Updated: 2012 RB Rankings

2012 RB Rankings

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
1	Arian Foster (HOU, 8)	1	1

Multitalented RB with all the goods including a dominant O-Line. Only annoying thing is having to draft Ben Tate in the 7th or 8th round.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
2	Ray Rice (BAL, 8)	2	2

Gifted player that plays on an offense that can’t figure out it’s identitiy. Cam Cameron just needs to feed Rice the rock.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
3	LeSean McCoy (PHI, 7)	3	3

Maybe the closest thing we have seen to Barry Sanders since he retired. Shady runs smoove and although he may dip in TDs, his receiving numbers should go up.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
4	Darren McFadden (OAK, 5)	5	5

A violent runner that has a ton of juice, but his body just hasn’t held up. If you roll the dice with Run DMC, you better make sure to grab the winner of the backup job..Goodson/Jones.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
5	Chris Johnson (TEN, 11)	4	4

CJ played “out of shape” last season as he held out for big money. He went down at first sign of contact and if there wasn’t a hole, he quit. The O-Line has been upgraded, Kendall Wright added, and CJ has himself back in shape and ready to roll again.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
6	DeMarco Murray (DAL, 5)	7	8

Murray has a ton of talent and plays on explosive offense with only Fragile Felix there to take away touches. Murray’s upright running may get him hurt again, but he is a dual threat back that will be the workhorse in 2012.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
7	Marshawn Lynch (SEA, 11)	10	10

Beast mode got nasty in 2011 while playing with inferior QBs and 80% of his O-Line on the shelf. Matt Flynn brings stability to the passing game and if the line can come back strong, we should see plenty of Skittles showers. *possible suspension looming*

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
8	Ryan Mathews (SD, 7)	12	13

Mr Glass had an injury to every part of his body last season, but we all know that Norv has produced big time fantasy RBs in the past and Tolbert is gonesky.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
9	Fred Jackson (BUF, 8)	15	15

The Rodney Dangerfield of fantasy football with have more competition for touches this season with Spiller proving his worth at the end of 2011.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
10	Steven Jackson (STL, 9)	11	14

Action Jackson has lost of ton of tread on his tires and has been plagued by being a part of crappy teams. He should see of ton of work in Jeff Fishers scheme, but it remains to be seen if the offense with click and S-Jax will flourish.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
11	Matt Forte (CHI, 6)	6	6

Talk about red flags. Forte is holding out, Michael Bush is in the mix, and the offensive line is a mess. Forte has a ton of talent, but his failures at the goaline are legendary and Bush will get a ton of work.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
12	Trent Richardson (CLE, 10)	13	12

The most talented RB to come out of the draft since All Day has the skill set, opportunity, and strong O-Line. Will be a workhorse in an offense that needs playmakers desperately.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
13	Jamaal Charles (KC, 7)	8	11

Unlike Mendy or AP, Charles injured his ACL in week two and will have almost a full year of recovery before the start of the season. It will be important to track JC in preseason to see him cut and run at full speed.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
14	Adrian Peterson (MIN, 11)	14	9

Peterson is coming into the season off a torn ACL and MCL, which occurred so late in the season that he may not be ready for the start of the season. If you grab him in the second round, you may want to ensure you get Gerhart as well.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
15	Doug Martin (TB, 5)	17	19

Should have the inside track to get the majority of the touches, as Blount can’t pass protect. Martin is superior in every aspect and the Bucs offense should be a lot better in 2012.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
16	Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG, 11)	16	18

The Giants let overrated Brandon Jacobs walk , but brought in explosive runner David Wilson. Bradshaw has had foot and fumbling issues over the years and may be overdrafted in 2012 fantasy drafts.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
17	Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC, 6)	9	7

No one has carried the ball more than MJD over the past 3 seasons and his current hold out is troublesome. If that can get resolved sooner, rather than later than MJD will still be a safe pick. If it lingers we could be looking at a CJ situation.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
18	Willis McGahee (DEN, 7)	22	22

