Listed are the Top 40 DLs for the upcoming week. Rankings are based on the projected mean performance without any specific team context on who you should start. Sometimes you need to start the lower of two players due to upside or a high floor, so things are fluid. As always, players can move up or down as we approach kickoff. So please indulge yourself & dissect our list from top to bottom. Let's Go!
Tier 1:
1. J.J. Watt @BAL
2. Rob Ninkovich vs TB
3. Jared Allen vs CLE
4. Justin Tuck @CAR
5. Chandler Jones vs TB
6. Trent Cole vs KC
7. Cameron Jordan vs ARI
8. Robert Quinn @DAL
9. Desmond Bryant @MIN
10. Charles Johnson vs NYG
11. DeMarcus Ware vs STL
12. Greg Hardy vs NYG
- No amazing matchup plays this week. Bryant has already jumped into the circle of trust after the first two weeks & seeing Christian Ponder on the field every down is only going to help him stay there. Our top 6 players have insanely high floors should absolutely be deployed every week. Johnson & Hardy project to get to Eli Manning more then Giants fans are comfortable with, along with racking up RB tackles from their below average committee.
Tier 2:
13. Derrick Morgan vs SD
14. Elvis Dumervil vs HOU
15. Calais Campbell @NO
16. Mario Williams @NYJ
17. Carlos Dunlap vs GB
18. Lamarr Houston @DEN
19. Cameron Wake vs ATL
20. Jason Pierre-Paul @CAR
21. Geno Atkins vs GB
22. Jason Hunter @DEN
23. Adrian Clayborn @NE
24. Justin Smith vs IND
- Williams insane performance last week doesn't project to repeat, but he still gets to rush Geno Smith on every down, so results will be there. Dunlap, Wake, JPP & Atkins are feast or famine rushers who are either going to rack up a sack or two or not be seen on much on the fantasy stat sheet. Houston, Hunter & Clayborn has impressive matchups and should be deployed in all leagues that start two DLs.
Tier 3:
25. Julius Peppers @PIT
26. Ray McDonald vs IND
27. Tommy Kelly vs TB
28. Dontari Poe @PHI
29. Jason Hatcher vs STL
30. Brian Robison vs CLE
31. Jabaal Sheard @MIN
32. Ndamukong Suh @WAS
33. Sheldon Richardson vs BUF
34. Whitney Mercilus @BAL
35. Chris Long @DAL
36. Osi Umenyiora @MIA
37. Brett Keisel vs CHI
38. Haloti Ngata vs HOU
39. Shea McClellin @PIT
40. Fletcher Cox vs KC
- Peppers has seen his stock crash recording only one tackle over the first two weeks. Teams are double teaming him and he hasn't been a factor, yet. Kelly, Poe, Hatcher, & Robison have good looking matchups against weak QBs and/or OLines. Umenyiora projected to take Kroy Biermann's stats with his placement on IR while everyone else is a speculative play at best.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Sep 18, 2013
Week 3 Shuffle: Linebacker
Listed are the Top 40 LBs for the upcoming week. Rankings are based on the projected mean performance without any specific team context on who you should start. Sometimes you need to start the lower of two players due to upside or a high floor, so things are fluid. As always, players can move up or down as we approach kickoff. So please indulge yourself & dissect our list from top to bottom. Let's Go!
Tier 1:
1. Luke Kuechly vs NYG
2. Lavonte David @NE
3. Clay Matthews @CIN
4. Jerod Mayo vs TB
5. Wesley Woodyard vs OAK
6. Aldon Smith vs IND
7. Derrick Johnson @PHI
8. Navarro Bowman vs IND
9. Brian Cushing @BAL
10. Lance Briggs @PIT
11. D'Qwell Jackson @MIN
12. Kiko Alonso @NYJ
- With the exception of Alonso & possibly Woodyard, everyone listed here was drafted as a LB1 on draft day. Johnson has a great matchup against the fast paced Eagles and should benefit from sheer amount of plays being run. Smith & Bowman should feast on a still young Andrew Luck. Cushing, Briggs & D'Qwell should all be tackle machines and add some type of turnover along the way.
