Fantasy Running Back Rankings

Fantasy Running Back rankings and statistical projections from VIPsports Edge's fantasy draft guide.

1) Larry Johnson - Kansas City

Johnson has gone from potential first round bust two years ago to a 1,750 yard runner in just nine starts last year. With Priest Holmes’ return iffy at best, Johnson should be one of the best runners in the NFL again this year, as well as a top fantasy player overall.

2) LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego

Fantasy owners certainly need no introduction to Tomlinson, as he has been topping draft charts for the last few seasons. This year, he will battle Kansas City’s Larry Johnson for the top fantasy pick overall, and be a giant part of the offense with Phillip Rivers at quarterback.

3) Shaun Alexander - Seattle

The reigning NFL MVP had a career high in rushing yards (1,880), attempts (370), and touchdowns (27). The last stat is what really gets fantasy football owners into a frenzy. Alexander just signed a new contract and he looks to have another great year.

4) Tiki Barber - NY Giants

Barber is a rarity as an NFL running back, he keeps getting better with age. Barber is 31 years-old, but is fresh after only getting a full workload the last four years. Barber’s 1,860 rushing yards last year on 357 carries were both career highs by far.

5) Clinton Portis - Washington

Portis doesn’t average 5.5 yards per carry anymore like he did in Denver, but he did break the 1,500 yard plateau last year, and his 4.3 yards per carry wasn’t shabby. Portis remains one of the best and most durable backs in the NFL, and that will continue in 2006.

6) Rudi Johnson - Cincinnati

Johnson broke the franchise running record last year with 1,458 yards. Johnson had set the record himself in 2004. Johnson does have a quality backup behind him in Chris Perry, but he will stay on the sidelines as long as Johnson continues to perform as he has.

7) Steven Jackson - St. Louis

Jackson took control of the St. Louis running game last year from Marshall Faulk. He ended up with 1,046 rushing yards on just over 250 carries. Now in his third season, he is looking to increase his rushing attempts to around 300, and that looks very possible.

8) Ronnie Brown - Miami

Ricky Williams’ suspension for the year means that Ronnie Brown is Miami’s undisputed featured running back. Brown, a high 2005 first round draft pick, had 907 rushing yards last year on 207 carries. Look for both of those figures to go up significantly in 2006.

9) LaMont Jordan - Oakland

Jordan was a free agent pickup from the Jets last year and had 1,025 rushing yards in his first year ever as a starter. Jordan was expecting bigger numbers, and so were fantasy owners. Jordan should slightly improve his rushing yardage as he is more used to the workload.

10) Domanick Davis - Houston

Houston paid Davis the highest compliment when they decided to draft Mario Williams over Reggie Bush with the number one pick. Davis is a very good running back who almost gained 1,000 yards last year in just 11 games. Davis is also a good receiver out of the backfield.

11) Cadillac Williams - Tampa Bay

Williams averaged 145 rushing yards in his first three games as a rookie last year. In his 11 other games played, he averaged 68 yards. He also missed two games because of injuries. Williams was still named offensive rookie of the year and great things lie ahead for him.

12) Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia

Westbrook ran for 617 yards last year on 4.0 yards per carry, the latter dropping a lot from the last two years. Westbrook is still a force as a receiver, but he needs a healthy Donovan McNabb. If Westbrook can stay healthy, he should break his career high of 177 carries.

13) Edgerrin James – Arizona

James comes over from Indianapolis where he averaged 347 carries and 1,527 rushing yards the last two years. However, the Cardinals ran the ball less than any team in the NFL in 2005, and James will be running behind a very suspect offensive line. Look for a numbers decrease.

14) Willie Parker - Pittsburgh

Parker came out of nowhere last year to run for 1,202 yards. He did struggle in their first three playoff games, but had a game-altering 75 yard touchdown run in the Super Bowl. With Jerome Bettis retired, Parker will get plenty of carries and more touchdowns scored.

15) Kevin Jones - Detroit

Jones had a disappointing 2005 season with just 664 rushing yards. Compare that to his rookie year in 2004 when he had 1,133. However, the new coaching staff in Detroit seems to like him a lot, and Jones looks to be headed for a 250 carry season.

