********* this list has been replaced with our TOP 40 Running Back Rankings **************
Last week, I gave you my fantasy football rankings for the top 10 running backs in this year's fantasy drafts. Below are my rankings from 11-20 as I see them right now. Keep in mind that once free agency begins, this list will change. Oh boy how it will change. 21-30 coming Wednesday.
11. Raiders RB Darren McFadden
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 223 carries, 1157 yards, 5.2 ypc average, seven touchdowns
Receiving: 47 receptions, 507 yards, three touchdown
After two seasons struggling with injuries and slow development, we finally saw what McFadden can do after a breakout season. As long as he can keep himself out of injury purgatory, he should easily match, or even pass, his 2010 stats. Remember, he missed some time last year with a hamstring injury, so who knows how much better he could have been with a full sixteen-game season under his belt.
12. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 324 carries, 1274 yards, 3.9 ypc average, thirteen touchdowns
Receiving: 23 receptions, 167 yards, zero touchdowns
Mendenhall might be an idiot when it comes to his thoughts on Osama Bin Laden, but owners should only care about his stats. As the main guy in the backfield on a run-heavy offense, Mendy will match his 2010 stats. And double-digit rushing touchdowns is a given. Just don't count on him to be a bigger part of the passing game.
13. Browns RB Peyton Hillis
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 270 carries, 1177 yards, 4.4 ypc average, eleven touchdowns
Receiving: 61 receptions, 477 yards, two touchdowns
Hillis was not only on the offense, but at times WAS the offense in 2010. Injuries shoved Hillis into the spotlight and he didn't disappoint. For n0w, he is an easy RB2 in standard twelve-team leagues, but how much will Monterio Hardesty cut into his stats?
14. Bears RB Matt Forte
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 237 carries, 1069 yards, 4.5 ypc average, six touchdowns
Receiving: 51 receptions, 547 yards, three touchdowns
While Forte didn't match the stats he garnered during his 2008 rookie season, he had a solid bounce-back campaign following a dismal 2009. He has much more value in PPR leagues.
15. Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 201 carries, 1007 yards, 5.0 ypc average, six touchdowns
Receiving: 5 receptions, 14 yards, zero touchdowns
The Bucs passing on running back early in the draft tells me they have high hopes for Blount in his second year. On an offense that seems to get better and better, Blount will be in for a big 2011. But if those five receptions are any indication, we aren't sure if the team plans on using him that much in the passing game.
16. Chargers RB Ryan Mathews
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 157 carries, 675 yards, 4.3 ypc average, seven touchdowns
Receiving: 22 receptions, 145 yards, zero touchdowns
An ankle injury sidetracked Mathews' rookie season and caused him to miss a bunch of games in 2010. The Chargers still consider Mathews their featured back. And if Week Seventeen against the Broncos (120 rushing yards/three touchdowns) is any indication on what we can expect from him in 2011, Mathews should be one of the top RB2s left on the board.
17. Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 182 carries, 779 yards, 4.3 ypc average, five touchdowns
Receiving: 37 receptions, 372 yards, three touchdown
With the news that the Broncos want to reunite head coach John Fox with DeAngelo Williams, Moreno's fantasy value is on very shaky ground.
18. Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 276 carries, 1235 yards, 4.5 ypc average, eight touchdowns
Receiving: 47 receptions, 314 yards, zero touchdowns
Technically, Bradshaw is still considered a Giant. But depending on the new layout of the CBA, he could be a hot item in free agency. After displaying great running and receiving abilities, we hope he re-signs and stays in New York.
19. Jets RB Shonn Greene
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 185 carries, 766 yards, 4.1 ypc average, two touchdowns
Receiving: 16 receptions, 120 yards, zero touchdowns
Greene's sophomore year was a huge letdown after LaDainian Tomlinson found the fountain of youth early on in the 2010 season. But it now appears that Greene is ready to take that next step and get at least 75-80% of the carries in 2011. LT has already admitted he expects to be nothing more than a third-down specialist.
20. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams
2010 Stats:
Rushing: 87 carries, 361 yards, 4.1 ypc average, one touchdown
Receiving: 11 receptions, 61 yards, zero touchdowns
Like Bradshaw, Williams is still technically part of his 2010 team until the new CBA gets sorted out. But his fantasy value could skyrocket on the right team. Keep in mind that Williams has never been the main back in his career, having shared carries with Jonathan Stewart and DeShaun Foster while at Carolina.