Running Back Rankings: February 29, 2008

RUNNINGBACKS

TIER ONE
[100] Adrian Peterson MIN 23.5 - Simply the most talented player on the field
[98] Steven Jackson STL 25.1 - Rams & new offensive coordinator Al Saunders to build offense around multi-dimensional S-Jax
[97] LaDanian Tomlinson SD 29.2 - Have we seen the last of the truly dominant LT2? He may bounce back with a vengeance after all the flack he took for the Pats game, but it's tough to rank him higher at the crucial RB age of 29
[93] Brian Westbrook PHI 29.0 - Money in PPR leagues and still underrated, but injuries are a constant concern; is this offseason the time to flip him for a younger talent before it's too late?
[91] Frank Gore SF 25.2 - Talented, well-rounded, great job security, and in line to haul in a ton of receptions in Martz' offense which saw Marshall Faulk take his game to the next level
[90] Joseph Addai IND 25.3 - Safe call in the Colts offense, but is 300 touches per year his limit?
[89] Maurice Jones-Drew JAX 23.4 - One of the best players in the NFL and averages a TD per game even in limited touches; his time for Westbrook-like domination is coming like a freight train
[85] Marshawn Lynch BUF 22.4 - Should see his role expand on the heels of an impressive rookie season

TIER TWO
[77] Clinton Portis WAS 27.0
[75] Reggie Bush NO 23.5
[75] Larry Johnson KC 28.8
[73] Marion Barber III DAL ^[R] 25.3
[73] #Ronnie Brown MIA 26.7
[72] Willis McGahee BAL 26.9
[68] Laurence Maroney NE 23.5
[66] Ryan Grant GB 25.7
[64] Willie Parker PIT 27.8

TIER THREE
[53] Michael Turner ATL 26.5 - Will be the Thunder to Norwood's Lightning in ATL, meaning Turner will get the early down and short-yardage work but will likely lose some value in the passing game.
[52] DeAngelo Williams CAR 25.4
[50] Jamal Lewis CLE 29.0
[44] Brandon Jacobs NYG 26.2
[39] Ernest Graham TB 28.7
[38] LenDale White TEN 23.7

TIER FOUR
[32] Ahmad Bradshaw NYG 22.5
[30] #Kevin Jones DET 26.0 - Won't be back by Week 1, will be injured quickly as soon as he does come back, and will likely be splitting carries
[29] Julius Jones SEA 27.0 - New starting RB for the Seahawks; now let's see what they do in the draft
[28] Justin Fargas OAK 28.6
[25] Michael Bush OAK 24.3
[25] Selvin Young DEN 24.9
[24] Travis Henry DEN 29.8
[20] Thomas Jones NYJ 30.0
[20] Rudi Johnson CIN ^[x] 28.9
[20] Edgerrin James ARI ^[x] 30.1

TIER FIVE
[13] Jerious Norwood ATL 25.1 - As expected, Norwood won't be given an opportunity to shoulder the load in ATL
[12] Derrick Ward NYG ^(U) 28.1
[11] Pierre Thomas NO 23.7
[10] Chester Taylor MIN 29.0
[10] Fred Taylor JAX 32.6
[9] #Cedric Benson CHI ^[x] 25.7
[9] #Kenny Irons CIN 25.0
[9] #Deuce McAllister NO ^[x] 29.7

TIER SIX
[7] #Ricky Williams MIA ^[T] 31.3
[7] #Ahman Green HOU 31.5
[7] Lamont Jordan OAK ^[x] 29.8
[6] Ladell Betts WAS 29.0
[6] Leon Washington NYJ 26.0
[5] Chris Brown TEN ^(U) 27.4
[5] [#]Cadillac Williams TB 26.4
[5] Lorenzo Booker MIA 24.3
[5] Chris Henry TEN 23.3
[5] Shaun Alexander SEA ^[x] 31.0

TIER SEVEN
[4] #Chris Perry CIN 26.7
[4] Kenny Watson CIN 30.6
[4] Tatum Bell DET ^(U) 27.5
[4] #Sammy Morris NE 31.5
[4] Brandon Jackson GB 22.9
[4] Najeh Davenport PIT 29.6
[4] Dominic Rhodes OAK 29.6
[3] Kenton Keith IND 28.2
[3] Darren Sproles SD 25.3
[3] Kolby Smith KC 23.8
[3] Adrian Peterson CHI 29.2
[3]DeShaun Foster SF 28.6 - Takes small deal to back up Gore in SF
[3] Mewelde Moore PIT 26.1 - Could take over 3rd down & punt return duties in PIT
[3] Musa Smith BAL ^(U) 26.3
[3] DeShawn Wynn GB 24.9
[3] Vernand Morency GB ^[R] 28.6

