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Other Jeff Pasquino rankings (show / hide)
RB dynasty rankings by Jeff Pasquino
submitted 6 days ago
| Rank | Player | Team | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrian Peterson | MIN | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Adrian Peterson has to be considered the top running back in the NFL today. Even as he begins to approach the age of 30, his comeback from a devastating knee injury was nothing short of remarkable last year. Now with aspirations of 2,500 rushing yards, Peterson is the unquestioned top pick overall in all formats.
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| 2 | Arian Foster | HOU | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Arian Foster has been the keystone for the Houston Texans offense for the past several years, and for good reason. He has finished in the Top 4 each of the past three years, reaching a minimum of 1,200 yards rushing and 12 total touchdowns in each year of that span. The Texan offense runs through him, literally, as Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels are complimentary pieces to balance the ground game. As the Houston defense has improved, the emphasis on running the ball has only increased. Foster is a stud RB1 and still has several top notch seasons left in him.
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| 3 | Ray Rice | BAL | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: I used to be a little higher on Ray Rice, but now I am a little hesitant to earmark him for another Top 3-5 fantasy RB season. Part of that reasoning is the threat of lost touches, not to Willis McGahee from when Rice first entered the league, but now due to a younger RB2 on the Ravens in Bernard Pierce. Baltimore will need Rice more in the passing game with the loss of Anquan Boldin, but Pierce threatens to see more and more of the field to keep Rice fresh and healthy for the postseason - which is great for Baltimore's playoff hopes but not such great news for Ray Rice owners in fantasy.
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| 4 | Jamaal Charles | KC | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Andy Reid is revamping the Kansas City offense, and one thing that he does love to utilize is a feature tailback that can catch the ball out of the backfield. That is exactly what he had in LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia, and now he has it again with Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs also improved their quarterback with the addition of Alex Smith, which should help Charles as a receiver and also as a runner, simply because improving the passing game behind Smith will reduce defenses scheming to stop Charles and force Kansas City to throw the ball more. Charles is a later Round 1 pick with big upside this year.
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| 5 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: At first I was not a big fan of Marshawn Lynch, but since he has reemerged as a true feature tailback in Seattle and led that offensive running game for a title contender I am right behind him - almost. There are a few concerns with Lynch this year, starting with a potential suspension due to some off the field incidents. If Lynch can avoid that, he must contend with not just one young tailback who wants the ball but now two, as the Seahawks drafted Christine Michael to push both Robert Turbin and Lynch. If that wasn't enough, QB Russell Wilson can run himself, as can his newest receiver, Percy Harvin. Lynch may be sliding down my rankings soon.
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| 6 | Doug Martin | TB | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Tampa Bay wants to run the ball, and they will do just that behind their featured tailback in Doug Martin. Martin had a fantastic first season and he will look to build upon those numbers yet again in 2013. The Buccaneers have no real threats to Martin's workload, and the Tampa Bay passing game is only a moderate threat - making Martin an easy Top 3 tailback for this year. His youth should keep him as a strong fantasy RB1 candidate for several years.
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| 7 | Trent Richardson | CLE | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: I get that Trent Richardson is a great running back, but I just cannot get past the idea of tying my first pick to a Cleveland Brown. I know that sounds harsh, but if I am going to take a running back in Round 1, he better have a good shot at double-digit touchdowns, and I just do not see that coming from Richardson this season with Cleveland still learning how to put their young offense together. Long term in Keeper and Dynasty leagues, I can see it better - but running backs don't last forever, so if Cleveland struggles for another year or two I would not hesitate to trade Richardson away.
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| 8 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Chip Kelly comes in to Philadelphia this year and will be installing his version of the Oregon Duck offense, but it will be very dependent upon what personnel he has to work with for his first NFL season. One thing that is for sure is that he will want to run the ball quite a bit, and that means big production numbers for both LeSean McCoy and second back Bryce Brown. At Oregon, Kelly ran the ball 685 times, 545 by non-quarterbacks, in comparison to 373 pass calls. It stands to reason that McCoy will see a ton of work and push for a Top 5 fantasy finish this season.
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| 9 | Alfred Morris | WAS | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Whether it is Robert Griffin III or Kirk Cousins under center Week 1 or later in the year, the Redskins will need a feature tailback to move the ball and compliment the quarterback and the rest of the offense. Morris has studied his own runs from last year and stated that he thinks he left over 500 yards unrealized from not running the plays like he should - or will this year. That is a big number, and if he is right then Morris could threaten 2,000 yards on the ground. I'd be happy to see the same numbers from last year, but that is lots of upside if you get Morris in Rounds 2 or 3.