16) Reuben Droughns - Cleveland

Droughns had his second consecutive 1,200 yard season last year, but then unfortunately got charged with domestic assault in May. Droughns also just signed a three year extension in March and there is no reason to believe that the domestic assault will cause any missed games.

17) Willis McGahee - Buffalo

McGahee’s rushing yards increased from 1,128 in 2004 to 1,247 in 2005. Still, his yards per carry dropped from 4.0 to 3.8, and his touchdowns plummeted from 13 to 5. McGahee has a questionable attitude, but he is still the Bill’s featured back as there is little competition.

18) Tatum Bell - Denver

Bell has tantalizing ability and showed some of it last year by gaining 921 yards on 5.3 yards per carry. Denver let Mike Anderson go to free agency, so Bell’s main competition is Ron Dayne. Look for Bell to be the primary ball-carrier and have the best year of his career.

19) Julius Jones - Dallas

Jones is the featured back of the Cowboys, but he has trouble staying healthy for all 16 games. There was even a rumor that he was being shopped during the NFL draft. Jones’ numbers should continue to improve, but Marion Barber is sure to steal some of his carries.

20) Corey Dillon - New England

Dillon rushed for 1,635 yards in 2004, but was limited to 733 in 12 games last year. Dillon battled ankle injuries for a lot of last year, and he was also behind a makeshift offensive line. Dillon will rebound some in 2006, but he will not come close to his 2004 level.

21) Warrick Dunn - Atlanta

Dunn continues to amaze people at 31 years-old. His 1,416 rushing yards last year were a career high, and he hasn’t missed a game in the last two years. That is extremely durable considering his relatively slight frame. Dunn will again carry the full-time load in 2006.

22) Jamal Lewis - Baltimore

Lewis re-signed for big money as a free agent, and he will be the starter ahead of Mike Anderson. Lewis’ rushing yardage and per carry average were career lows last season, but the team is confidant that he will bounce back this year with a quality backup behind him.

23) DeShaun Foster - Carolina

Foster rushed for 879 yards last season despite starting only five games. He then really turned it on in the playoffs before breaking his ankle. With Stephen Davis gone, Foster is the number one running back as his ankle is recovered. Now, he has to stay healthy for all 16 games.

24) Chester Taylor - Minnesota

Taylor comes over as a free agent from Baltimore and this is the first time in his career that he will be a full-time starter. However, how many carries he will get is still a big question mark. Taylor is a good receiver out of the backfield which adds to his fantasy value.

25) Curtis Martin - NY Jets

Martin is 4th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list, and a certain Hall of Famer, but how much does he have left in tank at 33 years old? In 12 games last year, Martin had 735 rushing yards on 3.3 yards per carry. He also had “minor” knee surgery in December, another red flag.

26) Thomas Jones - Chicago

Jones had a terrific 2005 season with 1,335 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Numbers like that would make you the automatic starter on almost any team in the NFL. However, Jones is unhappy about his contract, and he is currently behind Cedric Benson on the depth chart.

27) Chris Brown - Tennessee

Brown rushed for 851 yards last year, a disappointment to fantasy owners. He did have 327 yards receiving which was the good news. The presence of rookie LenDale White will not help Brown’s carry totals this year, but it should keep him healthier and productive.

28) Deuce McAllister - New Orleans

McAllister has been the face of the franchise for the last five seasons even though he missed most of 2005 with a torn ACL. The drafting of Reggie Bush makes McAllister less of a focal point, but he is still scheduled to be the primary running back if his knee can hold up.

29) Reggie Bush - New Orleans

Bush was snapped up with the second pick overall in this year’s draft after Houston inexplicably passed on him. His best comparison is Marshall Faulk, who was an instant running and receiving threat. Bush’s rushing totals depend on the health of Deuce McAllister.

30) Fred Taylor - Jacksonville

Taylor enters his 9th season in the NFL, a time when a lot of running backs start to hit the wall. Taylor has also always been injury prone, and he is unhappy about rumors that the team was thinking of releasing him. He is a risky fantasy player at this point in his career.