Tier 2:
13. Zach Brown vs SD
14. Paul Posluszny @SEA
15. Vontaze Burfict vs GB
16. London Fletcher vs DET
17. Chad Greenway vs CLE
18. Mychal Kendricks vs KC
19. DeAndre Levy @WAS
20. Karlos Dansby @NO
21. Jerrell Freeman @SF
22. DeMeco Ryans vs KC
23. Thomas Davis vs NYG
24. Donald Butler @TEN
- London Fletcher's value is in flux after an out of the ordinary 2 tackle performance again the Lions. Kendricks will benefit from the Chip Kelly offense all year by seeing more plays run against him. Levy has two endzone visits on the year, although one was taken away by Suh & his illegal blocking. Thomas Davis makes his way back into a starting spot after having more ACL explosions then anyone else on record.
Tier 3:
25. Ryan Kerrigan vs DET
26. Mason Foster @NE
27. Danny Trevathan vs OAK
28. Daryl Smith vs HOU
29. Perry Riley vs DET
30. Terrell Suggs vs HOU
31. Phillips Wheeler vs ATL
32. Patrick Willis vs IND
33. Alec Ogletree @DAL
34. Stephen Tulloch @WAS
35. Bruce Carter vs STL
36. Bobby Wagner vs JAC
37. Dannell Ellerbe vs ATL
38. Craig Robertson @MIN
39. David Harris vs BUF
40. Pat Angerer @SF
- No one in this ranking should be considered a must start, even in Patrick Willis was the #1 LB only 2 years ago. Kerrigan & Suggs rely on the sack in order to get their points, so adjust their ranking accordingly with your format. Foster, Trevathan, Smith, Wheeler, Ogletree & Ellerbe have all strong performances the first two weeks of the year but still remain relatively untrusted due to their age, starting experience, or new team setting. Angerer is a top tier LB when healthy, but I refuse to move him into elite status with just one matchup in the books. He's still a speculative play in my book.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Tier 1:
1. Luke Kuechly vs NYG
2. Lavonte David @NE
3. Clay Matthews @CIN
4. Jerod Mayo vs TB
5. Wesley Woodyard vs OAK
6. Aldon Smith vs IND
7. Derrick Johnson @PHI
8. Navarro Bowman vs IND
9. Brian Cushing @BAL
10. Lance Briggs @PIT
11. D'Qwell Jackson @MIN
12. Kiko Alonso @NYJ
- With the exception of Alonso & possibly Woodyard, everyone listed here was drafted as a LB1 on draft day. Johnson has a great matchup against the fast paced Eagles and should benefit from sheer amount of plays being run. Smith & Bowman should feast on a still young Andrew Luck. Cushing, Briggs & D'Qwell should all be tackle machines and add some type of turnover along the way.
Tier 2:
13. Zach Brown vs SD
14. Paul Posluszny @SEA
15. Vontaze Burfict vs GB
16. London Fletcher vs DET
17. Chad Greenway vs CLE
18. Mychal Kendricks vs KC
19. DeAndre Levy @WAS
20. Karlos Dansby @NO
21. Jerrell Freeman @SF
22. DeMeco Ryans vs KC
23. Thomas Davis vs NYG
24. Donald Butler @TEN
- London Fletcher's value is in flux after an out of the ordinary 2 tackle performance again the Lions. Kendricks will benefit from the Chip Kelly offense all year by seeing more plays run against him. Levy has two endzone visits on the year, although one was taken away by Suh & his illegal blocking. Thomas Davis makes his way back into a starting spot after having more ACL explosions then anyone else on record.
Tier 3:
25. Ryan Kerrigan vs DET
26. Mason Foster @NE
27. Danny Trevathan vs OAK
28. Daryl Smith vs HOU
29. Perry Riley vs DET
30. Terrell Suggs vs HOU
31. Phillips Wheeler vs ATL
32. Patrick Willis vs IND
33. Alec Ogletree @DAL
34. Stephen Tulloch @WAS
35. Bruce Carter vs STL
36. Bobby Wagner vs JAC
37. Dannell Ellerbe vs ATL
38. Craig Robertson @MIN
39. David Harris vs BUF
40. Pat Angerer @SF
- No one in this ranking should be considered a must start, even in Patrick Willis was the #1 LB only 2 years ago. Kerrigan & Suggs rely on the sack in order to get their points, so adjust their ranking accordingly with your format. Foster, Trevathan, Smith, Wheeler, Ogletree & Ellerbe have all strong performances the first two weeks of the year but still remain relatively untrusted due to their age, starting experience, or new team setting. Angerer is a top tier LB when healthy, but I refuse to move him into elite status with just one matchup in the books. He's still a speculative play in my book.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Week 3 Shuffle: Tight End
Listed are the Top 25 TEs for the upcoming week. Rankings are based on the projected mean performance without any specific team context on who you should start. Sometimes you need to start the lower of two players due to upside or a high floor, so things are fluid. As always, players can move up or down as we approach kickoff. So please indulge yourself & dissect our list from top to bottom. Let's Go!
