Welcome to the "Original" Dynasty Rankings Fantasy Football Blog

This blog was born out of a Dynasty Rankings thread originally begun in October, 2006 at the Footballguys.com message boards. The rankings in that thread and the ensuing wall-to-wall discussion of player values and dynasty league strategy took on a life of its own at over 275 pages and 700,000 page views. The result is what you see in the sidebar under "Updated Positional Rankings": a comprehensive ranking of dynasty league fantasy football players by position on a tiered, weighted scale. In the tradition of the original footballguys.com Dynasty Rankings thread, intelligent debate is welcome and encouraged.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Running Back Rankings | January 6, 2009

*With Week 17 upon us, I'm changing all ages to reflect the first week of the 2010 season.

RUNNING BACKS

TIER ONE

1. Chris Johnson, TEN | Age: 25.0 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 100

2. Adrian Peterson, MIN | Age: 25.6 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 100

3. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX | Age: 25.6 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 99

4. Ray Rice, BAL | Age: 23.8 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 95

TIER TWO

5. Frank Gore, SF | Age: 27.4 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 89

6. Steven Jackson, STL | Age: 27.2 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 89

7. Jonathan Stewart, CAR | Age: 23.6 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 88

8. Jamaal Charles, KC | Age: 23.9 | Value Score: 87

9. DeAngelo Williams, CAR | Age: 27.5 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 85

10. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT | Age: 23.3 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 85

TIER THREE

11. Beanie Wells, ARI | Age: 22.1 | Value Score: 77

12. Knowshon Moreno, DEN | Age: 23.2 | Value Score: 76

13. Michael Turner, ATL | Age: 28.7 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 75

14. Ryan Grant, GB | Age: 27.9 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 73

15. Matt Forte, CHI | Age: 24.9 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 73

16. Cedric Benson, CIN | Age: 27.9 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 70

17. Felix Jones, DAL | Age: 23.4 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 69

18. Shonn Greene, NYJ | Age: 25.1 | Value Score: 68

TIER FOUR

19. Pierre Thomas, NO | Age: 25.9 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 56

20. #Ronnie Brown, MIA | Age: 28.9 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 52

21. Donald Brown, IND | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 50

22. Joseph Addai, IND | Age: 27.4 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 49

23. Marion Barber III, DAL | Age: 27.3 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 48

24. LeSean McCoy, PHI | Age: 22.2 | Value Score: 48

TIER FIVE

25. Brandon Jacobs, NYG | Age: 28.2 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 40

26. Marshawn Lynch, BUF | Age: 24.5 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 40

27. Darren McFadden, OAK | Age: 23.1 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 39

28. Reggie Bush, NO | Age: 25.6 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 37

29. Jerome Harrison, CLE | Age: 27.7 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 36

30. Fred Jackson, BUF | Age: 29.7 | Value Score: 35

31. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | Age: 24.6 | Value Score: 35

TIER SIX

32. Darren Sproles, SD | Age: 27.3 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 28

33. Brian Westbrook, PHI | Age: 31.0 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 27

34. Thomas Jones, NYJ | Age: 32.1 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 27

35. Tashard Choice, DAL | Age: 25.10 | Value Score: 26

36. Willis McGahee, BAL | Age: 28.11 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 25

37. Arian Foster, HOU | Age: 24.1 | Value Score: 24

38. #Steve Slaton, HOU | Age: 24.8 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 24

39. Laurence Maroney, NE | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 23

40. #Clinton Portis, WAS | Age: 29.0 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 22

41. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD | Age: 31.3 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 22

42. Ricky Williams, MIA | Age: 33.3 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 20

43. Chester Taylor, MIN | Age: 31.0 | Value Score: 20

44. Michael Bush, OAK | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 18

TIER SEVEN

45. #Leon Washington, NYJ | Age: 28.1 | Value Score: 12

46. Bernard Scott, CIN | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 11

47. Justin Forsett, SEA | Age: 24.11 | Value Score: 10

48. Cadillac Williams, TB | Age: 28.5 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 9

49. #Kevin Smith, DET | Age: 23.9 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 9