31) Frank Gore – San Francisco

Gore was a rookie in 2005 and had over 600 yards rushing in backup duty. His 4.8 yards per carry showed the promise he has as a starting running back, now he just has to have his knees hold up. Gore will compete mostly with Kevan Barlow for carries.

32) Joseph Addai - Indianapolis

Addai is a first round pick out of LSU, and he will try to fill the void left by Edgerrin James. Even though the Colts reportedly would have drafted Laurence Maroney and DeAngelo Williams ahead of him, Addai has the best chance of the three for a 1,000 yard season.

33) Ron Dayne - Denver

Dayne has been mostly a first-round bust since coming out of Wisconsin in 2000. However, he did have some good moments with the NY Giants, and last year with Denver. Dayne will share the load with Tatum Bell, but look for Bell to be the one who ends up with the greater share.

34) Cedric Benson - Chicago

Benson was the 4th pick overall in the 2005 draft, a curious selection considering that Chicago already had Thomas Jones. Benson’s rookie year was nothing to get too excited about, but he has a decent chance to wrest the number one job from Jones this year.

35) Dominic Rhodes - Indianapolis

Rhodes rushed for over 1,100 yards as a rookie in 2001, but he hasn’t had more than 254 yards since in limited action. Now, Rhodes will battle rookie Joseph Addai for the starting running back position, although they will share carries no matter who ends up as the starter.

36) Ahman Green - Green Bay

Green signed a one-year deal in March after it looked like he might go elsewhere. Green has been a healthy player for most of his career, but he missed the last 11 games in 2005 with a torn quad. He will battle Samkon Gado for carries if his quad is healthy enough.

37) Mike Anderson - Baltimore

Anderson was a 1,000 yard rusher last year for Denver, but he will be the backup in Baltimore behind Jamal Lewis. Anderson will turn 33 years-old at the beginning of the season, and he takes over the role of Chester Taylor who left for a chance to start with the Vikings.

38) Samkon Gado - Green Bay

Gado was a virtual unknown last year until injuries derailed Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. Gado gained 582 yards on 4.1 yards per carry in eight games last year. A good portion of Gado’s fantasy value depends on the health of Green’s quad.

39) Greg Jones - Jacksonville

Jones is a bruising running back who gained 575 yards last year on 151 carries. With the injury history of Fred Taylor, Jones is guaranteed to get some carries again this year. However, Jones’ fantasy value is again limited unless Taylor is also on your team.

40) LenDale White - Tennessee

White is a bruising runner who slipped to the second round this year due to weight and character issues. White is the type of player who steps it up for game-day, and his familiarity with offensive coordinator, Norm Chow means that he will take carries from Chris Brown.

41) Kevan Barlow – San Francisco

Barlow’s rushing yards have gone from 1,024 to 822 to 581 in the last three years. He has also only averaged around 3.3 yards per carry in the last two years. Barlow is competing with Frank Gore for carries, and Gore looks to hold the advantage for the top job right now.

42) Marion Barber - Dallas

This Minnesota product ran for 538 yards as a rookie last year, and usually produced when given the chance. A healthy Julius Jones really limits his rushing chances, but Barber should emerge this year as one of the better number two’s in the NFL.

43) Chris Perry - Cincinnati

Perry is a former first round pick out of Michigan, who has never gotten to carry the ball much due to the presence of Rudi Johnson. Perry did undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in April, but he should be healed enough to continue to be one of the best third down backs in football.

44) Mewelde Moore - Minnesota

Moore has been a solid player in his first two years in the league, but Minnesota views him as a third down back with fill-in ability as a starter. Moore will back-up free agent acquisition, Chester Taylor, but he still has some fantasy value as he will work his way onto the field.

45) Michael Pittman - Tampa Bay

Pittman is a great compliment to running back Cadillac Williams, as he can come in and get the tough yardage. He is also an underrated receiver out of the backfield. Pittman’s fantasy value is limited when Williams is healthy, but he is interesting as a fantasy handcuff.

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