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| 10 | C.J. Spiller | BUF | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: C.J. Spiller had a breakout season in 2012 after the Bills lost Fred Jackson to injury, which opened the door for Spiller to show how dominant he could be. After averaging 6.0 YPC last year on 207 carries, Buffalo is firmly behind Spiller as their featured back, a fact even Jackson has confirmed. The Bills are retooling their entire offense, starting with new additions at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end - all good news for Bills fans and Spiller fans alike. Both Spiller and stud WR Stevie Johnson will be the main components of the Bills offensive plans for the next several years.
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| 11 | David Wilson | NYG | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: David Wilson was a stud tailback at Virginia Tech, and once he got rolling as a rookie with the Giants he exploded onto the scene with some enormous games. Now with Ahmad Bradshaw out of the picture, it is down to Wilson and Andre Brown to dictate the New York backfield. Brown may steal goal line touches, but Wilson is the more explosive and dynamic runner and receiver. I expect Wilson to collect 65-75% of the opportunity and production this year as the featured tailback for the Giants this season, with bigger upside in the future.
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| 12 | Matt Forte | CHI | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: New head coach Marc Trestman wants to get the ball in the hands of Matt Forte more, especially as a receiver, which is music to PPR league players' ears. Forte had seen a steady decrease since his 63-catch season in 2008, but with a new offensive scheme and an improved line blocking in front of him, Forte should offer much better value in PPR leagues. Expectations should be tempered some in standard leagues where he could lose touchdowns to underrated understudy Michael Bush.
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| 13 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Dallas Cowboys want to become a Super Bowl contender, and a featured tailback would be a huge boost to that effort. DeMarco Murray has proven to be an effective tailback when healthy. Dallas has struggled on the offensive line and protecting both Murray and QB Tony Romo, leading to Murray missing nine games over the past two seasons. I like Murray much more as a RB2 with upside than as a fantasy RB1 this year, and his long term prospects are not that stable - nor do I expect him to have a very long and productive career.
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| 14 | Chris Johnson | TEN | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Tennessee is trying to rebuild their offense, which seems to be an annual occurrence for the Titans. The passing game has seen a new tight end added (Delanie Walker) to replace Jared Cook and a rookie wide receiver added (Justin Hunter), but the third addition should not be overlooked - Shonn Greene. Greene was able to very quietly post fantasy RB2 numbers with the Jets last year, and now he comes in to steal touches from Chris Johnson, especially at the goal line. This severely limits Johnson's upside and points towards a lack of belief in him as their feature back long term. Drafters beware if you think Johnson is a sleeper RB1 this year - you could be severely punished for thinking that way.
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| 15 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Giovani Bernard was the first running back selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, but it took until Round 2 for him to go to Cincinnati. The Bengals are building their offensive weapons, and now have both Bernard and veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis as a two-back committee for this year. Bernard will get some work as both a third-down back and also likely get a few series himself this season, but Green-Ellis will likely get more total rushes and goal line chances for 2013. Long term, Bernard has a great shot to become the Cincinnati feature back of the future.
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| 16 | Darren McFadden | OAK | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: If healthy, if healthy, if healthy.... where have we heard that before? Oakland's offense is a giant question mark with last season's quarterback (Carson Palmer) and tight end (Brandon Myers) both gone. Can Matt Flynn lead a legitimate passing game? If not, that means a ton of work for McFadden - again, if healthy. McFadden has played just 57 games in the past five years, averaging 4-5 missed games, including the four he missed last year. When he is in the lineup he is a stud, but you can pretty much guarantee he will miss some time again this year. Buyer beware.
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| 17 | Maurice Jones-Drew | JAX | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Maurice Jones-Drew has the potential to be a dominant running back, but that may go unrealized if he cannot return to full strength after losing 10 games to injury last year. If he shows he is ready in training camp he will be a solid RB2 for fantasy this year, but even so, it is hard to get behind any of the Jacksonville players this year for what could be the worst offense in the league.
