2015 Fantasy Football Preview: Runningbacks

            While fantasy football moves further and further away from the “RB-RB” draft strategy that was popular for years, running back is still the most important position in the game. RB has the most volatility from year to year, and the owner that navigates that the best will have an edge over his or her league.

Tier-1 = Best Bets

  

J.Charles, KC

E.Lacy, GB

M.Lynch, SEA

A.Peterson, MIN

            This quartet has the best combination of job security and possible production. We like Charles the most due to his presence in the Chiefs passing game despite the fact he was nicked up for most of 2014. You can’t argue with any of these four coming off the board first in your draft.

Tier-2 = Would Be in Tier-1, but He He’s Missing Two Games

 

L.Bell, PIT

            Bell would be the number one player if not for the fact he’s missing two games due to suspension. On average he’s going fifth in Yahoo fantasy drafts, but where he goes will vary wildly league to league. Bell was the top scoring PPR runningback a year ago, so there is no way he should slip out of the top-10. If you draft him, you should plan on waiting on either a quarterback or a tight end so you can draft a serviceable replacement for Bell during the first half of September.

Tier-3 = Awesome Second Round Picks

 

J.Hill, CIN

L.McCoy, BUF

C.Anderson, DEN

Jeremy Hill and C.J. Anderson were on a lot of championship fantasy teams last year. If they can translate their second half production from 2014 to a full 16 games, they will make a case to move into Tier-1 next season. McCoy’s hamstring injury gives us reason to worry, but if he’s healthy for Week 1 he’s going to be the feature back in an offense that might set the record for most rushing attempts.

Tier-4 = Brand Names We Aren’t Buying

D.Murray, PHI

M.Forte, CHI

            The Dallas Cowboys showed last year they had no intention of keeping Murray when they force fed him 392 carries. Add in another 57 receptions, and you have a guy who is a strong candidate to break down this year. Matt Forte’s value has been greatly enhanced over the years by his reception totals, which should decline significantly with Marc Trestman out of town.

Tier-5 = Where The Leagues Will Be Won

L.Murray, OAK

C.Hyde, SF

J.Randle, DAL

J.Stewart, CAR

A.Abdullah, DET

M.Gordon, SD

M.Ingram, NO

            Whether you’re in a standard draft or auction league, the owner that can find value out of this group will have a leg up on everyone else. This tier is so important we’ll quickly look at each back individually.

Latavius Murray, Raiders – Here’s a fearless prediction…Latavius puts up more fantasy points this year than DeMarco. We love him at his current draft price (47.4 in Yahoo leagues).

Carlos Hyde, 49ers – Hyde showed flashes last season, and with Reggie Bush merely poaching receptions, Hyde is line for a huge workload. We also love him at his current price (50.2).

Joseph Randle, Cowboys – It feels like Dallas has been trying to hand the starting gig to Randle all summer, but he just hasn’t secured the job. I’m not as high on him as I was a month ago, but behind the Cowboys’ offensive line he’s still a good bet to deliver top-20 value.

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers – After playing second fiddle to DeAngelo Williams for seven years, Stewart finally enters a season as the unquestioned lead back. He delivered solid value down the stretch last year after Williams went down for the season, and in the past has been active in the passing game (47 receptions in 2011). Durability is a question, but for where he’s currently going in Yahoo drafts, an eighth round pick isn’t a bad price for a guy who could be in-line for a career year.

Ameer Abdullah, Lions – Abdullah has been rocketing up draft boards with his stellar showing in training camp and the pre-season. We like him more in PPR leagues than standard scoring, as that ensures he should be start-able on a weekly basis.

Melvin Gordon, Chargers – We aren’t in love with Gordon, but barring injury he’s going to get tons of carries.

Mark Ingram, Saints – Ingram is similar to Stewart, as it finally seems like he’s in line for a starter’s workload over the entire season. His average draft price is a little high for our liking (39.2), but the opportunity is there for Ingram to have his best season in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Tier-6 = Solid, Yet Uninspiring #2s

J.Forsett, BAL

L.Miller, MIA

A.Ellington, ARI

A.Morris, WAS

F.Gore, IND

            It’s a miracle Frank Gore makes it into this tier, but if Ahmad Bradshaw could be a PPR monster while healthy in 2014, why can’t Gore do the same this year? Justin Forsett can be bumped up a tier in PPR leagues, as he’s likely to see a drop in carries couple with a heavy up-tick in receptions with Marc Trestman as the offensive coordinator. Arizona’s improved offensive line gives Andre Ellington some decent buy-low potential.

