8/20 Running Back Rankings

 

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Two weeks are completed officially in the preseason. Fantasy drafts done before now were pretty much tune ups for the ones forthcoming. Throw your outdated fantasy magazine away, and keep coming here for weekly rankings and daily fantasy updates.

 

1. Arian Foster- A couple of seasons ago, Foster was undrafted in most leagues just as he was by NFL executives. Now he is at the top of the list for fantasy running backs.

2. Chris Johnson- One year as Johnson had last year is going to make too many fantasy owners shy away from drafting him above a couple other backs. He has looked like the Chris Johnson we have come to know. Resembling that Chris Johnson would push even Arian Foster off the top spot.

3. LeSean McCoy- McCoy is durable and a safe bet to continue thrashing opposing defenses. He is right up there with Ray Rice in terms of what he can do out of the backfield.

4. MJD- MJD needs to get himself back in the Jaguars team facility. I’m sure he is keeping himself in shape but holdouts have typically been detrimental to running backs. With an improved Gabbert, MJD should even be more of a threat.

5. Ray Rice- Look for Rice’s numbers to dip slightly. The Ravens defense is not as sharp as it’s been, which means the offense will throw the football more. It’s good for the long term protection of Rice, but not what fantasy owners want to hear.

6. DeMarco Murray- Since when has a third round pick stormed the NFL quite like Murray? He was a true surprise. Now at full speed, Murray should continue his destruction.

7. Darren McFadden- Health is a big question mark with McFadden or he could easily be right up there with Foster and Chris Johnson. Having not stayed healthy for an entire season yet, he has to remain a bottom first round pick.

8. Ryan Mathews- Mathews is the back now that people like to put the most uncertainty on. Why? He is a young back with fresh legs, that is coming off a solid year. Young backs with talent such as Mathews usually break in even higher following a year like Mathews had.

9. Michael Turner- Atlanta seems ready to not only take over the NFC South but erase the memory of their wild card loss to the New York Giants. With New Orleans hit with question marks, Atlanta has their foot on the gas to storm by. Turner does not have to be a weekly force with yardage. With the explosiveness of the Falcons offense he is a lock for double digit touchdowns.

10. Matt Forte- He now has his contract, which should have been restructured a few seasons ago. Forte does not seem like the type of back that would decline after getting a paycheck. He has been the Bears offense the last two seasons. Additions of Alshon Jeffries, Brandon Marshall, and Mike Bush should be more to the benefit of Forte than hurting his stats. The offense will be more in sync and lead to bigger plays for Forte.

11. Steven Jackson

12. Reggie Bush

13. Ahmad Bradshaw

14. Frank Gore

15. Adrian Peterson

16. Shonn Greene

17. Marshawn Lynch

18. Jamaal Charles

19. Isaac Redman

20. Donald Brown

21. Doug Martin

22. Ryan Williams

23. Fred Jackson

24. Trent Richardson

25. Jonathan Stewart

26. Darren Sproles

27. Beanie Wells

28. Willis McGahee

29. BenJarvus Green-Ellis

30. Mark Ingram

31. DeAngelo Williams

32. Roy Helu

33. Stevan Ridley

34. CJ Spiller

35. James Starks

36. Kevin Smith

37. LeGarrette Blount

38. Michael Bush

39. Cedric Benson

40. Peyton Hillis

41. Toby Gerhart

42. Keiland Williams

43. Rashad Jennings

44. Ben Tate

45. Daniel Thomas

46. Jason Snelling

47. Robert Turbin

48. David Wilson

49. Kendall Hunter

50. Taiwan Jones

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