Tier 1:
1. Jimmy Graham vs ARI
2. Greg Olsen vs NYG
3. Jermichael Finley @CIN
4. Brandon Myers @CAR
5. Tony Gonzalez @MIA
6. Jason Witten vs STL
7. Owen Daniels @BAL
8. Julius Thomas vs OAK
9. Jordan Cameron @MIN
10. Antonio Gates vs TEN
11. Jared Cook @DAL
12. Martellus Bennett @PIT
- Last week Graham reminded the world why he was in a class by himself on draft day. Olsen & Finley are both dealing with friendly secondaries and should be deployed with safe floors in mind. Thomas, Cameron & Cook all the first tier tight ends with the lowest floor. No one quite sure where Julius fits into the Broncos offense long-term. Cameron is dealing with a QB change and the first road game of the year, which isn't the ideal fit for someone looking for a safe floor. Cook owners saw his floor last week with only 1 catch for 10 yards. Still, given the lack of overall depth at the position these guys should started in most formats.
Tier 2:
13. Rob Gronkowski vs TB
14. Kyle Rudolph vs CLE
15. Vernon Davis vs IND
16. Charles Clay vs ATL
17. Jermaine Gresham vs GB
18. Heath Miller vs CHI
19. Tyler Eifert vs GB
20. Jordan Reed vs DET
21. Garrett Graham @BAL
22. Brent Celek vs KC
23. Kellen Winslow vs BUF
24. Coby Fleener @SF
25. Zach Sudfeld vs TB
- Gronk's ranking is speculative of him playing the maximum possible snaps Belicheck will allow. Don't expect his initial deployment to be immediate fantasy rewards, they'll probably be a one week ease back into the offense with the Patriots not wanting a repeat of last year. Vernon Davis and his hamstring issues see him crash in the rankings. He was never a safe play last year and there is no reason to treat him like one this week. Eifert & Reed are two nice upside plays with good matchups, but starting rookie TEs is never the smart bet. Fleener should be a TE1 the rest of the season with Dwayne Allen done for the year, but he isn't being treated like one this week. Sudfeld is still a nice speculative play even if Gronk plays, but he needs to suit up too.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Tier 1:
1. Jimmy Graham vs ARI
2. Greg Olsen vs NYG
3. Jermichael Finley @CIN
4. Brandon Myers @CAR
5. Tony Gonzalez @MIA
6. Jason Witten vs STL
7. Owen Daniels @BAL
8. Julius Thomas vs OAK
9. Jordan Cameron @MIN
10. Antonio Gates vs TEN
11. Jared Cook @DAL
12. Martellus Bennett @PIT
- Last week Graham reminded the world why he was in a class by himself on draft day. Olsen & Finley are both dealing with friendly secondaries and should be deployed with safe floors in mind. Thomas, Cameron & Cook all the first tier tight ends with the lowest floor. No one quite sure where Julius fits into the Broncos offense long-term. Cameron is dealing with a QB change and the first road game of the year, which isn't the ideal fit for someone looking for a safe floor. Cook owners saw his floor last week with only 1 catch for 10 yards. Still, given the lack of overall depth at the position these guys should started in most formats.