Tier-7 = PPR Gold

C.Spiller, NO

S.Vereen, NYG

G.Bernard, CIN

            These three will be able to start in PPR leagues every week, which is super valuable if you find yourself playing in a league with 12-teams or more. Spiller and Bernard could deliver standard league value if they are forced into feature back roles.

Tier-8 = Low-End #2s

C.Ivory, NYJ

D.Martin, TB

L.Blount, NE

R.Jennings, NYG

J.Bell, DET

            If you draft Le’Veon Bell, one of these guys should be drafted as your replacement for him the first two weeks of the season. Chris Ivory has looked great during the summer, and has the best chance of this group to deliver consistent weekly value. Rashad Jennings and Joique Bell are starting to look like stay aways as the regular season draws closer.  Doug Martin murdered two of my fantasy rosters last year, but that’ won’t stop me from drafting him late if he’s available in the seventh round.

Tier-9 = Committee Hell

T.Coleman, ATL

D.Freeman, ATL

I.Crowell, CLE

D.Johnson, CLE

D.Cobb, TEN

B.Sankey, TEN

T.Yeldon, JAC

            A couple of guys out of this group will be starting for teams in the fantasy playoffs, but your guess is as good as mine on which ones it will be. Devonta Freeman is the one I like the most out of this group, as his receiving skills should give him the edge on the time-share in Atlanta.

Tier-10 = Rehabbing and Hurt

T.Gurley, STL

A.Foster, HOU

            Gurley is a fun prospect, but the likelihood of him being on a pitch count for most of the year limits his value. Arian Foster is missing at least a month or two, and we don’t like his chances of staying healthy when he returns.

Tier-11 = PPR Bronze

R.Bush, SF

D.Woodhead, SD

            The upside is low, but if you’re in a PPR league and in need of a sub for a bye week, you could do worse.

Tier-12 = Handcuffs

R.Matthews, PHI

T.Mason, STL

A.Williams, NYG

D.Johnson, ARI

A.Blue, HOU

C.Sims, TB

R.Helu, OAK

C.Polk, HOU

D.McFadden, DAL

            If we had to bet on one guy from this group rushing for 1,000 yards in 2015, it would be Andre Williams. You should draft one or two of these backs in the later rounds on the chance they find themselves in a starting role before the end of the season.

When We’re Drafting Them

            We’ll list our rules in bullet points.

-         If No Credentials has a top-4 pick, we are drafting a Tier-1 RB.

-         Le’Veon Bell is the biggest wildcard of the RB group. He should be considered anywhere between 5-10. If you take him, you should plan on using three of your first seven picks on running backs.

-         It would be hard for me to snag one of the Tier-3 backs over a Tier-1 WR, unless I already used a first round pick on a wide out.

-         Unless I end up with Rob Gronkowski, two of my first five picks will definitely be running backs.

-         You should devote the most bench spots to the running back position. RB’s value varies wildly throughout the year, and the more lottery tickets you own, the better chance you have of upgrading another spot on your roster via trade.  

Week 9 NFL Thoughts

            We’re still banning ourselves from picking all but one game this week, but we’re once again running some extended pre-game thoughts you can chew on before 1pm (Eastern) tomorrow.

This Might Be the Most Crowded “Least Valuable Fantasy Player” Field Ever

            For grins and giggles, let’s run through the candidates as chosen from anyone who on average, was chosen within the first 30 picks in Yahoo fantasy leagues.

1. LeSean McCoy (average pick 1.4) – He’s been healthy, but has only scored one touchdown during his first seven games of the year.
2. Adrian Peterson (3.5) – I don’t think we need to revisit his story again.
3. Eddie Lacy (5.6) – Lacy is on pace for 856 rushing yards, which isn’t what you’re looking for with the fifth pick.
4. Calvin Johnson (6.2) – This one is injury related, but Megatron should have ample opportunity to redeem himself if you were able to keep your team in playoff contention while he’s been absent.
5. A.J. Green (12.5) – Ditto.
6. Montee Ball (12.8) – If you drafted your team the old fashioned way, there’s a good chance Ball was your second round pick. He was mediocre before getting hurt, and now will be second on the depth chart after Ronnie Hillman has taken the Broncos offense to another level.
7. Zac Stacy (28.4) - Drafted near the end of the third round, Stacy can be found on numerous waiver wires across the country. After averaging less than four yards per carry in 2013, we should’ve seen this coming.
8. Doug Martin (30.4) – Widely considered a bounce back candidate this season, Martin has been an unmitigated disaster. Selfishly, he’s my choice for this award as I invested in him in not one, but two leagues this year.