50. LenDale White, TEN | Age: 25.9 | Value Score: 8

51. Tim Hightower, ARI | Age: 24.4 | Value Score: 8

52. Derrick Ward, TB | Age: 30.1 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 7

53. Jerious Norwood, ATL | Age: 27.2 | Value Score: 6

TIER EIGHT

54. Rashad Jennings, JAX | Age: 25.6 | Value Score: 4

55. Glen Coffee, SF | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 4

56. Lex Hilliard, MIA | Age: 26.2 | Value Score: 4

57. Jason Snelling, ATL | Age: 26.9 | Value Score: 4

58. Brandon Jackson, GB | Age: 24.11 | Value Score: 4

59. Willie Parker, PIT | Age: 29.10 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 4

60. Larry Johnson, CIN | Age: 30.10 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 3

61. Correll Buckhalter, DEN | Age: 31.11 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 3

62. Julius Jones, SEA | Age: 29.1 | Value Score: 3

63. #James Davis, CLE | Age: 24.8 | Value Score: 3

64. Mike Bell, NO | Age: 27.8 | Value Score: 3

65. Justin Fargas, OAK | Age: 30.8 | Value Score: 3

66. Sammy Morris
, NE | Age: 33.6 | Value Score: 3

GRAB BAG

67. Cedric Peerman, DET | Age: 23.11 | Value Score: 1

68. Danny Ware, NYG | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 1

69. Mewelde Moore, PIT | Age: 28.2 | Value Score: 1

70. Gartrell Johnson, NYG | Age: 24.3 | Value Score: 1

71. #Andre Brown, NYG | Age: 23.9 | Value Score: 1

72. #Kevin Jones, CHI | Age: 28.1 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 1

73. Javon Ringer, TEN | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 1

74. Kevin Faulk, NE | Age: 34.3 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 1

75. #Ladell Betts, WAS | Age: 31.1 | Value Score: 1

76. #Jamal Lewis, CLE | Age: 31.1 | Value Score: 1

77. Le'Ron McClain, BAL | Age: 25.9 | Value Score: 1

78. Fred Taylor, NE | Age: 34.8 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 1

79. Maurice Morris, DET | Age: 30.9 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 1

80. Leonard Weaver, PHI | Age: 28.0 | Value Score: 1

81. Mike Goodson, CAR | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 1

82. Kahlil Bell, CHI | Age: 23.9 | Value Score: 1

83. Benjarvus Green-Ellis, NE | Age: 25.2 | Value Score: 1

84. LaRod Stephens-Howling, ARI | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 1

85. Ryan Moats, HOU | Age: 27.9 | Value Score: 1

86. Chris Henry, HOU | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 1

87. Mike Hart, IND | Age: 24.5 | Value Score: 1

88. Chris Jennings, CLE | Age: 24.9 | Value Score: 1

89. #Earnest Graham, TB | Age: 30.8 | Value Score: 1

90. Louis Rankin, SEA | Age: 25.4 | Value Score: 1

91. Chris Brown
, HOU | Age: 29.5 | Value Score: 1

92. Quinton Ganther, WAS | Age: 26.2 | Value Score: 1

6 comments:

Tones said...

Did you only rank to to 16 so far or was there a problem?

Charles takes a big jump. Not surprised given his effort the past month or so running behind that offensive, offensive line in KC.

Chris Wesseling said...

I just have to find the time to finish it, that's all.

I debated putting Charles as high as No. 5.

Anonymous said...

FWIW, MJD signed a new contract last year.

-Kitrick

Anonymous said...

I like the list a lot. 2 things:

1. Pierre Thomas is listed as a year too old. He just turned 25 a couple weeks ago. Also, are you expecting his role to increase or is what we see what we get?

2. Not a ranking quibble, but a tiering quibble. Ray Rice in tier 1? Doesn't it seem a little soon to have him among the likes of CJ, AP and MJD? Especially because those guys all get into the end zone far more than Rice. Do you think Rice will begin to get goal-line work? I'm kinda under the impression they don't want to give him those carries as an attempt not to overwork him. When McGahee leaves, wouldn't those carries than just go to McClain?

Chris Wesseling said...

1. Thanks. Made the change on Pierre.

2. That's a good question. I'm working on rankings for Rotoworld right now, and I'm leaning toward putting Rice in the 2nd tier. I don't ever worry about ranking a guy high "too soon." Considering his history at Rutgers, I have no concerns about his goal-line abilities or the Ravens' refusal to use him there this year.

The only thing that is giving me pause on Tier 1 is Cam Cameron. Can we count on him staying as the Ravens' OC for the next 3-4 years?

jmc said...

Rice can hit the home run, catch out of the backfield, and plays for a team that hasn't changed its running philosophy in 10+ years. And he's what, 23? I think tier one is the place for him.

Oh, and ditto about Charles' stock. The Chiefs gave him every chance, and he's proven he can be a three-down guy.