2010 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Whose Stock is Rising/Falling?
Fans, Fantasy Sports September 1st. 2010, 4:15pm
Most fantasy web sites have updated their rankings in the past week or so. So we did too. Here’s the complete updated rankings list (update exceptions are Sports Illustrated, Yahoo!/Fantasy Guru and Fantasy FanPlay).
There were no overall changes inside the top 10 since last week but there was plenty of shuffling in the 10s, 20s and 30s. In most cases, the shifts represent significant trends that are worth knowing about heading into your draft.
Stock Rising
- Cedric Benson moves up a spot to 11th, passing over Shonn Greene. The reason you haven’t heard much of him is two-fold: The Batman and Robin show in Cincinnati has dominated attention and he’s been very solid, so there’s no question that he’ll once again be a major contributor. He’s a very safe RB1 pick.
- C.J. Spiller is still on the outside fringe of RB2 rankings, but he’s moving up steadily. Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are banged up and Spiller ran wild in their absence in the 2nd preseason game. It’s advised to avoid most Bills players this year, but Spiller might be the exception.
- Arian Foster saw the most rapid ascension in the rankings, going from 39th to 32nd. He’s now the clear-cut starter in Houston and if you’re able to grab him as 32nd back off the board in your draft, you are getting away with robbery. He has top-15 potential written all over him (Walter Football has him ranked 17th in his updated list).
Stock Falling
- News that Thomas Jones is hanging around the conversation for Kansas City’s starting RB hurt Jamaal Charles‘ value, who moved a spot down to 15th. For all of his upside, Charles will be limited this season in what looks like a Running Back By Committee situation.
- Brandon Jacobs dropped two spots to 25th as Ahmad Bradshaw continues to outperform in the preseason. Bradshaw has all the momentum heading into week 1 but the third preseason game will be a big indication of Tom Coughlin uses the two backs in the season.
- Darren McFadden slipped from 41st to 44th and the only thing keeping him relevant is the Raider’s insistence on giving him every opportunity to start. Coach Tom Cable said he’ll start next game and play into the 3rd quarter. Michael Bush is the far better back and the fantasy rankings reflect that (he’s 33rd)
[via Twitpic]


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96 Responses to “2010 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Whose Stock is Rising/Falling?”
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September 1st, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Jamaal Charles is Lamont Jordan 2.0
September 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Think you have the wrong form of who’s in that headline.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:20 PM
Where is Clinton Portis Decker? stock is thru the roof
September 1st, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Duckworth’d?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:21 PM
I wouldn’t be surprised if Darren McFadden were out of the league next year.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:22 PM
no, yes. for old times sake
September 1st, 2010 at 4:22 PM
Jamaal Charles is a poor man’s Chris Johnson, which will do well enough.
Cedric Benson is terrible, no way he doesn’t get injured or severely drops in production this year. I bet my boy Jahvid Best finishes with more points.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Good luck with that. I’d rather have Bernard Scott in later rounds.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:23 PM
i read it about five times to make sure i didn’t misread it.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Brandon Jacobs is headed to the glue factory after this year.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:25 PM
fool’s gold, my man…sharing the rock with TJ (who’ll get goal line touches) and having a shit OL isn’t going to help things.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Why would be Benson be that bad?
/seriously
September 1st, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Not into the blonde bimbo look usually. But they both really do it for me today
September 1st, 2010 at 4:26 PM
My sleeper RB of the year. Great 3rd RB.
Thomas Jones had 1400 yards last year, 1300 the year before. Dude can still tote the rock.
Bush broke his thumb. McFadden gets all the carries, at least early in the season. Feature backs are hard to come by.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:26 PM
a) he’s a bengal
2. he’s a bengal
- he’s a bengal
September 1st, 2010 at 4:26 PM
Information that could have been useful to me LAST WEEK!!!!!
/outrage
//if Frank Gore gets hurt, I’m fucked
September 1st, 2010 at 4:27 PM
I wouldn’t go that far. Titans offensive line is beastly and Johnson has the best vision of any running back in the game. Charles is good, but he got fat on some shitty run D’s in just a few games last season. As NickP would say, small sample size.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Sleeper pick: Ryan Torain.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Michael Bush did just have surgery on his thumb…that just might be why he is starting.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
same with jerome harrison.
browns RB game will be good thanks to a good OL, but they’re going to be using 3 RB’s and peyton hillis is gonna get all the goal line carries.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Not in the red zone, though, which is where Chiefs are planning to use him (for some odd reason).