McGahee has the inside track to getting muchos fake points as he can pass protect Mr Manning. Peyton will get this offense going and McGahee should reap the rewards of plenty of close shots at the endzone.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
19	Michael Turner (ATL, 7)	19	16

No longer the Burner or a guy who can handle the 350 plus carries a season. Should still be a lock for 10 TDs and you can’t ask for mush more from your RB2.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
20	BenJarvus Green-Ellis (CIN, 8)	24	23

Not a special player, but a guy who should get a ton of work and all the goaline carries. I have been waiting for Bernard Scott to break out for 3 years, I’m not holding my breath. The Law Firm will be a solid, yet unspectacular pick this season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
21	Peyton Hillis (KC, 7)	30	27

Hill was a beast in 2011 and a bust in 2011. The Chiefs O-Line is one of the best in the NFL and Charles may be eased back into the mix. Hillis has a ton of value this season. A bigger, better, younger version of Thomas Jones.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
22	Darren Sproles (NO, 6)	18	20

Will never be workhorse, but will gut a ton of receptions in this offense. Payton not calling the shots is slightly worrisome.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
23	Stevan Ridley (NE, 9)	27	26

Belichick hates fantasy football and will not allow one guy to be the main runner. Hell, he changes he mind week to week without notice. Ridley has the best chance to be their BJGE this season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
24	Donald Brown (IND, 4)	26	30

Brown finally made some strides at the end of 2011 and is getting the backing of the coaching staff early on. Not sure he can hold up.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
25	Frank Gore (SF, 9)	20	17

Gore wore down at the end of 2011 and will have a ton of competition for touches this season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
26	Rashad Jennings (JAC, 6)	41	42

MJD’s holdout getting ugly

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
27	Reggie Bush (MIA, 7)	21	21

Bush waited until 2011 to break out when no one thought he would. Daniel Thomas is healthy, Lamar Miller was added, and the offense looks anemic.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
28	Kevin Smith (DET, 5)	32	34

Kevin Smith is still only 25 years old and a guy I like as a deep sleeper this season. We have seen the Lions RBs bring in fantasy value and Best/Leshoure are no guarantees.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
29	Ryan Williams (ARI, 10)	38	41

Like Leshoure, if Williams is healed he will push Beanie for playing time this season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
30	David Wilson (NYG, 11)	39	39

Already getting rave reviews from the coaching staff, Wilson brings an element to the Giants backfield they haven’t had since Tiki went to be a weatherman.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
31	Kendall Hunter (SF, 9)	56	58

Gore is getting old and couldn’t hold up to the workload in 2011. The 49ers brought in other runners, but neither is more complete than Hunter. The sleeper in this backfield.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
32	Jonathan Stewart (CAR, 6)	25	29

2013. The year that Jonathan Stewart will finally be free. Stewart is the most talented RB on the team, but D-WIlly and Fat Tolbert will take too many opportunities away to trust any of them.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
33	DeAngelo Williams (CAR, 6)	29	31

D-Will still has some juice left in the tank, but he has to share carries with J-Stew, Fat Tolbert, and Cameron Newton.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
34	C.J. Spiller (BUF, 8)	31	37

Came on strong when F-Jax went down last season and proved himself to the coaching staff. Spiller is younger and more explosive than Jackson, but will be in something like a 60/40 split to start the season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
35	Cedric Benson (GB, 10)	35	36

Should be the starter for GB this season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
36	Shonn Greene (NYJ, 9)	23	24

Raise you hand if this guy has burned you over the last 3 years. Greene will be the “guy” this season, right? I’ll believe it when I see it.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
37	Ben Tate (HOU, 8)	36	35

Tate is most important handcuff in fantasy. Will be a flex play on most weeks and if Foster were to get hurt, he would be a top 10 guy.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
38	Alfred Morris (WAS, 10)	55	61

Could be the week one starter. Get ready to pull your hair out.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
39	Michael Bush (CHI, 6)	37	38

Bush wasn’t brought to Chi-Town to chill on the sidelines. He will immediately be their goaline/short yardage back and if Forte is out for any reason, he has shown the ability to be a feature back.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
40	Pierre Thomas (NO, 6)	43	47

