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
Tim Hightower? Where is he? Don't tell me you think that out of shape Beanie Wells will be getting all the touches in AZ, even the goal line TDs?
Posted by: Thomas | May 22, 2009 04:05 PM
While I don't agree with the misguided love for Hightower, he should be on this list. I'd stick him in between Michael Bush and Darren Sproles. End of Tier 6, beginning of Tier 7.
They didn't draft Wells to do nothing this year. They drafted him because they weren't happy with Hightower and/or don't believe he could be the RB they need him to be.
Posted by: theendzoneview | May 22, 2009 04:16 PM
Tim Hightower believers will be cannon-fodder for dynasty champs this year. Newsflash: He isn't good. This just in! Breaking News update: Beanie Wells is very, very good.
Posted by: Captain Obvious | May 22, 2009 04:33 PM
RE: Whitey, those stats seem like ages ago. my point is taht i think he'll always be overhyped, and shouldnt be considered dynasty elite. of course others will not follow that considering his talent, but those same people will be lucky to have him string togeather 3 quality starts in a row. out of the top 5 players, hes my one avoid.
also,
i think we need to make rotoworld all PPR. i love the site but cant stand the rankings becuase they dont factor in PPR. not to say wess is wrong, i agree with most of his points (except i dont see Addai's value falling off a cliff here. yes, hes not elite, but hes not tier 6 trash either. that is the most rediculious rank here) but the PPR factor must be acknowledged. PPR! PPR! PPR! we need more PPR!
people can continue to say what they want about LT but he was only 20pts behind AP last year in a PPR. Now of course he may not produce, but he wouldnt have been the one to lose u a championship last year thats for sure.
Posted by: scott c | May 22, 2009 04:36 PM
also,
most commentors bash CJ and drafting rookies. wow. they must be the same people who passed on forte, slaton and CJ last year for guys like jamal lewis and larry johnson. wow o wow. if the talent is there why not rate them high.. rookie or not. i really dont care about experiece or past production that much. its all about what have u done for me lately, or better still, what will u do for me? thats what equals production. i dont care about sjax puttin up points when s.alexander was dominant. give me what someone will do now. people like him need to be avoided because their value never reaches their rank. f.gore might be a candidate. barber might be a candidate. whats to say their so far off from an addai plummet? they all got significant question marks after lackluster seasons. of course each is different. so draft at ur own discretion.
Posted by: scott c | May 22, 2009 04:43 PM
OMG! Steve Slaton is getting so much disrespect. Did anyone actually watch him play last year? The guy is a stud, why do you think Houston passed on another RB? They guy only had over 20 carries 5 times last year, yet he led all rookies in rushing yards. He rushed for more TD's than Forte and tied CJ with 9. He had more rushing yards, and receptions than CJ, and tied in TD's, yet I see CJ ranked 3rd and Slaton ranked 18th? Slaton doesn't split reps and plays for a more high powered offense. He is a true workhorse this year.
Everyone thinks Slaton is a scat back he proved he isn't. 1,300 on 260 carries along with 50 catches is nuts and he has bulked up. Added 9-10 pounds of muscle and last year he played at 203, so imagine him this year at 212. This guy is getting serious disrespect and I love it, cause I'm going to steal him in every draft I'm in this year. If he plays all year without an injury, he'll be an arguable top 5 redraft pick, and untouchable in dynasty leagues. This guy is a future stud, period.
Posted by: Trickydyk | May 22, 2009 04:44 PM
what? why is anyone debating about tim frigin hightower? what in the world has he done. he was more promise than production, and when he couldnt cut it, i though everyone would move on from him. i guess there as some fans still out there. god help em, especially with wells in the fold. the man can play with one leg and still out play hightower.
Posted by: scott c | May 22, 2009 04:45 PM