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| 18 | Steven Jackson | ATL | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Steven Jackson is a great pick as a RB2 with big upside this year. His move from the Rams to the Falcons is a classic "win-win" for both Atlanta and Jackson. The Falcons replaced a broken down Michael Turner with a veteran with plenty left in the tank, while Jackson gets to wind down his career on a Super Bowl contender. Jackson has plenty of tread left on his tires and can rack up 1,500+ total yards this year, especially with the Atlanta passing attack keeping defenses honest. The only thing that was holding Jackson out of stud RB1 discussions last year was a lack of touchdowns, something that should be easily fixed as a Falcon.
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| 19 | Johnathan Franklin | GB | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Jonathan Franklin received a ton of buzz before the 2013 NFL Draft, but he was still available in Round 4 right up until the Green Bay Packers snapped him up. Now with two rookie tailbacks, the Packers can see how Franklin and Lacy pair together as either a committee or if one back emerges as a feature tailback option. Either way, Green Bay has greatly increased their ability to establish a ground game to compliment one of the best passing attacks in the NFL. Odds are that neither back will be much more than a fantasy RB3 / flex option in 2013 given how much of the Packer offense goes through the air, but if one back becomes a dominant player in the preseason, he could become a great sleeper pick for this year.
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| 20 | Eddie Lacy | GB | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Eddie Lacy was supposed to be the first running back drafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, but he was still available in Round 2 for the Green Bay Packers. Now with two rookie tailbacks, the Packers can see how Lacy and Franklin pair together as either a committee or if one back emerges as a feature tailback option. Either way, Green Bay has greatly increased their ability to establish a ground game to compliment one of the best passing attacks in the NFL. Odds are that neither back will be much more than a fantasy RB3 / flex option in 2013 given how much of the Packer offense goes through the air, but if one back becomes a dominant player in the preseason, he could become a great sleeper pick for this year.
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| 21 | LeVeon Bell | PIT | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Bell is a big back that will have the inside track to be the lead rusher for Pittsburgh both this year and for years to come. The Steelers are installing an outside zone, one-cut blocking scheme, which is perfect for the former Michigan State running back that has both quickness and good size. Bell should help balance the offense and lead the Pittsburgh ground attack right away.
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| 22 | Montee Ball | DEN | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Denver snagged Montee Ball in Round 2 of the 2013 NFL Draft in the hopes that he will become their next feature tailback. Denver has veteran Willis McGahee for now with the younger Ronnie Hillman as a complimentary speedster from last season, so the job will not fall upon Ball immediately unless he earns that role in the preseason. If McGahee is not cut before Week 1, Ball will likely go the typical route of a John Fox rookie - waiting for an opportunity for at least one season to develop and grow into a big contributor once he gains more experience.
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| 23 | Reggie Bush | DET | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Reggie Bush left Miami as a free agent, signing as soon as he could with the Detroit Lions. The Lions love to throw the ball and have been looking for a viable receiver out of the backfield ever since Jahvid Best was lost to several concussions. Detroit wants to use Bush like he was in New Orleans, targeting him early and often out of the backfield in addition to giving him several carries a game. Bush could top 70 receptions this season with the Lions and become a fantasy RB1 in PPR leagues.
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| 24 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Jonathan Stewart was all set to become a feature tailback this year right up until DeAngelo Williams restructured and signed a long term deal to stay with the Panthers. That makes Carolina a two-back committee once again, but the good news for Stewart is that the Panthers are going to emphasize the run in 2013 and Stewart should see the bulk of running back goal line chances. I say it that way because QB Cam Newton is a goal line vulture himself, else Stewart would have much higher fantasy value.
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| 25 | Mark Ingram | NO | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Saints are heading back to their 2011 offense with Sean Payton back at the helm, and part of that involves getting Mark Ingram going once again. Ingram had five scores that season in just 10 games in a crowded backfield, and with Chris Ivory now a Jet the door opens more for Ingram to showcase what made him a first round pick two years ago. Ingram has fantasy RB2 upside if Pierre Thomas does not vulture his opportunities at the goal line. Longer term, Ingram has even higher upside once the Saints move to a two-back system with just him and Darren Sproles.
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| 26 | Daryl Richardson | STL | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Steven Jackson has left for Atlanta, opening up the backfield for the St. Louis Rams. A committee approach is likely, especially in 2013 with second year backs Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead. Richardson offers the best replacement, although he is likely to lose goal line chances to Pead. Rookie Zac Stacy (Vanderbilt) is a favorite of some draftniks, but his Round 5 selection likely means he needs at least one year of grooming before he challenges to be the starter.