         This debate would be much more fun if Peterson wasn’t involved, as he clearly dominates the category. Regardless, it hasn’t been a fun year of fantasy football.

Cardinals (+2.5) over COWBOYS

            We really should sit Romo for this game to ensure we have him healthy for the stretch run. Arizona runs some of the best blitz packages in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, and we’re asking for a season ending injury if toss Romo out there. I’d play Weeden, pound the rock with Murray, and hope Carson Palmer throws four interceptions.

Manning vs. Brady Never Gets Old

            The modern day equivalent of Bird vs. Magic, it’s important to treat every match-up between these two future Hall of Famers as their last. We like Denver to win Sunday not because of Manning, but because of the Broncos dynamic pass-rush duo. We saw how much trouble the Patriots had with the Chiefs earlier this season, and Denver can offer up a similar threat with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

Ben Roethlisberger is the Most Underrated QB in Football

            Big Ben has two Super Bowl rings, won another AFC title, and just became the first person on planet Earth to throw for over 500 yards in two NFL games. He’s a damn good quarterback who doesn’t get nearly enough credit from anyone except Jim Nantz.

We Don’t Like any Double Digit Underdogs This Week

            If I had to choose one this week, I guess I’d give St. Louis a fighting chance in San Francisco.

I Have No Idea Who is Going to Make the Super Bowl

            Parody has been a big deal for a long time now in the NFL, but I can’t remember a season where there was one dominant team and about ten others with a punchers chance at making a Super Bowl run. The playoffs will truly be a complete crapshoot.

2014 NFC North Preview

4. Minnesota Vikings

2013 Record = 5-10-1, Last in NFC North, Missed Playoffs

2014 Schedule = @ Rams, Patriots, @ Saints, Falcons, @ Packers, Lions, @ Bills, @ Buccaneers, Redskins, BYE, @ Bears, Packers, Panthers, Jets, @ Lions, @ Dolphins, Bears

Blue Chippers = HB Adrian Peterson

High Quality Players = C John Sullivan, RG Brandon Fusco, RT Phil Loadholt
Solid Contributors = FB Jerome Felton, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Greg Jennings, DE Brian Robison, DT Linval Joseph, CB Captain Munnerlyn, FS Harrison Smith
Impact Rookies = OLB Anthony Barr (1-9, UCLA), QB Teddy Bridgewater (1-32, Louisville), DE Scott Crichton (3-72, Oregon State)

Good News = They didn’t rehire Brad Childress.

Bad News = Starting in Week 2, they play a five week stretch where they will face Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, and Matthew Stafford. Ouch.

Outlook = With the exception of the improbable Brett Favre year in 2009, Minnesota has featured a mediocre revolving door at quarterback for the last decade. Teddy Bridgewater might be the man to change that, but we likely won’t find that out until 2015, as Minnesota appears set on grooming him on the bench this season. Matt Cassell will be the Week 1 starter, and he could have success with the pieces he has at the skill positions. Adrian Peterson is still one of the elite runningbacks in the game, but one has to wonder how many quality years he has left. Greg Jennings saw his production improve when Cassell was playing as opposed to Christian Ponder. Cordarrelle Patterson has a very long name, and also happens to be one of the most over hyped fantasy assets this season. Matt Cassel isn’t the right guy to take advantage of Patterson’s elite speed. Kyle Rudolph was disappointing last year overall, but like Jennings also performed better without Ponder in the lineup. The offensive line could reach elite status if Matt Kalil continues to improve during his sophomore campaign.

            Defensively is where Minnesota will run into the majority of it’s problems. They gave up more points than any other club in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE last year, and other than defensive guru Mike Zimmer taking over as Head Coach, there isn’t a reason to expect this unit to be any better. Jared Allen left for Chicago, leaving career backup Everson Griffen to fill his shoes. Chad Greenway is a tackling machine when healthy, but it’s unlikely he lasts a full 16 games. Captain Munnerlyn was their key signing for the secondary, but he’s not good enough to transform the entire defense.

