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CBSSports.com Presents: Your RB Rankings

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Running backs are still the money makers in fantasy football, that much is clear. The better you can do here, the easier the rest of the team construction is. With PPR leagues becoming more prevalent, you have to do a little more research than you used to, but finding a RB who can give you dual production is a nice, nice, boon. I picked up Ray Rice in the fifth round last year and it was almost enough to get me to the playoffs in spite of my Tom Brady-LaDainian Tomlinson crapfest in the first two rounds.

Star-divide

 

The top of the line RB's by most experts appear to agree on are Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, and Maurice Jones-Drew, with Rice sometimes around the edges of it. After that, we have the two NFC west stars that are young and seem to have been around forever in spite of that: Frank Gore and Steven Jackson. I'm going to go ahead and bypass these guys since we've already been over that.

I like to divide the next group into young (27 and under) and the old, then stay away from the old. If the steadiness of the group is less likely to win me a league than the upside, I'll take the upside. Asides from Michael Turner, who experts put in the Gore-Jackson tier and that I don't, the next expert tier is DeAngelo Williams, Shonn Greene, and Rashard Mendenhall. All three of these guys pass my smell test, I'd go with Mendenhall first since Pittsburgh figures to run a lot more with Roethlisberger out early. Then Greene, then Williams. I like Williams the back, but Williams the guy who shares time with Jonathan Stewart is much less fun.

To cut to the chase, I'd avoid Ricky Williams, Ryan Grant, and Joseph Addai at that point. I think these guys have reached their potential at this point and you're not likely to get anything out of them. I prefer the Jamaal Charles-Chris Wells second year train, and to a lesser extent, the Matt Forte bounceback bandwagon. After those three, I think the next couple of tiers are really even in value. I'm not a Ryan Mathews guy. 

It's kind of a bad year to have a late pick. I'd say that the top four guys are far and away more valuable than the rest of the draft, and the tiers don't drop down fast enough to make up for it down the line. I'd suggest an auction, honestly. Also, I'd avoid the Texans RB's for at least the first five rounds. I think this is going to be a split straight out of the Shanahan playbook.

My favorite sleepers? LeSean McCoy and Donald Brown. I guess that further explains my distrust with Joseph Addai, eh?

And hey, if you've got a distrust for those free leagues and their crummy scoring systems, you'll love CBSSports.com and their Fantasy Football Commissioner League! Completely customizable, terrific setup, the greatness of being under the same umbrella as Shannon Sharpe, what more could you want? Knock on the door and tell them your buddies from SB Nation sent you and you'll get 50% off! Fast real-time scoring updates, a terrific amount of keeper league options, what more could you want in a fantasy league?

If you are a member of BRB's wacky fun league, The Jonathan Wells Memorial League, please be sure to check in to the league. A few of you have received email invites and not even shown your pretty little faces yet. And that hurts me, deeply. 

So how about you, BRB? Which RB's are you pimping this year?

CBSSports.com is an SB Nation partner and paying sponsor of the SB Nation football communities.

This post is one of a series of sponsor-endorsed posts related to the CBSSports.com Fantasy Football Commissioner League.

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I like slaton

To be the best of the texans rbs.

Another guy I think could have a big year is beanie wells

by AllenOU on Jul 25, 2010 11:08 AM CDT via mobile reply actions   1 recs

If we're talking not the top tier...

I like LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles.

I’d probably wait to see how camp battles go before I invest in a CJ Spiller (Buffalo), Montario Hardesty (Cleveland), Jahvid Best (Detroit), or Ben Tate. Although I really think Best could be huge…if he stays healthy.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Jul 25, 2010 1:49 PM CDT reply actions  

Out of those guys I like Hardesty the best

Cleveland can’t throw to save their lives but they’ve got a decent runblocking line.

by riversmccown on Jul 26, 2010 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions  

Only problem with Hardesty

He’ll end up splitting time with Jerome Harrison, and Josh Cribbs running out of the Wildcat will also take snaps away from Hardesty

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.

by The Night Owl on Jul 27, 2010 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yet, he's still #1 on their depth chart, & he shows big flashes near the end of last season

Either way, Hardesty & Harrison will suffer fantasy wise with Cleveland depending so much on Josh Cribbs

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.

by The Night Owl on Jul 27, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

From a fantasy point of view, I wouldn't be sure about Best

Mostly because he’ll be splitting carries with Kevin Smith. I see Best more as a 3rd down back, so from a fantasy perspective I don’t see him doing well, but should he stay healthy he might be a great spell back to Smith & probably be a major threat on a screen pass

I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.

by The Night Owl on Jul 25, 2010 4:06 PM CDT reply actions  

Late round pick....