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| 27 | Ryan Mathews | SD | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Would you want to tie your fantasy roster to Ryan Mathews? Neither would I, but he is not without some value as a fantasy RB3 with limited upside. Mathews was regarded as a potential franchise back as recently as last summer, but after not being able to stay healthy and consistently losing a few games in all three of his career seasons to injury, he feels much more like a less version of Darren McFadden. Mathews will split time in the backfield with Danny Woodhead, who will get all of the passing down work and could eat into Mathews' entire workload.
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| 28 | Darren Sproles | NO | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Darren Sproles has a lot of fantasy value in PPR leagues, but nearly as much in standard scoring leagues. Sproles is one of the best pass catchers out of the backfield and he gets to operate with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Drew Brees. Sproles is very effective in the open field but he rarely is asked to run the ball between the tackles. His fantasy value is highly dependent upon the scoring system for a given league.
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| 29 | Frank Gore | SF | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Frank Gore may be winding down his career, but the recent loss of wide receiver Michael Crabtree by San Francisco will almost certainly mean more work for Gore this season. The 49ers love the run option as it is behind Colin Kaepernick, and now that will get even more action with only Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis as reliable pass receivers. Youngsters LaMichael James and Kendall Hunter will push for more work, but there should be plenty of touches for everyone now as the 49ers will run the ball quite often in a very run-heavy offense this year.
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| 30 | Marcus Lattimore | SF | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Marcus Lattimore will be essentially red-shirting his rookie NFL season with the San Francisco 49ers. Lattimore tore three ligaments (ACL, LCL and PCL) in his knee last October and has been working back after surgery ever since. While he hopes to play in 2013, odds are that the 49ers will hold him out until next year to get him to full strength and hope to have him compete to be the next tailback after Frank Gore.
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| 31 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | CIN | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Bengals added a new rookie tailback to the mix in Round 2 of the NFL Draft, selecting Giovani Bernard. The Bengals are building their offensive weapons, and now have both Bernard and veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis as a two-back committee for this year. Bernard will get some work as both a third-down back and also likely get a few series himself this season, but Green-Ellis will likely get more total rushes and goal line chances for 2013.
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| 32 | Stevan Ridley | NE | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: New England may be viewed by most as a pass first team with Tom Brady and his big tight ends, but the Patriots actually love to run the ball. Stevan Ridley is the back who pounds the ball into the end zone from short distance away, plus he also eats at the clock in the second half. Ridley is a solid fantasy RB2 who finds the end zone most games.
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| 33 | Bernard Pierce | BAL | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Bernard Pierce is one of the best up and coming young running backs in the NFL today. Were it not for Ray Rice blocking his way to starting, Pierce would be considered a far bigger fantasy prospect in both 2013 and beyond. For now, Pierce must bide his time and make the most of his limited touches until he gets a shot at free agency.
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| 34 | DeAngelo Williams | CAR | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: DeAngelo Williams restructured and signed a long term deal to stay with the Panthers for 2013 and likely for two seasons beyond this year. Having both Williams and Jonathan Stewart both in the fold makes Carolina a two-back committee once again, but Stewart will still see the bulk of the work. Williams does have more explosiveness and home run ability, but he will have to break off a big run to find the end zone as Stewart will get the bulk of running back goal line chances.
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| 35 | Bryce Brown | PHI | show |
[Jun 8th] Jeff Pasquino says: Chip Kelly comes in to Philadelphia this year and will be installing his version of the Oregon Duck offense, but it will be very dependent upon what personnel he has to work with for his first NFL season. One thing that is for sure is that he will want to run the ball quite a bit, and that means big production numbers for both LeSean McCoy and second back Bryce Brown. At Oregon, Kelly ran the ball 685 times, 545 by non-quarterbacks, in comparison to 373 pass calls. It stands to reason that even if McCoy sees a ton of work, there will be plenty of touches left over for Brown to be a very relevant RB3 with upside this season.
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| 36 | Isaiah Pead | STL | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Steven Jackson has left for Atlanta, opening up the backfield for the St. Louis Rams. A committee approach is likely, especially in 2013 with second year backs Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead. Richardson offers the best replacement, although he is likely to lose goal line chances to Pead, who had the higher pedigree and draft selection entering 2012. Rookie Zac Stacy (Vanderbilt) is a favorite of some draftniks, but his Round 5 selection likely means he needs at least one year of grooming before he challenges to be the starter.
