Fantasy Football 2012 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs

As training camps are closing in on opening, how do our running-back rankings look?  How has Matt Forte’s contract situation changed his circumstances?  How should we be valuing Adrian Peterson? 

What other running backs have seen their values change tremendously? 

Let’s take a look at our updated rankings and see:

1. Arian Foster—Houston Texans
2. Ray Rice—Baltimore Rice
3. LeSean McCoy—Philadelphia Phillies
4. Chris Johnson—Tennessee Titans
5. Maurice Jones-Drew—Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Ryan Mathews—San Diego Chargers
7. Darren McFadden—Oakland Raiders
8. Marshawn Lynch—Seattle Seahawks
9. Trent Richardson—Cleveland Browns
10. Matt Forte—Chicago Bears
11. DeMarco Murray—Dallas Cowboys
12. Steven Jackson—St. Louis Rams
13. Frank Gore—San Francisco 49ers
14. Fred Jackson—Buffalo Bills
15. Jamaal Charles—Kansas City Chiefs
16. Adrian Peterson—Minnesota Vikings
17. Doug Martin—Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. Ahmad Bradshaw—New York Giants
19. Reggie Bush—Miami Dolphins
20. Michael Turner—Atlanta Falcons
21. Darren Sproles—New Orleans Saints
22. Roy Helu—Washington Redskins
23. Jahvid Best—Detroit Lions
24. Shonn Greene—New York Jets
25. Beanie Wells—Arizona Cardinals
26. BenJarvus Green-Ellis—Cincinnati Bengals
27. Willis McGahee—Denver Broncos
28. Jonathan Stewart—Carolina Panthers
29. Stevan Ridley—New England Patriots
30. James Starks—Green Bay Packers
31. Mark Ingram—New Orleans Saints
32. Toby Gerhart—Minnesota Vikings
33. C.J. Spiller—Buffalo Bills
34. Daniel Thomas—Miami Dolphins
35. DeAngelo Williams—Carolina Panthers
36. Michael Bush—Chicago Bears
37. Peyton Hillis—Kansas City Chiefs
38. Donald Brown—Indianapolis Colts
39. Bernard Scott—Cincinnati Bengals
40. Mikel Leshoure—Detroit Lions

Matt Forte

It’s not to say that I wouldn’t like to own Matt Forte due to his potential, but coming off an injury-shortened season and with the addition of Michael Bush and the potential for a holdout (though talk of this is less of a concern at this point), there is too much risk to consider him an elite option. 

He’s more of a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 entering the year, in non-PPR formats.

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson does offer some risk, especially with C.J. Spiller potentially stealing some of his touches. 

Handcuffing Jackson makes sense, just to be safe, but Jackson showed last season just how good he could be (nearly 1,400 total yards). 

With the majority of the league moving to two-back systems, unless you think Spiller is going to be the top back in Buffalo, there is no reason to shy away from Jackson.

Tim Hightower and Roy Helu

Early word is that it will be Tim Hightower, not Roy Helu, opening the season as the Redskins’ top RB. 

Does anyone truly believe that will last? 

While dealing with a Mike Shanahan running-back situation is always risky, Helu is the option I’d be targeting.

Jahvid Best

Maybe I’m a little too optimistic on Jahvid Best, but all he needs to do is stay healthy for an entire season for us finally to see how good he can be. He’s already shown flashes, especially when he amassed 58 receptions in his rookie season. 

Obviously, in PPR formats, he’s never going to come in this low.

That said, I’d be more than willing to select him as my FLEX option in 2012 in all formats.

Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman

With Rashard Mendenhall out for the early part of the 2012 season, Isaac Redman is the RB to draft first from the Steelers.

Even when Medenhall (out due to MCL surgery) returns, can anyone really guarantee what we are going to get from him? 

In deeper formats I’d stash Mendenhall on the bench, but that’s about it.

New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers Running Backs

Both the Panthers (Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams & Mike Tolbert) and Patriots (Stevan Ridley & Shane Vereen) bring significant risk with them, as we may not know from week to week who will get the bulk of the carries. 

While Stewart/Ridley would be my choices as teams head into training camps, that could change quickly. It makes these options more suited to be low-end FLEXs with upside.

Shonn Greene

Is this the season Shonn Greene finally lives up to the hype?  We’ve been waiting for it year after year, but he just consistently has disappointed. 

I’d try to avoid drafting him as one of your top two options, but as a RB3 he’d be a good get.  

Adrian Peterson

Will Adrian Peterson be healthy for the start of the season?  Will the Vikings ride him as their main back? 

The latter is doubtful, and it’s impossible to answer the first question at this point. 

Time will tell, but you have to draft him with caution.

Make sure to check out our 2012 fantasy football rankings:

• Top 20 Quarterbacks
• Top 15 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Defensive Linemen
• Top 15 Linebackers
• Top 15 Defensive Backs