I have Jamaal Charles and Le’Veon Bell in my 1st tier. Why not? Charles was on his way to becoming the best overall Fantasy RB last year before the injury and I think he will be fine despite coming back from his 2nd ACL surgery. Yes, Peterson, Gurley and Johnson may be safer, but Charles could match or outperform all of them. Same with Bell, when he returns in Week 4 he will start performing right away. The guy is still one of the most talented backs in the league and is a PPR machine.
The 2nd tier carries some question marks. This is why I am trying to get 2 of the backs in the 1st tier in most of my drafts. The RB pool is slim compared to the WR’s. How will Lacy bounce back after last season while sharing more of the carries with James Starks. Elliot is an unproven rookie, but he is running behind arguably the best offensive line in Football. This is Miller’s first time being the main back, can he handle it? Freeman has Coleman back in his shadow again and Martin has flopped before. Rawls is coming back from Injury and is only a 2nd year RB while McCoy has struggled with injuries as well. Some of these guys will hit tremendously, but some will flop. I think the safest are Ingram, Freeman, Martin and McCoy.
Danny Woodhead is a PPR staple year in and year out. But with Keenan Allen back he will catch less passes. Also Melvin Gordon possibly takes on a bigger role. Hyde is very talented, but Blaine Gabbert is his starting QB. Foster will be solid while healthy, but an injury is likely. C.J. Anderson I like to have a bounce back season.
I love Derrick Henry, I made my case in my Rookie RB report which you can read here. I think he becomes a Tier 1 RB at some point in his career. Langford is the starter, but I am not impressed with his talent.
I lost faith in Matt Jones and now he has some talented backs behind him with Rob Kelley and Keith Marshall. One of these guys I predict will take his job. Right now it looks like Kelley. Dion Lewis you can get late, stash on the IR and he could reap huge benefits if he returns by Week 8. Kenyon Drake’s talent is unquestionable and with Foster’s injury history he is a solid late pick or cheap auction purchase. Kenneth Dixon could be Baltimore starter before years end.
1st Tier
Todd Gurley, Adrian Peterson, David Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Le’Veon Bell
2nd Tier
Lamar Miller, Ezekiel Elliot, Eddie Lacy, Mark Ingram, Devonta Freeman, Doug Martin, LeSean McCoy, Thomas Rawls,
3rd Tier
Danny Woodhead, C.J. Anderson, Matt Forte, Carlos Hyde, Giovani Bernard, Arian Foster
4th Tier
Ryan Mathews, Jonathan Stewart, Derrick Henry, DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Langford, Jeremy Hill, T.J. Yeldon
5th Tier
Chris Ivory, Melvin Gordon, Frank Gore, Rashad Jennings, Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson, James White, LeGarrette Blount, Justin Forsett
6th Tier
Matt Jones, Bilal Powell, Alfred Morris, James Starks, DeAngelo Williams, Theo Riddick, Charles Sims, Darren Sproles
7th Tier
Kenyon Drake, Devontae Booker, Kenneth Dixon, Christine Michael, C.J. Prosise, Spencer Ware, Andre Ellington, Josh Ferguson, Keith Marshall, Dion Lewis, Rob Kelley, C.J. Spiller
8th Tier
Chris Johnson, Shane Vereen, Tim Hightower, Shaun Draughn, Benny Cunningham, Chris Thompson, Tevin Coleman, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, Paul Perkins, Jerrick Mckinnon, Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams, Darren McFadden, Charcandrick West
9th Tier
DeAndre Washington, Jay Ayaji, Cameron Artis-Payne, Wendall Smallwood, Jordan Howard, D.J. Foster, Andre Williams,
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