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Preliminary 2016 Running Back Redraft Ranking Tiers

July 6, 2016 By Draft Buddy Leave a Comment

Todd Gurley joins Le’Veon Bell at the top of our preliminary RB tiers before a drop-off into the second group of the best backs in fantasy football.

Following up our preliminary quarterback tiers, here are the preliminary running back redraft ranking tiers for the 2016 season.

Note the players are only tiered, not ranked within their groups, so focus on the tiers as opposed to where a player is situated relative to other running backs in their own tier.

Expect detailed player projections and rankings, plus some fantasy football player commentary in the coming weeks. Comment below with your feedback.

Tier 1

Le’Veon Bell
Todd Gurley

Tier 2

Adrian Peterson
David Johnson
Jamaal Charles
Matt Forte

Tier 3

Danny Woodhead
DeMarco Murray
Devonta Freeman
Jonathan Stewart
Lamar Miller

Tier 4

C.J. Anderson
Doug Martin
Eddie Lacy
Ezekiel Elliott ®
Jay Ajayi
LeSean McCoy

Tier 5

Ameer Abdullah
Carlos Hyde
Dion Lewis
Frank Gore
Mark Ingram
Melvin Gordon
T.J. Yeldon
Thomas Rawls

Tier 6

Chris Ivory
Duke Johnson
Giovani Bernard
Jeremy Hill
Jeremy Langford
Justin Forsett
Latavius Murray
Matt Jones
Ryan Mathews
Shaun Draughn

Tier 7

Bilal Powell
Charles Sims
Chris Johnson
Darren Sproles
DeAngelo Williams
Isaiah Crowell
Karlos Williams
LeGarrette Blount
Rashad Jennings
Shane Vereen
Spencer Ware

Tier 8

C.J. Spiller
Chris Thompson
Darren McFadden
Javorius Allen
Jerick McKinnon
Ronnie Hillman
Tevin Coleman
Theo Riddick

MFL10 Draft Recap From First and Sixth Overall Picks

August 17, 2015 By AskTony Leave a Comment

In a recent MFL10 draft, Mike selected Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson at 1.01, and Tony took Green Bay Packers RB Eddie Lacy at 1.06. Check out how the rest of their respective drafts played out.

A great way to practice drafting for your upcoming fantasy football drafts, and to get a handle on Average Draft Position (ADP) for players (not to mention, they are a lot of fun) is to enter an MFL10 fantasy league, hosted by MyFantasyLeague.com.

The format is a redraft league with performance plus PPR scoring. The starting lineup is 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE) and 1 DEF for 9 total starters, and 20 roster spots.

MFL10s are draft-only leagues – no trading, no free agency waiver add/drops – and “best ball” scoring. Due to the best ball scoring, NFL players with high weekly variance might get drafted a bit earlier than usual.

Fantasy owners benefit in weeks these players blow up, while the player is automatically benched in weeks they disappear. These riskier players do take up a valuable roster spot however, so all in all, MFL10s are still a good gauge on where players get drafted in our regular fantasy leagues.

Recently, Draft Buddy creator Mike MacGregor and I participated in an MFL10 draft with other industry experts. Let’s take a look at each of our teams, post-draft. Draft Buddy users can review all of the teams in a copy of Draft Buddy that Mike uploaded to our members area that he used during the draft.

Mike: 1.01 RB Adrian Peterson, MIN

It is hard to go wrong with the first overall pick in a redraft. I expect Peterson to have a monster year. I’m thinking “revenge” for 2014. He will be fed every game and no signs point to him slowing down any time soon.

Tony: 1.06 RB Eddie Lacy, GB

Lacy is among the top three running backs in the league, so for him to fall to me at sixth overall, I gladly scooped him up. He is young, he doesn’t have much competition challenging him, and with the best quarterback in the league throwing passes, what is there not to like about Lacy?

Mike: 2.12 RB Justin Forsett, BAL

Forsett was the 2014 breakout candidate of the year as he carried the Ravens backfield after the Ray Rice controversy. With the addition of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who helped Matt Forte earn the most receptions by a running back in a season last year, Forsett is in line for a bigger receiving role, which is gold for PPR leagues. Finally, according to Pro Football Focus offensive guard rankings, the Ravens have two in the top 10, meaning Forsett should see some big holes to run through.

Tony: 2.07 WR Calvin Johnson, DET

I will gladly take Calvin Johnson here. Last year, Johnson was the first overall wide receiver taken. Yes, injuries have limited him the past few years, but he is still a freak athlete on a team that loves to throw the ball. Johnson says he is the healthiest he has felt in years, and all signs point to a rebound year.

