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Ranking Fantasy Football's Best Running Backs
Authored by Andrew Perna - 16th July, 2009 - 6:42 pm
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In the fifth installment of a seven-part series, RealGM will help you prepare for your upcoming fantasy draft by ranking the best running backs.
It seems as though running backs have been the most important position in fantasy football for centuries, but many are starting to value wide receivers just as much. Drafting a guy like Larry Fitzgerald is never a bad idea, but an elite runner is still the most coveted asset in all of fantasy.
The top of the list has some different names on it, including Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson. In addition, guys like LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook have slid down this year.
Get your handcuffs ready, here’s our take on the best options at running back in 2009.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
If you have the first pick, just do the right thing.
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
Fred Taylor is in New England, which bodes well for MDJ. He’s also more of a threat in the passing game than Peterson.
3. Chris Johnson, Tennessee
The Titans don’t appear to have changed their philosophy; they’ll run more often than not. LenDale White looks to have lost some weight, but Jeff Fisher still likes Johnson.
4. Steven Jackson, St. Louis
He finished 2008 with a strong run after some injury concerns. He managed 1,042 yards and eight total touchdowns in just twelve games. Can you imagine if he stays healthy?
5. Matt Forte, Chicago
He touched the ball at least sixteen times in every game last season.
6. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
Like the Titans, the Panthers love to run the football. They have more tools than Tennessee through the air, but Williams is still a lead back.
7. Michael Turner, Atlanta
Turner came over from San Diego and outperformed the man he backed up, LaDainian Tomlinson, in 2008. However, we see M.T. and L.T. drawing even this season.
8. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego
Tomlinson has another year left, trust us. It’s kind of funny that 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns was considered a “horrible” year.
9. Clinton Portis, Washington
He started a lot stronger than he finished, but so did the entire Redskins offense. If Jason Campbell can put together an entire season, Portis will fare better in the second half.
10. Brandon Jacobs, N.Y. Giants
Derrick Ward is gone, but the Giants will still feature more than one back. With that said, the team’s passing game is in question. Ride Jacobs to double-digit touchdowns for the second straight year.
11. Ronnie Brown, Miami
Ricky Williams has been solid in his return, but Brown is still the lead dog. He just missed 1,000 yards last season, but the Dolphins use him in a variety of ways.
12. Ryan Grant, Green Bay
We don’t understand why a lot of analysts don’t have Grant higher on their lists. He had 1,200 yards and four touchdowns in a second-half heavy effort in 2008.
13. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia
If only this guy could remain on the field all season long.
14. Frank Gore, San Francisco
His carries have gone down in each of the last three years, which isn’t a good sign.
15. Marion Barber, Dallas
His value is in touchdowns, not yards. With that said, Felix Jones is going to put a hurting on both sooner rather than later.
16. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
The suspension to open the season will hurt, as will more passes with Terrell Owens in town, but he’s still a bruising back.
17. Kevin Smith, Detroit
Aside from Calvin Johnson, Smith is the only Lion you should be targeting on draft day.
18. Steve Slaton, Houston
He proved a lot of people wrong last year, which means people will inevitably overpay for him this year. We see him as a mid-range No. 2 option.
19. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
Stewart had fewer carries and touchdowns than Williams, but is solid second option because of Carolina’s propensity to run. He’s also an injury away from being an elite back.
20. Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets
Many rode Jones to a championship last season, us included, but he isn’t going to find the end zone 13 times again in 2009. He posted his fourth straight 1,000-yard season tough.
21. LenDale White, Tennessee 22. Larry Johnson, Kansas City 23. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis 24. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans 25. Ahmad Bradshaw, N.Y. Giants
If Bradshaw can step in Derrick Ward’s role, he’ll be a great second/third option.
26. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh 27. Darren McFadden, Oakland 28. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay 29. Knowshon Moreno, Denver
Beware of the Broncos. Josh McDaniels may be running the show, but he comes from a team that rotates running backs just like Mike Shanahan did for all those years.
30. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland 31. Chris Wells, Arizona 32. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati 33. Darren Sproles, San Diego 34. Reggie Bush, New Orleans
Just skip him altogether. He’s not going to be available as a second/third option. Some goof will inevitably take him in the first four rounds.
35. Ray Rice, Baltimore 36. Willis McGahee, Baltimore 37. Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore 38. Felix Jones, Dallas
See No. 15. Make him a handcuff?
39. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay 40. Fred Taylor, New England 41. Donald Brown, Indianapolis 42. Tim Hightower, Arizona 43. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
The Eagles figure to give McCoy a few touches even when Westbrook is healthy. He’d be a great fill-in for your starter when Westbrook is hurt.
44. Chester Taylor, Minnesota 45. Julius Jones, Seattle 46. Fred Jackson, Buffalo 47. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta 48. Sammy Morris, New England
We try to avoid all New England running backs for the same reason we try to avoid ones from Denver as well.
49. Tashard Choice, Dallas 50. Laurence Maroney, New England 51. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh 52. Leon Washington, N.Y. Jets
A possible holdout lessens his value.
53. Ricky Williams, Miami 54. Michael Bush, Oakland 55. Kevin Faulk, New England 56. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay 57. Shonn Greene, N.Y. Jets
It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s getting the most carries of any Jets’ running back by the time Christmas rolls around.
58. Maurice Morris, Detroit 59. Ladell Betts, Washington 60. Correll Buckhalter, Denver 61. Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh 62. Edgerrin James, Free Agent
Monitor his situation. It’ll be vital to his value.
