11. Marshawn Lynch: The only thing keeping Lynch out of my top 10 is that he just got a big new contract and I’m scarred he’s going to go back to running the ball the way he did pre-Wild Card game against the Saints. He’s been one of the most fun RBs to watch since that game but with that new contract I’m not convinced he wants to continue to drive through tacklers and take on extra hits.  I still think he’ll play in the majority of his games this year and he has no threat to take away carries so I think he could be a very good number 2 running back on your team. There is no way I’m taking him in the top 3 rounds and I still think there are people behind him on this list with more potential.

12. Trent Richardson: Unfortunately for Richardson the Browns have a pretty pathetic receiving corps and a rookie QB behind center. He’s going to be facing a constant 8-9 man box but if the Cleveland defense can keep games close, Richardson will be given every chance to break the game open. He could put up some big numbers in games outside the AFC North so the potential is definitely there. He’s a pretty good receiver out of the backfield and I expect him to play all 16 games this year so ending up number 12 or lower at the end of the year isn’t a stretch.

Jun 12, 2012; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) runs with the ball during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

13. Steven Jackson: Jackson is still a very good running back but the team around him isn’t. With no proven WRs, a bad offensive line and a still maturing QB, Jackson is going to face a lot of 8 and 9 man fronts. He’s going to have to do a lot on his own but he is also going to be given the ball 25+ times a game so he should be able to give you a constant 12-15 points every week. I don’t see the potential for many 20+ fantasy point games so I wouldn’t get him until the 4^th round at the earliest but if you prefer consistency from your players on a week-to-week basis Jackson is your man.

14. DeMarco Murray: If Murray can stay healthy all year he could be top 5 fantasy back. The Dallas passing offense is so dangerous Murray can’t be given a lot of respect from defenses and so he will be seeing a lot of 7 man fronts with a lot of DBs on the field. He’s had injury problems in college and his rookie year last year so he is a VERY risky player to draft. He easily has the most potential on this list but that injury risk keeps him at 14 on my list. If you already have one of the top 3 RBs Murray’s risk/reward is too good to pass up and could easily deliver you to the playoffs.

15. Michael Turner: Turner was a top 5 back last year but he’s another year older and the Falcons are developing into a pass first team. It’s still hard to put him at only 15 on this list after how great he has been the past four years but all good things must come to an end eventually. Like Steven Jackson I think he will be a consistent player but he has little upside to me. I wouldn’t draft Turner before my QB, 2 WRs, RB and TE so he’s a 6^th round player to me but I imagine he will still go around the 4^th in many drafts.

16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis: I am very high on the “Law Firm” this year. Marvin Lewis is committed to running the ball so Green-Ellis will be a workhorse running back this year (something that isn’t certain outside the top 10). He will have to play some tough defenses this year and Green-Ellis will be lucky to get a reception a game so his value does take a bit of a hit. I still think a 1000 yard, 8 touchdown season is possible for Ellis and he can be a consistent number 2 RB on your team like Jackson and Turner.

17. Darren Sproles: If you play in a PPR league like me Sproles is a borderline top ten RB this year. He’s only going to get you 30-40 yards a game on the ground but once you add in his receiving yards its around 80 (add in 5 points for catches and it’s around 17 points every week not including touchdowns) in total a game. I do think Mark Ingram will take some carries from Sproles but Sproles is still going to be in the game every third down and be a threat.

18. Jamaal Charles: As long as Charles can stay healthy there should be no concerns about Peyton Hillis potentially taking over the starting job in KC. Charles is only two years removed from being a top 5 fantasy back so the guy can definitely still be a fantasy stud. The only thing that worries me about Charles is that his conditioning might not be where it should be. He’s pretty much missed the entire year last year so it’s been a while since he has been in football shape. I see his year being similar to Chris Johnson’s last year where he has some stinkers, some average games and a few great ones.

19. Frank Gore: Unfortunately for Gore the 49ers have a ton of depth at RB. I still think he’s a good player and he will play in the majority of games this season but I don’t see him getting 20+ touches a game anymore. If one of the guys behind him on the depth chart get hot Gore’s value takes an even bigger hit. I think he will be a top-ten RB for his first 6-8 games than become less valuable down the stretch and end up where he is ranked.

