EBF
Footballguy
Dynasty rankings are tough because you have to find a middle ground between future and current production. Depending on the composition of your team, the value of the players varies. A guy like Tomlinson is extremely valuable to a "win now" team, but less valuable to a rebuilding team. When compiling these rankings, I tried to find a compromise between the two extremes. The reality is that these rankings would vary heavily depending on team context.
GREEN means I think this player is a good value at his ADP.
RED means I think this player is a bad value at his ADP and should be avoided.
1. Adrian Peterson - Durability and workload are concerns, but few can match his upside.
2. Steven Jackson - Young and talented. Physical style of play may shorten career.
3. Marshawn Lynch - Not as dynamic as some of the backs on this list, but looks like he can be a stalwart in your lineup for years to come.
4. Frank Gore - Similar to Lynch.
5. LaDainian Tomlinson - Might be the best back ever to play the game, but he's reaching an age where breakdown may be imminent.
6. Brian Westbrook - Great player. How many years does he have left?
7. Joseph Addai - I'm not quite sold on his talent yet, but he figures to be the starting RB in Indy for at least a couple more years.
8. Maurice Jones-Drew - Has a lot of upside if he can ever break out of the RBBC.
9. Marion Barber - Will produce fringe RB1 stats and may even hit the top 5. Doesn't get enough touches to truly dominate.
10. Clinton Portis - Still going strong after all these years. He's kind of like Edge, but a lot younger.
11. Reggie Bush - Talented despite underwhelming stats. Will continue to play a prominent role in the Saints offense.
12. Rashard Mendenhall - Great situation and pedigree. Lack of top athleticism is a concern.
13. Jonathan Stewart - High ceiling prospect who could be top 5 on this list next year.
14. Larry Johnson - Nice career, but he's almost 29. Draft above Bush, Mendenhall, and Stewart if you're in "win now" mode. Avoid if rebuilding.
15. Willis McGahee - Injuries and dedication are issues. Will produce when healthy and motivated.
16. Laurence Maroney - Like Bush, talented despite marginal production. May need a change of scenery to thrive.
17. Ryan Grant - Nice debut. Needs to show me more before I move him up with the big kids.
18. Michael Turner - Has a real chance to excel if he can get decent help from his supporting cast. The new Rudi?
19. Jamal Lewis - Revived his career in 2007. Probably only good for 1-2 more seasons though.
20. Ronnie Brown - Interesting value play if he can get back to his 2007 form. Inconsistency and injuries scare me.
21. DeAngelo Williams - Even with Stewart on board, Williams remains an intriguing talent who could produce.
22. Darren McFadden - Could be a star. Could be a huge bust. I lean more towards the latter.
23. Ray Rice - Little big man has a lot of the traits needed to excel. May get his chance sooner than expected.
24. Felix Jones - Should be pretty good. Can he develop into a starter at some point? Value hinges on that question.
25. Selvin Young - Stop gap solution or legitimate starter? Hard to say. Value should rise in 2008. Not sure if he's for real though.
26. Chris Johnson - Interesting athlete with upside. Hard to rank due to his unconventional game.
27. Brandon Jacobs - Will probably never be an every down back and has questionable durability. Fine in redraft. Sell high in dynasty.
28. Edgerrin James - Serviceable, but can't have much left in the tank.
29. Thomas Jones - Similar to Edge.
30. Willie Parker - Never been a fan. With Mendenhall on board, we may be seeing the last of Willie as a starter in the NFL.
31. Kevin Smith - Looks like a fraud to me. Will get a chance this year. Has top 15 upside.
32. LenDale White - Was pretty bad in 2007. Could be better if he's in better shape. Could be out of a job if he doesn't improve.