Tier 2:
13. Rob Gronkowski vs TB
14. Kyle Rudolph vs CLE
15. Vernon Davis vs IND
16. Charles Clay vs ATL
17. Jermaine Gresham vs GB
18. Heath Miller vs CHI
19. Tyler Eifert vs GB
20. Jordan Reed vs DET
21. Garrett Graham @BAL
22. Brent Celek vs KC
23. Kellen Winslow vs BUF
24. Coby Fleener @SF
25. Zach Sudfeld vs TB
- Gronk's ranking is speculative of him playing the maximum possible snaps Belicheck will allow. Don't expect his initial deployment to be immediate fantasy rewards, they'll probably be a one week ease back into the offense with the Patriots not wanting a repeat of last year. Vernon Davis and his hamstring issues see him crash in the rankings. He was never a safe play last year and there is no reason to treat him like one this week. Eifert & Reed are two nice upside plays with good matchups, but starting rookie TEs is never the smart bet. Fleener should be a TE1 the rest of the season with Dwayne Allen done for the year, but he isn't being treated like one this week. Sudfeld is still a nice speculative play even if Gronk plays, but he needs to suit up too.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Week 3 Shuffle: Wide Reciever
Listed are the Top 60 WRs for the upcoming week. Rankings are based on the projected mean performance without any specific team context on who you should start. Sometimes you need to start the lower of two players due to upside or a high floor, so things are fluid. As always, players can move up or down as we approach kickoff. So please indulge yourself & dissect our list from top to bottom. Let's Go!
Tier 1:
1. Calvin Johnson @WAS
2. A.J. Green vs GB
3. Brandon Marshall @PIT
4. Vincent Jackson @NE
5. Dwayne Bowe @PHI
6. Demaryius Thomas vs OAK
7. Randall Cobb @CIN
8. Jordy Nelson @CIN
9. Pierre Garcon vs DET
10. Victor Cruz @CAR
11. Dez Bryant vs STL
12. Larry Fitzgerald @NO
- Megatron finds himself back on elite ground after falling a bit last week. GB@CIN projects to be a bloodbath for opposing secondaries with three of the top 8 wide outs playing in Cincinnati this week. Dwayne Bowe finds himself in the top 5 with the friendly defense to a fantasy WR in Philadelphia. Despite injury concerns, Larry Fitzgerald & Dez Bryant still remain in the top 12 give their nice matchups & personal guarantees that they be on the field on Sunday.
Tier 2:
13. DeSean Jackson vs KC
14. Andre Johnson @BAL
15. Julio Jones @MIA
16. Marques Colston vs ARI
17. Steve Smith vs NYG
18. Wes Welker vs OAK
19. Hakeem Nicks @CAR
20. Stevie Johnson @NYJ
21. James Jones @CIN
22. Torrey Smith vs HOU
23. Eric Decker vs OAK
24. Mike Wallace vs ATL
- After lackluster Week 1 performances Eric Decker & James Jones reminded everyone why their fantasy values went up in the offseason putting up 9-87-0 and 11-178-0 performances respectively. If either wide out hit pay dirt their game one stats would be completely forgotten, but you can still get them at a reasonable price at the trade table. Stevie Johnson & E.J. Manuel have found a connection early in their career together which bodes well for gamers, since Buffalo is going to find themselves losing in most games. Treat this situation like Cam Newton-Steve Smith & reap the rewards. Andre Johnson is no longer questionable and should be a lock to do what he does best: get a ton of yards and get tackled at the 1 yard line.
Tier 3:
25. Brian Hartline vs ATL
26. Andre Roberts @NO
27. Julian Edelman vs TB
28. DeAndre Hopkins @BAL
29. Anquan Boldin vs IND
30. Tavon Austin @DAL
31. Antonio Brown vs CHI
32. Reggie Wayne @SF
33. Nate Burleson @WAS
34. Golden Tate vs JAC
35. Miles Austin vs STL
36. Mike Williams @NE
- For what it's worth, this week nearly every Flex WR has more starting appeal then Flex RBs. Edelman is conservatively ranked with Gronkowski projected to come back, while Wayne is very conservatively ranked playing on of the best defenses in football. Burleson should see double digit points against the worst secondary in football. Hartline, Roberts, Hopkins, Boldin, Brown & both Austins all appear to be locks for double digit performances as well.
