. What's preventing defenses from putting 9 guys in the box every snap to stop him? nothing! Torry Holt? Even you agree he's not a threat. Jones-Drew only cracks a hundred yards against the Colts. The Jags will finish dead last in the South. Hard to be top 3 fantasy back when their team is playing from behind all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if Fred Taylor has more yards then Jones-Drew this year playing for a good team.
Kevin Smith is the feature back for a bad team, why not rank him in the top 5? yeah, I didn't think so!
Leon Washington is the most underrated player in the NFL. If he got Jones-Drew's touches he'd be top 5 material. absolutely amazing with the ball in his hands. when ever he gets the ball its big plays and TDs. Don't forget, Steve Smith was just a return guy before he got his chance. I believe he could be great if given the chance. Don't say he's too small, he's just 5 pounds smaller then your #2 guy Jones-Drew.
Your the same guy who hyped Chris Perry. For Shame! Where's your apology there? No where because you openly celebrate your hits and don't acknowledge your many misses.
So fantasy world, go ahead and follow this guy. See where it gets you.
Pierre Thomas does not equal Deuce Mcalister! That's just ignorance!
Posted by: Ken MacCulloch | May 26, 2009 09:22 AM