2012 RB Ranks

This is Mike Ferraro's second installment of 2012 position ranks.  Today is running backs.  Be sure to check back tomorrow for WR's, K, and team D.

Running Backs

1) Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens: Rice has been a money running back since his rookie season, he should get 1300-1400 yards rushing with a dozen or so rushing touchdowns. Where Rice really pays off is in the receiving game where he averages 70 catches a season and averages almost 10 yards per catch.

2) Arian Foster, Houston Texans: The main concern with Foster is if he can stay healthy.  He will be a dominant back in both the rushing and receiving games. You can’t go wrong with either Foster or Rice, either one would make an excellent No. 1 pick in your fantasy league and a great play in our daily games.

3) LeSean McCoy- Philadelphia Eagles: McCoy was an absolute fantasy beast last season with 17 rushing touchdowns and 1294 rushing yards. This season he should have another great season but I don’t believe he will have 17 rushing touchdowns, more like 12 and he wont get as many receptions as Rice or Foster.

4) Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: Last season was Chris Johnson’s worst season even though he still eclipsed 1000 yards rushing but did so in the last game of the season. He should rush for a little over 1300 yards and get at least 6 rushing touchdowns and is still a threat to get 30 to 40 receptions on the season.

5) Maurice-Jones Drew- Jacksonville Jaguars: Even though he has missed all of preseason and training camp, and not starting week 1, Maurice-Jones Drew is still a top five fantasy running back. He should easily get 1200 yards rushing and have anywhere between 5-10 rushing touchdowns.

See the rest of the list after the jump!

6) Matt Forte- Chicago Bears: Forte was only three yards short of reaching 1000 yards last season and he will be valuable in points per reception leagues as he should catch around 50 balls and he averages around 10 yards a reception. He should get around 1100 yards rushing with 5-10 rushing touchdowns but Michael Bush will vulture a lot of his rushing touchdowns.

7) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks: Lynch is not the receiving threat that Forte, Rice, McCoy or Foster are but he is going to be the bulk of the Seahawks offense. Lynch should get a little over a 1000 yards but will have 10-plus rushing touchdowns.  He is just a beast, just ask the New Orleans Saints.

8) DeMarco Murray- Dallas Cowboys: When Murray went down in week 14 against the Giants he had 895 yards rushing and wasn’t even the No.1 running back on the opening day roster. Expect Murray to easily eclipse 1000 yards rushing with anywhere from 5-10 rushing touchdowns as long as his leg stays healthy.  He should continue to be a threat in the passing game.

9) Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders: McFadden’s weakness has always been his ability to stay healthy. Expect him to have around 1000 yards on the ground and haul in around 50 catches as long as he stays healthy. McFadden as a ton of potential

10) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: Don’t plan on Jamaal Charles to tear his ACL again and when healthy he is as good as they come. Except Charles to rush for anywhere from 1100-1200 yards on the ground with close to 40-50 receptions and he averages around 10 yards a catch.

11) Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers: A preseason collarbone injury should not make you shy away from Mathews; he should only miss a week and you can draft a decent back for insurance. Once he returns from injury expect Mathews to be the same running back as last season. He should get around 1100 yards on the ground and catch around 40 passes.

12) Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: Coming back from a torn ACL on Christmas Eve, Peterson should be a steal in this year’s draft but I doubt that he will be ready for week 1. Peterson has never finished under top 7 fantasy running backs and he will be a steal this late if fantasy owners are willing to take the risk.

13) Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns: There is a lot of risk/reward with Richardson; fantasy owners of Peyton Hillis know that Cleveland Browns running backs are not always the best choice. In the first few weeks Richardson’s numbers will be a bit low but expect a spike around week 3 or 4. Richardson should have around 1200-1300 yards and a half dozen rushing touchdowns.

14) Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams: Jackson was the only bright spot for an awful 2011 Rams team; he is a solid fantasy starter getting over 1100 yards rushing but his own downside is his lack of scoring touchdowns. Jackson has only scored 16 touchdowns in the last three seasons combined; McCoy had 17 rushing touchdowns alone last season.

15) Darren Sporles, New Orleans Saints: The New Orleans Saints aren’t know for their rushing game but Sporles is a top 10 fantasy running back in points per reception leagues. Sproles has tremendous upside but will not get as many rushing yards or touchdowns. He had 86 receptions last season and he has a tendency to get some important fantasy points in the special teams area. Some receivers don’t even have 86 catches in a season but Sporles is a great balance rushing and receiving threat.

16) Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons: Even though Turner had great numbers last season with over 1300 yards rushing and 11 rushing touchdowns, he didn’t play particularly well anyone except the Bucs in week 17.  Turner is now 30, the dreaded age of running backs but still Turner should have around 1100 yards rushing and around 10 touchdowns this season.

17) Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins: Bush is a real gamble because he has the opportunity to be a huge fantasy star. Last season he posted his first 1000-yard season but he only finished 18^th in running back targets. If Reggie Bush remains healthy he should be a steal in the later rounds.

18) Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants: Bradshaw is another question mark for a couple of reasons, his health and his offensive line. Last season he rushed for 659 on 171 carries but suspect his numbers should get anywhere from 800-1000 yards rushing this season if he remains healthy.

19) Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: Gore is a great running back but he has been injury prone in his career. Gore should easily top the 1000-yard mark but excpet him to lose a lot of touchdowns to Brandon Jacobs who will likely vulture a lot of touchdowns away from Gore.

20) Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills: Jackson was a fantasy surprise last season and has a ton of upside if Buffalo has a good season. Jackson should top 1000 yards and haul in 40 or so receptions this season. C.J. Spiller might be a fantasy vulture for Jackson but I believe Buffalo can have two good fantasy running backs. It's Jackson’s job to lose.

By: Mike Ferraro