NFL Fantasy Football: Target RB with your 1st-round pick
BY JEFF AGREST Staff Reporter August 27, 2013 8:21PM
TOP 50 RANKINGS
1. RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings
2. RB Arian Foster, Texans
3. RB Doug Martin, Buccaneers
4. RB C.J. Spiller, Bills
5. RB Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
6. RB Ray Rice, Ravens
7. RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
8. RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
9. RB Alfred Morris, Redskins
10. RB Trent Richardson, Browns
11. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
12. RB Steven Jackson, Falcons
13. RB Stevan Ridley, Patriots
14. WR Calvin Johnson, Lions
15. RB Matt Forte, Bears
16. QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
17. QB Drew Brees, Saints
18. QB Peyton Manning, Broncos
19. WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys
20. WR A.J. Green, Bengals
21. WR Brandon Marshall, Bears
22. RB Chris Johnson, Titans
23. TE Jimmy Graham, Saints
24. WR Randall Cobb, Packers
25. WR Julio Jones, Falcons
26. WR Roddy White, Falcons
27. QB Cam Newton, Panthers
28. QB Tom Brady, Patriots
29. RB Frank Gore, 49ers
30. RB Reggie Bush, Lions
31. WR Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
32. WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
33. QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
34. RB Eddie Lacy, Packers
35. RB David Wilson, Giants
36. RB Lamar Miller, Dolphins
37. WR Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers
38. WR Andre Johnson, Texans
39. WR Victor Cruz, Giants
40. QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks
41. QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
42. RB Darren Sproles, Saints
43. WR Wes Welker, Broncos
44. WR Marques Colston, Saints
45. WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
46. WR Reggie Wayne, Colts
47. RB Montee Ball, Broncos
48. WR Danny Amendola, Patriots
49. WR Hakeem Nicks, Giants
50. WR Jordy Nelson, Packers
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Updated: August 30, 2013 10:03AM
I’m in the prediction business, and if you’re in a standard 10- or 12-team re-draft league, I predict you’ll take a running back in the first round.
You’d be foolish not to. Overall, running back is the scarcest position on the board, but it’s loaded at the top. In fact, the run on running backs might last into the second round.
You might be tempted to take a quarterback. There are players at the top capable of throwing 40 touchdown passes, but there are several more capable of throwing for 30. Quarterback is deep, so load up elsewhere first.
Here’s an example, using my top-50 ranking. Let’s say you’re picking eighth in a 10-team league, and your first pick is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Your second pick (No. 13) could be running back Steven Jackson, your third pick (No. 28) running back Reggie Bush and your fourth pick (No. 33) wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Not bad.
If your first pick is running back Marshawn Lynch, your second could be wide receiver Calvin Johnson, your third could be Bush and your fourth could be quarterback Matt Ryan. That team has more firepower, with three players ranked among the top eight at their position.
You could wait even longer for a quarterback. They’re outside my top 50, but (in ranking order) Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Tony Romo and Andrew Luck might be available with your fifth pick, if not later. That could give you a third running back to use as a flex play or a second wide receiver.
Don’t sleep on . . .
QB Matthew Stafford, Lions: He had a huge drop in scoring last season, but he figures to make a huge leap back this season. Stafford will throw a ton again, and his arsenal received an upgrade with pass-catching running back Reggie Bush.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars: By all accounts, including his own, Jones-Drew is in fine form after a foot injury limited him to six games last season. He wasn’t exactly injury-prone before then, missing three games in six seasons. A big season is ahead.
Let ’em go
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals: Clearly not sold on Green-Ellis’ impressive second half, the Bengals drafted Giovani Bernard in the second round. Green-Ellis figures to get the short-yardage work, but Bernard is the future of this backfield.
WR Mike Wallace, Dolphins: This team hasn’t been kind to wide receivers. The last Dolphins wideout with double-digit touchdowns was Chris Chambers, who had 11 in 2005. The Ryan Tannehill-Wallace connection doesn’t figure to be as prolific.
Twitter: @JeffreyA22
