BHu's Fantasy Football Primer Pt. 2: The Running Backs

Running back is the most important position in fantasy football. I almost ALWAYS draft the best back on my board in rounds 1 and 2. You can never have too many running backs as they get all kinds of touches, put up points consistently and can be relied upon to carry your team. The most important reason for depth, though, is because running backs tend to get injured. Your average NFL running back has a career of something like 3 years. It makes sense considering they run full speed into a scrum of 10-15 300 pound behemoths in which half of those guys are trying to forcibly separate the running back's head from his body.

The rankings below are based not only on skill, but a running back's system (good offense or poor offense), opportunity (are they a featured back or splitting carries) and health. Health's a big factor and it's the difference between Brian Westbrook being the third or fourth ranked running back and being the ninth running back. Another piece of helpful advice is to try and pick-up your star running backs' back-ups. That way you have another starting running back in Michael Turner after LaDanian Tomlinson blows out his knee in week 2.

(A couple notes on the tiers: Tier 6 is mainly back-up running backs that should still get you some fantasy points if the starter on their team is healthy while the Tier 7 running backs shouldn't get much playing time unless there is an injury.)

Tier 1

1.) LaDanian Tomlinson - Ummm....not much to say here. Won't need to worry about him on your team unless you have the first pick.

2.) Steven Jackson - Ahead of Johnson because there are far fewer question marks.

3.) Larry Johnson - Should be okay for, although there are some concerns.

Tier 2

4.) Shaun Alexander - I'm not as concerned about his injury as others are.

5.) Joseph Addai - Barring a freak injury, Addai is bulletproof in that offense.

6.) Frank Gore - Hugely talented though I think last year was his peak. Also, injuries are a concern.

7.) Rudi Johnson - A very safe pick in terms of a durable, featured back in a great offense.

8.) Willie Parker - Fast Willie is a solid back that should be a pretty safe bet going forward.

9.) Brian Westbrook - In terms of talent, Westbrook should be higher than this, but injuries are ALWAYS a concern with this guy.

Tier 3

10.) Ronnie Brown - Has elite running back talent, but lacks the O-Line and offense to take that next step.

11.) Reggie Bush - Will continue to see his role expanded and this might be too low to rank him, though the presence of Deuce McAllister deflates his value somewhat.
12.) Laurence Maroney - A solid back that played through pain last year and should be a very solid option.

13.) Clinton Portis - If Clinton Portis was reliable, he'd probably be a top 5 back. Instead, I can't see myself drafting him before anyone above him on this list.

14.) Travis Henry - Henry is playing in the right system...unfortunately Mike Shanahan has a way of ruining a running back's fantasy value.

15.) Brandon Jacobs - I think he's perhaps the most underrated running back this year. He's the featured back in a serviceable offense and has tremendous upside.
16.) Maurice Jones-Drew - Jones-Drew would've been a top 10 back if the Jaguars hadn't resigned Fred Taylor. Still could perform like a top 10 back down the stretch when Taylor is inevitably injured.

17.) Cedric Benson - The Bears have a great defense and shaky quarterback which means they should be pounding the ball on the ground all year. If so, Benson stands to be a big factor.

18.) Thomas Jones - I keep giving this guy no respect and he keeps producing. Will get the bulk of the touches in a mediocre Jets offense.

19.) Willis McGahee - I don't think McGahee is that great. But he's going to get a bunch of touches and will have value...just don't expect him to move up a tier with the move to Baltimore.

20.) Marshawn Lynch - Lynch might fall down the rankings if Buffalo does in fact move to a running back by committee approach this year. Pay attention during training camp to see what's going on.

Tier 4

21.) Cadillac Williams - I didn't think Cadillac was THAT good in his rookie season, but he certainly isn't THAT bad as last season.

22.) Deuce McAllister - If Reggie Bush weren't lurking on his team, Deuce would probably be another 5 or 6 spots higher.

23.) Edgerrin James - Could still have a productive season if Arizona does in fact run more. Just don't expect the same numbers from a few years ago.

24.) DeAngelo Williams - Immensely talented back that may lose touches to DeShaun Foster if Foster is healthy and effective.

25.) Adrian Peterson (MIN) - Wasn't drafted to be Chester Taylor's back-up. Has a BIG ceiling but likely won't hit it this year. I'd take Peterson over Lynch in keeper leagues (unless I'm going for a championship run this year).

26.) Julius Jones - Is still more talented than Marion Barber, just loses a lot of value since he's not getting those TDs.

27.) Ahman Green - Not an exciting option but could be flying under the radar in most drafts and could post respectable numbers if healthy.

28.) Jerious Norwood - An intriguing option in that he could be huge if they make him the starter over Warrick Dunn.

