Great Draft Football

Running Back Rankings 2011
Pre-Draft Rankings

Tier 1
1. Adrian Peterson, MIN – Safest Pick in Fantasy for 2011
2. Arian Foster, HOU – 1 Year Wonder who is now missing Lead Blocker Vontae Leach.
3. Chris Johnson, TEN – Holding out – but the best potential to have REDICULOUS numbers.
4. Jamaal Charles, KC – Haley doesn’t like to play the kid but he’s got the best YPC in the League.

Tier 2
5. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC – An Injury concern but the best player on his team usually still gets it done.  IE: Frank Gore, Stephen Jackson.
6. Ray Rice, BAL – BEST upside of any back, now that Vontae Leach is blocking for him I will pick him early.
7. LeSean McCoy, PHI – Very Potent Offense but Ronnie Brown and Vick will take some TDs away.

Tier 3
8. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT – Stay away from Twitter and he should have a great season.
9. Frank Gore, SF – Best player on offense that can actually get the ball, with Alex Smith still waiting to develop after 7 years?  Gore will Carry the load again…  expect better numbers than his 2010 injury allowed.
10. Michael Turner, ATL – With Julio Jones and Roddy White now.. it might be a Run First team all season, however no one is going to take more than a few carries away from the Burner a game.

Tier 4
11. Steven Jackson, STL – Still the workhorse but with Josh MissHandles running the offense now, they won’t run nearly as much.
12. Darren McFadden, OAK – The OLine is worse than it was but if he can stay healthy he will easily finish in the Top 10, even with Bush getting the leftover carries.
13. Peyton Hillis, CLE – Madden Curse?  Maybe… I just think noone can have 2 good years when they play for the Browns.  Anyone ask Derek Anderson?
14. Matt Forte, CHI – Mike Martz isn’t great for helping with TDs however he will get 14,000 total yards in 2011 if he stays on the field.

Tier 5
15. DeAngelo Williams, CAR – Big contract is a great sign, a crowded backfield and Rookie QB is not… he will be solid, but not a ton of upside here.
16. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG – Best running back on a formerly running team, could finally have a breakout season but there is oto
17. Knowshon Moreno, DEN – John Fox loves a running team – like when Steward and William both had 1000 yd’s and 8+ TDs in 2009.  Moreno was a Top 15 back last year because of lack of competition, this could be the year he puts up 2nd Round Fantasy Numbers after being a 1st Round Pick.
18. Jonathan Stewart, CAR – Could be the lead back in Carolina but not with the money Williams is now getting.  Injury prone and I’m worried this is too high for him.
19. LeGarrette Blount, TB – GREAT upside one of the Top 3 backs during the Fantasy Playoffs last year.  Love him in Rounds 3+ if you can get him.

Tier 6
20. Jahvid Best, DET – Soooooo much potential but he is so fragile.  Give him 15-20 touches max a game and he will be a 15 pt machine with 1 or 2 40+ pt outburts.
21. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE – Too crowded of a backfield in NWE to love him at this point.  Put up great numbers last year… but they drafted to RBs pretty high and that is never a good sign.
22. Felix Jones, DAL – Finally a chance to be a lead back?  Definite upside but he has done nothing to prove it.
23. Ryan Grant, GB – 1st or 2nd Round Pick a year ago and he goes down RIGHT away.
24. Ryan Mathews, SD – Was drafted in a great situation and choked horribly last year.  Could be great this year but Tolbert continues to take away most of his TDs.
25. Cedric Benson, CIN – I could see him loosing his job to Bernard Scott or someone else partway through the year.

Tier 7
26. Fred Jackson, BUF – No upside here, but he’s still holding off CJ Spiller for the lead back role now.
27. Shonn Greene, NYJ – People loved him as a first rounder last year… this year not so much, could be a steal in Round 4 if you can get him.
28. Mark Ingram, NO – Tons of upside, but I can’t depend on a Running Back that Sean Payton plays.  However, if Chris Ivory can put up RB2 numbers in 2010 I could see Ingram doing just fine here.