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| 37 | Chris Ivory | NYJ | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Chris Ivory finally got out from under the depth chart woes he could never seem to escape while in New Orleans. Now a New York Jet, Ivory is poised to become their feature tailback in 2013 and for the next several seasons. Shonn Greene, arguably a lesser talented runner, managed to finish as a fantasy RB2 last year - so Ivory clearly has RB2 value with upside in 2013.
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| 38 | Christine Michael | SEA | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Seattle picked up former Texas A&M running back Christine Michael in Round 2, who will start out by battling second year running back Robert Turbin for the job as the backup to Marshawn Lynch in Seattle this year, which is a very interesting role this season. Lynch might be facing a possible suspension at some point in 2013, which means that both backs could be used quite a bit for several weeks this year. Long term, it will remain to be seen where Turbin and Michael wind up on the depth chart.
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| 39 | Ryan Williams | ARI | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Arizona backfield is wide open entering 2013. Ryan Williams returns as the veteran challenger to start, and if he can get past his knee injury and mental hangups to return to his form from Virginia Tech then Williams should be the top back. Head coach Bruce Arians has worked on rebuilding the offensive line and he wants a workhorse back, so the upside is very high if Williams looks strong in the preseason.
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| 40 | Michael Bush | CHI | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Michael Bush is one of the best backup running backs in the NFL. Wherever he has gone, Oakland or Chicago, he has proven to be an effective goal line back or even a spot starter. Bush has 21 touchdowns the past three seasons, and he remains a threat to Matt Forte this year for stealing snaps and scoring chances.
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| 41 | Zac Stacy | STL | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Steven Jackson has left for Atlanta, opening up the backfield for the St. Louis Rams. A committee approach is likely, especially in 2013 with second year backs Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead. Richardson offers the best replacement, although he is likely to lose goal line chances to Pead. Rookie Zac Stacy (Vanderbilt) is a favorite of some draftniks, but his Round 5 selection likely means he needs at least one year of grooming before he challenges to be the starter.
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| 42 | Joseph Randle | DAL | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Joseph Randle is a very capable running back when he stays healthy, which is one of the questions he will face this preseason. The good news is that he is almost guaranteed to be the second back for the Cowboys behind DeMarco Murray, another tailback with a checkered health history. Randle has the ability to perform well and if he gets the chance to start or even split time with Murray then he will have a quick path to fantasy relevance in Dallas.
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| 43 | Andre Ellington | ARI | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Arizona backfield is wide open entering 2013. Ryan Williams and Rashard Mendenhall are two veterans who will compete to return to form, but both rookies drafted in April will also have a shot for this season. Head coach Bruce Arians has worked on rebuilding the offensive line and he wants a workhorse back, so the upside is very high if Ellington, a Round 6 draft pick from Clemson, looks strong in the preseason.
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| 44 | Lamar Miller | MIA | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Lamar Miller is poised to be the starting tailback for the Miami Dolphins now that Reggie Bush has gone to Detroit via free agency. Miller will likely share the workload with either Daniel Thomas or rookie Mike Gillislee, as Miller hardly proved his worth last year with just 57 touches of the ball all of his rookie campaign. His job as a starter is hardly written in stone.
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| 45 | Rashard Mendenhall | ARI | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Arizona backfield is wide open entering 2013. Rashard Mendenhall signed with the Cardinals to try and rebuild his career, rejoining his former coach (new head coach Bruce Arians). Arians has worked on rebuilding the offensive line and he wants a workhorse back, so the upside is very high if Mendenhall looks strong in the preseason and can keep the rookies and Ryan Williams down on the depth chart.
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| 46 | Mikel Leshoure | DET | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Mikel Leshoure has lost his feature tailback role in Detorit after the Lions signed Reggie Bush away from Miami. Detroit wants to use Bush like he was in New Orleans, targeting him early and often out of the backfield in addition to giving him several carries a game. That means a reduced role for Leshoure, who could still maintain value as a short yardage, complimentary and goal line back in Detroit.
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| 47 | Ahmad Bradshaw | IND | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: The Indianapolis Colts strengthened their thin backfield for 2013, signing free agent Ahmad Bradshaw for $1.1M on a one-year deal. The cost is not too high and there are plenty of incentives to keep Bradshaw motivated - both to perform and to keep himself healthy. Bradshaw will likely be the top feature tailback but will face some challenges from Vick Ballard and possibly even Delone Carter or Donald Brown in goal line situations. Bradshaw is in his seventh NFL season and his feet are starting to be a big problem, making him a risk to count on for this year.