Prediction = Peterson will win a game or two by himself, but shoddy quarterback play and poor defense won’t get Minnesota back to the postseason. 5-11

3. Chicago Bears

2013 Record = 8-8, Second in NFC North, Missed Playoffs

2014 Schedule = Bills, @ 49ers, @ Jets, Packers, @ Panthers, @ Falcons, Dolphins, @ Patriots, BYE, @ Packers, Vikings, Buccaneers, @ Lions, Cowboys, Saints, Lions, @ Vikings

Blue Chippers = WR Brandon Marshall

High Quality Players = WR Alshon Jeffery
Solid Contributors = QB Jay Cutler, HB Matt Forte, TE Martellus Bennett, LG Matt Slauson, DE LaMarr Houston, OLB Lance Briggs, CB Tim Jennings, CB Charles Tillman
Impact Rookies = CB Kyle Fuller (1-14, Virginia Tech)

Good News = For the first time since the 1940s, Chicago might finish as the most prolific offense in the NFC.

Bad News = Their defense didn’t get any younger.

Outlook = The Bears are set up to have another dynamic offensive season, but their win total hinges largely on the ability of their defense to at least be average. Last year, they were historically bad, surrendering the most points in franchise history. There were issues at every level of the defense, with the defensive line being the weakest link. Chicago was the worst against the run in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, and produced the second fewest sacks. Julius Peppers and his bloated salary were released, and Chicago replaced him with Jared Allen and LaMarr Houston. They didn’t do anything dramatic to address the defensive tackle position, which could be an Achilles’ Heal. Lance Briggs was the only linebacker who played with any kind of consistency in 2013, and once again will be asked to anchor the defense. Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings are one of the longest tenured cornerback duos in the league, and Kyle Fuller is an excellent heir apparent who will find plenty of playing time in nickel packages. Both safety spots were considered an open competition heading into training camp, and Chicago desperately needs someone to step up in those roles.

            The better the defense plays, the more opportunities an offense that finished second in total scoring will have the ball even more. Jay Cutler has been much maligned, but actually posted his most efficient season to date in 2013. A second year in Marc Trestman’s system should lead to further improvement. Matt Forte set career highs in receptions and total yards last year, and is the perfect tailback for what the Bears want to do on offense. Brandon Marshall has been established as an elite receiver for many years, but it was Alshon Jeffery’s emergence that pushed Chicago to another level offensively. Martellus Bennett wasn’t as spectacular, but also provided solid production not seen by a Chicago tight end since the days of Mike Ditka. The offensive line showed stunning progress from 2012, and with another year of continuity could make the leap to top-5 status by year’s end.

Prediction = We see Chicago as the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC North. There will be many entertaining games, but a weak defense and erratic quarterback play at the wrong time by Jay Cutler will keep the Bears near .500. 9-7

2. Detroit Lions

2013 Record = 7-9, Third in NFC North, Missed Playoffs

2014 Schedule = Giants, @ Panthers, Packers, @ Jets, Bills, @ Vikings, Saints, Falcons, BYE, Dolphins, @ Cardinals, @ Patriots, Bears, Buccaneers, Vikings, @ Bears, @ Packers

Blue Chippers = WR Calvin Johnson, DT Ndamukong Suh

High Quality Players = HB Joique Bell, RG Larry Warford, MLB Stephen Tulloch
Solid Contributors = QB Matthew Stafford, HB Reggie Bush, WR Golden Tate, C Dominic Raiola, DT Nick Fairley, FS Glover Quin
Impact Rookies = TE Eric Ebron (1-10, North Carolina), OLB Kyle Van Noy (2-40, BYU)

Good News = They fired Jim Schwarz.

Bad News = They hired Jim Caldwell.

Outlook = This will be one team that I spend very little time discussing the roster (you can see the names above, they have talent), because everything here has to do with the Head Coach. I don’t really believe in Jim Caldwell (hard to be inspired by a guy who doesn’t blink or show emotion on the sideline), but there’s a chance that anything is an improvement over Jim Schwarz. Detroit has felt like a team playing playground football the past few years with egregious personal foul calls and awful turnovers at the worst times. Caldwell was the Head Coach when the Colts made the Super Bowl in 2009, and also was the play-caller for the Ravens Super Bowl run in 2012. There’s a chance he provides Stafford with enough structure to increase his efficiency, pushing Detroit into dark horse contender status.