Tier 4:
37. Greg Jennings vs CLE
38. Cecil Shorts @SEA
39. Kenbrell Thompkins vs TB
40. Lance Moore vs ARI
41. Michael Floyd @NO
42. Emmanuel Sanders vs CHI
43. Eddie Royal @TEN
44. Chris Givens @DAL
45. Stephen Hill vs BUF
46. Rod Streater @DEN
47. Santana Moss vs DET
48. T.Y. Hilton @SF
- There are plenty of questions with everyone in this grouping. Despite being tied to elite offenses, Thompkins & Moore haven't found many catches or yards for a multitude of reasons. Jennings, just like everyone catching passes from Christian Ponder, has no reason to be trusted week to week. Royal isn't going to maintain his unreal 40 TD pace and it is really a mystery what type of floor he holds at the moment. Streater & Moss are nice matchups on paper, but neither look like locks to record a catch so a floor like that doesn't move you high in the rankings. There is much respect around these parts for the 49ers pass D & Hilton's ranking shows it.
Tier 5:
49. Rueben Randle @CAR
50. Roddy White @MIA
51. Kendall Wright vs SD
52. Marlon Brown vs HOU
53. Josh Gordon @MIN
54. Robert Woods @NYJ
55. Doug Baldwin vs JAC
56. Aaron Dobson vs TB
57. Harry Douglas @MIA
58. Vincent Brown @TEN
59. Donnie Avery @PHI
60. Denarius Moore @DEN
- There is much more upside in these tier 5 WRs then their RB counterparts, but everyone here is still a last minute start. White shouldn't be trusted until he plays a game fully healthy. Randle, Wright & Brown all have plenty of positive factors going their way but the negatives (QBs, above average defenses) hold them back this week. Josh Gordon could be elite, but no one has ever taken the Brian Hoyer path to fantasy success. Dobson, Douglas, Donine & Denarius all are feast or famine plays and shouldn't be considered unless you're in dire need of a big game from your WR4.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Tier 1:
1. Calvin Johnson @WAS
2. A.J. Green vs GB
3. Brandon Marshall @PIT
4. Vincent Jackson @NE
5. Dwayne Bowe @PHI
6. Demaryius Thomas vs OAK
7. Randall Cobb @CIN
8. Jordy Nelson @CIN
9. Pierre Garcon vs DET
10. Victor Cruz @CAR
11. Dez Bryant vs STL
12. Larry Fitzgerald @NO
- Megatron finds himself back on elite ground after falling a bit last week. GB@CIN projects to be a bloodbath for opposing secondaries with three of the top 8 wide outs playing in Cincinnati this week. Dwayne Bowe finds himself in the top 5 with the friendly defense to a fantasy WR in Philadelphia. Despite injury concerns, Larry Fitzgerald & Dez Bryant still remain in the top 12 give their nice matchups & personal guarantees that they be on the field on Sunday.
Tier 2:
13. DeSean Jackson vs KC
14. Andre Johnson @BAL
15. Julio Jones @MIA
16. Marques Colston vs ARI
17. Steve Smith vs NYG
18. Wes Welker vs OAK
19. Hakeem Nicks @CAR
20. Stevie Johnson @NYJ
21. James Jones @CIN
22. Torrey Smith vs HOU
23. Eric Decker vs OAK
24. Mike Wallace vs ATL
- After lackluster Week 1 performances Eric Decker & James Jones reminded everyone why their fantasy values went up in the offseason putting up 9-87-0 and 11-178-0 performances respectively. If either wide out hit pay dirt their game one stats would be completely forgotten, but you can still get them at a reasonable price at the trade table. Stevie Johnson & E.J. Manuel have found a connection early in their career together which bodes well for gamers, since Buffalo is going to find themselves losing in most games. Treat this situation like Cam Newton-Steve Smith & reap the rewards. Andre Johnson is no longer questionable and should be a lock to do what he does best: get a ton of yards and get tackled at the 1 yard line.
Tier 3:
25. Brian Hartline vs ATL
26. Andre Roberts @NO
27. Julian Edelman vs TB
28. DeAndre Hopkins @BAL
29. Anquan Boldin vs IND
30. Tavon Austin @DAL
31. Antonio Brown vs CHI
32. Reggie Wayne @SF
33. Nate Burleson @WAS
34. Golden Tate vs JAC
35. Miles Austin vs STL
36. Mike Williams @NE
- For what it's worth, this week nearly every Flex WR has more starting appeal then Flex RBs. Edelman is conservatively ranked with Gronkowski projected to come back, while Wayne is very conservatively ranked playing on of the best defenses in football. Burleson should see double digit points against the worst secondary in football. Hartline, Roberts, Hopkins, Boldin, Brown & both Austins all appear to be locks for double digit performances as well.
