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FF Today post-draft top-ten ranking of the rookie RBs (1 Viewer)

Bracie Smathers

Footballguy
This must have come out right after the draft but I missed it.

A nice synapsis of their view of the post-draft top-ten rookie running backs.

Always good to have a different point of view of the incoming crop of rookie RBs and this is the immediate reactions that FF Today had right after the draft.

http://www.fftoday.com/blog/2013/04/29/top-ten-rookie-running-backs-for-2013/

Top Ten Rookie Running Backs for 2013

By: Mike Krueger — April 29, 2013 @ 11:44 am
Filed under: Forecast, NFL Draft, Player Analysis

After a scan of the runners taken during the 2013 draft this past weekend, here are my early top ten rookie running backs for re-draft leagues. Keep in mind; a number of rookies had a fantasy impact last year – Doug Martin, Alfred Morris, Trent Richardson, Vick Ballard and David Wilson. Martin, Morris and Richardson finished among the top ten fantasy running backs in 2012.

1. Le’Veon Bell, PIT – With Mendenhall moving on to Arizona the Steelers have a void at the RB position. Bell is projected to be an every-down back and rumors of Jonathan Dwyer being shopped in a potential trade have begun to surface.

2. Eddie Lacy, GB – Lacy was a shoe-in to be top on the list until the Packers selected Johnathan Franklin later in the draft. Lacy’s likely use around the goaline gives him the early leg up over the smaller Franklin.

3. Montee Ball, DEN – The Broncos have a crowded backfield at the moment but with one pick slip handed to Willis McGahee, Ball’s fantasy value will shoot up the charts. He has the potential to be the focus of the Broncos running game.

4. Giovani Bernard, CIN – Bernard is a much better receiver than the LawFirm but is a bit on the smallish side (5-foot-9) to be a workhorse. He’s got a chance to fill the role Bernard Scott has yet to fulfill.

5. Johnathan Franklin, GB – Franklin is a perfect compliment to Lacy and could become a fantasy force if Lacy’s injury concerns become a reality in 2013. He’ll likely compete with DuJuan Harris for carries.

6. Zac Stacy, STL – Stacy lands in St. Louis in a prime situation. Gone is Steven Jackson and left behind are second-year players Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead with Stacy the more likely to receive goaline carries.

7. Stepfan Taylor, ARI – Mendenahll will get his chance this year to be the workhorse in Arizona but he is on a one-year contract and prone to injury. Coaches are typically reluctant to put rookie running backs on the field due to their lack of prowess in pass-blocking but Taylor does have above-average ability in that department. At the very least, he should fill a complementary role to Mendy in 2013.

8. Knile Davis, KC – Davis is known as injury-prone and a fumbler but does have immense talent. He’ll have to shake the former if he wants a steady role as Jamaal Charles’ backup and with Shaun Draughn currently holding down the job, the opportunity is there.

9. Andre Ellington, ARI – Bruce Arians is definitely trying to revamp his running back group. Ellington will likely spend most of time on special teams this season but he’s someone to keep an eye on if the Mendenhall experiment fails.

10. Joseph Randle, DAL – DeMarco Murray is the unquestioned started in Big-D but behind him is a vacancy. Jerry Jones already projects him to be the backup behind Murray making him very fantasy relevant given Murray’s injury history.
 
I think you could flip Stacy and Franklin and flip Taylor and Ellington pretty easily, just depending on how things shake out. So, basically, I think the back end of this list is a total grab bag and really see no reason at all why Knile Davis is in the discussion. I think people must have "Al Davis" syndrome and got caught up on the speed and measureables but believe Davis will be exposed very quickly. Perhaps they could make him a gimmicky guy who they put out as a receiver in KC. That would look "Marcel Reece-like" on paper but man, It is hard to envision them limitng Charles in that capacity. This offense looks taylor-made to Jamaal Charles.

 
This article seems to forget that Ryan Williams exists. I would roster Christine Michael, Latavius Murray, or Mike Gilleslee (or maybe even Kerwynn Williams) over either ARI rookie in a redraft this year.

 
This article seems to forget that Ryan Williams exists. I would roster Christine Michael, Latavius Murray, or Mike Gilleslee (or maybe even Kerwynn Williams) over either ARI rookie in a redraft this year.
To be fair the article was done immediately after the draft so it was an unfiltered reaction.

Also you know that Waldman came from Fantasy Football Today so I occcassionally check to see how they have weighed in on fantasy prospects.

Having said that I agree with you on Christine Michael if he can keep his act together, something I am leery of but he's got the physical skills.

 
This article seems to forget that Ryan Williams exists. I would roster Christine Michael, Latavius Murray, or Mike Gilleslee (or maybe even Kerwynn Williams) over either ARI rookie in a redraft this year.
To be fair the article was done immediately after the draft so it was an unfiltered reaction.

Also you know that Waldman came from Fantasy Football Today so I occcassionally check to see how they have weighed in on fantasy prospects.

Having said that I agree with you on Christine Michael if he can keep his act together, something I am leery of but he's got the physical skills.
Absolutely - it is a valuable article and most of the rookie FF coverage is dynasty-centric, so this is a welcome addition to the conversation.

 
Just to put a different perspective on the rankings.

Pro Football Focus has already put up PROJECTIONS for the upcoming season.

These are how PFF PROJECTS how the top-ten rookies will produce this year.

The number off the left is how their projections stack-up against ALL NFL RBs for 2013 according to PFF

https://www.profootballfocus.com/data/ffranking/inc/server.php?proj=RB&cat=Season+2013

Pro Football Focus projections (picking out where they project the top-ten rookies)

1) 18 overall Montee Ball DEN 1021 YDS 8 TD

33 REC 262 R-YD 1 R-TD 4 FUM

2) 26 overall Le'Veon Bell PIT 957 YDS 6 TD

25 REC 194 R-YDS 1 R-TD 3 FUM

3) 31 overall Eddie Lacy GB 850 YDS 6 TD

22 REC 176 R-YDS 1 R-TD 3 FUM

4) 36 overall Giovani Bernard CIN 571 YDS 3 TD

36 REC 281 R-YDS 1 R-TD 2 FUM

5) 44 overall Johnathan Franklin GB 525 YDS 3 TD

22 REC 176 R-YDS 1 R-TD 2 FUM

6) 45 overall Mike Gillislee MIA 415 YDS 3 TD

24 REC 191 R-YDS 1 R-TD 2 FUM

7) 54 overall Zac Stacy SL 379 YDS 4 TD

12 REC 94 R-YDS 0 R-TD 1 FUM

8) 63 overall Joseph Randle DAL 310 YDS 2 TD

14 REC 112 R-YDS 0 R-TD 1 FUM

9) 74 overall Christine Michael SEA 136 YDS 1 TD

7 REC 56 YDS 1 R-TD 0 FUM

10) 79 overall Knile Davis KC 216 YDS 1 TD

4 REC 34 R-YDS 0 R-TD 1 FUM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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