29.) Jamal Lewis - Jamal Lewis looks just about done and will be playing behind a poorer O-Line. I still think Cleveland feeds him the ball, though, which gives him value.

30.) Chester Taylor - Minnesota is paying him too much money not to involve him in the offense. Besides, he's still a decent back.

Tier 5

31.) Brandon Jackson - He's ranked here assuming he gets the starting job in Green Bay.

32.) Fred Taylor - Will likely be starting for the Jaguars but will lose a bunch of carries to MoJo.

33.) Marion Barber III - Value was tied solely to TDs last year and he may see a drop in those this year.

34.) Tatum Bell - If Kevin Jones is healthy (I'm doubtful Jones lasts all year), Bell will likely be 2nd string. If Jones is out, Bell should probably be ranked somewhere in the mid 20's.

35.) LaMont Jordan - I think the talent is still here, the question is whether the O-Line is improved and whether the coaching staff wants Rhodes to be the starter when he comes off suspension.

36.) LenDale White - Tennessee's backfield is a crap shoot at this point by White looks to be the (uninspiring) favorite.

37.) Ladell Betts - A must own for Portis owners. I imagine we'll see Betts get his fair share of touches regardless of Portis' health.

38.) Warrick Dunn - The last time everyone wrote of Dunn as being..ummm...done, he had a good year. Mind you that was three years ago and Dunn is getting very old.

39.) DeShaun Foster - Health issues have dogged the talented Foster and now he's battling age and some talented young competition in DeAngelo Williams.

40.) Kevin Jones - Keep an eye on Jones recovery from his injury. If he plays, he'll be much more valuable than this...however, at this point its too risky to draft him much higher than here.

Tier 6

41.) Chris Brown - Another possible option in the Tennessee backfield. The most proven player that has talent but doesn't seem to have the coaching staff's favor.

42.) Dominc Rhodes - Hard to say whether Oakland intends to start him ahead of Jordan or not. Either way, he's not going to provide huge value.

43.) Chris Henry - The final option in Tennessee. Once the backfield situation there shakes out, two of the three will plummet down my rankings.

44.) Vernand Morency - Could be the starter in Green Bay if Jackson doesn't win the job in training camp.

45.) Mike Bell - A must have for Henry owners. Bell might still have lots of value if Shanahan treats his running backs like recent years.

46.) Michael Turner - Will be backing up LT2 so touches will be very limited. A MUST own for LT2 owners.

47.) Reuben Droughns - Brandon Jacobs owners may want to grab him as insurance. May get a decent amount of carries throughout the year.

48.) Leon Washington - Rumour is that the Jets still want to have Washington play a big role on the offence, which would give him some value in fantasy.

49.) Ron Dayne - Ahman Green is pretty fragile and Ron Dayne looks to be next in line for carries.

50.) Tony Hunt - Brian Westbrook will miss some games this year and Hunt might just get the start in those situations.

51.) Adrian Peterson (CHI) - The Bears have mentioned including Peterson a fair bit in their offence. Could play a bigger role if Benson struggles as a starter.

52.) Anthony Thomas - If Buffalo does in fact go with a running back by committee, Thomas looks to have okay value.

53.) Kenny Irons - The back-up in Cincy. Don't forget the Bengals traded Corey Dillon in his prime (right before he began declining) to make way for Rudi Johnson....just saying.

54.) Sammy Morris - New England always seems to get more than one running back involved (and Maroney may be more injured than anyone is letting on). A must own for Maroney owners.

55.) Michael Pittman - Pittman has always been a decent complementary back and should have a smidge of value even if Cadillac performs well this year.

Tier 7

56.) Lorenzo Booker - The back-up in Miami...probably only concerns Ronnie Brown owners.

57.) Brian Leonard - Steven Jackson's back-up, FYI.

58.) Kevan Barlow - Enigmatic back that is backing up FWP in Pittsburgh.

59.) Mike Anderson - Fullback in Baltimore that could see playing time if something happened to Willis McGahee.

60.) Michael Bennett - You've no doubt read about Larry Johnson's heavy workload last year. This is the guy that looks to be his back-up.
61.) Greg Jones - Healthy and may vulture a bunch of TDs ala Marion Barber last year.

62.) DeDe Dorsey - The back-up in Indianapolis. Should mention the Colts usually like involving their back-up/third down back.

63.) Musa Smith - Looked poised to take over for Jamal Lewis early last year but struggled during the season. Stuck behind McGahee and possibly Mike Anderson.

64.) J.J. Arrington - I think Arrington deserves a second chance and may get one if Edgerrin James continues to regress.

65.) Kevin Faulk - Always seems to have a couple of games where he accrues some fantasy value.