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| Published: Aug 12, 2009 4:07 AM EST |
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2009 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings: Top 40 RBs |
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The difference between a back in a standard league versus a PPR league can be pretty big. It's so close that the reception total makes a huge difference in the final point total for the player.
That means your margin of error is smaller than it is for even receivers who generally are all over the place. Backs tend to be close. A player can jump from outside of the top ten into the top six or seven because of receptions.
Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew have the capabilities of challenging Adrian Peterson for the top ranking in PPR leagues. In the standard league, you can argue there not even top five backs. That should give you the basic of idea of how drafting a back that is a dual-threat player can benefit your fantasy team.
40. Sammy Morris, New England Patriots
Morris is always good for a couple of solid games a year, but beyond those games, he's not much of an option. New Engalnd will likely have a back by the committee running game this year so those games should be rare.
39. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle running game isn't primed for a big year. In fact, neither back is worth owning unless you're in a big league.
38. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Turner does most of the damage in between the the tackles, but Norwood does his work on the outside. He had 36 receptions a year ago and Atlanta will probably try to get him more touches in 2009.
37. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Felix got off to a great start in 2008 and and this year he should get better. He's a game-changer in both the running game and the passing game.
36. Leon Washington, New York Jets
Washington has 83 receptions in the last two years combined and his role should increase in 2009.
35. Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals
I have a lot of concerns about Wells' transition to the NFL and especially whether or not he'll be able to last a full 16 game season. He's in a great situation, but don't be surprised if he's on your bench when you're fighting for your league title.
34. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson's best seasons are behind him and it's hard to tell what type of production he'll put up in Todd Haley's offense.
33. Lendale White, Tennessee Titans
Even a smaller White is still a great threat in the redzone. He should score a lot of touchdowns again in 2009.
32. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Stewart has a lot of talent, but DeAngelo Williams is better and he'll still see most of the touches. Still, Stewart should see a lot of carries for a No. 2 back.
31. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
Lewis is barely good for 1,000 yards rushing, but he's never been a great receiver out of the backfield.
30. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
Addai's role has diminished quite a bit in Indianapolis. Donald Brown should start to see the majority of the touches as the year goes on while Addai becomes more of a scatback.
29. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
McFadden had bust written all over him entering the league and that seems even more apparent after his rookie season. He has outstanding potential even out of the backfield, but he plays for the Raiders. That's way to risky for me.
28. Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens
McClain might be listed as a fullback, but he's as much as runningback as either Willis McGahee or Ray Rice. I think he'll see the bulk of touches in Baltimore.
27. Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers
Sproles' performance against the Colts in the 2008 wild card round is similar to what I think you're going to get for the 2009 season. He's an all-purpose back and he'll make plays both in the running game and the passing game.
26. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills
Lynch is suspended for three games and is one more violation away from being suspended for along time. I simply wouldn't take a risk unless I can get him in the middle to late part of a fantasy draft. That goes for all leagues.
25. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions
I'm not sure how well Smith will fit in with the new Lions' regime, but he's the best they've got.
24. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals
Is there a bigger sleeper than Benson? He's Cincinnati's No. 1 back and he's apparently primed for a breakout season. He wasn't bad last year either.
23. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
Brown is very risky entering 2009. Majority of his touchdowns came in that one game versus New England and he's never had more than 39 receptions in a season.
22. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
Brown could be this years Matt Forte among rookie backs. He's the total package. He can run, block, and catch. I think he'll see more touches than Addai.
21. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ward will likely serve a larger role in Tampa Bay's offense than he did in New York's now that he's the No. 1 back. I think he'll see more touches and he could be a solid threat out of the backfield.
20. Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets
Everything points to Jones having a poor 2009 season after a great 2008. He seems unhappy he'll face seven or eight in the box for most of the year.
19. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
In his first 28 games, Bush caught 161 passes. If he could ever run in between the tackles, he could be a Marshall Faulk like back.
18. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
Mike McCarthy will give Grant the ball and that's what Grant has going for him. Beyond that, Grant doesn't benefit much from PPR leagues. He's not a threat out of the backfield and Brandon Jackson normally gets most of the looks in the passing game among all Packer backs.
17. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers
I overrate Parker because I think he's in for a bounce back season. He'll be a free agent after the year and players looking for contracts tend to have big years. Parker won't explode onto the scene like he did in 2005, but he should put up better numbers than he has as of late.
16. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
Barber has the talent to be a top ten back, but Dallas has a deep backfield and Jason Garrett will undoubtedly get all three backs the ball as much as possible. Barber will still see a bulk of the carries inside the redzone which gives him 10 touchdown potential.
15. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Thomas still outranks Bush in PPR leagues for a simple reason. He's a more complete back. Thomas can run between the lines as well as catch the ball out of the backfield. He and Bush could both have big years in New Orleans.
14. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
Rookie runningbacks make the transition to the NFL much better than any other position. Moreno is this years rookie back that makes a smooth transition. He's in position to contribute right away in Denver and he can catch the ball out of the backfield.
13. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Singletary will run the ball and Gore will rack up a lot of yardage and touches in 2009, but his lack of touchdowns is a concern. He's never had 10 in a season and that keeps him out of upper echelon of fantasy backs.
12. Brandon Jacobs, N.Y. Giants
I'm not sure there is a player that sees his value diminish in PPR leagues like Jacobs. He's not a dual-threat player. He'll score touchdowns and rush for give or take 1,000 yards, but he only has 40 career receptions.
11. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans
Slaton should continue to be the top back in the Houston offense. He had over 1,200 rushing yards in 2008, but he also should his versatility catching 50 passes as well.
10. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Johnson won't enter his second season under the radar like he did his rookie season. He has top five potential in PPR leagues, but I wonder whether or not defenses will be able to adjust to his game-changing speed. Despite that concern, you can make the arguement that he should rate much higher than No. 10.
9. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
Westbrook has 50 or more receptions in each of the last five seasons. Last year was his worst since becoming the Eagles' featured runningback, but he still had 14 touchdowns and 1,300 total yards. If he can stay healthy, he could have a big season in Philadelphia's dynamic offense.
8. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Portis will be given plenty of opportunities in the Washington offense, but he hasn't scored more than 11 touchdowns in a season since his days in Denver. Plus, he never had 50 receptions in a season.
7. Ladainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Tomlinson's numbers will come down due to the emergence Sproles in the passing game, but Tomlinson still has double-digit touchdown and 40-plus reception potential in 2009.
6. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
People are overlooking Williams because of Stewart, but Williams was a star last season and should continue to be one in 2009. He runs behind arguably the best run blocking offensive line in football.
5. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
Jackson has 2,000 total yardage potential along with 60-plus reception potential. Both of those numbers are realistic as long as he can stay healthy. That's a concern considering he's missed eight games in the last two seasons.
4. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
He won't catch a lot of passes, but Turner is going to score a lot of touchdowns and rush for a lot of yards. Only Forte and Jones-Drew will catch enough passes to leapfrog him.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Some people believe Jones-Drew is the No. 1 rated fantasy back in PPR leagues. It's hard to argue when he has 38 touchdowns and 148 receptions in three seasons. Now that he doesn't share the backfield with Fred Taylor, he has a chance to put up elite numbers.
2. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
As a rookie, Forte had 64 receptions and a little over 1,700 total yards. Jay Cutler will force defenses to respect the pass and that means less defenders in the box to stop Forte. There is no reason why Forte can't match his rookie season while also scoring more touchdowns.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2,000 rushing yards is not out of the realm of possibility for Peterson who enters his 3rd NFL season which is generally considered the "breakout" year for a lot of skill players. Peterson is productive and a safe choice. I'll take that No. 1 even in PPR leagues. |
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| Published: Aug 12, 2009 4:07 AM EST |
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