Fantasy: Running Back Primer

Fantasy Position Primers

Running Backs

On Tuesday, we dove into quarterbacks and identified the narratives and trends you need to know to start your draft preparation. Now we turn our attention to running backs.

As the NFL becomes more pass-heavy with each season, elite running backs become scarcer. More than ever, it's essential not only to secure one consistently producing tailback to anchor your roster, but also to find value at the position late in the draft or on the waiver wire.

It's important to remember that these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete running-back rankings here.

The Case for No. 1 Overall

Adrian Peterson, Vikings - You can make a strong case for half a dozen running backs to be the top overall pick in redraft leagues, but you can't make a case for many of them to break the all-time rushing record. For a refreshed and hungry Peterson, you can. Selecting a 30-year-old who hasn't played in a year at No. 1 is a risk, but Peterson's ceiling is outer space.

Le'Veon Bell, Steelers - If not for a two-game suspension (recently reduced from three games) to open the season, Bell would likely stand atop the mountain. Simply put, he's the best all-around runner in football, and he's on an offense poised to unleash an avalanche of points. Bell's an excellent choice for owners confident in their ability to weather a two-week storm to start the year.

Jamaal Charles, Chiefs - With top-eight running back finishes in four of the past five seasons (including a first-place finish two years ago), Charles may be the most reliable asset at fantasy's most variable position. He's rarely hurt and has never finished a season with under 5 yards per carry.

Eddie Lacy, Packers - Lacy is entering his prime, and features on a team that could shatter scoring records. He's the ideal goal-line hammer, but he's also a much better receiver than he gets credit for. Lacy's floor doesn't quite match Charles', but his ceiling is higher.

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks - How can Lynch be beloved by millions of fans for his enigmatic personality and punishing playing style, yet never really be in the conversation for the first overall pick? Count yourself very lucky to scoop up Beast Mode in the middle of the first round.

DeMarco Murray, Eagles - Murray raced to a first-place finish among all running backs last season. Repeating the feat won't be easy. The Eagles boast an excellent offensive line, but it's a step down from the Cowboys' unit. Murray's health is an even bigger worry, especially considering he touched the ball an absurd 449 times last season. His run of success in 2014 was probably the exception, not the new rule.

On the Verge

C.J. Anderson, Broncos - Montee Ball 2.0? Though fantasy owners will note the similarities between Anderson and Ball - perhaps fantasy's biggest bust in 2014 - it's important to recognize that Anderson looked far better during his strong second-half stretch than Ball ever has. Peyton Manning isn't getting any younger, and new Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak will lean on the running game. If the Anderson of 2014 shows up, a top-five fantasy finish is well within reach.

Jeremy Hill, Bengals - Hill is the thunder to Giovani Bernard's lightning in what might be the NFL's best one-two punch. Don't overlook the damage Hill did in his final nine games as a rookie: His 929 rushing yards in that span were more than 100 better than any other player. He's still just scratching the surface of his potential.

What's Left in the Tank?

Matt Forte, Bears - Forte is in a contract year and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Bears try to use up whatever he has left in the tank. Nor would it be a surprise to see Forte hit the wall around his 30th birthday in early December.

Frank Gore, Colts - Is it possible for a running back's fantasy value to peak at age 32? We're about to find out. You couldn't craft a better situation for Gore than the one he fell into with the Colts. Expect big jumps in receiving production and goal-line opportunities. Ahmad Bradshaw caught six touchdowns in 10 games last season. Gore could catch 10 in 16 and add another 10 on the ground.

Some Red Flags

LeSean McCoy, Bills - The Bills appear willing to do everything in their power to propel McCoy back to fantasy's elite, including hints that the recently acquired tailback will lead the league in carries. Still, it's hard to shake memories of McCoy running with hesitation and skittishness in his final season in Philadelphia. Is the desire still there?

Mark Ingram, Saints - Healthy and motivated for the first time in his career, Ingram ran with verve and emerged as a fantasy force last season. Should owners expect more of the same this year in a Saints offense that appears set to tilt heavily in favor of the run? Yes, but with a caveat: C.J. Spiller was signed to a similar contract and brings several skills to the table that Ingram lacks. A 50-50 timeshare looms.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins - The Dolphins waited until the fifth round of the draft to address their need at running back, suggesting they buy the idea that Miller is durable enough to be a feature back. Should we believe them? After all, the Dolphins gave Miller only 13.5 carries per game last season.

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers - The exit of DeAngelo Williams can't be a bad thing for Stewart, but it's a footnote in the story of a player whose career has been defined by his inability to stay healthy. Stewart makes an ideal RB3, but many owners will be forced to rely on him as an RB2.

Alfred Morris, Redskins - Morris says he's excited to run in a power scheme for the first time as a pro, but there is debate about whether he can successfully transition from the zone scheme he ran in the previous three seasons.

Andre Ellington, Cardinals - The Cardinals seem convinced Ellington can handle a featured load, but his 2014 struggles suggest that may be a tall order. As it does for so many running backs, it will all come down to health for Ellington.

Ready to Break Out?

Joseph Randle, Cowboys - The Cowboys let DeMarco Murray walk in free agency and made almost no effort to replace him, leaving the NFL's cushiest running-back job to the largely unproven Randle. Fantasy titles will be won and lost on Randle's aptitude for the job. If he can produce at even 80 percent of Murray's 2014 pace, he could be the value player of the year.

Carlos Hyde, 49ers - Frank Gore's departure should have set up a big breakout for Hyde, but then half the 49ers' offensive line left, too. Temper your expectations.

Latavius Murray, Raiders - Murray gave us a small glimpse of his capabilities last season. Owners must decide if they saw enough to invest a mid-round pick in a rushing attack that hasn't produced many fantasy starters over the years.

