2013 NFL Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

There isn’t a more important position in the fantasy world than running back. I’m a huge proponent of taking a quarterback early, as their point totals will generally exceed any running back’s stat line over a season. Most leagues have one quarterback spot versus 2, maybe even 3 running back positions; so grab two as early as possible. 49erslife.com gives you its listed breakdown of all the 2013 NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs.

Adrian Peterson – No brainer.
Jamaal Charles – Full health, improved offense, make him very attractive.
Doug Martin - Muscle Hamster will be focus of Buc’s offense. Points galore.
Arian Foster – Mr. Consistency will rack up another gaudy stat-line.
Trent Richardson – If that YPC goes up, watch out.
Ray Rice – You want more receptions? Fine by me…
C.J. Spiller – If Fred Jackson goes down, Spiller goes up.
LeSean McCoy – Expecting the Eagles and Chip Kelly to be FAST. McCoy is no exception.
Marshawn Lynch – Chalk up 250 carries, 1,300-1,500 rushing yards, 10 TD’s.
Maurice Jones-Drew – Contract up after this year, and $ is the greatest incentive.
Steven Jackson – Bullish. Plenty of 4th quarter action ahead, and plenty of TD’s as well.
Alfred Morris – Better hands rocket him up the list. 1,500 rushing yards in store.
Chris Johnson – Less talk, more action please.
Frank Gore – Not happy about media’s obsession with 30. Frank is ready to roar in 2013.
Matt Forte – Yard turkey loses value because of Michael Bush.
Darren McFadden – Can we please get a healthy year?
David Wilson – Water bug has all the moves and talent to produce on a grand scale.
Reggie Bush – Numbers should rise in Detroit offense.
Chris Ivory – First shot to be a bell cow, he’ll do just fine.
DeMarco Murray – Lots to prove in 2013, and rookie Joseph Randle is intriguing.
Darren Sproles – Should get back to his 70 reception days.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Should only improve on 2012 #’s.
Lamar Miller – No Reggie, but Thomas lurks.
Ryan Mathews – Healthy year = Higher ranking.
Ahmad Bradshaw – Foot and Vick Ballard keep him here. Healthy, he’s closer to 20.
Stevan Ridley – Vereen is good, and Bolden is smash mouth. I like Ridley here and no higher.
Rashard Mendenhall – Should get back to his 2009 Steelers days in the desert.
Montee Ball – This guy lives in the end zone, shouldn’t change as a pro.
Le’veon Bell – Perfect Steeler back. Will have to win job from Dwyer and Redman.
Daryl Richardson – With Pead out, all the chance in the world to be Fisher’s man.
Eddie Lacy – 4 viable backs in GB, but Lacy most talented.
Vick Ballard – Here due to Bradshaw foot concerns. Slips drastically once Ahmad is cleared for play.
Jonathan Stewart – I gave up on this backfield years ago. Williams only one of pair to ever produce fantasy-wise.
Andre Brown – Should be the goal line back for the powerful Giants offense.
Mark Ingram – See directly above.
Mikel Leshoure – Do that one more time.
Fred Jackson – Spiller is legit, but Fred always gets his supper.
Bernard Pierce – Should see his most carries to date.
Shane Vereen – Great value in the passing game, ask the Texans.
Giovani Bernard – Complete back that will receiver looks in passing game. Keep an eye on Giovani.
DeAngelo Williams – Go away Carolina backfield. Cam Newton & Tolbert will be the goal line backs.
Bryce Brown – Flashed great talent in 2012, “Shady” injury away from big #’s.
Isaiah Pead – One game suspension is all Richardson needed. Pead waits another year.
Ronnie Hillman – My gut is telling me Montee Ball, but Hillman doesn’t see it that way.
Willis McGahee – Best unemployed back around. Look for him to resolve 1st major HB injury for lucky team.
Ben Tate – I don’t see Foster having 350 carries ever again. Watch Tate carefully.
Jacquizz Rodgers – Jackson hurts value, but is very important to passing game.
Rashad Jennings – Backup to McFadden, so should see ample time.
Michael Bush – Back up to McInjured, now doing same in Chicago. Goal line vulture.
Danny Woodhead – Great check down back for Rivers and his awful O-line.
