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
Yeah. That and Beanie is 1/16th Unicorn.
Posted by: Yosh | May 22, 2009 02:46 PM
very solid rankings.
I think McFadden should be higher but you have sort of addressed McFadden. He's still a great buy low right now.
Here is my one bone of contention. R. Mendenhall. Last year was basically a write-off. They picked him because he was the best talent on the board and didn't really plan on starting him. But its looking fairly certain that they are content to let Willie Parker's contract expire and a quick survey of the team reveals many, many players needing contracts re-upped. Mendenhall looks set to be the starting HB in Pittsburgh in 2010. Let's say, hypothetically, that Mendenhall had been drafted in this draft, would his talent level not put him right there with Knowshon and Beanie? I think the shine has come off Mendenhall a bit but dynasty being projecting what happens next, I have to think that Mendenhall deserves a little more sleeper juice.
Posted by: Captain Obvious | May 22, 2009 02:54 PM
A fractured shoulder after 21 touches tends to knock a player down a few notches.
Maybe it was bad luck. Maybe he'll bounce back and have an awesome year. Or maybe he's Laurence Maroney part 2?
I'd be vary wary of him.
Posted by: theendzoneview | May 22, 2009 03:39 PM
wow... steven jacksons true-believers dont go away easily do they. sjax has never had a dominate season at yet hes been at the top of the list the past 3 years. when will people learn not to expect so much from him
Posted by: scott c | May 22, 2009 03:42 PM
A great example of the problem in these rankings is the new incoming rookies relative to an RB like Kevin Smith - who has just one year in the league.
Smith produced better as last season progressed, posting almost 800 yards and 5 TDs over the second half of the season. He also will be a solid contributor in a ppr league, catching almost 40 passes last season.
Yet he sits ranked at 24 while the likes of Moreno and Wells garnish the end of the top 10. I wouldn't even blink about trading either of the "shiny" new pieces for Smith.
Wells and Moreno are both too high relative to players who have also proven themselves at the NFL level. If you want them in the top 15 or 20, fine - then some other young RBs (like Smith) need better consideration.
Posted by: skip | May 22, 2009 03:47 PM
I dont think all rookies should be behind all vets, but the NFL is a very different monster than college. There is a large learning curve for most players and while there are always a few exceptions, for every Chris Johnson there are 20 guys that will suck those first few years. Relying on rookies is a dangerous practice and any league...
Posted by: Wes | May 22, 2009 03:50 PM
How can you say S-Jax has never had a dominant year? He had 15TDs and over 2300 total yards 2 years ago. He also played great down the stretch last season.
Posted by: Whitey | May 22, 2009 03:51 PM