Prediction = Dumping the worst coach in football is worth a three win improvement. 10-6

1. Green Bay Packers

2013 Record = 8-7-1, NFC North Champions, Lost NFC Wildcard Game

2014 Schedule = @ Seahawks, Jets, @ Lions, @ Bears, Vikings, @ Dolphins, Panthers, @ Saints, BYE, Bears, Eagles, @ Vikings, Patriots, Falcons, @ Bills, @ Buccaneers, Lions

Blue Chippers = QB Aaron Rodgers, LG Josh Sitton, OLB Clay Matthews

High Quality Players = HB Eddie Lacy, WR Jordy Nelson
Solid Contributors = FB John Kuhn, WR Randall Cobb, RG T.J. Lang, DE Mike Daniels, CB Sam Shields, CB Casey Hayward
Impact Rookies = FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (1-21, Alabama), WR Davante Adams (2-53, Fresno State)

Good News = Ha Ha Clinton-Dix fell into their laps at 21, filling their biggest need on the roster.

Bad News = They were unable to adequately replace Jermichael Finley.

Outlook = It was somewhat of a minor miracle that the Green Bay Packers were able to make the playoffs after Aaron Rodgers missed seven starts due to a broken collarbone. If you prorate the time he played in 2013 over a full 16 games, Rodgers would’ve been on pace for his first 5,000 yard season. Randall Cobb also missed 10 games due to a broken leg, and his return is vital to provide a stable complement for Jordy Nelson. Jarrett Boykin and rookie Davante Adams will have the first chance to fill the shoes of James Jones, who departed for Oakland. Eddie Lacy proved in his first season that he can be a workhorse, and a full season paired with Rodgers could lead to the most rushing touchdowns in the league. The most glaring hole on the Packers offense is the lack of a receiving tight end, as new starter Andrew Quarless is not a dynamic athlete.

            The Packers defense was exposed last year without Aaron Rodgers piling up points on the offensive side of the ball. They’ve already taken a big hit with B.J. Raji suffering a season ending injury during the pre-season. Veteran Julius Peppers was brought in to play a mix of defensive end and outside linebacker, and should ease some pressure off of Clay Matthews. Tramon Williams was a disaster during the first eight games of the year, but while the rest of the defense crumbled during the second half actually performed closer to his level of play during the Packers Super Bowl run in 2010.

Prediction = Assuming a full 16 games from Rodgers, Green Bay will once again be the class of the NFC North. 11-5

Click here to read about the AFC East

Click here to read about the NFC East
Click here to read about the AFC South
Click here to read about the NFC South
Click here to read about the AFC North
Click here to read about the AFC West

2014 Fantasy Football Runningback Ranks

            Our second set of fantasy football pre-season ranks takes a look at runningbacks. If you missed our piece on quarterbacks, click here.

 



Tier-1 = Barring Torn ACLs, Sure Things 

L.McCoy, PHI

J.Chaarles, KC

            Both of these players were Tier-2 guys last season, but have established enough consistency to share the top tier going in to 2014. McCoy is our first pick as of right now, as he should see the ball even more with Philly looking to run more without DeSean Jackson. Chaarles does get the nod in PPR leagues, as McCoy will forfeit a few catches to Darren Sproles.

 

Tier-2 = Next Best Things

M.Forte, CHI

E.Lacy, GB

A.Peterson, MIN

            Matt Forte has been so unappreciated for so long that it would only make sense that the one year he is a possible top-5 pick, he would end up blowing his knee out or something. In PPR, you should bump him into the top tier. Eddie Lacy is the best bet to lead the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE in rushing touchdowns, as he gets plenty of goal-line opportunities in a high-octane offense. The sky is the limit for Lacy if he gets to play his entire sophomore campaign with Aaron Rodgers. Peterson wasn’t bad last season, but his ceiling is lower than the first four backs on this list.

 

Tier-3 = Boom or Bust

M.Ball, DEN

L.Bell, PIT

A.Foster, HOU

D.Martin, TB

A.Morris, WAS

M.Lynch, SEA

G.Bernard, CIN

D.Murray, DAL

Z.Stacy, STL

R.Matthews, SD

            This is where things start to get dicey at runningback, as this eclectic group of runners is filled with both boom and bust potential. This group is so important to fantasy leagues this season that we will cover each back individually.

Montae Ball, Broncos – Based on the opportunity alone, you could make a valid case that Ball should be at the top of the second tier, we’d like to see how he responds to a high volume of work before pushing him into the top-5.

Le’Veon Bell, Steelers – Similar set-up as Ball, but the offense he plays on isn’t quite the same caliber. Pittsburgh has been dying to have a feature back since Willie Parker’s hey-day, so Bell should see plenty of work.

Arian Foster, Texans – A consensus top-5 pick last season, Foster’s season was ravaged by injuries. A bounce back season is certainly possible.

