2013 Fantasy Football: Ranking Top Running Backs for Your Draft

The 2013 fantasy football season is rapidly approaching. We already know that Adrian Peterson is the best running back and quite possibly the best player in the NFL. He will be the first player selected in the majority of the upcoming drafts. Assuming you don't get lucky enough to have the first pick, you need to start focusing on other guys at the running back position.

The first round should be solely dedicated to running backs, as these guys are the prized players who will make or break your team. 

Aside from Peterson, the next best guy out there, to me, is C.J. Spiller. In 2012, he averaged six yards per carry. His production was limited because he split time with Fred Jackson in the backfield. There's a good chance the Bills give him 25 carries per game this year as the backfield belongs to him. Don't forget his great hands and ability to make plays through the air.

We have already seen LeSean McCoy do some damage under Chip Kelly's up-tempo offense early in the preseason. Expect big things from Shady this year, as he will rack up yards on the ground and through the passing attack.

I am not so sure about Jamaal Charles this year. There is no denying the fact that he is one of the most talented running backs in the league. If Andy Reid's offense in Kansas City is anything like what he ran in Philly, there is a good chance Charles doesn't get more than 20 carries a game on average. His ankle strain in practice also brings up a red flag.

David Wilson and Lamar Miller are two guys I expect to have breakout seasons. Both will see increased snaps this year and could flourish with the talent alongside them. Both players are similar, and as long as they continue to improve in pass protection, there won't be much reason for either of their coaches to take them off the field.

Miller's success will also go hand-in-hand with the protection provided by Miami's offensive line. If they can't protect Ryan Tannehill enough to help him use his arm that can make all the throws, the Dolphins will be playing catchup most of the year. This would result in less carries for Miller.

Steven Jackson could be poised for a breakout year, which seems weird to say considering his age. Atlanta's running backs have steadily put up solid fantasy numbers. He didn't have the opportunity to run the ball as much as you'd like a star like Jackson to in St. Louis because the team was always playing from behind. 

Now that Jackson is finally on a competing team, he will get a chance to run the ball more later in games.

Giovani Bernard could be this year's Doug Martin. As long as he can prove he deserves more carries than BenJarvus Green-Ellis, he will be able to showcase his explosive speed the same way Martin did in 2012. 

Mark Ingram may finally get a chance to prove to the New Orleans Saints that they made the right decision taking him with a first-round pick back in 2011. With Sean Payton back on the sideline, look for a potential breakout year from the former Heisman winner

Players I am not high on this year are Ray Rice, Darren McFadden, DeMarco Murray and Maurice Jones-Drew. 

Here are my overall running back rankings for the 2013 fantasy football season.

Rank	Player	Position	Team
1	Adrian Peterson	RB	MIN
2	CJ Spiller	RB	BUF
3	Arian Foster	RB	HOU
4	LeSean McCoy	RB	PHI
5	Doug Martin	RB	TB
6	Trent Richardson	RB	CLE
7	Marshawn Lynch	RB	SEA
8	Matt Forte	RB	CHI
9	Steven Jackson	RB	ATL
10	Jamaal Charles	RB	KC
11	Stevan Ridley	RB	NE
12	Alfred Morris	RB	WAS
13	Frank Gore	RB	SF
14	Ray Rice	RB	BAL
15	Lamar Miller	RB	MIA
16	David Wilson	RB	NYG
17	Reggie Bush	RB	DET
18	Chris Johnson	RB	TEN
19	DeMarco Murray	RB	DAL
20	Le'Veon Bell	RB	PIT
21	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	JAX
22	Darren McFadden	RB	OAK
23	Ryan Mathews	RB	SD
24	Daryl Richardson	RB	STL
25	Chris Ivory	RB	NYJ
26	Mark Ingram	RB	NO
27	Giovani Bernard	RB	CIN
28	Montee Ball	RB	DEN
29	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	RB	CIN
30	Darren Sproles	RB	NO
31	Rashard Mendenhall	RB	ARI
32	Jonathan Stewart	RB	CAR
33	Pierre Thomas	RB	NO
34	Eddie Lacy	RB	GB
35	Ahmad Bradshaw	RB	IND
36	Christine Michael	RB	SEA
37	Kendall Hunter	RB	SF
38	Bernard Pierce	RB	BAL
39	Bryce Brown	RB	PHI
40	Shane Vereen	RB	NE
41	Ben Tate	RB	HOU
42	Ronnie Hillman	RB	DEN
43	Andre Brown	RB	NYG
44	Robert Turbin	RB	SEA
45	Fred Jackson	RB	BUF
46	Vick Ballard	RB	IND
47	LeGarrette Blount	RB	NE
48	Joseph Randle	RB	DAL
49	Roy Helu	RB	WAS
50	Isaac Redman	RB	PIT
51	Mikel Leshoure	RB	DET
52	Ryan Williams	RB	ARI
53	Isaiah Pead	RB	STL
54	Joique Bell	RB	DET
55	Daniel Thomas	RB	MIA
56	Michael Bush	RB	CHI
57	Mike Gillislee	RB	MIA
58	Mike Goodson	RB	NYJ
59	Jacquizz Rodgers	RB	ATL
60	Danny Woodhead	RB	SD
61	Justin Forsett	RB	JAX

Stats courtesy of ESPN.

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