2009 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
One thing's for sure, you will need more than one of these running backs if you plan on winning your fantasy football league.
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View my fantasy QB & TE rankings too!
1. Adrian Peterson, MIN - Please do not make a mistake and pass on AP/AD with the first pick. I have never seen a human run the football the way he does.
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - There is some risk involved with MJD, but he has great potential to threaten the 2,000 total yard mark. A must-pick in PPR leagues.
3. Steve Slaton, HOU - Slaton did more on the ground than Forte with fewer carries last year and he is the clear-cut starter from day 1 this season. Don't forget, he is a very good receiving back and he added muscle this off-season to take the licks.
4. Matt Forte, CHI - Don't expect Forte to best last year's yardage totals, but he should see double-digit rushing TDs and an improved YPC.
5. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - Few sniff the end zone like LT, who has missed one regular season game in his career. Expect another 1,600 total yards from him.
6. Chris Johnson, TEN - Johnson has to score from deep because of LenDale White's presence but is didn't prevent him from getting 10 total TDs last year. A great YPC and more receptions should lead to increases production from this burner.
7. Clinton Portis, WAS - The Skins like to run Portis in the ground which is great for his fantasy owners...until an injury comes from it.
8. Frank Gore, SF - In four years, Gore has only played 16 games once, so you will need to draft a quality backup, but when he's healthy, there are few backs who can rack up the yardage like Gore.
9. Michael Turner, ATL - Who faced terrible D last season? Turner. Who faces the NFC & AFC East in 2009? Turner. Who is the most one-sided back in fantasy football? Turner. Who faces the curse of 370? Turner.
10. Steven Jackson, STL - The Rams have nothing around Jackson, so everyone knows where the ball will be going, which can be bad if they don't open up any space for him, but it's hard to turn down a guy facing this many opportunities.
11. Larry Johnson, KC - After two years of turmoil, Johnson has re-dedicated himself to KC, mostly because he wants to impress the new leadership there. LJ didn't rack up 3,500 rushing yards and 37 rushing TDs in 2005-06 because he is average.
12. DeAngelo Williams, CAR - A generous ranking for Williams who faces many of the same teams Turner will, and he has J-Stew to split time with. Let one of your opponents roll the dice on this one-hit-wonder.
13. Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Will this be the year Jacobs plays 16 games? If you think it is then buy, buy, buy because he is a beast. Unfortunately, he can leave owners short-handed because he takes some brutal hits to the legs.
14. Brian Westbrook, PHI - Expect Westy to still be in on the goal-line plays for Philly, so he has good scoring potential. But between the 20's he could lose touches to his new backup, and he carries a serious injury risk.
15. Kevin Smith, DET - The future of the Lions' backfield is Smith and he is getting the action now. Expectations of 1,000+ rushing yards and 10 TDs are not lofty.
16. Ronnie Brown, MIA - With the ball in his hands, Brown is dangerous but his volatility can leave owners yearning for more on down weeks. Don’t overpay for the Wildcat legend.
17. Thomas Jones, NYJ - The Jets are going to pound the ball even more on the ground; they have a very good offensive line and a great line coach. Jones will split some time, but he should still get the bulk of the load.
18. Marion Barber, DAL - Had Barber not been injured last year, he would be a top-10 lock for fantasy, but Dallas is looking to share the wealth in the backfield this year, making him a good but not great fantasy option.
19. Darren McFadden, OAK - Simply electric with the ball in his hands, McFadden will make defenses pay in a multitude of ways this year. The only problem is that Oakland may not get many red zone opportunities, stunting his scoring potential.
20. Pierre Thomas, NO - If you are low on risk, draft Thomas who will lead the Saints in carries this season.
21. Reggie Bush, NO - If you don't mind the risk, go for Bush, because he carries one of the best per-game scoring averages of all the fantasy backs.
22. Knowshon Moreno, DEN - What's this about an injury? Moreno is a fabulous receiving back and although he lacks serious breakaway speed, he can still break long runs. Denver wants to use him as their primary back, but if he can't stay healthy, he will have to share the load.
23. Beanie Wells, ARI - Another rookie who's going to struggle with injuries. If Arizona is going to run the ball, they are going to need Wells to play well.
24. Ryan Grant, GB - The Packers are a pass-first team, and there are several backs in Green Bay looking for some time to shine. Don’t be fooled by Grant's breakout 2007; he's just average.
25. Marshawn Lynch, BUF - The three-game suspension will keep Lynch from jumpstarting your fantasy season and he may take a game or two to get in the swing of things. On the positive, he should be healthy come playoff time.
26. Jamal Lewis, CLE - Old, banged up, and a step slower, but Lewis is still the top back in Cleveland, and he can still rack-up 1,000 yards for your fantasy team.
27. LenDale White, TEN - If you believe the Titans will be within the five yard line a lot this year, go for White. There are rumors that his days are numbered in Tennessee though.
