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
I'm mildly surprised Ray Rice isn't higher. I think he could be a quality starter THIS YEAR, with a bright future too.
Posted by: andy | May 23, 2009 08:54 AM
I too think Chris Johnson is a great talent and should be high in the rankings. But the problem I have with him at 3 is that I keep hearing his "talent" as the reason for his high placement. I agree he is talented, but if that is the main argument then Jackson and Gore should be even higher. They are every bit as talented, and will not give way to a bigger back inside the 10. And while I Johnson made it through the season last year, he has to touch the ball much more to justify this high of a ranking and being as small as he is he will get dinged.
I also believe Kevin smith is someone everyone is sleeping on. He was a productive back for the final 10 games once the Rudi Johnson reclamation project was abandoned. Yds/carry was decent, he scored and finished with pretty good totals overall on what was the worst team in NFL history. And the new coaching staff will run more and have brought in no competition for Smith at all. He has a very good chance at 300 carries with 30 or more receptions. While I don't think the Lions will win a ton of games this season, I do expect the offense to be much improved.
Posted by: Mark | May 23, 2009 11:38 AM
Knowshon Moreno is the back I am definitely targeting in my keeper league this season. I'd love to have Chris Johnson, too, but I know I can't pry him for the happy owner.
There will be a lot of battles in camps this summer as more teams are likely to deploy the dreaded committee approach. For some key RB tandems to watch, check out this new blog post:
http://tinyurl.com/qausy5
Posted by: Henry | May 23, 2009 12:19 PM
One easy comparison to make is comparing new rookies to 2nd year guys. Age is basically the same. I'd take the guys who have been successful and held up to an NFL season (Stewart, Slaton) over guys who have never carried in the NFL and may not have what it takes (Moreno, Wells). Being an NFL RB requires some skills that aren't tested in the college game...so those guys have some potential to be complete busts. At the same time, their career duration if successful is basically the same as the 2nd year guys.
Posted by: Dennis | May 23, 2009 12:35 PM
What is with all the jackasses who keep telling us how brilliant they are and advertising their websites here?
Can you guys delete the posts by these guys please? They take away from otherwise good debate.
Thanks
Posted by: Where are the Pancake Police? | May 23, 2009 01:12 PM
Exactly what would Slaton had to have done in order to get respect this year, catch 50 passes and rush for over 1200 yards while averaging 4.8?
Oh wait...
I just dont understand the knock on this guy and he personally defeated my fantasy playoff hopes last year. He was productive in college and people didn't really want to draft him, and now he has a phenomenal rookie year in the NFL and everyone still expects him to fail...Geez.
Posted by: JR | May 23, 2009 02:56 PM
No Tim Hightower anywhere?
Posted by: Brian | May 23, 2009 02:57 PM