September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
I was in a 12-
manperson live draft this past Saturday with about 9 middle-aged lesbians. An interesting experience to say the least. I knew when Laurence Maroney went in the third round, I was in for an easy season in that league.September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Wow, SC. If Frank Gore gets hurt? Wow.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Hillis will be the starter in week’s 16-17. Browns will have homefield locked up.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:28 PM
I like Benson as a RB2, but who knows how the addition of TO and Jermaine Gresham will effect the run/pass split for the Bengals. They ran the ball ALOT last year.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:29 PM
What’s a 12?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:29 PM
happy to say i have Benson, R Grant, R Mathews, B Jacobs, and the one and only C Portis on my ff team this year. stacked
September 1st, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Sigh. HTML fail.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Not so fast, my friend. This would require Darren McFadden be on the field longer than 5 minutes.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:29 PM
DRINKS ARE ON ME!!!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM
I’m all in on JC. 257 career carries at 5.7 yards per pop is good enough for me.
Thomas Jones ain’t running behind that NYJ line any more and come mid season will be getting 6-8 touches a game if he’s lucky.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Hopefully this has nothing to do with one of BSanders latest prospects.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Anyway, from that draft, my RBs are Chris Johnson, Johnathan Stewart, Spiller, and Adai. I think I’ll be OK.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:30 PM
Ocho Ginkobolba’s buying 64 people dinner and drinks at St. Elmo’s tomorrow night. Lucky crowd.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:31 PM
This. Big trees fall hard.
I tried to argue this with Giants fans last year and they prefer to be ignorant.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Cadillac Williams: 1,200 yards.
/by default
//but still
September 1st, 2010 at 4:31 PM
Tell that to Jerious Norwood’s career.
17′s my scouting cutoff. I didn’t even really start monitoring Debby Ryan until then.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:32 PM
I agree with you about Benson. I think the stink of his early Bears career is now gone.
There is a school of thought out there that Carson Palmer will never reach that elite level of QB, regardless of the available targets to throw to.
I think Marvin Lewis believes in the run enough to still make sure Benson gets carries as long as he’s effective, regardless of the two prima donnas playing wide out on that team.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:32 PM
Hopefully this has nothing to do with one of BSanders latest prospects
Well played
September 1st, 2010 at 4:33 PM
King of Elephants told you
September 1st, 2010 at 4:33 PM
TJ was pretty beastly behind a shitty Bears line. He ran for 1200 and 1300 yards respectively his last two years in Chi-town. Plus he has enormous biceps.
/no homo
September 1st, 2010 at 4:33 PM
He’s shitty. So shitty.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Tired eyes. I could’ve sworn this: I didn’t even really start monitoring Debby Ryan until then said mentoring
September 1st, 2010 at 4:34 PM
im a graduate assistant at that school of thought. he looked worse than sanchez at the end of last year and was supposedly fully healthy.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Plus he has enormous biceps.
/no stomach tassles
/ Fixed
September 1st, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Other than the whole handing the ball off with the wrong hand because of a cast thing.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Bazinga!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:35 PM
Stark – I’ve got 5 RBs, but if Charles is splitting significant carries, I’m in trouble. I know Gore will miss some games but I’ve got Stewart, Bradshaw and Tebow* to make up for that.
* – Will rush for 800 yards this year
September 1st, 2010 at 4:36 PM
where he went to school should have been the first indication of that.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:36 PM
I hope you’re right. I really really hope you’re right.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:37 PM
Hey guys.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM
HEY AN NFL POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Hi, Dr. Nick!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Charles is gonna be fine. Splitting carries is actually good for him so that he doesn’t get worn down. The Chiefs will try to throw more than they should but JC will still get 20-25 touches/game most weeks.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM
cgb!!!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:38 PM
Holy S CGB.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Not really. It’s fake sports.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:39 PM
cgb…where do you write these days?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:39 PM
CGB!!!!!
Jacobs will be fine. i think he goes back to sharing the load like he did with Ward. He will rush for 800-1000 yards and about 10 tds
September 1st, 2010 at 4:39 PM
You’re referring to the obvious Tim Tebow position switch to hybrid FB, correct?
