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Fake Teams Consensus RB Rankings

The Fake Teams fantasy football analysts unveil their RB rankings for the 2014 season. Rankings are from each individual analyst with the consensus total and comments from the rankers.

By Brad Coustan
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

After debuting the QBs in week one of our preseason fantasy football coverage, we moved to the RBs in week two at Fake Teams.  You can get detailed RB ranks from Armando here.  We followed that up with Busts and Sleepers.  Now we each take a stab at ranking the RBs through one preseason game - these were put out before yesterday's action.

RB is one of the least predictable positions in fantasy football.  Most draft strategies would indicate that you need to get top tier RBs because the position lacks depth and the position is prone to injury.  Heck - two of our consensus top three RBs have had ACL injuries in the last three years - Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles.

As I was compiling these rankings, I found it interesting how each analyst views the position.  Some draft for safety - proven performers with a track record.  Some draft for upside - rookies who might supplant an entrenched starter because of injury or wear and tear.

Robert Keeley's philosophy is to grab one elite guy then wait on his second RB while picking up some surer things at the WR position.  My philosophy, for those who read my Fantasy 100 columns, is always BPA (best player available) regardless of position.  I know I can't mess up my pick in the first three rounds so I don't lock into a position by position strategy.  If I can't get one of the top four RBs, I am going elsewhere and will build my RB roster through late round depth and upside opportunity.  Jacob Adler thinks the opposite of me.  He says he will always go RB with early picks.  He plans on starting RB, RB, RB in 10 or 12 team leagues.  He is not scared of the older guys.  Jacob feels that Steven Jackson and Frank Gore are more likely to return value than Devonta Freeman or Carlos Hyde.

Which strategy is right for you?  That is why we bring you the best of the best.  You can read the different philosophies and decide for yourself.

Below are the consensus RB rankings from our six analysts.  As a footnote - I have included the top 50.  We asked each analyst for their top 40 and anyone ranked by one analyst and not ranked by another received a "41" for purposes of calculating the consensus rank.

There are comments below from each of us.  Enjoy - and good luck in your drafts!

Jacob Adler Armando Jordan Cable Brad Coustan Brad Duffendack Robert Keeley Consensus
LeSean McCoy 1 2 1 1 1 3 1.50
Jamaal Charles 2 1 2 2 3 2 2.00
Adrian Peterson 6 4 3 3 2 1 3.17
Matt Forte 3 3 4 4 4 4 3.67
Eddie Lacy 5 5 5 5 6 5 5.17
DeMarco Murray 7 6 6 6 5 7 6.17
Montee Ball 9 7 8 8 8 6 7.67
Leveon Bell 8 8 10 7 10 12 9.17
Marshawn Lynch 4 13 7 13 9 9 9.17
Arian Foster 10 12 9 11 7 8 9.50
Giovani Bernard 12 10 11 9 15 11 11.33
Alfred Morris 15 9 14 14 12 13 12.83
Doug Martin 13 11 16 21 14 10 14.17
Zac Stacy 11 14 12 10 16 28 15.17
Andre Ellington 14 17 17 15 11 18 15.33
Toby Gerhart 18 22 15 12 13 16 16.00
C.J. Spiller 21 18 13 19 17 14 17.00
Reggie Bush 16 16 24 17 21 21 19.17
Rashad Jennings 19 24 23 16 25 15 20.33
Ryan Matthews 17 19 18 25 22 26 21.17
Frank Gore 20 25 22 27 19 19 22.00
Joique Bell 27 26 20 18 23 23 22.83
Ben Tate 22 21 26 31 20 17 22.83
Bishop Sankey 33 15 21 20 18 32 23.17
Ray Rice 28 20 29 24 24 20 24.17
Shane Vereen 31 27 25 22 26 27 26.33
Trent Richardson 25 23 27 32 27 29 27.17
Stevan Ridley 32 30 19 26 29 35 28.50
Chris Johnson 23 29 30 41 32 24 29.83
Steven Jackson 29 39 31 41 28 22 31.67
Fred Jackson 24 35 41 29 31 31 31.83
Lamar Miller 37 28 28 28 33 41 32.50
Pierre Thomas 26 31 32 41 41 25 32.67
Bernard Pierce 40 38 35 23 30 41 34.50
Maurice Jones-Drew 36 36 36 33 37 34 35.33
Jeremy Hill 41 33 39 30 35 41 36.50
DeAngelo Williams 30 40 41 41 36 36 37.33
Terrance West 41 34 33 37 41 41 37.83
Devonta Freeman 41 32 38 35 41 41 38.00
Darren McFadden 35 41 41 41 40 33 38.50
Danny Woodhead 34 37 41 41 41 38 38.67
Knowshon Moreno 41 41 41 41 41 30 39.17
Khiry Robinson 41 41 41 34 38 41 39.33
Ahmad Bradshaw 41 41 41 41 34 41 39.83
Mark Ingram 41 41 34 41 41 41 39.83
Shonn Greene 38 41 41 41 41 37 39.83
Bryce Brown 41 41 41 36 41 41 40.17
Carlos Hyde 41 41 37 41 41 40 40.17
Andre Williams 39 41 40 41 41 41 40.50
Roy Helu 41 41 41 38 41 41 40.50
Lache Seastrunk 41 41 41 39 41 41 40.67
Chris Ivory 41 41 41 41 41 39 40.67
Darren Sproles 41 41 41 41 39 41 40.67
Jonathan Grimes 41 41 41 40 41 41 40.83

ARMANDO:  (on Marshawn Lynch) - He's a consistent back that has proven year in and year out he can be counted on.  Some backs like Zac Stacy or Andre Ellington have question marks.

BRAD DUFFENDACK:  (on Steven Jackson) - I project that, if healthy, Steven Jackson can produce as a high end RB2 in this offense as the workhorse feature back.  I am concerned about injuries.  That's why I dropped him down to #28 but I can't continue to pass on his upside at that point.

JORDAN CABLE:  (on Steven Jackson) - If Steven Jackson can stay on the field I believe the Falcons use him as their workhorse and he is likely to reach 10 TDs.  As a reliable pass catcher and good pass protector he will be highly involved in the passing game.

JACOB ADLER:  I am more worried about Adrian Peterson than Marshawn Lynch when it comes to aging and injuries.

BRAD COUSTAN:  My philosophy is to draft guys for upside.  I want to stash players on my bench that may help me win matchups later in the season.  Remember, fantasy football is a week to week proposition.  If Devonta Freeman sits on my fantasy bench for nine weeks and then becomes the starter when Steven Jackson inevitably pulls his hammy, I am starting the feature back in a high octane offense for the rest of the season.  That is why you see my late guys being Freeman, Bryce Brown (who I think is the RB1 in Buffalo by year end), Roy Helu instead of Mark Ingram, Knowshon Moreno or Darren Sproles.

So - lots to digest.  Different strategies and philosophies.  Here's hoping you can find the voice that speaks to you and win your fantasy leagues.  As always, hit me up with comments, emails (iambradstrong@gmail.com) or twitter (@iambradstrong)