Tier 8
29. Daniel Thomas, MIA – Miami has no offense and this is the only back in town that could be a lead back, yes that’s a Reggie Bush dig.
30. Marshawn Lynch, SEA – A great 67 yard run last year in the playoffs against the Saints… what else did he do though?
31. Beanie Wells, ARI – Will Beanie Wells step up?  Or will Ryan Williams take his job, too early to tell.
32. Pierre Thomas, NO – Hate him here.
33. Joseph Addai, IND – No upside.  Never been a great back.
34. Ryan Williams, ARI – Could be stud if he can jump over oft injured Beanie.
35. James Starks, GB – Showed he has potential to be way better than Ryan Grant.

Tier 9
36. Mike Tolbert, SD – A touchdown thief who doesn’t want to let Ryan Matthews succeed.
37. C.J. Spiller, BUF – SOOO much potential it is hard to list him this low,  would love to see if he gets a ton of points after Week 5 in 2011.
38. Michael Bush, OAK – He puts up numbers every year, especially if DMC is hurt.
39. Brandon Jacobs, NYG -Stealing TD’s this year should be fun, however don’t expect him to go over 100 yards.
40. Ryan Torain, WAS – Should be the leaders in Redskin Yards.
41. Tim Hightower, WAS – Should be the leader in Redskin TDs.
42. Jerome Harrison, DET – Best can’t stay healthy and Harrison actually put up decent stats in Cleveland before Hillis took over the show.

Tier 10
43. Willis McGahee, DEN – Stealing TDS from Moreno – a very poor mans Jonathan Stewart for John Fox in 2011.
44. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ – Some yards should be left after a good 2010.
45. Ricky Williams, BAL – Stealing Rices TDs should be fun this year, however he should have stayed in Miami.
46. Reggie Bush, MIA – Will get yards but no TDS.  Great in a PPR league.
47. Thomas Jones, KC – Why is he listed as the starter???  Will get some PTs on the Leagues Best Rushing Team in 2010, but really NO upside here.

Tier 11
48. Danny Woodhead, NE – Too many backs but he gets points… Somehow?
49. Montario Hardesty, CLE – With the Curse for Hillis, I love his upside.
50. Ronnie Brown, PHI – McCoy and Vick could steal too many TDS but Ronnie Brown has been GOOD in this league.
51. Darren Sproles, NO – Needs to get a Special Teams TD or 2 and get into good graces with Breesy.

Tier 12
52. Rashad Jennings, JAC – Injury Back.
53. Roy Helu, WAS – Injury Back, still actually think Shanahan likes Royster more though.  Could be the 4th back but a TD vulture.
54. Ben Tate, HOU – Foster goes down? He picks up the slack.
55. Anthony Dixon, SF – Gores handcuff.
56. Shane Vereen, NE – Speed… but never seen him play.  I actually like Ridley more.
57. DeMarco Murray, DAL – Jones gets hurt, Garrett hates Tashard, and Murray gets 800+ yards?  I could see it!
58. Mike Goodson, CAR – 3rd sting back?  Eh… Cam Newton will probably rush for more yards but it Stewart won’t stay healthy I bet.
59. Jason Snelling, ATL – I thought he went to St Louis?  I will have to checkon this.
60. Bernard Scott, CIN – Great for points. No upside though if you can’t beat out Cedric Benson.
61. Toby Gerhart, MIN – AP’s Handcuff.
62. Cadillac Williams, STL – Jacksons Handcuff.
63. Derrick Ward, HOU – No chance…
64. Marion Barber, CHI – TD Vulture for Forte maybe?  Looked good in Preseason.
65. Jalen Parmele, BAL – No idea who this is actually lol.
66. Justin Forsett, SEA – No Return TDs with new rules = drop in value.
67. Donald Brown, IND – Actually some great upside here if he can knock Addai out finally.
68. Javon Ringer, TEN – CJ2k has had contract issues, if he’s out I’d pick up Ringer.  If he’s healthy though, no1 else gets the ball.
69. Tashard Choice, DAL – Jason Garrett hates this man….
70. Brandon Jackson, CLE – Didn’t even know he signed in Cleveland… worthless so far in his career.