/Tim Tebow will be God’s H-back
September 1st, 2010 at 4:40 PM
This.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:40 PM
By the way CGB, eff this nonsense. It’s not like VT lost and you deleted your blog or anything. You’re still capable of writing and you know it!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:41 PM
You guys gonna sign that POS Ward?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:41 PM
Nah, he’ll be starting by week 9 and will be offensive RoY. Tebow cannot fail. God will not allow it.
Can’t wait for my jersey to get here. I’m wearing it to work for casual Fridays.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:41 PM
CGB look how loved you are!!
September 1st, 2010 at 4:43 PM
@CGB- V Tech sucks
He will rush for 800-1000 yards and about 10 tds
hope so
September 1st, 2010 at 4:43 PM
@sportsgal I was talking to Maggs and he told me I should stop being a hermit and come say hello. Who’s ready for football?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Tool.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Probably not. We already made him his money.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:44 PM
I hope a bird gets you.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:44 PM
@irishmafia What do you think of your pro combat uniforms? Somehow we ended up with the swagger-est cleats.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:45 PM
ugh. VT’s font…just terrible.
yall better beat boise…im thinking VT vs. OSU for the NC this year.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:46 PM
cgb those black VPISU unis are beyond awful. Somebody should’ve said something.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:46 PM
It would turn into a Swirlz Cupcake as soon as it hit the jersey.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:46 PM
@irishmafia What do you think of your pro combat uniforms? Somehow we ended up with the swagger-est cleats.
i hope you knew i was joking with you. good to see you around. love the uniform, but i didnt like the U cleats. no bueno. hope all is well
September 1st, 2010 at 4:47 PM
im thinking VT vs. OSU for the NC this year.
What the hell time did you start smoking today?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:48 PM
seriously…VT has boise to prop up their schedule and both teams have relatively easy paths.
ryan williams is the truth.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:48 PM
FAMU 42 – Miami 3
Should be impressive.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Would’ve been nice of you to chime in with that at S&F yesterday when I was roundly mocked for predicting 11 wins for the Hokies.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:49 PM
would’ve been nice for SF’s server to not shit the bed until 4pm for me.
/was probably my work comp’s fault
//but seriously, im not taking the blame
September 1st, 2010 at 4:50 PM
@irish – Of course… ball busting season has begun.
@spencer – Coincidentally, I’m feeling that too. We can regale a national audience with the beauty of punting.
@lefty – When I first saw them I thought they were terrible, now I’m starting to come around. The helmet is so sweet.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:50 PM
I can’t wait to crap all over the Buckeye preview tomorrow. Been doing research for about 3 weeks. Saved all my ammo for just the occasion.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:50 PM
Years of watching Bears football (assuming you watch Bears football which could be erroneous) seems to have endeavored you to shitty quarterbacks
September 1st, 2010 at 4:51 PM
im thinking VT vs. OSU for the NC this year.
Oklahoma – Alabama – tOSU….Pick 2
September 1st, 2010 at 4:52 PM
@Lefty – I’ve been reading your’s and all the previews at S&F, just haven’t had the time to join the discussion, good stuff all around. If we beat Boise, then I think we should go 11-1 especially with UNC’s defense about to be suspended.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:53 PM
oklahoma vs. OSU…the loser never makes a BCS game again.
/hint…the loser will be oklahoma because they’d find a way to choke on applesauce
September 1st, 2010 at 4:54 PM
I have Steven Jackson, Ronnie Brown, Jerome Harrison and Correll Buckhalter as my running backs.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Thanks much. I’m thinking 11-1 for the Hokies, the only loss a Thursday nighter in November. Also, the UNC saga is enjoyable beyond words.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:55 PM
Someone just ousted someone as mayor of something on foursquare. Check Twitter for the latest.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:56 PM
This makes zero sense to me.
September 1st, 2010 at 4:57 PM
[Gravatar image]
que?
September 1st, 2010 at 4:59 PM
I don’t know much about foursquare either, but I really loathe the tweets about it.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Clearly this guy is NOT a Shark Week fan.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:00 PM
You will know when I’m at Trader Joe’s and you WILL like it!
September 1st, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Redraft leagues are a fucking joke. Yawn.
When you guys feel like playing in a real fantasy football league, try an auction keeper salary cap league.
September 1st, 2010 at 5:37 PM
Who’s = whose