20. Roy Helu: Helu had 3 straight 100 yard games in weeks 12-14 so the guy can perform when given the chance. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Helu’s head coach is known for playing RB carousel so there’s no telling if Helu will start for the entire season. I’m sure Shanahan wants to keep his franchise rookie QB upright the best he can so Helu should touch the ball 20+ times a week (assuming he’s still the starter). With Shanahan being the equivalent of the Devil in terms of fantasy football I would hesitate to draft Helu and expect big things all year.

Have any questions or comments? Feel free to email me at vikingagefantasy@yahoo.com or reach me on twitter at https://twitter.com/PHowell02

1. LeSean McCoy: As long as McCoy stays healthy and Andy Reid doesn’t go back to passing the ball 70 percent of the time, McCoy is my number one guy. If you’re in a PPR league his value increases even more because he’s probably going to average around 4 catches and 25 yards (which gives him an extra 6 points every week, not including TD’s) a game. He hasn’t threatened to hold out like a few other elite RB’s this year and with the success he had last year, look for Philly to stay committed to the ground game (also because they need to cut back on the hits Vick takes). I think he is a safer pick than Rice or Foster as well so if you happen to be the first person to take a RB off the board, I’d go with McCoy.

2. Arian Foster: The consistent number one guy on just about everybody’s rankings, he comes in at number 2 on my list. He has had injury problems and fumble issues so he does have a little risk on him. If he continues to put the ball on the ground this year I have absolutely no doubt that Ben Tate will start to take away quite a few carries from Foster on a week-to-week basis. He does play a weak schedule and can give you monster receiving numbers (three 100+ yards receiving games last year!). Because of that weak schedule, Houston could easily clinch the division fairly early and Foster might have limited to no touches in some games at the end of the year. If he can stay healthy all year he could easily end up putting up better numbers than McCoy, but to me McCoy is a safer pick because I have more faith that he will play all 16 games.

Jan 22, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) carries the ball against the New England Patriots during the third quarter in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

3. Ray Rice: Holdout running backs scare me if they miss time in camp (case in point Chris Johnson last year) but Rice is committed to staying in shape even if he misses some time. Joe “Check Down” Flacco adds to Rice’s value because he’s going to get around 5 receptions a game (and average 40+ yards in those games). Rice plays arguably the toughest schedule of all this year’s running backs so I think his numbers will come down just a bit from last year. He’s been as durable as RBs come since he’s came into the league so injury concerns are non-existent. Again, holdout players are risky but if anybody can back from one unscathed it’s this guy.

4. Chris Johnson: Call me crazy but I really like Johnson this year. His holdout last year really hurt him but he did manage to go it together by mid-season (followed by falling off his last four games). His offensive line last year was bad and maybe with the addition of former Viking Steve Hutchinson it can upgrade to average. Johnson is still a receiving threat and has been relatively healthy his whole career so he does have some things in his favor. Johnson has a weak schedule like Foster so look I don’t see a lot of single digit letdowns like last year. He is somewhat of a gamble so I wouldn’t risk reaching for him in the first round; he’s a second round possibility to me.

5. Ryan Mathews: I think this is a make or break year for Mathews. Every year people expect him to break out and become a star but due to injuries it’s never came to happen. Despite battling injuries last year Mathews still managed to become a top 10 fantasy back for the first time in his career. He’s another guy that will get you some extra points receiving and with Mike Tolbert leaving Mathews will get even more touches. He’s a no doubt second rounder with a lot of upside.

6. Matt Forte: Well it’s official, Forte is not going to be holding out. With that red flag gone and the fact that he’s back to 100%, Forte has climbed a little in my rankings. Unlike my assessment of Jay Cutler I think Mike Martz’s departure hurts Forte’s value a little due to the fact that I think his receptions will take a hit. I also think the Bears will be spreading it around more with the arrival of their new receivers. With that said, I think it will end up being a fair trade off for Forte because he’ll be seeing fewer defenders in the box and will be as big as a threat rushing as receiving. He doesn’t score a lot of TDs on the ground (or receiving for that matter) so he’s not a top 5 back for me this year.