Pierre is good at everything and is undervalued in fantasy circles coming into 2012. If Ingram misses any time than Thomas will have great value and can be had for a ham sandwich.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
41	Chris “Beanie” Wells (ARI, 10)	28	25

Beanie is not a special player and will be pushed for playing time by Ryan Williams. Knee is till an issue.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
42	Isaac Redman (PIT, 4)	34	28

Redman is a solid RB2, but has limited upside outside of the fact that he will get a ton of work until Mendy comes back.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
43	Mikel Leshoure (DET, 5)	44	46

The Jersey Leshoure needs to get his act together and if he is fully healed from his injury than he has the inside track to be 1st and 2nd down RB. Will miss the first 2 games of the season.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
44	Mark Ingram (NO, 6)	33	33

Ingram is a hard nosed runner and the Saints would love to make him their bell cow, but his knee hasn’t been able to hold up.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
45	Evan Royster (WAS, 10)	49	52

THT is back and Helu showed he can be the guy, but this is Shanny and Son we are talking about. Rumor is he could win the job outright. Somebody to keep an eye on.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
46	Jacquizz Rodgers (ATL, 7)	45	49

Should see more time on the field as a solid complimentary RB to Turner. I would be higher on him is Snelling didn’t come back.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
47	Toby Gerhart (MIN, 11)	42	40

If you draft AP, than Gerhart better be on your radar later in your draft. He showed he could be a good fantasy option when AP went down and may have a big role early in the year.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
48	LeGarrette Blount (TB, 5)	46	48

Has limited skills and Martin looks legit, too legit too quit.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
49	Shane Vereen (NE, 9)	50	54

The faster RB on the team will have be part of a crowded backfield and Belichick never tips his hand.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
50	Vick Ballard (IND, 4)	74

Could be the best RB on the team.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
51	Roy Helu (WAS, 10)	40	32

Tim Hightower will start if healthy. Evan Royster has a strong chance to be the day 1 starter. It’s only July and the Shanahanigans have already begun.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
52	Rashard Mendenhall (PIT, 4)	54	45

Will probably miss the first 3 games for sure and wasn’t impressive last season anyway. Off the PUP early enough that the Steelers think he will contribute.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
53	Taiwan Jones (OAK, 5)	64	69

 

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
54	Bilal Powell (NYJ, 9)	65

Shonn Grenne stinks.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
55	Daniel Thomas (MIA, 7)	47	53

Thomas looked solid prior to his hamstring issues, but role in new offense is still cloudy.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
56	Ronnie Hillman (DEN, 7)	51	55

Someone to watch this Summer as he should be a nice complimentary RB to McGahee.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
57	Isaiah Pead (STL, 9)	60	67

Jackson needs someone to take some of the workload and Pead should be excellent in that role.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
58	Felix Jones (DAL, 5)	52	50

Jones has explosiveness, but he can’t stay healthy. Will provide little unless Murray goes down again.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
59	Ronnie Brown (SD, 7)	62	60

May get more work as Mathews heals up.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
60	Bernard Scott (CIN, 8)	58	59

Scott has done little behind Benson and will still be #2 on the depth chart behind BJGE.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
61	Mike Goodson (OAK, 5)	76	66

If he is named the backup to DMC, then he is a must own.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
62	Jonathan Dwyer (PIT, 4)	57	65

 

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
63	James Starks (GB, 10)	48	43

The Packers really want Starks to be ‘the guy’, he just won’t do it. Any RB on this offense should be in line for fantasy goodness, but the Pack offense is all about the pass. Alex Green could be ‘the guy’ if he comes back strong from his ACL injury.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
64	Robert Turbin (SEA, 11)	61	63

A guy to watch this preseason, especially if Lynch gets suspended

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
65	Montario Hardesty (CLE, 10)	70	75

Hardesty has looked decent and hill be the main handcuff if T-Rich can’t hold up.

Rank	Player (team, bye)	ECR™	ADP
66	Marcel Reece (OAK, 5)	83

Wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Reece becomes the desired handcuff of DMC.

QB Rankings

WR Rankings