I see Best getting more play near the goal line because of he’s got better hands, good speed, and a knack for finding the end zone.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Jul 25, 2010 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, missed a few games....

Had a 3.4 YPC, 4 TD season last year…..yet to break 1,000 yards……it’s a RB battle worth watching for fantasy purposes

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Jul 25, 2010 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

i KNow its kinda late

if no one shows up for the other league can i take a spot?

Runningbacks are the biggest positions to gamble on. one year i was loaded the following i was picking myself for fantasy points. hopefully the texans runningbacks help solve the problem.

Feeling the five stages of grief since 2002.

by NoSafetiesNeeded on Jul 25, 2010 4:23 PM CDT reply actions  

A little help? Kinda off topic...

I’m in this keeper league where I have to keep a running back, the problem is that I have 3 #2 backs and no number ones. I have been in all 3 camps at one point, but I’m not sold any way. The 3 dudes are Shonne Green, Beanie Wells, and Jonathan Stewart. Please someone give me some guidance, I am not very smart and need it bad.

by BrownCrayon on Jul 25, 2010 9:11 PM CDT reply actions  

That's tough....

Wells is the clear guy in Arizona, but you have to wonder how Matt Leinart will impact the offense. He should improve on his numbers from last year, but I don’t see him topping 1,100 yards or 10 TDs.

Green should be great, but LT may interfere especially at the goal line.

Stewart’s had 2 seasons of 10 TDs, coming off a 1100 yard season, and Carolina should be run heavy with a younger QB back there but he splits time with DeAngelo Williams (who also had 1,100 yards last season).

Safe bet: Stewart
If I’m feeling risky: Green.

That’s how I see it.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Jul 25, 2010 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'd take Greene

Wells and Stewart are both in committees, and while I agree with DC that Stewart is the best player of the three, ultimately I think he’s going to be a tease while D’Angelo is around Carolina.

by riversmccown on Jul 26, 2010 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions  

Justin Forsett

Great sleeper. Especially if you find yourself late in the draft without a solid RB. He showed great flashes of brilliance last year and this year he should break out.

Daryl Morey's number one fanboy

by xNevermind on Jul 25, 2010 10:28 PM CDT reply actions  

thank you boys for recognizing the lil' guy!

(yes, a whiskey sighting.) haven’t been round these parts in a while… or fieldgulls for that matter. been a busy summer, working on that golf game and hoping ol’ petey can pull something together for us.

You’ll see a lot of grumblings in Seattle that he doesn’t have enough speed, but I think he’ll do just fine.

2nd tier guys? Hmm… aren’t they all, aside from a big couple names up top?

I’m thinking it’s a “pick your poison” year.

I say if you don’t get elite early, don’t even worry about it. Pick a top QB and a WR1, WR1A and WR1B, and two top5 TE’s. Then you reach reach reach reach reach with a bunch of long shots and hope one or two strike gold. If they don’t, so what?!? You’ll just trade that TE2 and WR1B for one of the better alternative options who emerge relatively early.

Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.

by whiskey chainsaw on Jul 29, 2010 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions  

Thoughts on McFadden?

Now that the Raiders actually have a decent QB who doesn’t throw a whole lot of picks that may open things up for McFadden, right?

Or is Michael Bush considered their #1?

I am Sancho

by HoustonTransplant on Jul 26, 2010 12:17 AM CDT reply actions  

Bush is probably my big sleeper.

I think he’s going to be number 1 there, is going to get 1000 yards and 8 TD’s, and they’re making the playoffs behind Jason Campbell.

No, seriously, I’m not joking.

Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.

by whiskey chainsaw on Jul 29, 2010 4:11 AM CDT up reply actions  

Slaton

Is gonna be a steal.

1200 total tds and 11tds

Foster with 760 and 5

Tate with 720 and 4

by AllenOU on Jul 26, 2010 10:21 AM CDT via mobile reply actions  

Yes I have crazy faith in slaton

And Stacey Mack Is whack.

That is all

by AllenOU on Jul 26, 2010 11:03 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Holy fucking shit

While checking to see if I was going to miss any Texans games while on vacation I just found out I’ll actually be in town when they are. Now to convince the wife… DUN DUN DUN

by nolander on Jul 26, 2010 12:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Oo, where?

Daryl Morey's number one fanboy

by xNevermind on Jul 27, 2010 2:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

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