Updated Running Back Rankings

Dalton’s Running Back Rankings

1. Larry Johnson
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
3. Shaun Alexander

All three have question marks, yet I still think it’s a huge advantage to have an early pick this year. I also don’t see a huge difference among the big-three.

4. Ronnie Brown
5. Lamont Jordan
6. Tiki Barber
7. Carnell Williams
8. Steven Jackson
9. Edgerrin James
10. Rudi Johnson

I’m one of the few who thinks Barber’s age and total touches risk is real, and when you consider Brandon Jacobs stealing more than a handful of scores, it’s enough to make me pass. Ronnie Brown is the best back to enter the league in years, and although Miami’s O-line is suspect, guru Hudson Houck’s presence should not be taken lightly. Brown will be the fourth most productive fantasy back this year, mark it down.

11. Clinton Portis
12. Willie Parker
13. Brian Westbrook
14. Julius Jones
15. Willis McGahee
16. Chester Taylor

Yes, the Portis injury and subsequent TJ Duckett signing scares me enough to pass. FWP is shooting up my board, as both Pittsburgh’s system and his big play ability could make him worthy of even a mid-second round pick.

17. Reggie Bush
18. Joseph Addai
19. Kevin Jones
20. Warrick Dunn

It’s not a secret that I won’t be joining the Kevin Jones fan-club anytime soon, and it’s safe to say I won’t be drafting him in any of my leagues with this ranking, as he has often gone in the early second round. The dude is a stiff. Bush’s value increases with the Stallworth trade, as he will be even more active in the passing game. While his preseason has been ugly, I still have faith in Addai. He could easily be this year’s difference maker in fantasy leagues. So while there may be more downside than drafting a steady Reuben Droughns, I still recommend going with Addai’s upside.

21. Frank Gore
22. DeShaun Foster
23. Reuben Droughns
24. Jamal Lewis

I’m staying away from Jeff’s unhealthy crush, Jamal Lewis, as well as Droughns. Gore is a great mid-round pick.

25. Corey Dillon
26. Laurence Maroney
27. Mike Bell
28. Tatum Bell
29. Thomas Jones
30. Fred Taylor
31. Wali Lundy

The Denver backfield is a mess, and the most likely outcome will be a split in carries. It wouldn’t surprise if Cedric Cobbs gets a shot at some point. Maroney is my own unhealthy crush, as he’s on nearly every one of my teams this year. No way Dillon lasts the year. It’s Wali’s World and the rest of us are just paying rent.

32. Deuce McAllister
33. Dominic Rhodes
34. Cedric Benson
35. DeAngelo Williams
36. Ahman Green
37. LenDale White
38. Kevan Barlow
39. Jerious Norwood
40. Brandon Jacobs

I’m calling it right now: Jerious Norwood is THE deep sleeper of the year. Warrick Dunn is due to blow a tire, and Norwood has no one to block his way to putting up huge numbers once it happens. Atlanta’s system and Norwood’s impressive preseason mean big time potential. Go ahead and reach for him; I wish I did.

Robby’s Running Back Rankings

1. Larry Johnson
2. Shaun Alexander
3. LaDanian Tomlinson

The Big Three, enough said.

4. Tiki Barber

With Portis’ injury, I consider Tiki the clear choice at No. 4

5. Steven Jackson
6. Lamont Jordan
7. Ronnie Brown

I clearly have high hopes for Jackson this year. The Raiders’ O worries me.

8. Cadillac Williams
9. Clinton Portis
10. Rudi Johnson
11. Edge James

Portis is now a huge first round gamble, but don’t let him slip too far. James is going to struggle this year behind a dismal line.

12. Willie Parker
13. Julius Jones
14. Brian Westbrook
15. Chester Taylor
16. Willis McGahee

These guys are about as valuable as the top tier of wideouts, assuming your league has a flex. Westbrook and Taylor get a slight bump in value in PPR leagues.

17. Kevin Jones
18. Reggie Bush
19. Joseph Addai
20. DeShaun Foster
21. Warrick Dunn

While Dunn and Foster should be the cream of this group out of the gates, Addai and Bush should be peaking around fantasy playoff times. If you’re confident that your team will make the playoffs then go ahead and reach for them.

