Rankings are as of July 30, 2014.
In fantasy leagues, the ideal running back is one who can do it all – be a workhorse runner, catch everything thrown to him, can block, isn’t taken off the field for third downs. Basically, a guy who gets 25 touches per game, a touchdown or two, and 120 total yards or more.
That guy doesn’t really exist anymore.
Instead, fantasy football GMs (and real-life ones, too) have to find a mix of running backs that fits their system and can do exactly what needs to be done when they’re on the field. The power back who can run 10 times a game in short-yardage and goal-line situations and soften the defense the rest of the time. The smaller back for third-and-long catches and runs to the outside. The in-betweener who can do a little of everything but isn’t strong enough to handle a full workload.
In the 2014 draft, there is only a handful of running backs who look like they’ll be able to handle anything close to workhorse duties, then there’s a long list of power backs and smaller backs best suited for committee duties.
For what it’s worth, Adam Muema WAS my top running back in this draft — until his “idiosyncracies” surfaced at the Combine. Now, he’s off the list completely. Now, we’re down to the top three on this list – Hill, Sankey and Carey – as the most (in my mind) likely to develop into RB1s for fantasy purposes. However, Hill and Carey both have some character concerns, and I simply don’t trust them to stay out of trouble and on the field. Bishop Sankey, though I have him ranked number two, isn’t someone I was particularly high on before the draft. But he’s in a perfect situation on the Titans and should get a lot of work right away.
After the top three is a block of backs, from Mason through Archer, who also have a lot of potential for fantasy success. Of this group, the most likely to develop into workhorses are West, Hyde, and Johnson. The rest will most likely be change-of-pace and committee backs who could put up RB2 numbers.
The next block probably runs from Andre Williams through Isaiah Crowell, and they are real wild cards whose production, I think, will really depend on the creativity of their offensive coordinator. As of now, they are probably the last group that I would draft in moderately-sized dynasty leagues.
After Crowell, there’s still a lot of talent, but there’s probably no need to draft them at all in fantasy. But keep an eye on them, because they have the talent to be contributors down the line. Of course, they could all be out of the league, too, the way the NFL devalues running backs.
So here’s my list:
- Jeremy Hill, Bengals
- Bishop Sankey, Titans
- Ka’Deem Carey, Bears
- Tre Mason, Rams
- Devonta Freeman, Falcons
- Carlos Hyde, 49ers
- Terrance West, Browns
- Lorenzo Taliaferro, Ravens
- Storm Johnson, Jaguars
- Lache Seastrunk, Redskins
- Charles Sims, Buccaneers
- Dri Archer, Steelers
- De’Anthony Thomas, Chiefs
- James White, Patriots
- Andre Williams, Giants
- Kapri Bibbs, Broncos
- Isaiah Crowell, Browns
- Brennan Clay, Broncos
- Julius Watts “Trey”, Rams
- Jerick McKinnon, WR/RB, Vikings
- Tim Cornett, Texans
- Marion Grice, Chargers
- David Fluellen, Eagles
- Ben Malena, Cowboys
- Roy Finch, Patriots
- Darrin Reaves, Panthers
- Zurlon Tipton, Colts
- Raijon Neal, Packers
- Jerome Smith, Falcons
- James Wilder, Jr., Bengals
- Branden Oliver, Colts
- LaDarius Perkins, Packers
- Zach Bauman, Cardinals
- Silas Redd, Redskins
- Tim Flanders, Saints
- Juwan Thompson, Broncos
- Ryan Montague, Seahawks
- Terrance Cobb, Jaguars
Below are my rankings from right after the draft. Not much has changed.
- Jeremy Hill, Bengals
- Bishop Sankey, Titans
- Ka’Deem Carey, Bears
- Tre Mason, Rams
- Devonta Freeman, Falcons
- Carlos Hyde, 49ers
- Terrance West, Browns
- Lorenzo Taliaferro, Ravens
- Storm Johnson, Jaguars
- Lache Seastrunk, Redskins
- Charles Sims, Buccaneers
- De’Anthony Thomas, Chief
- James White, Patriots
- Dri Archer, Steelers
- Andre Williams, Giants
- Kapri Bibbs, Broncos
- Brennan Clay, Broncos
- Isaiah Crowell, Browns
- Julius Watts “Trey”, Rams
- Marion Grice, Chargers
- David Fluellen, Eagles
- Ben Malena, Cowboys
- Roy Finch, Patriots
- Darrin Reaves, Panthers
- Zurlon Tipton, Colts
- Raijon Neal, Packers
- Jerome Smith, Falcons
- James Wilder, Jr., Bengals
- Branden Oliver, Colts
- LaDarius Perkins, Packers
- Zach Bauman, Cardinals
- Tim Cornett, Cardinals
- Silas Redd, Redskins
- Tim Flanders, Saints
- Juwan Thompson, Broncos
- Alfred Blue, Texans
- Ryan Montague, Seahawks
- Terrance Cobb, Jaguars
For the record, here were my rankings before the draft:
- Jeremy Hill, Louisiana State
- Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona
- Tre Mason, Auburn
- Terrance West, Towson: FCS
- Carlos Hyde, Ohio State
- Lache Seastrunk, Baylor
- De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon
- Storm Johnson, Central Florida
- Devonta Freeman, Florida State
- James White, Wisconsin
- Charles Sims, West Virginia
- Dri Archer, Kent State
- Jerome Smith, Syracuse
- Lorenzo Taliaferro, Coastal Carolina: FCS
- Bishop Sankey, Washington
- Raijon Neal, Tennessee
- Andre Williams, Boston College
- Franklyn Quiteh, Bloomsburg: D2
- David Fluellen, Toledo
- Ben Malena, Texas A&M
- Roy Finch, Oklahoma
- LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State
- Zach Bauman, Northern Arizona: FCS
- Kapri Bibbs, Colorado State
- Branden Oliver, Buffalo
- Trey Watts, Tulsa
- James Wilder, Jr., Florida State
- Tyler Gaffney, Stanford
- Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky
- Tim Cornett, Nevada-Las Vegas
- Prince-Tyson Gulley, Syracuse
- Silas Redd, Southern California
- Jordan Hall, Ohio State
- Jeff Scott, Mississippi
- James Sims, Kansas
- Orleans Darkwa, Tulane
- John Spooney, Brown: FCS
- Zurlon Tipton, Central Michigan
- Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State: FCS
- Sam Ojuri, North Dakota State: FCS
- Brennan Clay, Oklahoma
- Anthony Wilkerson, Stanford
- Kiero Small, Arkansas
- Terrance Cobb, University of the Cumberlands: NAIA
- Ryan Montague, Louisiana College: D3
- Juwan Thompson, Duke
- Dominick Pierre, Dartmouth: FCS
- Damien Thigpen, UCLA
- Vintavious Cooper, East Carolina
- Tommy Gooden, Jackson State: FCS
- Dareyon Chance, Western Michigan
- Darreion Robinson, Georgia southern
- Aldreakis Allen, Liberty: FCS
- Waymon James, TCU
- Rondell White, West Chester: D2