28. Jonathan Stewart, CAR - Stewart will face all of those tough defenses that Williams will, but as the secondary back he may be able to surprise a few of them.
29. Willie Parker, PIT - There may be a passing of the torch soon in Pittsburgh, but until the backups can out-play Parker, he will still be the primary back for the defending champs.
30. Joseph Addai, IND - Still plenty of production left in Addai, but the Colts know now that he is not a solo back. Don't overpay for this former first rounder.
31. Donald Brown, IND - The Colts are looking to win another Super Bowl and they wouldn't have drafted Brown in the first round if they didn't think he was a piece to the puzzle. A great dual-threat option as your fourth fantasy running back.
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34. Julius Jones, SEA - The Hawks are looking to control the flow through the running game, but is there a TD stealer lurking in the shadows?
35. Cedric Benson, CIN - The Bengals are another pass-first team, but they will need to run the ball. On a team of bad boys, Benson can fit in and play pressure-free football.
36. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG - Looking good in pre-season, Bradshaw will have no trouble as the No. 2 in New York and if Jacobs does go down, he will get a premium opportunity.
37. Fred Taylor, NE - The Pats have committed to a "running back by committee" situation, but they will still have a top guy, and that is Taylor. Playing for a ring, Taylor will be extremely motivated late in his career.
38. Ricky Williams, NO - Many teams would love to have a No. 2 back who can run like Williams on their roster. He will be more comfortable with his role in 2009 and still has a few big games left in the tank.
39. Le'Ron McClain, BAL - The running back situation in Baltimore is all mucked up for fantasy owners. McClain is a short-yardage guy, which means goal line opportunities.
40. Felix Jones, DAL - Jones would be a top 30 back if he didn't carry such looming injury concerns. Dallas will continue to integrate him into their offense more and more.
41. Darren Sproles, SD - Not the handcuff to LT that some think he will be, Sproles was franchised because SD had to make sure they had someone backing up their stud. He does have a nice big play potential, though.
42. LeSean McCoy, PHI - How much will the Eagles use McCoy? With how good he's looked in pre-season, they may be using him more than many fantasy owners think.
43. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - Supposedly Mendenhall is entering the season healthy and he will challenge Parker for carries but unless Parker slips up, he may not overcome the incumbent in 2009.
44. Earnest Graham, TB - One of those TD thieves to keep an eye on, Graham can gain good yardage, but his scoring opportunities may be limited on a lowly Bucs team.
45. Fred Jackson, BUF - Expect Jackson to be red-hot entering the year; you may want to grab him in the draft and use him as trade bait towards weeks 2 or 3.
46. Jerious Norwood, ATL - Everything that Turner isn't, Norwood is a very good receiver but don't expect him to steal scoring looks from Turner any time soon.
47. Willis McGahee, BAL - Because of his experience, McGahee should get the important carries for the Ravens, but how much will they baby him throughout the year?
48. Chester Taylor, MIN - Peterson has solidified himself as the top back for the Vikings, but Taylor is a better receiver. Will he lose touches to rookie Percy Harvin, though?
49. Leon Washington, NYJ - The Jets are going to rely on their backfield to move the ball, and Washington's big plays out of the backfield and on special teams are always attractive.
50. Jamaal Charles, KC - Don't expect Charles to seriously challenge LJ for playing time but he's one of the fastest guys in the NFL and a very good receiving option.
51. T.J. Duckett, SEA - Duckett's teammate, Jones isn't small by any means, but when you need one yard, especially on the goal line, who are you going to call?
52. Tim Hightower, ARI - Hightower could start the year as the Cards' starter, but it doesn't mean they have to give him the ball, and it doesn't mean he will finish the year there.
53. Michael Bush, OAK - More of a waiver-wire guy to watch, Bush is one of the rarer talents in the NFL and 2009 could be the time when he finally gets an opportunity to show what he can do.
54. Correll Buckhalter, DEN - If Moreno can't stay healthy, Buckhalter is next in line for Denver, but he is a career backup in the NFL.
55. Sammy Morris, NE - A very versatile back in New England's stable, Morris will never shine like a star, but on any given Sunday, he can lead the Pats in yardage.
56. Laurence Maroney, NE - Will Maroney every bounce back? If he looks good when he gets an opportunity, the Pats may put their former No. 1 back in the rotation.
57. Rashad Jennings, JAX - A rookie not many are talking about, Jennings has the size to get the tough yards, but he isn't the only back fighting for the Jags' No. 2 spot.
58. Maurice Morris, DET - We may not see a one-man show in Detroit, Morris is a good change of pace, and he comes with some much needed experience for the Lions.
59. Shonn Greene, NYJ - Not a speed guy by any means, but Greene has great balance and burst. His opportunities will be limited at first, but he is the eventual replacement for Thomas Jones.
60. Greg Jones, JAX - One of the best rushing fullbacks in the NFL, if the Jags do not like their backup tail backs, expect Jones to fill-in on the short yardage stuff.
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