Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers: Running Back Edition

Risers

Chris Wells—Arizona Cardinals
After the NFL draft it appeared that Wells was going to be embroiled in a three-man race for carries. Now, with Tim Hightower in Washington and Ryan Williams out for the year with a ruptured patellar tendon, Wells is the last man standing. 

Throw in a strong preseason thus far and there is reason to believe that he will finally live up to the hype. 

While I wouldn’t go crazy to get him quite yet, given the constant disappointment he’s brought to owners in the past, the potential is there for success.

His current ADP, according to Mock Draft Central, is 81.04 (or a late-seventh-, early-eighth-round pick). At that spot, there’s no reason not to roll the dice, though I have a feeling that at this point he will no longer be available at that spot (he’s now gone as high as 44, which is a touch too early for me).

Reggie Bush—Miami Dolphins
This one really goes without saying at this point, doesn’t it? No one believed that the Dolphins would actually give Bush a chance at main back duties, but that appears to be where they are heading at this point. 

Daniel Thomas’ mediocre showing (click here for more on why he may simply be the latest rookie running back bust) hasn’t helped, with Bush now looking like a nice pick as a low-end RB2/FLEX. Will it last all year? Probably not, but the opportunity is there.   

Felix Jones—Dallas Cowboys
I touched on Jones in my last running back rankings (click here to view them), but his stock just continues to improve. I know that Tashard Choice will get some carries, but Jones is showing how good he can be when healthy. 

Over the first two preseason games he has 79 yards and 10 carries, meaning he is averaging 7.9 yards per carry. It’s a safe assumption that he’ll get roughly 15-20 touches per game at this point, at a minimum, and with it comes potential top 15 status. 

Fallers

Ahmad Bradshaw—New York Giants
When he re-signed with the Giants, we all kind of figured that things would be similar to what it was in 2010. Bradshaw would be the RB1 with Brandon Jacobs playing second fiddle.

Unfortunately for Bradshaw owners, it may be time to rethink that analysis. 

In the Giants’ second preseason game, Jacobs had six carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Bradshaw had a pedestrian five carries for 15 yards. The split between the two could be a lot closer to 50/50 than anyone initially envisioned, meaning Bradshaw’s value just took a major hit. He needs to be moved down draft boards.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis—New England Patriots
We all know to expect the unexpected from the New England Patriots. While there has been speculation since the end of the lockout about Green-Ellis and a potential loss of value, the fact that Stevan Ridley has produced this preseason makes matters worse. 

Over the first two preseason games all Ridley has done is carry the ball 30 times for 148 yards and two TD. For good measure, he has caught 10 passes for 74 yards and one TD.

I know it's preseason, but still. Throw in a touch of Danny Woodhead and this situation has the potential to get ugly for Green-Ellis. Reaching 1,000 yards again seems like a long-shot and Green-Ellis is a major risk. I would not draft him to be a starting option.

C.J. Spiller—Buffalo Bills
There had been talk that Spiller would get a shot to win the Bills’ starting running back job. Then he went out in preseason Week 2 and tossed out a real stinker (six carries for 10 yards and two receptions for 11 yards). 

Is there really any reason to believe that he can be a reliable fantasy option in 2011? Consider him a later-round flier with upside, but Fred Jackson should hold much more appeal.

Make sure to check out all of the rankings from Rotoprofessor:

• Top 30 Quarterbacks
• To 30 Running Backs
• Top 35 Wide Receivers
• Top 20 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers