Running Back Rankings | October 30, 2008

RUNNING BACKS

TIER ONE

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

2. #Steven Jackson, STL | Age: 25.1 | Value Score: 97
As Ronnie Brown proved in the first half of 2007, elite running back talents can succeed on poor teams.

3. Chris Johnson, TEN | Age: 22.9 | Value Score: 97
See here for explanation of high ranking.

TIER TWO

4. Frank Gore, SF | Age: 25.2 | Value Score: 91

5. Brian Westbrook, PHI | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 91

6. Marion Barber III, DAL | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 88

7. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX | Age: 23.4 | Value Score: 86
Fred Taylor recently acknowledged that MJD's time is now, but more importantly it's obvious that the Jags see him as the feature back in the post-Taylor era. He's due for more consistent carries.

8. Marshawn Lynch, BUF | Age: 22.4 | Value Score: 85

9. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD | Age: 29.2 | Value Score: 85
The ominous signs are coming like traps in a Freddy Krueger movie: Father Time fast approaching with age 30 on the horizon, 3,000 career touches, the toe injury, an offensive line not blocking well, and no indication that the season will turn around any time soon.

10. Clinton Portis, WAS | Age: 27.0 | Value Score: 84
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.

TIER THREE

11. Ronnie Brown, MIA | Age: 26.7 | Value Score: 77
We knew ACL surgeries weren't the death sentence they used to be, but it now appears that they're merely a minor setback. Running with impressive power and patience, it's obvious that Brown is the fulcrum of the Dolphins offense.

12. #Reggie Bush, NO | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 75
Missing a stretch of games with a knee injury for the second year in a row.

13. Matt Forte, CHI | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 74
Dwindling yards per carry and heavy workload slightly disconcerting.

14. Jonathan Stewart, CAR | Age: 21.5 | Value Score: 74
Still an elite talent, but it's becoming more obvious that owners will be waiting until 2010 for him to realize his full potential.

15. Joseph Addai, IND | Age: 25.3 | Value Score: 73

16. Michael Turner, ATL | Age: 26.5 | Value Score: 71
Running backs who don't catch the ball have an awfully hard time producing consistently.

17. Brandon Jacobs, NYG | Age: 26.2 | Value Score: 70
The quality of the Giants backups make Jacobs' value a tricky one to judge on a weekly basis. Juggernaut performances like Week 5 help put the doubts to rest.

18. #Darren McFadden, OAK | Age: 21.0 | Value Score: 69
Time to buy if you believe if the talent.

TIER FOUR

19. Ray Rice, BAL | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 56
Willis McGahee better stay healthy if he knows what's good for him. In the meantime, Rice will try to carve out a poor man's MJD role for himself in the Ravens offense.

20. Tim Hightower, ARI | Age: 22.3 | Value Score: 55
Hightower clearly offers the Cardinals offense more than Edgerrin James does, and Week 6 marked the first time the rookie got more touches than the pedestrian vet.

21. Steve Slaton, HOU | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 54
I've remained skeptical all along that Slaton will ever be a RB that can sustain a rushing attack. Now he's in a virtual rotation with Ahman Green. If you haven't sold sky high, there may still be time to do so after the Bengals game Sunday.

22. DeAngelo Williams, CAR | Age: 25.4 | Value Score: 52

23. 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.

24. Ryan Grant, GB | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 50
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.

TIER FIVE

25. [#]Rashard Mendenhall, PIT | Age: 21.2 | Value Score: 42
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.

26. Jamal Lewis, CLE | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 41

27. #Willis McGahee, BAL | Age: 26.9 | Value Score: 40
Coming off his best game of the season, can he finally put Le'Ron McClain and Ray Rice at bay? I'd be selling high after this week's game against the Raiders.

28. #Felix Jones, DAL | Age: 21.3 | Value Score: 40

29. Ryan Torain, DEN | Age: 22.1 | Value Score: 38

30. Kevin Smith, DET | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 37
Expect to see more of Smith and less of Rudi Johnson in the second half of the season.

31. *Larry Johnson, KC | Age: 28.8 | Value Score: 35

TIER SIX

32. [#]Laurence Maroney, NE | Age: 23.5 | Value Score: 25
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.

33. Jamaal Charles, KC | Age: 21.7 | Value Score: 25

34. Earnest Graham, TB | Age: 28.7 | Value Score: 24

35. Thomas Jones, NYJ | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 24
Sell high!

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

37. Derrick Ward, NYG | Age: 28.1 | Value Score: 19
Underrated, well-rounded backup.

38. Cedric Benson, CIN | Age: 25.7 | Value Score: 18
Even against a stout Steelers defense, he was considerably more impressive than Chris Perry has been.

39. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG | Age: 22.5 | Value Score: 17

TIER SEVEN

40. #Selvin Young, DEN | Age: 24.9 | Value Score: 12
He's clearly a committee back – the part of the committee that never gets in the end zone.

41. Jerious Norwood, ATL | Age: 25.1 | Value Score: 11

42. Michael Bush, OAK | Age: 24.3 | Value Score: 11

43. Kevin Jones, CHI | Age: 26.0 | Value Score: 10

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

45. Pierre Thomas, NO | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 9
Keep him stashed, but Deuce's return certainly diminishes his value.

46. Fred Jackson, BUF | Age: 27.6 | Value Score: 8

47. Julius Jones, SEA | Age: 27.0 | Value Score: 8
Already back to a committee attack, and now he's unleashing sideline rants against the Big Show. Bad idea.

48. #Sammy Morris, NE | Age: 31.5 | Value Score: 8
Most valuable 2008 asset in the Pats committee backfield?

49. #LaMont Jordan, NE | Age: 29.8 | Value Score: 7

50. Deuce McAllister, NO | Age: 29.7 | Value Score: 7

51. Chester Taylor, MIN | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 6
As valuable of a pure backup as any RB in the league, Taylor is still most valuable to Adrian Peterson owners; won't be a free agent until after the '09 season when he'll be almost 31-years-old.

52. Maurice Morris, SEA | Age: 28.7 | Value Score: 6

53. Justin Fargas, OAK | Age: 28.6 | Value Score: 6

54. Leon Washington, NYJ | Age: 26.0 | Value Score: 6
A homerun hitter, but just not physical enough to ever be more than a part-timer; his only hope for value is to catch enough passes to be useful in PPR leagues.

55. Brandon Jackson, GB | Age: 22.9 | Value Score: 6

56. 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.

TIER EIGHT

57. Le'Ron McClain, BAL | Age: 23.7 | Value Score: 5
Looking more and more like a novelty act as opposed to a running back with a bright future.

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

59. Rudi Johnson, DET | Age: 28.9 | Value Score: 5
Kevin Smith is better. Rudi will be 30-years-old by this time next year, he's worthless in the passing game, and he'll never average close to 4.0 YPC again.

60. Fred Taylor, JAX | Age: 32.6 | Value Score: 5

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

62. Dominic Rhodes, IND | Age: 29.6 | Value Score: 5
Will be startable for a few weeks and may work his way back into a timeshare with Addai.

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

64. #Ahman Green, HOU | Age: 31.5 | Value Score: 4

65. Edgerrin James, ARI | Age: 30.1 | Value Score: 7
The cliff is approaching fast. . . .

66. Jerome Harrison, CLE | Age: 25.5 | Value Score: 4

67. [#]Cadillac Williams, TB | Age: 26.4 | Value Score: 3

68. #Antonio Pittman, STL | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 3

69. Jalen Parmele, MIA | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 3

TIER NINE

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

71. #Warrick Dunn, TB | Age: 33.7 | Value Score: 2

72. Correll Buckhalter, PHI | Age: 29.9 | Value Score: 2

73. Kenny Watson, CIN | Age: 30.6 | Value Score: 2

74. Lorenzo Booker, PHI | 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. [#]Mike Hart, IND | Age: 22.4 | Value Score: 2

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

79. Benjarvus Green-Ellis, NE | Age: 23.2 | Value Score: 2

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

81. Peyton Hillis, DEN | Age: 22.7 | Value Score: 2

TIER TEN

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

83. Aaron Stecker, NO | Age: 32.8 | Value Score: 1

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

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

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

87. Najeh Daveport, PIT | Age: 29.6 | Value Score: 1

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

89. Adrian Peterson, CHI | Age: 29.2 | Value Score: 1

90. Michael Bennett, TB | Age: 30.0 | Value Score: 1

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

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

93. Justin Forsett, SEA | Age: 22.8 | Value Score: 1

94. Chad Simpson, IND | Age: 23.1 | Value Score: 1

95. [#]Chris Brown, HOU | Age: 27.4 | Value Score: 1

96. [#]Chris Taylor, HOU | Age: 24.8 | Value Score: 1

97. Shaun Alexander, WAS | Age: 31.0 | Value Score: 1

98. [#]Jesse Chatman, NYJ | Age: 29.0 | Value Score: 1