Mike: 3.01 WR T.Y. Hilton, IND

Hilton is the lead receiver for one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Andrew Luck. With the addition of running back Frank Gore to help keep defenses worried about the run, Hilton should see less defensive coverage. I expect him to finish with a career high in touchdowns, topping his 2014 total of 7.

Tony: 3.06 WR DeAndre Hopkins, HOU

Hopkins went into 2014 as a sleeper and he definitely lived up to that label. He finished as WR14, even with the questionable quarterbacking he had throwing to him. With running back Arian Foster out with a groin injury, Hopkins will see a ton of targets this year as the Texans will likely be playing from behind. I expect Hopkins to finish in the top 15 receivers again.

Mike: 4.12 TE Greg Olsen, CAR

I rank Olsen as my third overall tight end. He continuously produces for the Panthers. With a healthy running game and the addition of Devin Funchess on the outside, Olsen should find plenty of room in the middle of the field.

Tony: 4.07 WR Emmanuel Sanders, DEN

Sanders helped form one of the best wide receiver duos in the league in 2014. It helps that he has the great Peyton Manning throwing to him. With Demaryius Thomas continuing to demand double coverage, I expect Sanders to have another great year as long as Manning can continue to sling the ball.

Mike: 5.01 WR Jarvis Landry, MIA

Landry was one of the most underappreciated rookie wide receivers in 2014. He finished with 84 receptions on 112 targets, which is an insane 75% catch rate. That translates to a PPR machine. If quarterback Ryan Tannehill continues to take the next step forward, Landry is in for a big season.

Tony: 5.06 RB Shane Vereen, NYG

I have a lot of stock in Vereen this year. Come the end of the year, I expect Vereen to finish as the best running back for the Giants. Not only will he lead the backs in receptions, but, as training camp reports suggest, he will also split the running duties as well. With rookie phenom Odell Beckham Jr. earning double coverage and speedy Victor Cruz returning from injury, Vereen should have plenty of room to work.

Mike: 6.12 RB Doug Martin, TB

Martin gets another, and maybe his last, chance to be the lead back for the Buccaneers. He is their best running option. Training camp reports suggest he has lost weight and body fat in preparation for a major role in the offense. A motivated Martin could produce rewards at the flex option for fantasy teams.

Tony: 6.07 QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT

Roethlisberger had back-to-back 6 touchdown games in 2014, which is unbelievable. His offensive weapons have only gotten better in 2015. Despite the two-game suspension for running back Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers will be one of the highest scoring teams in the NFL this year. I will gladly take Roethlisberger as my quarterback.

Mike: 7.01 WR Mike Wallace, MIN

Mike Wallace is one of my candidates for sleeper status in 2015, or very underrated if you don’t care for the term sleeper. All the hype in Minnesota is around Charles Johnson, but Wallace is not a guy to forget about. Teddy Bridgewater, who I expect to finish in the top 10 quarterbacks this year, has a healthy Peterson back to keep defenses honest, which means there should be plenty of room for burner Wallace to get open on deep routes.

Tony: 7.06 WR Roddy White, ATL

An oldie but a goodie, White, even though he has a slew of knee injuries the past few years, continues to produce worthy fantasy stats. He may not start the season healthy as his knee is still bothering him, but when healthy, the veteran can still play. In my opinion, a move to the slot may help White thrive as he winds down his career.

Mike: 8.12 RB Rashad Jennings, NYG

Jennings should rotate with Vereen as the lead running back, but as I stated about my 6th round pick, I like Vereen to assume more work than Jennings this year. I expect the Giants to do very well this year, providing adequate opportunities for both players.

Tony: 8.07 TE Martellus Bennett, CHI

Despite holdout talks during OTAs, Bennett has shown up to training camp and been blowing new head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase away. Bennett has proven he can handle a big workload. I like him to finish within the top five this year.

Mike: 9.01 WR Steve Smith, BAL

We have two great veteran choices here in the ninth round. Both Smith and Boldin should continue to lead their respective teams in targets this year. Smith is the lead receiver for the Ravens with only a rookie as the second option.

Tony: 9.06 WR Anquan Boldin, SF

Boldin now has Torrey Smith opposite him, which should help spread the coverage out, allowing Boldin to utilize his great skills.

Mike: 10.12 QB Ryan Tannehill, MIA

Another player with a lot of hype is Tannehill. He has great offensive weapons that should make 2015 a career year for him as long as he continues taking those steps forward.

Tony: 10.07 RB Roy Helu, OAK

I am drinking the Helu Kool-Aid this offseason. I loved him as a sleeper for the Redskins when he came out of college, but Alfred Morris broke out as the lead back. I am not a believer in the Raiders lead back Latavius Murray. I expect Helu to start as the pass catching back, but to make his way to the starter role by year-end.