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| 48 | Vick Ballard | IND | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Vick Ballard was supposed to be a solid fantasy RB2 option for teams this year, but all that changed in early June with Ahmad Bradshaw signing a one-year, $1.1M contract with the Colts. Now Ballard will have to compete for touches and will likely fall behind Bradshaw on the depth chart for 2013. Ballard has some chance to contribute this year and beyond since Bradshaw is no longer healthy enough to be relied upon for 20+ touches a game, but Ballard has to step up to the plate and deliver when given the chance. Ballard had nearly 1,000 total yards in his rookie year but just two touchdowns - a conversion rate that has to improve if he wants key goal line touches. With a full offseason and preseason for Ballard to develop, Ballard has some value with upside - but now he has to overcome not the sophomore jinx but also competition from Bradshaw.
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| 49 | Mike Gillislee | MIA | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Miami snapped up Mike Gillislee in Round 5 in April, and they plan on having him compete right away for playing time in a backfield that is wide open behind Lamar Miller. If Gillislee shows that his abilities from Florida will translate over right away to the NFL, Gillislee may push for not just the backup role this year but also a bigger role, stealing touches from Miller. He is definitely worth a late round flyer, especially if you draft Miller this season.
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| 50 | Ben Tate | HOU | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Ben Tate has always had the ability to perform at the NFL level, but when you get stuck behind a Pro Bowl caliber back like Arian Foster, your upside is limited. Tate has had injury woes in the past as well, but when healthy he has put up decent numbers for the Texans. More is expected of Tate this year, and it is his final year under contract with the Texans, so this is the season where he needs to perform to get a chance to start in 2014.
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| 51 | Robert Turbin | SEA | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Robert Turbin will be battling rookie running back Christine Michael for the job as the backup to Marshawn Lynch in Seattle this year, which is a very interesting role this season. Lynch might be facing a possible suspension at some point in 2013, which means that both backs could be used quite a bit for several weeks this year.
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| 52 | Jacquizz Rodgers | ATL | |
| 53 | Shonn Greene | TEN | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Shonn Greene was a very quiet but effective fantasy RB2 with the Jets last year, but now he is the second back on Tennessee. The question is, how will the Titans use him? Word has it that he will be used almost like a LenDale White, hammering the ball in between the tackles and at the goal line, stealing scoring chances from Chris Johnson. That makes Greene very valuable in traditional leagues and a big handcuff for Chris Johnson owners.
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| 54 | Denard Robinson | JAX | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Denard Robinson was a very athletic player while at Michigan, leading the offense as a rusher and passer from the quarterback position. Initial thoughts were that Robinson would have to transition to a wide receiver role at the pro level, but the Jaguars are thinking he might be more of a running back in the pro game. Either way, Robinson is more of a gadget player without too much fantasy value yet until we see more of how he will be used - and even then, Jacksonville is one of the least productive offenses in the NFL.
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| 55 | Andre Brown | NYG | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Andre Brown is preparing for 2013 as if he will be the starting tailback for the New York Giants, but he will face stiff competition from second year running back David Wilson. Odds are that Brown will split time with Wilson, with Brown getting more goal line and short yardage opportunities while Wilson gets more of the Ahmad Bradshaw-type role. Brown will have more fantasy value in non-PPR leagues.
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| 56 | Danny Woodhead | SD | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: Former Patriot Danny Woodhead joined San Diego and has an excellent opportunity to show how much of an impact on offense he can provide. Ryan Mathews is still the top back on the depth chart, but after not being able to stay healthy and consistently losing a few games in all three of his career seasons to injury, the Chargers wanted another player to at least compliment him and possibly push Mathews for playing time. Woodhead will get all of the passing down work and could eat into Mathews' entire workload.
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| 57 | Shane Vereen | NE | show |
[Jun 12th] Jeff Pasquino says: New England has moved on from Danny Woodhead as their scatback receiver of choice, deciding instead to go with the younger (and cheaper) Shane Vereen for this year. Vereen flashed some ability in the playoffs last season, scoring twice on five catches for 83 yards against the Texans. The third year back will be lined up next to Tom Brady on passing downs this season, making him a solid bye week running back with upside in PPR leagues.
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| 58 | LaMichael James | SF | |
| 59 | Mike Tolbert | CAR | |
| 60 | Toby Gerhart | MIN | |