Daniel Thomas – Still in battle with Lamar Miller, keep eyes on Thomas.
Jonathan Dwyer – I prefer Le’veon Bell, but Dwyer flashed talent in 2012. Will be interesting come camp.
Kendall Hunter – Not quite yet Hunter, Gore is angry and ready + James and Lattimore lurk.
Marcel Reese – Most productive Raiders player, and a McFadden injury will prove that.
Joseph Randle – Scary good, will force DeMarco into put up or shut up season.
Denard Robinson – Could be a sneaky RB/QB play. Value is tied to expected “15 touches/game.”
Michael Turner – Could see him back in SD, maybe KC.
Ryan Williams – Talented but always injured. + Mendenhall muddles future.
Mike Goodson – Ivory injury away from production but don’t bank on it, Ivory looks good in 2013.
LaMichael James – Dynamite back has return game value as well. Should get looks all over field.
Christine Michael – Seahawks love him, will end up replacing Marshawn in the future.
Mike Tolbert – The dead carcass lover continues to run over white lines.
Chris “Beanie” Wells – 2 years removed from 1,000 yard/10 TD line. Will find home.
Bilal Powell – Love his talent, but high on Ivory as stated.
Jonathan Franklin – GB backfield is mess, forcing me to discuss all RB’s until final choice. It will be Lacy.
Shonn Greene – Not a fan of career move. That’s CJ2K’s house.
Donald Brown – UConn back is in trouble, but could hit fantasy radar once or twice in 2013.
Dujuan Harris – See #65
Joique Bell – Shifty back needs help with Bush and Leshoure in town. If Jahvid Best is ever cleared, Bell is kaput.
Toby Gerhart – Necessary handcuff but c’mon, he plays behind Purple Jesus.
Isaac Redman – Interesting to watch Steelers backfield shake out. Good problem to have. Watch Redman.
Justin Forsett – Lining up all over the place in Jacksonville, could be interesting.
Felix Jones – Talented, but too deep in rotation to produce.
Brandon Bolden – Could get some goal line work, but Ridley and Vereen are backs to own.
Knile Davis – Necessary handcuff for the dynamic Jamaal Charles.
LeGarrette Blount – See #74
Ronnie Brown – More than likely done, but backfield is injury prone. Just don’t throw anymore please.
Cedric Benson – Mr. Average should find employment sooner than later.
Roy Helu – 2 years ago, I’d have him in 30′s. With Morris and RG III, Helu takes big slide.
Delone Carter – Talented backfield with “Killer Bees (Bradshaw, Brown, Ballard)” kills production.
Robert Turbin – Christine Michael is better, and Lynch rarely gets hurt.
Larod Stephens-Howling – Little guy has home run ability, and should factor in as 3rd down back for Steelers.
Stepfan Taylor – Must work to produce with Mendenhall in town, but young back has ability.
Shaughn Draughn – Coolest name in NFL. I wish Dick Butkus was still around. Another KC handcuff.
Brian Leonard – Admirable backup in Cinci, should see less work in Tampa Bay.
Joseph Addai – Should find work soon enough.
Jackie Battle – Played well for KC and SD couple years back, and well, that’s about it.
Knowshon Moreno – All signs point to a career wasted, but Moreno has some intrigue in passing game.
Peyton Hillis – Another unemployed back that will eventually find a team.
Lance Ball – Still not counted out of RB mix in Denver. Could out produce ranking.
Tashard Choice – Same as another ex Cowboy (Felix Jones), will stay behind Spiller and Jackson.
Kenjon Barner – Can FLY, but benches tend to keep people grounded.
Joe McKnight – There’s change for Jets, which always leads to hope. Value is in return game.
Leon Washington – Days as RB are done, value’s in return game.
Dion Lewis – 5th rounder sits behind Trent Richardson. The End.
Montario Hardesty – yada yada yada. Richardson wins again.
Bernard Scott – With Leonard in Tampa, should receive carries behind Law Firm and Giovani Bernard.
Marcus Lattimore – Way better than ranking, but recovery time (Knee) and stacked 49er backfield limits potential.
Jason Snelling – Always makes an appearance in deep leagues, and runs like Jackson if he goes down.
Latavius Murray – If McFadden goes down and Jennings takes over, Murray will become relevant.