Tier 4:
37. Greg Jennings vs CLE
38. Cecil Shorts @SEA
39. Kenbrell Thompkins vs TB
40. Lance Moore vs ARI
41. Michael Floyd @NO
42. Emmanuel Sanders vs CHI
43. Eddie Royal @TEN
44. Chris Givens @DAL
45. Stephen Hill vs BUF
46. Rod Streater @DEN
47. Santana Moss vs DET
48. T.Y. Hilton @SF
- There are plenty of questions with everyone in this grouping. Despite being tied to elite offenses, Thompkins & Moore haven't found many catches or yards for a multitude of reasons. Jennings, just like everyone catching passes from Christian Ponder, has no reason to be trusted week to week. Royal isn't going to maintain his unreal 40 TD pace and it is really a mystery what type of floor he holds at the moment. Streater & Moss are nice matchups on paper, but neither look like locks to record a catch so a floor like that doesn't move you high in the rankings. There is much respect around these parts for the 49ers pass D & Hilton's ranking shows it.
Tier 5:
49. Rueben Randle @CAR
50. Roddy White @MIA
51. Kendall Wright vs SD
52. Marlon Brown vs HOU
53. Josh Gordon @MIN
54. Robert Woods @NYJ
55. Doug Baldwin vs JAC
56. Aaron Dobson vs TB
57. Harry Douglas @MIA
58. Vincent Brown @TEN
59. Donnie Avery @PHI
60. Denarius Moore @DEN
- There is much more upside in these tier 5 WRs then their RB counterparts, but everyone here is still a last minute start. White shouldn't be trusted until he plays a game fully healthy. Randle, Wright & Brown all have plenty of positive factors going their way but the negatives (QBs, above average defenses) hold them back this week. Josh Gordon could be elite, but no one has ever taken the Brian Hoyer path to fantasy success. Dobson, Douglas, Donine & Denarius all are feast or famine plays and shouldn't be considered unless you're in dire need of a big game from your WR4.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Week 3 Shuffle: Running Back
Listed are the Top 60 RBs for the upcoming week. Rankings are based on the projected mean performance without any specific team context on who you should start. Sometimes you need to start the lower of two players due to upside or a high floor, so things are fluid. As always, players can move up or down as we approach kickoff. So please indulge yourself & dissect our list from top to bottom. Let's Go!
Tier 1:
1. Jamaal Charles @PHI
2. Marshawn Lynch vs JAC
3. Alfred Morris vs DET
4. Doug Martin @NE
5. LeSean McCoy vs KC
6. Adrian Peterson vs CLE
7. Darren McFadden @DEN
8. Matt Forte @PIT
9. Knowshon Moreno vs OAK
10. Joique Bell @WAS
11. Darren Sproles vs ARI
12. Bernard Pierce vs HOU
- Joique Bell and Bernard Pierce are both making their first appearance in must-start RB territory. Their presence alone as stand-ins for their weekly starters should tell you this is a brutal week for running backs. Adrian Peterson finds himself "sliding" down the rankings to number #6 against a very underrated Cleveland front seven. Excluding his first carry of the year that went for 77 yards against Detroit AD has looked far more average then the fantasy world wants to admit. Maybe it's just a blip on the radar but another poor showing this week might cause me to consider selling high. Moreno finds himself in the top 10 after solidifying his starting job last week. That cushy run defense against Oakland should net owners at least 60 yards and a score. McFadden & Sproles have given their owners a strong ROI to start the year and barring injury should keep the nice returns going this week.
Tier 2:
13. Arian Foster @BAL
14. Chris Johnson vs SD
15. Lamar Miller vs ATL
16. C.J. Spiller @NYJ
17. DeAngelo Williams vs NYG
18. DeMarco Murray vs STL
19. Stevan Ridley vs TB
20. Frank Gore vs IND
21. Ryan Mathews @TEN
22. James Starks @CIN
23. Rashad Mendenhall @NO
24. David Wilson @CAR
- The second tier running backs are filled with countless questions this week. Will Stevan Ridley and David Wilson finally rebound from their awful starts to the year? Which DeMarco Murray will we see? Did I really draft C.J. Spiller in the first round? Is Ben Tate going to slowly take the starting job from Arian? Really, I'm starting James Starks? Mendenhall, Miller & DeAngelo all have intriguing matchups, but none of them have a guarantee to get the lions share of the carries this week. This is essentially a list of RBs owners will be starting this week wishing they had a better option.