TIER EIGHT
[2] Tony Hunt PHI 22.8
[2] Gary Russell PIT 22.0
[2] Antonio Pittman STL 22.7
[2] Andre Hall DEN 26.1
[2] J.J. Arrington ARI 25.6
[2] Fred Jackson BUF 27.6
[2] Jerome Harrison CLE 25.5
[2] Maurice Morris SEA 28.8
[2] Michael Bennett TB 30.0
[2] Ryan Moats PHI ^[x] 25.7
[2] Darius Walker HOU 23.6
[2] Ron Dayne HOU ^(U) 30.5
[3] T.J. Duckett SEA 27.5
[2] LaBrandon Toefield CAR 28.0

TIER NINE
[1] Michael Robinson SF 25.5
[1] Jesse Chatman MIA ^(U) 29.0
[1] Warrick Dunn ATL ^(U) 33.7
[1] Michael Pittman TB ^(U) 33.1
[1] Brian Leonard STL 24.6
[1] Dwayne Wright BUF 25.3
[1] Garrett Wolfe CHI 24.1
[1] Jackie Battle KC 24.9
[1] Jason Snelling ATL 23.7
[1] Cory Ross BAL 26.0
[1] Reuben Droughns NYG ^[x] 30.0
[1] Correll Buckhalter PHI ^[x] 29.9
[1] Kevin Faulk NE 32.3
[1] Brian Calhoun DET 24.4
[1] Aaron Stecker NO 32.8
[1] Mike Bell DEN ^[T] 25.4

CHANGES
3/7/08 - Moved DeAngelo Williams up


ROOKIES
1. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - 5'11", 234 | 21.5 ---> 2/27/08: Barring a huge upset, the Texans will use their first round pick on a cornerback, running back or left tackle. Landing a cornerback in free agency would afford the team the opportunity to go running back with the 18th pick. The Houston Chronicle expects Darren McFadden and Rashard Mendenhall to be off the board, but Jonathan Stewart and Felix Jones are possibilities.
2. Rashard Mendenhall, Illnois - 5'11", 225 | 21.2 ---> 2/24/08: Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall unofficially timed 4.37 and 4.43 in the NFL Combine's forty-yard dash. Officially, he ran a 4.45. Outstanding times for Mendenhall, who is apparently ranked as the top running back on some teams' draft boards. Mendenhall is a tackle breaker, so showing he has home run speed as well certainly can't hurt.
3. Darren McFadden, Arkansas - 6'1", 211 | 21.0 ---> 3/5/08: League insiders tell the NY Daily News that "it's looking more and more like" the Jets will take Darren McFadden with the No. 6 overall pick. He'd have to be there, but the smart money is on McFadden not being a top-five pick because of off-field concerns. The Jets are expected to use this draft to upgrade their overall team speed. McFadden would be a start.

4. Ray Rice, Rutgers - 5'8", 199 | 21.7 ---> 2/24/08: Rutgers RB Ray Rice ran an unofficial 4.44 forty at the NFL Combine Sunday. However, he's believed to have tweaked his hamstring on the run. Despite his 5'9/200-pound frame, Rice was highly durable at Rutgers, so this would be an inopportune time for an injury. The extent of the tweak is unknown.
5. Felix Jones, Arkansas - 5'10", 207 | 21.3 ---> 2/24/08: Arkansas RB/KR Felix Jones ran an official 4.47 forty at the Combine. It's not a blazing time like his former teammate, but plenty fast. Jones will likely be drafted late in the first round or early in the second as a complementary back and return ace. He has long-term starting upside.
6. Jamaal Charles, Texas - 6'0", 205 | 21.7 ---> 2/24/08: Texas RB Jamaal Charles officially ran a 4.38 forty at the NFL Combine. Charles had fumbling problems in his college career, but there was never any doubt about his speed. He'll likely be a late second or third-round pick.
7. Chris Johnson, East Carolina - 5'11", 197 | 23.0 ---> 4.24 40 time at combine
8. Kevin Smith, Central Florida - 6'1", 211 | 21.7 ---> 1/6/08: Central Florida RB Kevin Smith has declared for the 2008 NFL Draft. Smith (6'1/211) led the nation in rushing as a junior, finishing 61 yards short of Barry Sanders' NCAA record of 2,628. He showed good receiving skills at UCF, but faced weak competition in C-USA and was used at an alarming rate. Smith had 450 carries in 2007, and it will likely be a concern on draft day.
9. Matt Forte, Tulane - 6'1", 222 | 22.7 ---> 2/24/08: Tulane RB Matt Forte was officially timed at 4.46 in the forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Behind Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Forte may have established himself as the No. 2 pure power back in the draft this offseason. Forte was the MVP of the Senior Bowl in January. One report had him on the Browns' radar.

10. Tashard Choice
11. Mike Hart
12. Steve Slaton