Mike: 11.01 TE Delanie Walker, TEN

Walker is a very good backup to have on your fantasy team, and he could even suffice as a starter in deep leagues. The Titans are in a transition year with rookie franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota now driving the offense, and Walker could be utilized as a safety valve until the offense gets acclimated.

Tony: 11.06 WR Devin Funchess, CAR

Funchess will play opposite Kelvin Benjamin. Both receivers provide big, athletic targets for quarterback Cam Newton. With Benjamin warranting more coverage, Funchess could be a primary target, especially in the red zone, for Newton.

Mike: 12.12 QB Carson Palmer, ARI

Prior to tearing his ACL, Palmer was having a Pro Bowl season, with 62.9% completions, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions through six games. In 2015, he looks to finish what he started in 2014.

Tony: 12.07 RB Knile Davis, KC

If an injury were to happen to all top five running backs (boy do I not wish that to ever happen), the best backup to own is Knile Davis. He has proven he can carry the rock well in support of Jamaal Charles.

Mike: 13.01 RB Fred Jackson, BUF

Jackson is the oldest running back in the NFL today. It is undetermined what role he will have in the new Bills offense under head coach Rex Ryan as training camps report indicate rookie Karlos Williams is quickly moving up the depth charts, so Jackson may be in for a position battle all year.

Tony: 13.06 QB Joe Flacco, BAL

Flacco has consistently been a mid-tier quarterback, but a more than suitable backup for this format. With Trestman now the offensive coordinator, Flacco may be asked to throw more often, which could lead to big stats.

Mike: 14.12 WR Phillip Dorsett, IND

Dorsett has quarterback Luck and receiver Hilton showing him the ropes. So much so that he has passed sophomore Donte Moncrief on the depth charts. Dorsett may have a few big games in him this year.

Tony: 14.07 TE Larry Donnell, NYG

Prior to rookie Beckham Jr. joining the active roster last season, Donnell was the hottest tight end in the NFL, even posting a three-touchdown game in Week 4. Donnell will be a serviceable tight end for my bye week.

Mike: 15.01 WR Kenny Britt, STL

Britt has had an underwhelming career in the NFL and he hopes to improve with new quarterback Nick Foles. All Rams receivers are fast and athletic, so Britt may have some stiff competition on the field.

Tony: 15.06 DEF Houston Texans

Any defense with J.J. Watt is automatically a threat for a big scoring week. The man creates a ton of sacks and turnovers, which he converts into touchdowns himself sometimes. The Texans defense will rank in the top five this year again.

Mike: 16.12 QB Blake Bortles, JAC

Bortles struggled in his rookie year in 2014. He now has more offensive weapons and reports are he has taken great strides this offseason.

Tony: 16.07 RB Javorius Allen, BAL

Rookie running back Allen may threaten Forsett as the pass catching back, especially in Trestman’s offense. As I’ve already stated, we should expect to see this offense air the ball out more, so Allen has plenty of potential in PPR leagues.

Mike: 17.01 DEF New England Patriots

The front seven players for the Patriots defense should be dominant this year. It is the defensive backs that are questionable.

Tony: 17.06 WR Josh Huff, PHI

Personally, I feel Josh Huff will earn the number two WR position this year opposite Jordan Matthews. I know rookie Nelson Agholor is there, but Huff has been dominating camp and will come extremely cheap in all drafts this year.

Mike: 18.12 DEF Indianapolis Colts

The Colts defense provides some depth at the position and they will suffice as a backup.

Tony: 18.07 WR Allen Hurns, JAC

Hurns passed Marqise Lee to deserve the number two receiver designation opposite Allen Robinson. We saw Hurns handle the number one role in 2014 quite well, so if Bortles takes that next step in 2015, I expect some big weeks for Hurns.

Mike: 19.01 WR Robert Woods, BUF

With defenses focusing on sophomore Sammy Watkins, Woods may find some open spots on the field for the Bills. He has nothing but upside.

Tony: 19.06 DEF New York Giants

The Giants defense should take a huge step forward this year with their improved linebackers and defensive backs. Let’s just hope Jason Pierre-Paul makes it back quick from his offseason hand injury.

Mike: 20.12 DEF Jacksonville Jaguars

I personally think the Jaguars are the most underrated defense in the league. They have a great linebacker corps and improved their defensive backs. The defensive line still needs improvement. Do not be surprised if they finish in the top 15 this year.

Tony: 20.07 WR Danny Amendola, NE

As my last pick, Amendola is practically free. Over the first four weeks while Tom Brady is likely suspended, Amendola should be a safety valve out of the slot for QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

Below are the final rosters for each team. Which side do you prefer, and what would you do differently constructing your best-ball MFL10 team from either of these draft spots?