Tier 3:
25. Giovani Bernard vs GB
26. Bilal Powell vs BUF
27. Reggie Bush @WAS
28. Daryl Richardson @DAL
29. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs GB
30. Trent Richardson @SF
31. Fred Jackson @NYJ
32. Maurice Jones-Drew @SEA
33. Chris Ivory vs BUF
34. Pierre Thomas vs ARI
35. Ben Tate @BAL
36. Willis McGahee @MIN
- Typical fantasy rules say "If you don't start a RB at Flex you are an idiot". This year & especially this week, there are far too many reasons to go against this old school way of thinking. No one here is a safe bet to do anything of note. The Cincinnati backs still haven't figured out who the leading man is. Bush & MJD are both game time decisions and could easily put up a DNP-CD. Trent Richardson is entering a new playbook on a short week against a top tier defense. Powell & Ivory play for the Jets. Willis McGahee has been in street clothes for the first two weeks begging a team to take a chance on him, but you shouldn't. Lots of ugly questions with extremely low floors available here, it's really hard to strongly endorse anyone.
Tier 4:
37. Jacquizz Rodgers @MIA
38. Andre Ellington @NO
39. Robert Turbin vs JAC
40. Jason Snelling @MIA
41. Daniel Thomas vs ATL
42. Montee Ball vs OAK
43. Ahmad Bradshaw @SF
44. Felix Jones vs CHI
45. Chris Ogbonnaya @MIN
46. Mark Ingram vs ARI
47. Bobby Rainey @MIN
48. Brandon Jacobs @CAR
- Most experts believe Jacquizz will be getting the majority of touches against Miami this week, but I have a strong feeling Jason Snelling is going to split evenly with Rodgers. Ellington has the best upside if Mendenhall is listed as OUT, but everything here is pretty gross. Ball & Turbin could see some late game carries in garbage time. Felix Jones is the "starter" in Pittsburgh, but that situation might be the ugliest in the league. Ogbonnaya & Rainey project to split evenly with McGahee, so they'll touch the ball. Ingram is questionable and it seems like hasn't had over 50 yards in a single game for his career. Hopefully you have better options then starting any of these guys in Week 3.
Tier 5:
49. Jordan Todman @SEA
50. Kendall Hunter vs IND
51. Justin Forsett @SEA
52. Isaac Redman vs CHI
53. Brandon Boldin vs TB
54. Da'Rel Scott @CAR
55. Danny Woodhead @TEN
56. Bryce Brown vs KC
57. Mike Tolbert vs NYG
58. LeGarrette Blount vs TB
59. Alfonso Smith @NO
60. Isaiah Pead @DAL
- No one listed here should get a start, but if you happened to draft Ray Rice, Steven Jackson & Eddie Lacy this section is made just for you. We got a Thursday night preview of what this list looks like with Bryce Brown getting 3 touches for 7 yards. Everyone here should get their 2+ touches, but if you are seriously considering starting one of these backs, you are in trouble. That is, you should be in "time to tank for next year" mode. You are the Cleveland Browns.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
Tier 1:
1. Jamaal Charles @PHI
2. Marshawn Lynch vs JAC
3. Alfred Morris vs DET
4. Doug Martin @NE
5. LeSean McCoy vs KC
6. Adrian Peterson vs CLE
7. Darren McFadden @DEN
8. Matt Forte @PIT
9. Knowshon Moreno vs OAK
10. Joique Bell @WAS
11. Darren Sproles vs ARI
12. Bernard Pierce vs HOU
- Joique Bell and Bernard Pierce are both making their first appearance in must-start RB territory. Their presence alone as stand-ins for their weekly starters should tell you this is a brutal week for running backs. Adrian Peterson finds himself "sliding" down the rankings to number #6 against a very underrated Cleveland front seven. Excluding his first carry of the year that went for 77 yards against Detroit AD has looked far more average then the fantasy world wants to admit. Maybe it's just a blip on the radar but another poor showing this week might cause me to consider selling high. Moreno finds himself in the top 10 after solidifying his starting job last week. That cushy run defense against Oakland should net owners at least 60 yards and a score. McFadden & Sproles have given their owners a strong ROI to start the year and barring injury should keep the nice returns going this week.