Doug Martin, Buccaneers – See Foster, Arian.

Alfred Morris, Redskins – Of the backs in this group, Morris is the safest pick, but he also has the lowest ceiling as he is virtually non-existent in the passing game.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Lynch has the most carries in the league over the past three seasons, and coupled with some wacky rumors that he might retire, we’re not buying stock on Beast Mode right now.

Giovanni Bernard, Bengals – With The Firm finally being put out to pasture, Bernard should finally crack 20 touches per game on a consistent basis. He has the highest ceiling of any runningback in Tier-3.

DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Murray’s been mocked for his lack of durability, but there’s no doubting that when he’s on the field, he’s effective. Despite missing two games last year, Murray still racked up 1,121 yards on the ground and ten total touchdowns, while also averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. The Cowboys commitment to improving the offensive line has benefited him more than anyone else. There’s a chance for elite production here, just make sure you have plenty of back-ups to cover the high probability that he’ll miss games.

Zac Stacy, Rams – Stacy was a workhorse during the second half of the season, and should be given all the carries he can handle. Our only knock on him was his paltry 3.9 yards per carry, and St. Louis’ inability to punch the ball in on the goal line.

Ryan Mathews, Chargers – Mathews created so much ill-will after destroying fantasy teams nationwide in 2012 that a solid 2013 campaign went largely unnoticed. For Mathews to make a run at Tier-2 status, he needs to reestablish himself as a key part of the Chargers passing game. He only recorded 26 receptions last year after tallying 50 in 2011.

            The reason this group is so vital to fantasy leagues this year is simple. Even in a 10-team league, five guys from this group will be drafted as #1 runningbacks, with the other half of the group providing the top group of #2s. Barring having some real luck with lottery tickets later in the draft (more on that later), these players are the least reliable starters you will draft on your team in terms of range of possible production. Whoever navigates Tier-3 the best will probably win your fantasy league this year.

Tier-4 = Lottery Tickets

R.Jennings, NYG

F.Gore, SF

C.Johnson, NYJ

S.Vereen, NE

R.Bush, DET

C.Spiller, BUF

P.Thomas, NO

B.Tate, CLE

K.Moreno, MIA

R.Rice, BAL

T.Gerhart, JAC

B.Sankey, TEN

A.Ellington, ARI

J.Bell, DET

S.Jackson, ATL

S.Ridley, NE

            Tier-4 is a smorgasbord of PPR kings (Vereen, Bush, Ellington, Bell), players in new places (Jennings, Johnson, Tate, Moreno, Gerhart), veterans who could be over the hill (Gore, Jackson, Rice), and guys who don’t have clear roles (Spiller, Thomas, Ellington, Ridley). If I find myself in a position where one of these guys has to be my second starting runningback, it will be imperative for me to draft as many other backs from this tier for insurance. Rashad Jennings is the safest bet to find himself in a consistent workhorse role every week, while Andre Ellington provides the highest ceiling.

Tier-5 = The Scrap Heap 

T.Richardson, IND

M.Jones-Drew, OAK

B.Pierce, BAL

F.Jackson, BUF

D.Williams, CAR

            While Richardson was a complete disaster last season, he’s the only back in this group I’d consider drafting to see if a turn around is possible.

Tier-6 = Handcuffs



D.Sproles, PHI

D.Freeman, ATL

M.Ingram, NO

T.West, CLE

D.Woodhead, SD

A.Brown, HOU

C.Ivory, NYJ

C.Hyde, SF

D.McFadden, OAK

L.Miller, MIA

R.Helu Jr., WAS

J.Hill, CIN

J.Stewart, CAR

S.Greene, TEN

            Once your starting line-up is set, these are the guys you need to target to fill out your bench. Someone from this bottom group is going to establish themselves as a valuable fantasy commodity before the year is out.

Conclusion = Runningback was starting to look more stable going into last season, but thanks to some untimely injuries and Trent Richardson forgetting how to play in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, we’re back to hard choices and big gambles. If you plan on using an early pick on Calvin Johnson, Jimmy Graham, or a quarterback, you really have to do your homework and draft as many lottery tickets as possible. The more backs you get, the more likely you are to have someone that actually delivers. In a perfect world, both of my starting runningbacks would come from one of the top-3 tiers, but unless you are picking in the middle of the first round, that’s going to be very hard to do. Since runningback is the most position on the board, we aren’t posting a value adjusted ranking list like we did for quarterback.