Fantasy Fix: Top 20 Running Backs
You want to win your Fantasy Football League? Of course you do. It was a rhetorical question. Get as many top running backs as possible. Well, at least three of the top 20. Let someone else go crazy for Aaron Rodgers or Megatron in the first round. As I've said before, the quarterback and receiver positions are deep. Running back not so much. Grab them early and often.
The drafting strategy that I usually employ in the first seven rounds is: RB, RB, WR, RB, WR, RB/WR, QB.
With that said, let’s run down the Top 20 Running Backs for the 2013 Fantasy Football Season.
Stats based on rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in Standard Scoring Leagues.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: Coming off major knee surgery last season, Peterson was the number one fantasy running back as he topped 2000 yards. This year, Peterson says he’ll get 2500. Riigghht. And I’m Tom Brady. Still, if I have the top pick I’m going AP. Now get me a drink, Gisele. 2013 Projections: 1700/12/230/1
2. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quick, name the only Buccaneer to rush for more than 1500 yards in a season. *checks watch, taps feet, watches Godfather Trilogy* Got it? Didn’t think so. It was James Wilder. In 1984. Martin has a shot at it. 2013 Projections: 1480/10/400/2
3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: New coach Andy Reid likes his running backs. Look what he did for Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy in Philly. He’s going love Sir Charles. So will your fantasy team. 2013 Projections: 1350/9/480/2
4. Arian Foster, Houston Texans 2013: I’ve seen Foster drafted number 2 overall in many drafts. Don’t be that guy. Foster’s YPC have been down 3 straight years and coach Gary Kubiak has been working this guy a lot. Over 1000 touches in 3 years. Something makes me nervous to draft him. Something like knees that suddenly explode. 2013 Projections: 1300/9/340/1
5. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks: Lynch will put up tasty numbers again and I like him on any team I own. This year. If you’re in a Dynasty League, I’d avoid him. This may be the last time we see the best of “Beast Mode”. Skittle? 2013 Projections: 1300/9/200/1
6. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills: There’s lots of love being shown C.J. He’s getting ranked top 3 by many fake football “experts”. Running backs on teams losing 42-10 every week don’t pile up top 3 fantasy points. Spiller will be good, but not top 3 good. Top 6 seems about right. Where’d I rank him again? 2013 Projections: 1350/6/370/2
7. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens: Rice’s problem is named Bernard Pierce. Coach Harbaugh loves the kid. Love aside, I still lust after Rice. With Pitta out, Rice is even more important in the passing game. Will I draft him this early? *closes eye, aims at cue ball, sinks 8-ball in side pocket, takes drag off smoke* What were we talking about? Oh yeah...I will. 2013 Projections: 1150/8/430/2
8. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles: McCoy is going to love new HC Chip Kelly’s high flying offense. That is unless McCoy gets another concussion and spends the season in a dark room trying to remember how to spell LeSean. 2013 Projections: 1050/6/350/2
9. Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns: I thought about ranking T-Rich higher after an 11 touchdown rookie season. Then I remembered he plays in Cleveland. 2013 Projections: 1150/10/400/1
10. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins: Morris was a top 5 back last season with 1600 yards and 13 TD’s. Why is he all the way down here then? One word: Shanahan. The guy hasn’t stuck with one running back since Clinton Portis. In Denver. I'd still like him on my team, though. Morris, not Portis. 2013 Projections: 1300/9/150/1
11. Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons: Jackson leaves a terrible Rams team for the stacked Falcons. If former bird Michael Tuner can be a top 20 back last season, there is no reason S-Jax can’t break into the top 15 and possibly top 10. That is unless Turner attempts some sort of Face/Off operation, then forget everything I just said. 2013 Projections: 1000/8/270/2
12. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears: Forte had just 6 touchdowns last year and barely topped 1000 yards. Clearly, being a top 10 back is not his...ahem...forte. 2013 Projections: 1100/7/440/2
13. Steven Ridley, New England Patriots: I’ve seen The Talented Mr. Ridley ranked higher and lower than this on a few draft boards. Top 10 is too high. Top 20 is too low. Top 15 is just right. That, dear readers, was an old fantasy sports writer’s trick called, “The Goldilock’s Principle.” 2013 Projections: 1300/8/150/1
14. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: CJ2K’s stock has been shooting up after one 50-yard pre-season touchdown. Know who else had a 50-yard TD run? LeGarrette Blount. Where’s the LeGarrette love? Please don't draft LeGarrette Blount. This blurb was supposed to be about Chris Johnson. 2013 Projections: 1200/5/300/1
15. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars: 2012 was a disaster for MJD and not just because he plays for Jacksonville. He was once the toast of fantasy town, now the “experts" say he is simply toast. I like toast. 2013 Projections: 1400/7/300/1
16. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: Nothin’ fancy here. Just solid numbers. 4.70 YPC is the definition of solid. Draft him, sit back, relax by the pool, and have a mojito. Not for breakfast! 2013 Projections: 1290/9/165/1
17. Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions: The Lions are not a great running team (23rd last season), but coach Jim Schwartz says Bush could catch 60-80 passes this year. Detroit is the perfect place for Bush. But not for anyone else. 2013 Projections: 800/5/500/3
18. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys: It’s expected the Cowboys will run the ball more this season. It’s also expected DeMarco Murray will get hurt. But, if he’s healthy (fingers crossed), you will regret not drafting him. On no, Murray just tripped over the cat, fell down the stairs and is out for the year. I kid, I kid. 2013 Projections: 1100/6/400/1
19. Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins: With Reggie Bush trying to stay alive in Detroit, the Miami job is all Miller’s for the taking. It looks like Miller will be the workhorse back, or in this case the workdolphin back. 2013 Projections: 1000/7/250/1
20. David Wilson, New York Giants: Wilson is an explosive player, but how patient will the Giants be with him? There’s talk of running back-by-committee to start the year with Wilson sharing duties with Andre Brown. I think that is a stupid idea and I’m cutting out letters to form into hate mail that will be sent to cOaCh cOUgHLiN. 2013 Projections: 1100/8/200/1
Check out The Guru's Top 101 Fantasy Football Players and Top 10 Quarterbacks for 2013. Have a fantasy question for The Guru? Find him on Twitter @TheGuruGS
