LestersLegends.com

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Now that the NFL Draft is behind us it is time for fantasy football nuts to start breaking down the rookies. Here’s the LestersLegends’ look at the 2013 NFL rookie running back class.
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1. Montee Ball, Denver Broncos
Ball should assume the starting role in a very potent offense. Peyton Manning has plenty of weapons in the passing game, but he knows the value of a strong running game. Ball ran for a ridiculous 73 touchdowns over the past three seasons. He had 39 combined touchdowns in 2011. Ball should handle the early downs and the goal line work. He should be a solid RB2 with some upside.
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2. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals
Bernard gives the Bengals a dynamic running back. In two years at North Carolina he averaged 1,240.5 rushing yards, 426 receiving yards, 16.5 total touchdowns and 46 receptions. He’ll have to share the load with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, which limits his 2013 value, but he gives Cincinnati more explosiveness. His versatility should keep Bernard on the field.
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3. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
Lacy was expected to be the first running back to come off the board, but some concerns caused him to slide. Green Bay should be a great landing place. He should see plenty of early down carries and in the red zone. He’d likely be ranked higher if the Packers didn’t add Jonathan Franklin as well.
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4. Le’veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bell should see plenty of opportunities as Pittsburgh struggled to find an answer at running back last year. Bell isn’t an elite talent, but he’s a big back with solid hands. Bell gets a little bump in PPR leagues.
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5. Johnathan Franklin, Green Bay Packers
The Packers all but ensured they will have a better running attack next year by drafting Lacy and Franklin. Lacy’s presence hurts Franklin’s value, but he should still get his touches. If Lacy’s toe becomes an issue, suddenly Franklin has a ton of appeal.
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Also check out:

• 2013 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Quarterbacks
• 2013 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Wide Receivers
• 2013 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Tight Ends
• 2013 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2013 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2013 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2013 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings

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When I looked at the top five 2012 running backs I ranked Trent Richardson, Doug Martin, David Wilson, Isaiah Pead and Bernard Pierce as the top five. I was on the mark with Richardson and Martin. Wilson did not get enough opportunities to do his thing, but I still think good things will come. I totally missed the boat on Pead and Pierce was just decent. The biggest surprise was Alfred Morris. He came out of nowhere to become a top ten running back. Vick Ballard, Daryl Richardson and Bryce Brown also had some moments. All in all, not a bad class. Here is how I rank them for keeper leagues.
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1.  Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns
Richardson came in with the top slot, but will finish the season third in scoring. His injuries are troublesome and a major source of concern, but the upside is there. He is a gifted runner that is very capable of catching the ball out of the backfield. He has a great mix of power and speed. He will get the short yardage touchdowns and has the ability to break the long one as well. The gap has definitely been narrowed.
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2.  Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Martin is explosive. He reminds me a lot of Maurice Jones-Drew. He’s short (5’9″), but he is stocky, fast and powerful. He’s a load to bring down and when he gets to the second level, he’s gone. Martin will lead all rookies in total yardage. He only had a couple of duds on the year. Unfortunately, one came in Week 15 in a dream matchup with the New Orleans Saints. I think he remains a top five to seven back for years to come. I just see T-Rich as having more upside.
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3.  Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins
Morris was drafted in the sixth round. He is a perfect fit for Washington’s system. He hit a little wall in the middle of the season, but rounded nicely back into form. He’s been the most consistent rookie running back. He’ll likely lead the class in rushing yards. Sustainability is a little more uncertain compared to the top two.
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4.  David Wilson, New York Giants
He could end up leapfrogging all of the backs if he is given the opportunity. His future is more uncertain that the other three. Hence, the fourth ranking. He is electric. However, he plays for a pass-first team. That’s when the offense isn’t a complete mess like it is right now. I still like his prospects. I just don’t want to go “all-in” until I know he’s the lead back.
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5.  Daryl Richardson, St. Louis Rams
I think Ballard has more immediate value, but Richardson has a brighter future. Steven Jackson probably has one more year left in him. Ballard will likely always be part of a committee of sorts. Richardson should get the keys once S-Jax hangs it up.
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How do you rank the rookie running backs?
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Also check out:

• 2012-13 Wild Card Round Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2012-13 Wild Card Round Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012-13 Wild Card Round Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012-13 Wild Card Round Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012-13 NFL Wild Card Round Picks