Pre-Training Camp Fantasy Football News and Notes

July 21, 2015 By Draft Buddy Leave a Comment

Here is a recap of key NFL news and notes from the last two weeks potentially impacting the fantasy football value of the players mentioned and their teammates. It’s been pretty quiet on the news front heading into the start of training camps later this week, but a few of these items will factor in to our next projections and rankings update.

Free Agents of Interest

RB Chris Johnson
WR Reggie Wayne
TE Jermaine Gresham

Potential Roster Cuts

RB Ronnie Hillman, Broncos
WR Josh Morgan, Saints
WR Justin Hunter, Titans
TE Andrew Quarless, Packers

Arizona Cardinals

We have Michael Floyd ranked fairly high at wide receiver, wondering if he is a “year too early” candidate from high expectations heading into last season. Now it seems the fantasy community is very bullish about John Brown, who admittedly is receiving positive reports from working out with QB Carson Palmer. This is a situation to monitor closely through training camp.

Atlanta Falcons

WR Leonard Hankerson could assume the third wideout spot ahead of rookie Justin Hardy, who could be eased into action. Hankerson is reunited with Kyle Shanahan from their days together with the Washington Redskins.

Baltimore Ravens

If the Ravens don’t add a veteran receiver, then keep an eye on the progress of rookie Breshad Perriman vs. Marlon Brown to be the starter opposite Steve Smith.

Buffalo Bills

Praise for QB Tyrod Taylor out of Bills camp, and given the questionable competition in front of him, these reports have some merit. What the heck, I just added Taylor in a deep dynasty league, dropping Texans QB prospect Tom Savage.

TE MarQueis Gray is excited about the offense for the tight ends. Who? Exactly, but if what Gray is selling has some substance, then it is a good sign for the fantasy prospects of teammate Charles Clay.

Chicago Bears

The Bears are apparently excited about rookie RB Jeremy Langford due to his speed and all-around ability. Expect a heavy workload for Matt Forte, but it’s always good to know a team’s main RB backup if the starter goes down. Langford could be it for the Bears ahead of Ka’Deem Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers.

Cleveland Browns

Some confirmation Isaiah Crowell is expected to be the starter, but reports are the Browns will ride the “hot hand” and Duke Johnson should be used as the primary third down receiving back.

Per Browns beat writer Nathan Zegura, WR Taylor Gabriel will push to be a starter in this offense, ahead of Brian Hartline, with Andrew Hawkins the third down and slot receiver.

Dallas Cowboys

RB Darren McFadden is expected to open training camp as the backup behind anticipated starter Joseph Randle. It should be a good training camp battle to determine the depth chart come Week 1.

WR Terrance Williams received positive reviews from his position coach, and looks like a good value at his current ADP. Second year player Devin Street is another name to keep in mind amongst Cowboys receivers. He worked with the starters in OTAs in place of an absent Dez Bryant.

Denver Broncos

Report: Cody Latimer is the third wide receiver. Fact: We already knew that.

Detroit Lions

The battle is on for … backup QB! Kellen Moore will challenge Dan Orlovsky for the right to back up starter Matthew Stafford.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Positive reports that RB T.J. Yeldon is picking up the offense quickly. The team appears keen to make him the lead back.

Miami Dolphins

WR DeVante Parker is on track for the active roster Week 1, per a Miami Herald report. He is recovering from foot surgery and appears likely to miss at least some of training camp and the preseason.

Minnesota Vikings

WR Jarius Wright is expected to play the slot in 3-WR sets, further reducing the value of Cordarelle Patterson.

New Orleans Saints

Free agent TE Jermaine Gresham was offered a contract, indicating low confidence in current options Josh Hill or Ben Watson. Gresham is also expected to visit the Arizona Cardinals.

New York Giants

The Giants indicate that training camp will provide clarity sorting out the roles for their backfield trio of Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen and Andre Williams.

Seattle Seahawks

There are positive vibes out of Seattle for rookie WR Tyler Lockett. Given the sketchy depth chart, it would be nice if someone established themselves as a reliable fantasy option at wide receiver on this team.

St. Louis Rams

WR Brian Quick is recovering from a pretty serious shoulder injury. He isn’t a lock to participate at the start of training camp, the ESPN report instead indicating Quick “could” be ready for Week 1.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rookie Kenny Bell is competing with Louis Murphy for the starting slot receiver spot in training camp.

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a name with some building optimism in the fantasy community. Positive reports from OTAs, but there are already a bunch of mouths to feed in this offense.

Tennessee Titans

WR Justin Hunter was arrested July 20 for assault. As a result we’ve added him to the “potential roster cut” list at the top of this post.

Washington Redskins

TE Niles Paul is expected to start if (when?) Jordan Reed struggles with injuries again this year.