Isaiah Crowell, Browns - Crowell appears to have the inside track to start over fellow sophomore Terrance West and rookie Duke Johnson, behind what should be one of the NFL's best offensive lines. Crowell's value will depend on how much of the inevitable timeshare he seizes.

PPR Boosters

Justin Forsett, Ravens - Forsett caught 44 passes last season and there's speculation he could double that total under new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman.

C.J. Spiller, Saints - Spiller has only managed to stay healthy for one of his five seasons as a pro, but he showed enough in that one year to continue getting fantasy owners' hopes up. If Spiller's string of bad luck ends, expect numbers similar to Darren Sproles' best season.

Shane Vereen, Giants - Vereen is expected to serve as the Giants' passing-down back behind starter Rashad Jennings. Barring an injury to Jennings or a change in philosophy, Vereen's value will be largely capped in non-PPR leagues.

Giovani Bernard, Bengals - Bernard was briefly considered one of the most exciting young running backs in football, before Jeremy Hill showed up and stole the title. Bernard will begin the season as the Bengals' third-down back and look to recapture a larger role in the offense.

Fresh Faces

Todd Gurley, Rams - There's little doubt Gurley is a transcendent talent, but investing an early fantasy draft pick on a player who will be 10 months removed from an ACL tear come Week 1 takes a lot of guts - especially after you look at the Rams' projected starting offensive line. There may be no player in fantasy football with a bigger gap between his floor and ceiling than Gurley.

Melvin Gordon, Chargers - Healthier than Gurley and with a better offense around him, Gordon has the best chance to lead all rookie running backs in fantasy points.

T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars - The Jaguars showed big-time faith in Yeldon's potential by using an early second-round pick to snag him. Do you have big-time faith in the potential of the Jaguars' offense? If not, cross Yeldon off your list.

Ameer Abdullah, Lions - Abdullah produced enormous numbers in college and it clearly got the attention of the Lions, who made him the fourth running back off the board in the draft. Immense opportunity exists for the physically gifted Abdullah, especially if Joique Bell can't get healthy.

Tevin Coleman, Falcons - Coleman's raw skillset is a bit uninspiring, but new Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme always produces strong fantasy numbers. All Coleman has to do is hold off the even-less-inspiring Devonta Freeman and the starting job is his.

Duke Johnson, Browns - Johnson is a dynamic player whose best asset is his skill as a receiver. Unfortunately for him, the path to snaps is blocked by a pair of young, talented running backs. Bump Johnson's value in PPR leagues, but don't expect him to be a major factor in standard scoring formats.

David Johnson, Cardinals - Johnson has a similar skillset to starter Andre Ellington and probably won't offer much fantasy value unless Ellington gets hurt. Then again, that's not exactly an unlikely scenario.

Matt Jones, Redskins - The Redskins selected Jones much earlier in the draft than many expected him to go, suggesting they see something in him others don't. If Alfred Morris struggles to adapt to his team's new power scheme, Jones could emerge as a waiver-wire gem.

David Cobb, Titans - Cobb is a mediocre talent, but his path to starter's carries is blocked only by the equally mediocre Bishop Sankey. If Marcus Mariota is a sensation and Cobb becomes a workhorse, the rookie runner could have some fantasy value.

Tough to Get Excited About

Rashad Jennings, Giants - Jennings remains atop the Giants' depth chart, and could provide a strong return on investment if the Giants are the high-scoring team many project them to be. But it's hard to shake the feeling that Shane Vereen and perhaps even Andre Williams will take a sizable chunk of the team's snaps.

LeGarrette Blount, Patriots - When was the last time the running back atop the Patriots' depth chart in the preseason finished the season in the same role? Bill Belichick is among the most fickle coaches in NFL history when it comes to distributing carries. Blount's Week 1 suspension, plus the fact he showed up to training camp out of shape, make him among the riskiest picks at his position. It's just as likely Blount finishes 2015 on another team as it is that he finishes as a top-10 fantasy back.

Chris Ivory, Jets - It's always the same story with Ivory: He produces when healthy, but can't stay healthy for any extended stretch. If the Jets are smart, they'll divide carries between Ivory and free-agent acquisition Stevan Ridley in an attempt to preserve the health of both.

Doug Martin, Buccaneers - Martin looked washed-up each of the past two seasons, but the Buccaneers have indicated they are excited about his prospects this year. Fantasy owners should tread very carefully (the Bucs' offensive line will probably be terrible), but Martin makes for a mildly intriguing late-round pick.

Joique Bell, Lions - Bell's hold on the starting job is tenuous at best, especially since his return from knee and Achilles surgeries has been so slow. Rookie Ameer Abdullah is the far more exciting option in this backfield.

High-Upside Stashes

Ryan Mathews, Eagles - If starter DeMarco Murray gets hurt (as he's made a habit of doing, last season notwithstanding), look out: Mathews would instantly shoot up to near-RB1 value.

Darren McFadden, Cowboys - Is it possible Joseph Randle flops in a starting role or gets hurt? Absolutely, and if so, McFadden would be next in the queue for carries behind the NFL's best offensive line. Is it possible McFadden stays healthy long enough to take advantage of such an opportunity? Anything's possible.

Arian Foster, Texans - In the flash of an eye at his first padded practice, Foster went from a first-round fantasy pick to one owners may struggle to gauge the value of. What we know at this time: Foster suffered a groin injury and needs surgery, and the Texans expect him back at some point this season. When Foster is back and healthy, he's a clear RB1. Until then, he's worth stashing on your bench, but only if doing so doesn't significantly harm your team in the interim. Owners who waited patiently through Josh Gordon's suspension last season likely regretted the move, as Gordon provided negligible return on investment.