Fantasy Football Composite Staff Rankings: Running Back

by mahoney1213 on Aug 9, 2011 4:43 PM EDT in 2011 Fantasy Football Position Rankings

Next up on the staff rankings is the most volatile position in the NFL, the Running Back. Outside of the top 5, we have so many discrepancies in the ranks. This is due to the dreaded two-headed committee craze that has taken over in the NFL. The top 18 backs on our list have little to no competition for carries (unless injuries arise), while the rest of the field is surrounded by question marks.

Rankings after the jump compiled by the best of the best: TJ Mahoney (mahoney1213), Evan Levine (eklevine), Scott Kaliska (dukeallstar) and Kenny Stein (Humbled Fan).

If you're looking for other rankings, check out Fantasy Rundown, which provides rankings from other sources on the internet.

		TM	EL	SK	KS
1	Chris Johnson, Titans	3	2	1	1
2	Adrian Peterson, Vikings	4	1	2	2
3	Jamaal Charles, Chiefs	1	3	4	4
4	Arian Foster, Texans	2	5	3	3
5	Ray Rice, Ravens	5	4	6	5
6	Darren McFadden, Raiders	8	6	8	8
7	Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars	12	7	5	6
8	LeSean McCoy, Eagles	6	8	10	7
9	Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers	7	10	7	9
10	Michael Turner, Falcons	11	12	9	13
11	Frank Gore, 49ers	9	9	13	16
12	Matt Forte, Bears	13	11	14	12
13	Steven Jackson, Rams	14	13	12	11
14	Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants	15	15	15	14
15	Peyton Hillis, Browns	24	14	11	10
16	Knowshon Moreno, Broncos	17	16	17	17
17	LeGarrette Blount, Bucs	20	19	16	20
18	Shonn Greene, Jets	10	21	27	24
19	Ryan Mathews, Chargers	21	28	19	18
20	Felix Jones, Cowboys	22	25	23	21
21	Fred Jackson, Bills	25	17	29	25
22	Cedric Benson, Bengals	31	22	25	19
23	Mark Ingram, Saints	19	30	28	22
24	Jonathan Stewart, Panthers	23	27	20	29
25	Jahvid Best, Lions	16	32	31	23
26	Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks	29	26	22	26
27	DeAngelo Williams, Panthers	18	20	18	-
28	Joseph Addai, Colts	32	24	26	32
29	Daniel Thomas, Dolphins	27	18	-	30
30	Ryan Grant, Packers	28	23	-	27
31	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots	-	-	21	15
32	Brandon Jacobs, Giants	-	31	24	-
33	Ryan Torain, Redskins	-	-	30	28
34	Pierre Thomas, Saints	-	29	32	-
35	Beanie Wells, Cardinals	26	-	-	-
36	Roy Helu, Redskins	30	-	-	-
37	Ryan Williams, Cardinals	-	-	-	31

My 2 cents: As evidenced above, clearly not many backs can be trusted. 2011 is the year to own a top-5 pick. Any of the backs in the top 5 can make a case for the # 1 overall pick. CJ2K has a new head coach (former O-Line Coach) with a heavy focus on the run, AP is AP, Jamaal Charles becomes the lead back in K.C., Arian Foster was the # 1 player in fantasy in 2010, and Ray Rice has replaced TD-vulture Willis McGahee with top-blocking fullback Vonta Leach to create holes for him.

Outside of the top-5 picks, I'd feel comfortable with a top-flight Wide Receiver, a McFadden or a Mendenhall, and then stockpile RB's in the middle and end of the draft.

Love it? Hate it? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Poll

Which Running Back is unlikely to repeat his 2010 performance?

Peyton Hillis, Browns

77 votes

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots

114 votes

LeGarrette Blount, Bucs

50 votes

241 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Good rankings.

My only comment is that at least one of the backs in the top 18 will have some competition – I’ve heard the Broncos don’t really see Knowshon Moreno as a feature back, and McGahee has looked good in camp.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!

by KeepItCopacetic on Aug 14, 2011 2:36 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs