Running Back Rankings | December 1, 2008

RUNNING BACKS

TIER ONE

1. Adrian Peterson, MIN | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 100
Simply the most talented player on the field.

TIER TWO

2. Steven Jackson, STL | Age: 25.1 | Value Score: 93

3. #Frank Gore, SF | Age: 25.2 | Value Score: 92

4. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 91
On pace for his usual 14-15 touchdowns and 45-50 receptions despite splitting carries behind an O-Line in shambles.

5. Chris Johnson, TEN | Age: 22.9 | Value Score: 90
Kudos if you got onboard The Hype Train for this special playmaker back in August. The league's top rookie RB is as important to the Titans offense as Brian Westbrook is to the Eagles.

6. Matt Forte, CHI | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 88
Ranked No. 1 right now in many PPR leagues.

7. Marshawn Lynch, BUF | Age: 22.4 | Value Score: 87

8. #Marion Barber III, DAL | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 86

9. Brian Westbrook, PHI | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 85

TIER THREE

10. DeAngelo Williams, CAR | Age: 25.4 | Value Score: 71
A change of pace back wouldn't have three 100 yard performances in the last five games. It's time to consider him a feature back.

11. Reggie Bush, NO | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 77
Missing a stretch of games with a knee injury for the second year in a row.

12. Clinton Portis, WAS | Age: 27.0 | Value Score: 76
Portis presents quite the conundrum. At 117 rushing yards per game, contenders need to ride the hot hand this season. Builders, on the other hand, owe it to themselves to move a RB who will be 28-years-old, coming off a possible 370-carry season, and a career-long history of heavy workloads and violent collisions.

13. Michael Turner, ATL | Age: 26.5 | Value Score: 75

14. #Brandon Jacobs, NYG | Age: 26.2 | Value Score: 74

15. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD | Age: 29.2 | Value Score: 73

16. Ronnie Brown, MIA | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 72
His Ricky Williams problem isn't going away until 2010.

17. Jonathan Stewart, CAR | Age: 21.5 | Value Score: 63
Still an elite talent, but it's becoming more obvious that owners will be waiting until 2010 for him to realize his full potential.

TIER FOUR

18. Steve Slaton, HOU | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 60

19. #Joseph Addai, IND | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 70
Addai's stats in the 15 games since last November 11th: 650 rushing yards on 202 attempts for a 3.2 average. What we have here is far from a RB1, but loyal readers already knew that. Right?

20. Darren McFadden, OAK | Age: 21.0 | Value Score: 62
He's gone from obvious buy-low to major doubts about whether he can stay healthy at the NFL level.

21. Ray Rice, BAL | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 59
Showing off a fine all-around game and giving his coach reason for pause in turning back to Willis McGahee. The future in Baltimore belongs to Rice, not McGahee.

22. [#]Rashard Mendenhall, PIT | Age: 21.2 | Value Score: 55
Is it too early to wonder if he's a bust? He couldn't get on the field until Willie Parker's injury, and now he's roster fodder until 2009.

23. Thomas Jones, NYJ | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 54

24. #Ryan Grant, GB | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 53
Not only are the big plays gone, but more problematic is that he's slipped to the point where he doesn't even catch passes anymore. Steer clear of running backs with no role in the passing game.

25. Willie Parker, PIT | Age: 27.8 | Value Score: 52
This is why Parker has never had stability as a Dynasty asset: he's not a true workhorse. Every time the Steelers realize this, they start taking away responsibilities, first passing game work, then short-yardage work, and eventually the starting job.

TIER FIVE

26. [#]Felix Jones, DAL | Age: 21.3 | Value Score: 40

27. Kevin Smith, DET | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 39
Rod Marinelli runs his team like a high school football coach, which means it took the freshman nine games to "earn" the spot from the senior.

28. Larry Johnson, KC | Age: 28.8 | Value Score: 38

29. Willis McGahee, BAL | Age: 26.9 | Value Score: 36
Losing carries to Ray Rice and in line for a new address in 2009.

30. Derrick Ward, NYG | Age: 28.1 | Value Score: 35
Could be starting in another city in 2009 if Giants feel comfortable with Bradshaw taking over his role.

31. [#]Laurence Maroney, NE | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 32
The shoulder injury closes the books on his 2008 season, and he heads into 2009 as an injury-prone committee back with no role in the passing game.

TIER SIX

32. #Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | Age: 22.5 | Value Score: 24

33. Pierre Thomas, NO | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 23

34. Jamaal Charles, KC | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 20

35. Tim Hightower, ARI | Age: 22.3 | Value Score: 19

36. Jamal Lewis, CLE | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 18
Time to explore younger options.

37. LenDale White, TEN | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 17
Chocoate chip pancakes.

38. Jerious Norwood, ATL | Age: 25.1 | Value Score: 16

TIER SEVEN

39. Brandon Jackson, GB | Age: 22.9 | Value Score: 10

40. Leon Washington, NYJ | Age: 26.0 | Value Score: 10

41. Darren Sproles, SD | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 9
Unrestricted free agent after 2008 season.

42. Fred Jackson, BUF | Age: 27.6 | Value Score: 9

43. [#]Ryan Torain, DEN | Age: 22.1 | Value Score: 8

44. Peyton Hillis, DEN | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 8

45. Le'Ron McClain, BAL | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 8

46. Warrick Dunn, TB | Age: 33.7 | Value Score: 8

47. Chester Taylor, MIN | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 7

TIER EIGHT

48. Kevin Jones, CHI | Age: 26.0 | Value Score: 6

49. [#]Earnest Graham, TB | Age: 28.7 | Value Score: 6

50. Sammy Morris, NE | Age: 31.5 | Value Score: 6

51. Mewelde Moore, PIT | Age: 26.1 | Value Score: 6
Never gets a starting gig, but in two separate trials he's shown that he can be a very productive NFL running back.

52. Cedric Benson, CIN | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 6

53. Julius Jones, SEA | Age: 27.0 | Value Score: 5

54. Justin Fargas, OAK | Age: 28.6 | Value Score: 5
Stinks. Doesn't catch the ball, doesn't receive consistent carries, is in danger of losing his job, and is frequently injured. I've never understood the love here.

55. Ladell Betts, WAS | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 5

56. Jerome Harrison, CLE | Age: 25.5 | Value Score: 5

57. Ricky Williams, MIA | Age: 31.3 | Value Score: 5

58. Cadillac Williams, TB | Age: 26.4 | Value Score: 5

59. #Selvin Young, DEN | Age: 24.9 | Value Score: 5
He's clearly a committee back – the part of the committee that never gets in the end zone.

60. Dominic Rhodes, IND | Age: 29.6 | Value Score: 5
May work his way back into a timeshare with Addai.

61. Tashard Choice, DAL | Age: 23.8 | Value Score: 5

62. Fred Taylor, JAX | Age: 32.6 | Value Score: 5
See Edge. The one-time "Fragile Freddie" is thru as a fantasy factor.

63. Kevin Faulk, NE | Age: 32.3 | Value Score: 5

TIER NINE

64. J.J. Arrington, ARI | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 3

65. Maurice Morris, SEA | Age: 28.7 | Value Score: 3

66. #LaMont Jordan, NE | Age: 29.8 | Value Score: 3

67. #Correll Buckhalter, PHI | Age: 29.9 | Value Score: 3

68. [#]Ahman Green, HOU | Age: 31.5 | Value Score: 3

69. Edgerrin James, ARI | Age: 30.1 | Value Score: 3
I think he comes up just short of the NFL Hall of Fame, but Edge is a first ballot fantasy HOFer. So this is how it ends, not with a bang but with a whimper?

70. Deuce McAllister, NO | Age: 29.7 | Value Score: 3

71. Jalen Parmele, MIA | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 2

72. Xavier Omon, BUF | Age: 23.6 | Value Score: 2

73. [#]Mike Hart, IND | Age: 22.4 | Value Score: 2

74. [#]Kregg Lumpkin, GB | Age: 24.3 | Value Score: 2

75. Gary Russell, PIT | Age: 22.0 | Value Score: 2

76. Jacob Hester, SD | Age: 23.3 | Value Score: 2

77. Chris Perry, CIN | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 2

78. Antonio Pittman, STL | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 2

79. Lorenzo Booker, PHI | Age: 24.3 | Value Score: 2

TIER TEN

80. Rudi Johnson, DET | Age: 28.9 | Value Score: 1

81. Benjarvus Green-Ellis, NE | Age: 23.2 | Value Score: 1

82. Kenny Watson, CIN | Age: 30.6 | Value Score: 1

83. Michael Bush, OAK | Age: 24.3 | Value Score: 1

84. Tatum Bell, DEN | Age: 27.6 | Value Score: 1

85. P.J. Pope, DEN | Age: 24.6 | Value Score: 1

86. #DeShawn Wynn, GB | Age: 24.9 | Value Score: 1

87. [#]Andre Hall, DEN | Age: 26.1 | Value Score: 1

88. [#]Michael Pittman, DEN | Age: 33.1 | Value Score: 1

89. [#]Kolby Smith, KC | Age: 23.8 | Value Score: 1

90. Najeh Daveport, UFA | Age: 29.6 | Value Score: 1

91. DeShaun Foster, SF | Age: 28.7 | Value Score: 1

92. Michael Bennett, SD | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 1

93. Michael Robinson, SF | Age: 25.5 | Value Score: 1

94. Chauncy Washington, JAX | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 1