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Now that the NFL Draft is behind us it is time for fantasy football nuts to start breaking down the rookies. Here’s the LestersLegends’ look at the 2012 NFL rookie running back class.
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1.  Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns
It is pretty much Richardson and then the rest of the class. He will step in as the feature back right away and run behind a solid offensive line. Be prepared, you will have to pay top dollar to get him, but he has the potential to be a top ten fantasy running back right out of the gate.
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2.  Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He will split carries with LeGarrette Blount and could lose some touches at the stripe, but Martin is in good position. Blount had a disappointing season and has inadequacies in the blocking and receiving aspect of the position. Martin could see a lot of carries as the more complete back.
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3.  David Wilson, New York Giants
The Giants did not opt to replace Brandon Jacobs with another big back. Instead they went with the shifty, athletic type. He will provide insurance for Ahmad Bradshaw, who has an injury history. He will likely be the eventual successor.
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4.  Isaiah Pead, St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson isn’t ready to hand over the reigns just yet, but Pead will be waiting in the wings. Jackson will turn 29 later this summer and he has carried a significant load. Look for the Rams to ease it with Pead while groove his eventual replacement.
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5.  Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens 
Pierce will be the primary handcuff for Ray Rice. While he still has a lot of football left, the Ravens tend to utilize their second back better than most. They have gone with veterans Willis McGahee and Ricky Williams in recent years, so Pierce will be a nice change.
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Also check out:

• 2012 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Quarterbacks
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Wide Receivers
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Tight Ends
• 2012 NFL Draft First Round Skill Players: A Fantasy Perspective

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So I had an interesting dilemma in my fantasy football keeper league. I had to decide if I wanted to retain LeGarrette Blount or Frank Gore. It’s not a PPR league, which evens the playing field. Do I go with the proven player or the young upstart?
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Frank Gore has had five straight seasons with 1300+ total yards. He has a track record of being one of the best running backs in the year. I have him ranked higher than Blount, which is on par with most rankings. The beauty of Gore is that if he gets shut down in the running game he can still make up for it in the passing game. That increases the odds of him having a good game, something that Luxbet Mobile can relate to.
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Plus,  Jim Harbaugh is committed to building the offense around Gore.
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He’s not without a downside though. Gore has missed nine games in the past three years, including five last year with a hip injury. While he hasn’t reached thirty, he is in the neighborhood. He has averaged 300 touches over the past five years, or 21.4 a game giving Gore some serious mileage.
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He’s unhappy about his contract as well.  He is saying the right things about not wanting to be a distraction to his teammates or coaches, and at least he is in camp unlike Chris Johnson, but it would not be a stretch to say that could weigh on his mind during the year.
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I would be surprised if the Niners paid the man. To me running back is the most replaceable position in football. With Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon appear ready to handle the load once Gore is gone. That has to factor in since this is a keeper league.
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Meanwhile Blount is 24 (25 in December). The Bucs did not make a splash in the NFL Draft or free agency to provide serious competition to Blount.
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Blount ran for 1007 yards on 201 carries (5.0 ypc) with six touchdowns. He was non-existent in the passing game, but that is less of an issue since this isn’t a PPR league. While it takes away from his total yardage numbers, I think he’ll do enough damage on the ground to make up for it.
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He’s a big back (6’0″, 245 lbs) with good speed, power, and even the ability to leap would-be tacklers.
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Plus, I prefer his fantasy playoffs match-ups with Jacksonville, Dallas, and Carolina over San Francisco’s of Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.
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I decided to keep Blount over Gore? Am I nuts? Feel free to speak your mind.
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Also check out:

• 2011 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings – PPR
• 2011 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football K Rankings

Happy Birthday Heath!
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A commenter recently made a suggestion that Ahmad Bradshaw should be in my top 15 2011 fantasy football  running back rankings over Matt Forte.
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By no means would I dismiss the notion as I think it’s a valid assessment. So I decided to dig a little deeper into their production.
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Last year Forte was statistically the better back. He combined for 1616 yards (1069 rushing, 547 receiving) and ten touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving). Ahmad Bradshaw had more rushing yards (1235) and nearly as many total yards (1549), but had two fewer touchdowns.
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Bradshaw comes with a little more uncertainty because we don’t know exactly where he’ll be playing next year. The Giants are expected to retain his services, but one never truly knows, especially in what is expected to be a crazy free agency period.
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Bradshaw has also had issues with his ankles and feet, which is a little concerning for a speed runner like Ahmad. He is healthy now, but can he hold up to another heavy workload like last year when he had 323 touches (276 carries, 47 receptions)? Prior to last year he combined for just 253 carries and 28 receptions in three year.
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Meanwhile Forte has been a workhorse. He has averaged 270.3 carries and 57 receptions in his three years without missing a game.  His carries and receptions have dipped in each of the past two years, but that isn’t unusual considering his decline coincided with Jay Cutler’s arrival. A running back with 288 touches like Forte had last year doesn’t really have much grounds to complain. His fantasy owners could have some beef, but it’s hard to not be pleased with his results.
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Bradshaw has scored seven and eight touchdowns in his two years with a key role for the Giants. Forte has reached double-digit combined touchdowns in two of his three years in the league.  Though I give Forte a slight edge in the touchdown department, I want to emphasize the word slight.
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Value won’t come into play with these two as they are currently 14th and 15th in ADP among running backs according to MockDraftCentral.
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It’s going to come down to preference when deciding between these two gifted running back. I prefer Forte, but completely understanding those in the Bradshaw camp.
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Which running back do yo prefer?
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Also check out:

• 2011 Early Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2011 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings

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Frank Gore headlines the running back scene in the NFC West, but he has some pretty serious injury concerns. He has missed nine games over the past three years, and didn’t reach 250 carries in any of those seasons. While he is very active in the receiving game averaging 51 catches per season over the past five years, he only has 32 rushing touchdowns over that stretch. He brings the average just over eight total touchdowns a year over that stretch thanks to his receiving scores, but he is a low end RB1 in non-PPR leagues and a middle of the pack RB1 in PPR leagues. Anthony Dixon and Kendall Hunter will battle for handcuff duties, but neither present much fantasy value as long as Gore remains healthy.
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Steven Jackson is a true workhorse back for the Rams, averaging 327 carries and 48.5 receptions over the past two years. His 3.8 yards per carry as well as his low touchdown totals (six per year over the past four season) keeps him from the top tier of fantasy backs. The talk has been that the Rams will add a veteran running back to compliment S-Jax. He’s still a solid RB1, especially in PPR leagues.
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The Cardinals must have  seen enough from Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower as the team overlooked several needs and selected Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams with the 38th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. It will be interesting to see how Beanie responds to the challenge. Beanie could be a nice value pick this year if he can stay healthy and finally prove his worth.
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Marshawn Lynch had some moments for the Seahawks, especially in their thrill upset of the Saint. Despite the feeling the he’s been in the league for a long time, he’s just 25. Justin Forsett will still get plenty of touches, especially in the passing game, but isn’t a threat to Lynch or a player with considerable fantasy value.
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Also check out:

• AFC East Running Back Situations
• AFC North Running Back Situations
• AFC South Running Back Situations
• AFC West Running Back Situations
• NFC East Running Back Situations
• NFC North Running Back Situations
• NFC South Running Back Situations

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The NFC South is pretty loaded in the running back department.
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Atlanta’s Michael Turner leads the way. He ran for 1371 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. He gets a downgrade in PPR leagues as he only caught 12 passes for 85 yards last year, but he’s a solid RB1. Turner has averaged 91.7 rushing yards and 0.91 rushing touchdowns per game over the past three years. Jason Snelling is one of the game’s best handcuffs because the Falcons hardly missed a beat when he filled in for Turner in the past. If he is a restricted free agent, he could be back with the club. If he is unrestricted it could be hard for them to bring him back. The Falcons drafted Jacquizz Rodgers, but he’ll strictly be the third down back.
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Tampa Bay got a pleasant surprise from LeGarrette Blount, who ran for 1007 yards with six touchdowns. He did his damage in just 201 carries (5.0 ypc).  Cadillac Williams is a free agent, but has expressed his desire to return to the Bucs. Blount is expected to get the bulk of the carries while Cadillac would play in passing situations. Rookie Allen Bradford isn’t expected to steal too many carries.
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Jonathan Stewart (and his keeper league owners) are perhaps second only to DeAngelo Williams and his agent in interest in where D-Will lands next year. If J-Stew has the backfield to himself, he could easily produce top five numbers, though Cam Newton could steal some of his touchdown runs. If Williams returns, Stewart can still be a viable fantasy option. They can definitely coexist for the Panthers and fantasy owners alike. D-Will could also be an elite fantasy option this year if he lands in the right place. If he signs with the Broncos, he could replace Knowshon Moreno as the team’s lead back. D-Will is an important piece in determining next year’s fantasy running back landscape.
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Pierre Thomas looked to be in a great spot when the Saints signed him to a four-year extension. Then they went and drafted Mark Ingram. That move likely sealed the fate of Reggie Bush, who will be sent packing if he doesn’t take a large pay cut. Thomas will likely move to change of pace and third-down duty while Ingram would carry the bulk of the snaps. This is a messy situation that will cause fantasy owners some heartache. Ingram should be a solid RB2 while PT23 should be a solid RB3.
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Also check out:

• AFC East Running Back Situations
• AFC North Running Back Situations
• AFC South Running Back Situations
• AFC West Running Back Situations
• NFC East Running Back Situations
• NFC North Running Back Situations