33. Julius Jones - One last shot to prove himself.
34. Earnest Graham - Can help you in 2008. Don't expect anything beyond that.
35. Brandon Jackson - Didn't look special to me coming out college. Still has a chance to make some noise in the future.
36. Kevin Jones - Better player than his career would indicate. Has a chance if he can get healthy,
37. Matt Forte - Will get a shot. Probably won't excel. Looks like a backup caliber talent.
38. Chris Perry - Longshot. Only reason he's ranked this high is because of upside.
39. Fred Taylor - Same as Graham. Seems about due to break down.
40. Rudi Johnson - Has never been a special player. Can't afford to lose a step and remain productive.
41. Ricky Williams - Strictly a short term depth option.
42. Maurice Morris - Maybe he'll surprise us this year. Long term, I don't like his chances.
43. Chester Taylor - Really only has value as a handcuff or if ADP gets hurt.
44. Ladell Betts - Good player. Buried behind a durable star.
45. Tashard Choice - Has a chance to make an impact in the future.
46. Carnell Williams - Moves up this list if he can prove that he's healthy.
47. Pierre Thomas - Might be Deuce's heir apparent. Might be next Marcel Shipp.
48. Tim Hightower - Probably just another hopeless preseason darling. Worth a shot cheap.
49. Ahmad Bradshaw - Showed promise towards the end of the year. RBBC lingers.
50. Justin Fargas - Minimal value unless McFadden flops. Come to think of it, maybe I should move him up.
51. Leon Washington - Had to squeeze him in here somewhere.
COMMENTS:
- It's not by accident that I have so many of the rookies clustered tightly together. These guys are at a point in their careers where they all appear to have a legitimate shot at success. Until we see more of them, we won't know for sure who's a fraud and who's for real. The Ray Rice/Felix Jones/Chris Johnson trio has been problematic for me because they all have strengths, but none of them are flawless. I favor Rice and Jones slightly since they're more prototypical backs. Chris Johnson seems like a riskier pick despite the early buzz.
- I didn't bother to do tiers because I think it would've been really arbitrary. These rankings are best viewed as a general opinion of the player's value rather than an absolute guide about who's more valuable than who. In some leagues I might like MJD more than LT. In other leagues I might like LT. The same can be said for lots of the guys on this list. In general, prospects are better for young teams. Older backs are better for old teams (but old teams also need to keep an eye on the future).
GREEN means I think this player is a good value at his ADP.
RED means I think this player is a bad value at his ADP and should be avoided.
1. Adrian Peterson - Durability and workload are concerns, but few can match his upside.
2. Steven Jackson - Young and talented. Physical style of play may shorten career.
3. Marshawn Lynch - Not as dynamic as some of the backs on this list, but looks like he can be a stalwart in your lineup for years to come.
4. Frank Gore - Similar to Lynch.
5. LaDainian Tomlinson - Might be the best back ever to play the game, but he's reaching an age where breakdown may be imminent.
6. Brian Westbrook - Great player. How many years does he have left?
7. Joseph Addai - I'm not quite sold on his talent yet, but he figures to be the starting RB in Indy for at least a couple more years.
8. Maurice Jones-Drew - Has a lot of upside if he can ever break out of the RBBC.
9. Marion Barber - Will produce fringe RB1 stats and may even hit the top 5. Doesn't get enough touches to truly dominate.
10. Clinton Portis - Still going strong after all these years. He's kind of like Edge, but a lot younger.
11. Reggie Bush - Talented despite underwhelming stats. Will continue to play a prominent role in the Saints offense.
12. Rashard Mendenhall - Great situation and pedigree. Lack of top athleticism is a concern.
13. Jonathan Stewart - High ceiling prospect who could be top 5 on this list next year.
14. Larry Johnson - Nice career, but he's almost 29. Draft above Bush, Mendenhall, and Stewart if you're in "win now" mode. Avoid if rebuilding.