22. Frank Gore
23. Tatum Bell
24. Reuben Droughns
25. Thomas Jones
26. Laurence Maroney
27. Mike Bell
28. Jamal Lewis

Gore’s stock continues to rise but don’t forget he plays for the 49ers. If you gamble on an unproven back or two early, Droughns makes a great insurance pick. My Tatum Bell pick worries me, but I still feel he has considerably more talent than Mike, although it looks like they’ll both be respectable flex players for the time being. Let someone else (like Jeff) draft Jamal.

29. Corey Dillon
30. Wali Lundy
31. Fred Taylor
32. DeAngelo Williams
33. LenDale White
34. Dominic Rhodes
35. Cedric Benson
36. Chris Brown
37. Kevan Barlow

These are the last backs that I would draft before the top tier handcuffs (Ladell Betts, Michael Bennett, Michael Turner, Ryan Moats, Marion Barber, Michael Pittman and Maurice Morris, in that order) should start going off the board. You are obligated to mock whichever owner drafts Domanick Davis in your league, along with whoever drafts Curtis Martin (way to go Stewart and good job. . . Stewart). The Jacksonville and Tennessee backfields are tossups in my book.

Jeff’s Running Back Rankings

Tier One
1) Shaun Alexander
2) L. Tomlinson
3) L. Johnson

Yes, I am getting off the LJ bandwagon. Would I still draft him in the top three? Yes, in a heartbeat. However, Kansas City’s offensive line woes are enough to propel SA and LT2 above him. If you still are enamored with Johnson’s potential for 2,000 yards, go ahead and draft him, but Alexander is by far the safest pick of the bunch. Tomlinson is pound for pound the best player in football, but Alexander doesn’t have a vulture like Antonio Gates to take away red zone touches.

Tier Two
4) LaMont Jordan
5) Tiki Barber
6) Ronnie Brown
7) Rudi Johnson
8) Cadillac Williams
9) Steven Jackson
10) Edgerrin James

This group is arguable across the board, but I like Jordan because of his high reception totals. Tiki will lose more goal line touches to Brandon Jacobs this season. Steven Jackson always seems to get nicked up and a possible Stephen Davis signing could cut into his TD totals. Rudi is a stud, but he doesn’t offer much in the receiving department.

Tier Three
11) Willis McGahee
12) Willie Parker
13) Clinton Portis
14) Brian Westbrook
15) Warrick Dunn

Clinton Portis’ shoulder injury doesn’t scare me nearly as much as T.J. Duckett’s goal line presence. On the flip side, water bugs like Willie Parker and Warrick Dunn have top 10 potential with respective increases in goal line opportunities.

Tier Four
16) Jamal Lewis
17) Chester Taylor
18) Julius Jones
19) Reggie Bush
20) DeShaun Foster
21) Kevin Jones
22) Reuben Droughns

I must be the last Jamal Lewis apologist on earth. I am still drinking the kool-aid, as Lewis looked great in limited preseason action. The word out of Baltimore is that Brian Billick intended to sit Jamal for the last two preseason games after letting him get his feet wet. Julius Jones will get an adequate amount of carries, but Marion Barber will be a factor.

23) Frank Gore
24) Corey Dillon
25) Deuce McAllister
26) Thomas Jones
27) Tatum Bell
28) Laurence Maroney
29) Joseph Addai
30) Mike Bell

Frank Gore is jumping up cheatsheets and is worthy of a third round pick. I like Corey Dillon from a touchdown perspective, but Maroney lurks in the shadows. However, both NE runners will share touches with Kevin Faulk as well. The Denver RB situation is a mess, as Mike Shanahan is not to be dealt with.

31) Ahman Green
32) Dominic Rhodes
33) Cedric Benson
34) Wali Lundy
35) Kevan Barlow
36) DeAngelo Williams
37) Fraud Taylor
38) Chris Brown/Travis Henry/LenDale White (your guess is as good as mine)
39) Musa Smith
40) Jerious Norwood

Although Green Bay has looked atrocious thus far, Ahman Green has been a quiet surprise, returning from a torn quadriceps. Kevan Barlow runs with less authority than a shopping mall security guard, but I like him better than most players in this tier because he will likely see the most touches. If you happen to grab Thomas Jones/Joseph Addai, make sure you draft Cedric Benson/Dominic Rhodes as well. Burning a mid-round pick on these handcuffs is worth it to protect your running back position. Portis owners would be wise to grab T.J. Duckett in lieu of some of these guys.