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All 2010 Fantasy Football Articles | 2010 Position Rankings

Generally speaking, the running back position is the backbone of any good fantasy football team. But more and more, leagues have tried to de-emphasize the position by changing lineup requirements (i.e. one RB and a flex instead of two RB) or adding a point per reception, which increases the important of workhorse WRs and TEs.

Looking at the list of consensus early round running backs, one thing is clear — there aren’t many so-called ‘studs’ this season. Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew are no-brainers, but after that there’s a drop off to a couple of would-be studs (Steven Jackson and Frank Gore) and an even bigger drop off to a deep tier of backs.

So it’s a good year to think about drafting a stud WR in the middle- to late-first round instead of taking the first of a big batch of very similar prospects. For example — in a PPR league, what are the chances that Pierre Thomas (ADP: 3.07) will outscore Michael Turner (1.09)? If both players stay healthy, I think the chances are pretty good. So therein lies the question: If you’re drafting 1.07, why take Turner when you are likely to have a shot at a similar back in the second or third round?

Here’s the answer — you don’t. I could see jumping on Gore/Jackson at 1.05/1.06, but after that, I’d much rather have Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald (or even Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne or Miles Austin) than the top guy in the next group of RBs.

Look at it this way: Would you rather have Michael Turner and Brandon Marshall or Andre Johnson and Jamaal Charles? I’d rather have the latter.

In fact, this might be the year where I finally do the unthinkable and go WR-WR-WR in the first three rounds, gobbling up three of the top 12 or 13 wideouts and draft a couple of underrated RBs like Chris Wells (4.03), Cedric Benson (4.06), Matt Forte (4.10) or Joseph Addai (5.05) in the 4th and 5th rounds. Of course, you’d only want to pull this trick if your league allows you to start three wideouts.

With that in mind, here are a few backs who could be had in the third round or later that would make a nice addition to a lineup stacked with 2-3 stud wideouts. Who knows, maybe they’ll even outscore Michael Turner…

(Note: All ADP data is from Antsports for mocks drafting in July for a 12-team PPR league.)

Pierre Thomas (3.07)
Thomas was RB16 last year despite scoring just one fantasy point in the first two games due to a knee injury. That’s been his issue — staying healthy. But when he’s playing, he’s productive. And with Mike Bell gone, Thomas figures to get all of the goal line work. Even with Reggie Bush stealing catches, Thomas is very active in the passing game. If he stays healthy, he has a great shot to finish in the Top 10, and he has a couple of nice matchups in Week 14 and Week 16, during the fantasy playoffs.

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In our position preview, I ranked the top three fantasy QBs this way: 1) Drew Brees, 2) Aaron Rodgers and 3) Peyton Manning.

We may be splitting hairs here. These are the top three QBs heading into the season and you can’t go wrong with any of them. But I’d take Brees first and here’s why:

1. He’s always playing in Week 16.
Peyton Manning has put up some monster numbers in W16 in recent years. 364 yards and 3 TD in 2008, 311 yards and 3 TD in 2007, and 205 yards and 3 TD in 2006. But he also had just 192 yards and zero TD against the Jets last year and a 116-yard, zero-TD performance in a meaningless game against the Seahawks in 2005. Sometimes the Colts’ Week 16 games don’t matter and when that happens, Manning isn’t going to play a whole hell of a lot. Drew Brees (and Aaron Rodgers) are far more likely to be in a meaningful Week 16 game.

2. He plays indoors in Week 16.
Not only does Brees have a nice matchup with the Falcons in the cozy Georgia Dome in Week 16, he also has the Rams at home in Week 14, which is often the first week of the fantasy playoffs. He does have the Ravens on the road in Week 15, so it’s not all rosy for Brees. Conversely, Rodgers has the Lions indoors in Week 14 (!!!), but then he has two tough, cold weather games at New England and at home against the Giants. If there’s a title on the line, I’d rather that weather not be a factor.

3. He has an easier schedule this year.
According to Footballguys’ strength of schedule, Brees has an improved schedule while Rodgers’ projects to be tougher. (Manning has the easiest of the three, but that would only increase the chances that he’ll be limited in Week 16.)