Tier 2:
13. Arian Foster @BAL
14. Chris Johnson vs SD
15. Lamar Miller vs ATL
16. C.J. Spiller @NYJ
17. DeAngelo Williams vs NYG
18. DeMarco Murray vs STL
19. Stevan Ridley vs TB
20. Frank Gore vs IND
21. Ryan Mathews @TEN
22. James Starks @CIN
23. Rashad Mendenhall @NO
24. David Wilson @CAR
- The second tier running backs are filled with countless questions this week. Will Stevan Ridley and David Wilson finally rebound from their awful starts to the year? Which DeMarco Murray will we see? Did I really draft C.J. Spiller in the first round? Is Ben Tate going to slowly take the starting job from Arian? Really, I'm starting James Starks? Mendenhall, Miller & DeAngelo all have intriguing matchups, but none of them have a guarantee to get the lions share of the carries this week. This is essentially a list of RBs owners will be starting this week wishing they had a better option.
Tier 3:
25. Giovani Bernard vs GB
26. Bilal Powell vs BUF
27. Reggie Bush @WAS
28. Daryl Richardson @DAL
29. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs GB
30. Trent Richardson @SF
31. Fred Jackson @NYJ
32. Maurice Jones-Drew @SEA
33. Chris Ivory vs BUF
34. Pierre Thomas vs ARI
35. Ben Tate @BAL
36. Willis McGahee @MIN
- Typical fantasy rules say "If you don't start a RB at Flex you are an idiot". This year & especially this week, there are far too many reasons to go against this old school way of thinking. No one here is a safe bet to do anything of note. The Cincinnati backs still haven't figured out who the leading man is. Bush & MJD are both game time decisions and could easily put up a DNP-CD. Trent Richardson is entering a new playbook on a short week against a top tier defense. Powell & Ivory play for the Jets. Willis McGahee has been in street clothes for the first two weeks begging a team to take a chance on him, but you shouldn't. Lots of ugly questions with extremely low floors available here, it's really hard to strongly endorse anyone.
Tier 4:
37. Jacquizz Rodgers @MIA
38. Andre Ellington @NO
39. Robert Turbin vs JAC
40. Jason Snelling @MIA
41. Daniel Thomas vs ATL
42. Montee Ball vs OAK
43. Ahmad Bradshaw @SF
44. Felix Jones vs CHI
45. Chris Ogbonnaya @MIN
46. Mark Ingram vs ARI
47. Bobby Rainey @MIN
48. Brandon Jacobs @CAR
- Most experts believe Jacquizz will be getting the majority of touches against Miami this week, but I have a strong feeling Jason Snelling is going to split evenly with Rodgers. Ellington has the best upside if Mendenhall is listed as OUT, but everything here is pretty gross. Ball & Turbin could see some late game carries in garbage time. Felix Jones is the "starter" in Pittsburgh, but that situation might be the ugliest in the league. Ogbonnaya & Rainey project to split evenly with McGahee, so they'll touch the ball. Ingram is questionable and it seems like hasn't had over 50 yards in a single game for his career. Hopefully you have better options then starting any of these guys in Week 3.
Tier 5:
49. Jordan Todman @SEA
50. Kendall Hunter vs IND
51. Justin Forsett @SEA
52. Isaac Redman vs CHI
53. Brandon Boldin vs TB
54. Da'Rel Scott @CAR
55. Danny Woodhead @TEN
56. Bryce Brown vs KC
57. Mike Tolbert vs NYG
58. LeGarrette Blount vs TB
59. Alfonso Smith @NO
60. Isaiah Pead @DAL
- No one listed here should get a start, but if you happened to draft Ray Rice, Steven Jackson & Eddie Lacy this section is made just for you. We got a Thursday night preview of what this list looks like with Bryce Brown getting 3 touches for 7 yards. Everyone here should get their 2+ touches, but if you are seriously considering starting one of these backs, you are in trouble. That is, you should be in "time to tank for next year" mode. You are the Cleveland Browns.
Check out all our Week 2 Rankings: QB RB WR TE LB DL DB K D/ST
As always, read & discuss. You can reach me on Twitter @ClevRocks_James or comment your (dis)agreements below.
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