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
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 09:23 AM
Ken, you make some good points, but I'd argue some of it.
What Leon Washington could be if given the chance is beside the point. The Jets used three picks to draft Shonn Greene, so there's little reason to think Washington will be given the chance. The Jets want to lock him up long-term and probably will, but it doesn't seem like they see him as a featured guy.
It's hard to rank Mendenhall highly when he looked so poor in the preseason and his limited opportunities last year. Granted, this year's rookies could be exactly the same. But with Mendenhall we have a small sampling of his NFL resume and it's unfavorable. You've got to ding him for that.
I agree with you on Ray Rice, but unfortunately it's tough to say if he's a future featured guy or not. The Ravens coaching staff was pretty fickle with its three backs a year ago. McClain's working at fullback now; a month from now, who knows.
I don't agree with all these rankings, but I've seen worse, and some of the criticisms are pretty off-base.
Posted by: andy | May 26, 2009 09:49 AM
I'll admit that i look at Mendenhall through rose colored glasses. Its less about him and more about the incredible Steelers. I have faith in what they do. They're track record is immaculate. They don't miss on first rounders. So he fumbled the ball in the pre season. So what? you don't think the coaching staff can correct that? He's a confident young man, with great size and speed and most importantly plays for the best franchise in football. have you seen the steelers schedule? Hello!! its a cake walk. If he survived that Ravens game, I think everyone would be trumpeting a much different tune when it comes to him. Parker is so worn down that he had problems just playing consecutive games. The bottom line is that Parker is a year older and he can never get it done against the Ravens, the Steelers main rival. Mendenhall has a score to settle with them, and i believe the Steelers will allow him to do just that.
You're right Andy, The Jets, for inexplicable reasons, APPEAR to not view Washington as a feature back. But I ask you this, where is the big play gonna come from in the Jets offense? T. Jones? Cotchery? The unproven reciever across from Cotchery? Worse yet, a rookie QB? Competent coaching staffs acknowledge such things and plan accordingly, that is why i have faith in Washington. The primary reason that he didn't break out in 08 was that Favre arrived last minute and the pound the ground game plan was turfed to accomadate the old gunslinger. If they have made plans to give Leon the ball a bit more this year, and knowing what he does with it when he gets it, I can't see how they could take him off the field. 900k is a great price for an old back up (T. jones) and Shonn Greene hasn't proved anything. Call me crazy, but it could go down like that
Posted by: Ken MacCulloch | May 26, 2009 10:46 AM
Ken -
You sound kind of like the guy (Jacob Kiniry) who was touting Ryan Grant as his "man-crush" last August.
http://blogs.rotoworld.com/Fantasy_Football/2008/08/the_silent_injury.php?page=1
Posted by: Max | May 26, 2009 03:38 PM
Hey Max, thanks for the trip down memory lane ... looking at the ridiculous comments from that Kiniry kid put a smile on my face:
"But I am sure my team is better that yours that is for sure. I have Adrian Peterson, Peterson, Ryan Grant, Holt, Chad johnson, Joey Galloway, Johnathon Stewart, Jeremy Shockey, Dallas Defense, Favre and Rodgers, bironas kicker, crumpler back up tight end. Donte stallworth and Lamont jordan ... I am also sure this team would beat yours." - Jacob Kiniry 2008.
Classic stuff.
Posted by: Juggs | May 26, 2009 04:35 PM
Steve Slaton blew up as a rookie and they brought no one in to spell him and he falls behind two rookies? Dumb...Plus Jackson at 4 all I'm gonna say is no.
Posted by: Noel | May 26, 2009 05:13 PM
Ken, you're so full of shit it's disgusting. You have no grasp of reality.
Posted by: re: to Ken | May 26, 2009 08:19 PM