Alright. We’re slowing down to a shuffle with the Free Agency moves. Welcome to day two of the preseason position breakdowns. Let’s take a look at the 2011 Fantasy Football class of running backs. I included a little bit of explanation for a handful of them. And either you guys really enjoyed the quarterback rankings or are a little bit shy. I want some comments people! Tell me what you think about the running back class of the 2011 Fantasy Football Draft. And let me know if you want an explanation on any of the guys. Click the link to read the list...
Follow these links to see rankings of other positions:
Quarterback - Running Back - Wide Receiver - Tight End - Kicker/Defense
1. Adrian Peterson – AP goes number one. He is the most consistent back year in and year out and this year should be no exception.
2. Arian Foster – Blew us all away last year, but I have to question if that will get to his head. Also have to question how the Texans will use him after seeing how they treated top running Steve Slaton just a few years ago.
3. Jamaal Charles – Last season he became their true number one back. I don’t expect him to slow down at all. And now he has another WR to take some pressure off of him.
4. Ray Rice – He’s not this high in most other boards, but I love him in PPR. I also expect more TDs from Rice this season. He’s making a fantasy football comeback and whoever lands him in the bottom of the first round is lucky.
5. Chris Johnson – I think the only reason he is this low on my list is because I think so highly of Charles and Rice. Don’t think that Johnson being number 5 here is any sign of a decline. The only thing going against him is that defenses will be stuffing the box even more this year.
6. Maurice Jones-Drew – Down to six because of injury concern. And again, he has no WRs to take pressure off him.
7. LeSean McCoy – PPR darling. Vick will steal some ground yardage, but expect the same as last year.
8. Rashard Mendenhall
9. Darren McFadden – Another guy who could arguably be higher on the list, but lack of a skilled QB and WR corps drops him. He could see some big numbers in PPR as well.
10. Frank Gore
11. Ahmad Bradshaw – I expect him to become more of a true number one guy after seeing how the Giants didn’t let him slip away. He’ll get the respect he deserves in the 2011 fantasy season.
12. Steven Jackson – Slowly falling every year. There is only so much punishment one man can take. STL needs to land another RB to take some heat off of Jackson.
13. Michael Turner – Will never have the season he did in 2008.
14. DeAngelo Williams
15. LeGarrette Blount
16. Matt Forte – I liked him a lot more before Marion Barber swooped in. Forte will see good numbers and most of the carries, but I have to think Barber will take a lot of TDs from him.
17. Peyton Hillis – I’m going to call last season a fluke. And Madden Curse.
18. Ryan Mathews
19. Felix Jones – Mega-sleeper in PPR. Will still split time but he is by far the most talented Cowboy RB.
20. Knowshon Moreno
21. Jahvid Best
22. Shonn Green
23. Fred Jackson
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – I’m just avoiding the New England running back committee at all costs. They have at least six running backs who will be touching the ball each game.
25. Cedric Benson
26. Ryan Grant
27. Ryan Torain – Being pegged by a lot of fantasy football experts as this year’s sleeper. Until I know the quarterback’s name and see someone besides Santana Moss set up, I’m not going to say it.
28. Mark Ingram
29. Daniel Thomas – Honestly don’t know where to put him. Preseason should tell us how much of a role he and Reggie Bush will play in the Dolphins offense. I expect a pretty even split.
30. James Starks – I like him more than Ryan Grant. I think the Packers will too once Week 4 rolls around.
31. Ryan Williams – If Kolb and Fitz take to the air like we are all thinking they will, it could open up the ground for this relatively unknown running back.
32. Marshawn Lynch
33. Joseph Addai
34. Pierre Thomas
35. Mikel LeShoure
36. C.J. Spiller
37. Brandon Jacobs
38. Beanie Wells
39. Mike Tolbert – Pretty much only a TD guy.
40. Tashard Choice
41. Willis McGahee
42. LaDainian Tomlinson – Preseason will let us know how the Jets will treat him. You would think they stick to the same routine as last year, but we’ll have to look at his legs.
43. Michael Bush
44. Reggie Bush
45. Roy Helu – I like him more than Torain, but it’s probably only because of his name.
46. Danny Woodhead
47. Montario Hardesty
48. Darren Sproles
49. Rashad Jennings – Move him way up the boards if MJD goes down.
50. Thomas Jones – Falling out of Kansas City’s good graces. I expect a heavy workload cut for him.