15. Willis McGahee - Injuries and dedication are issues. Will produce when healthy and motivated.
16. Laurence Maroney - Like Bush, talented despite marginal production. May need a change of scenery to thrive.
17. Ryan Grant - Nice debut. Needs to show me more before I move him up with the big kids.
18. Michael Turner - Has a real chance to excel if he can get decent help from his supporting cast. The new Rudi?
19. Jamal Lewis - Revived his career in 2007. Probably only good for 1-2 more seasons though.
20. Ronnie Brown - Interesting value play if he can get back to his 2007 form. Inconsistency and injuries scare me.
21. DeAngelo Williams - Even with Stewart on board, Williams remains an intriguing talent who could produce.
22. Darren McFadden - Could be a star. Could be a huge bust. I lean more towards the latter.
23. Ray Rice - Little big man has a lot of the traits needed to excel. May get his chance sooner than expected.
24. Felix Jones - Should be pretty good. Can he develop into a starter at some point? Value hinges on that question.
25. Selvin Young - Stop gap solution or legitimate starter? Hard to say. Value should rise in 2008. Not sure if he's for real though.
26. Chris Johnson - Interesting athlete with upside. Hard to rank due to his unconventional game.
27. Brandon Jacobs - Will probably never be an every down back and has questionable durability. Fine in redraft. Sell high in dynasty.
28. Edgerrin James - Serviceable, but can't have much left in the tank.
29. Thomas Jones - Similar to Edge.
30. Willie Parker - Never been a fan. With Mendenhall on board, we may be seeing the last of Willie as a starter in the NFL.
31. Kevin Smith - Looks like a fraud to me. Will get a chance this year. Has top 15 upside.
32. LenDale White - Was pretty bad in 2007. Could be better if he's in better shape. Could be out of a job if he doesn't improve.
33. Julius Jones - One last shot to prove himself.
34. Earnest Graham - Can help you in 2008. Don't expect anything beyond that.
35. Brandon Jackson - Didn't look special to me coming out college. Still has a chance to make some noise in the future.
36. Kevin Jones - Better player than his career would indicate. Has a chance if he can get healthy,
37. Matt Forte - Will get a shot. Probably won't excel. Looks like a backup caliber talent.
38. Chris Perry - Longshot. Only reason he's ranked this high is because of upside.
39. Fred Taylor - Same as Graham. Seems about due to break down.
40. Rudi Johnson - Has never been a special player. Can't afford to lose a step and remain productive.
41. Ricky Williams - Strictly a short term depth option.
42. Maurice Morris - Maybe he'll surprise us this year. Long term, I don't like his chances.
43. Chester Taylor - Really only has value as a handcuff or if ADP gets hurt.
44. Ladell Betts - Good player. Buried behind a durable star.
45. Tashard Choice - Has a chance to make an impact in the future.
46. Carnell Williams - Moves up this list if he can prove that he's healthy.
47. Pierre Thomas - Might be Deuce's heir apparent. Might be next Marcel Shipp.
48. Tim Hightower - Probably just another hopeless preseason darling. Worth a shot cheap.
49. Ahmad Bradshaw - Showed promise towards the end of the year. RBBC lingers.
50. Justin Fargas - Minimal value unless McFadden flops. Come to think of it, maybe I should move him up.
51. Leon Washington - Had to squeeze him in here somewhere.
COMMENTS:
- It's not by accident that I have so many of the rookies clustered tightly together. These guys are at a point in their careers where they all appear to have a legitimate shot at success. Until we see more of them, we won't know for sure who's a fraud and who's for real. The Ray Rice/Felix Jones/Chris Johnson trio has been problematic for me because they all have strengths, but none of them are flawless. I favor Rice and Jones slightly since they're more prototypical backs. Chris Johnson seems like a riskier pick despite the early buzz.
- I didn't bother to do tiers because I think it would've been really arbitrary. These rankings are best viewed as a general opinion of the player's value rather than an absolute guide about who's more valuable than who. In some leagues I might like MJD more than LT. In other leagues I might like LT. The same can be said for lots of the guys on this list. In general, prospects are better for young teams. Older backs are better for old teams (but old teams also need to keep an eye on the future).
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