7. Maurice Jones-Drew: Last year’s leading rusher scares me going into this year. All signs point to a lengthy hold out and I fear he won’t be as ready for the start of the season as Ray Rice. He is pretty much his team’s offense, with the worst QB in the NFL starting behind center, so teams can stack the line of scrimmage to try and stop MJD. He’s not as big as a receiving threat as the people listed ahead of him and he only gets you a touchdown pretty much every other game. I don’t think has as much potential this year as guys like Forte, Peterson or Mathews but since he’s been a model of consistency his whole career I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I personally would pick up until the 3rd or maybe 4th round.

8. Adrian Peterson: If you have any idea how many games it will take until Peterson gets up near 100% I would like to know. One week people are saying he looks healthy and will be ready for the start of the season and another week people are saying he will be put on the PUP list and not see the field until week 6. Nobody has a clue and it makes projecting Peterson’s fantasy value extremely difficult. The improved offensive line, quality of receivers to prevent stacking the line and weak schedule make me have to put Peterson here at 8. He has HUGE upside this year because people are skeptical of when he will return and will fall in drafts. I would not let him past me in the third round but you could possible get him even later than that.

9. Darren McFadden: This is the year McFadden stays (somewhat) healthy. He was an absolute monster last year before getting hurt (again) and his RB partner Michael Bush is no longer on the team. I can honestly sit here and go on for an hour on how great McFadden could be this year but in all comes down to injuries with him. If you don’t trust in his ability to stay healthy you’re not going to draft him, if you do think he’ll stay healthy he’s an early round pick for you. I have faith this year so I’d take the gamble.

10. Beanie Wells: Beanie is my surprise fantasy back for 2012. He’s another guy with injury problems and has the additional misfortune of having no idea who his QB is going to be for the majority of the year. He’s got a run first coach, a good defense behind him and some great receivers to spread the defense so if he can stay on the field and not on the sidelines he could put together a very nice year. Despite being probable or doubtful for almost every single game last year he still ended up being a top 15 back. He’s a undervalued sleeper for me that you could get in the middle of the draft, after you get both your WRs, a QB, RB and TE.

Have any questions or comments? Feel free to email me at vikingagefantasy@yahoo.com or reach me on twitter at https://twitter.com/PHowell02

I just cannot understand how this guy is some people’s 15-20 best fantasy RB for this year. The guy missed four games last year, still finished as the 7th best fantasy RB and you’re going to tell me that there are 15 people better than him this year? Absolute craziness. AP is already up to 100 percent when it comes to running in a straight line, that alone still makes him a top 10 RB. Granted, his cuts aren’t going to be as effective during the first half of the year but there is absolutely no reason to think he can’t be an explosive threat anyways.

Jun 19, 2012; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs drills by himself at Vikings Minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

What I stated for Ponder remains true here; the offense is improved from last year and the schedule is favorable. The offensive line can’t be any worse at opening up running lanes than last year and you have to think Kalil will help it out at least a little. Add in some of the new playmakers at wideout and the line of scrimmage just got a lot less crowded. Even if the improvements on offense turn out to minimal, the schedule will help out AP regardless. The Vikings play IND (29th ranked run defense), DET twice (23rd), TEN (24th), WAS (18th), ARZ (21st), TB (32nd), SEA (15th), and STL (31st). You’re telling me AP can’t be a difference maker in those games even if he’s 80% of his normal self?

I’m not saying that AP is the number one fantasy RB this year; Rice, McCoy and Foster are unquestionably better choices, but after those three it’s anybody’s guess. Turner is another year older, Jones-Drew is probably going to miss time in camp due to his contract, Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy for an entire year and Marshawn Lynch just got a hefty new contract. In other words, just about every RB has some sort of issue that might hold them back this year. Why not roll with someone who has been a consistent force for his entire career?

If you are in a PPR league Peterson’s value is a bit diminished due to the lack of receptions he receives (would it kill Musgrave to run some screens for #28?). Also, if there are no Viking fans in your league and your competitors tend to take advice from the media you might be able to steal Peterson in Round 3 (possibly later). I wouldn’t take Peterson in Round 1 (unless you’re in a 12+ team league) but would target him in the 2nd just to be safe. Overall Peterson is no more risky than the majority of the other running backs, he’s got a lot of things going for him this year and you’ll be able to get him outside the first round for the first time since his rookie year.

Have any questions or comments? Feel free to email me at vikingagefantasy@yahoo.com or reach me on twitter at https://twitter.com/PHowell02