Fantasy Index

Factoid

March 01, 2016

Running backs

Where have the star running backs gone?

It was not a good year for running backs. Some spurts of production by guys here and there. Devonta Freeman was outstanding in the first half of the season, and Adrian Peterson was pretty solid. DeAngelo Williams put up good numbers filling in for LeVeon Bell. But overall, the production was pretty lousy.

There was no knockout running back.

We are now 16 seasons into this century. Using standard scoring (1 point for every 10 yards and 6 points for each touchdown) none of last year’s running backs ranked higher than 70th.

That would be Freeman, who wasn’t coveted at fantasy drafts. Peterson, at 87th, is the only other 2015 running back in the top 130.

Had it been a typical year, you would have figured there would have been six running backs in the top 100 – about one every 16 players.

This is a trend, I believe, that willl scare away some fantasy leaguers from selecting a running back in the first round this summer. A lot of people have stuck to that formula for a lot of years, but I believe that this summer, you’ll see more thinking more carefully about selecting players from other positions.

Thoughts?

BEST FANTASY RUNNING BACKS SINCE 2000
RkYearPlayerRunRecTotalTDPoints
1.2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,8155082,32331426.3
2.2000Marshall Faulk, St.L.1,3598302,18926378.9
3.2003Priest Holmes, K.C.1,4206902,11027373.0
4.2002Priest Holmes, K.C.1,6156722,28724372.7
5.2005Shaun Alexander, Sea.1,880781,95828363.8
6.2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.2,0065032,50916348.9
7.2003Ahman Green, G.B.1,8833672,25020345.0
8.2003LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,6457252,37017343.0
9.2001Marshall Faulk, St.L.1,3827652,14721342.7
10.2000Edgerrin James, Ind.1,7095942,30318340.3
11.2005Larry Johnson, K.C.1,7503432,09321335.3
12.2006Larry Johnson, K.C.1,7894102,19919333.9
13.2010Arian Foster, Hou.1,6166042,22018330.0
14.2006Steven Jackson, St.L.1,5288062,33416329.4
15.2002Ricky Williams, Mia.1,8533632,21617323.6
16.2005LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,4623701,83220315.2
17.2013Jamaal Charles, K.C.1,2876931,98019312.0
18.2012Adrian Peterson, Minn.2,0972172,31413311.4
19.2003Jamal Lewis, Balt.2,0662052,27114311.1
20.2002LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,6834892,17215307.2
21.2005Tiki Barber, NYG1,8605302,39011307.0
22.2007LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,4744751,94918306.9
23.2004Shaun Alexander, Sea.1,6961701,86620306.6
24.2014DeMarco Murray, Dall.1,8454162,26113304.1
25.2011Ray Rice, Balt.1,3647042,06815300.8
26.2004Tiki Barber, NYG1,5185782,09615299.6
27.2000Eddie George, Tenn.1,5094531,96216292.2
28.2009Adrian Peterson, Minn.1,3834361,81918289.9
29.2002Clinton Portis, Den.1,5083641,87217289.2
30.2014LeVeon Bell, Pitt.1,3618542,21511287.5
31.2008DeAngelo Williams, Car.1,5151211,63620285.6
32.2004LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1,3354411,77618285.6
33.2011LeSean McCoy, Phil.1,3093151,62420282.4
34.2007Brian Westbrook, Phil.1,3337712,10412282.4
35.2013LeSean McCoy, Phil.1,6075392,14611280.6
36.2004Curtis Martin, NYJ1,6972451,94214278.2
37.2001Priest Holmes, K.C.1,5556142,16910276.9
38.2003Clinton Portis, Den.1,5913141,90514276.5
39.2008Michael Turner, Atl.1,699411,74017276.0
40.2009Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.1,3913741,76516272.5
41.2006Frank Gore, S.F.1,6954852,1809272.0
42.2002Shaun Alexander, Sea.1,1754601,63518271.5
43.2002Deuce McAllister, N.O.1,3883521,74016270.0
44.2014Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1,3063671,67317269.3
45.2003Shaun Alexander, Sea.1,4352951,73016269.0
46.2005Edgerrin James, Ind.1,5063371,84314268.3
47.2006Willie Parker, Pitt.1,4942221,71616267.6
48.2013Matt Forte, Chi.1,3395941,93312267.3
49.2012Arian Foster, Hou.1,4242171,64117266.1
50.2012Doug Martin, T.B.1,4544721,92612264.6
51.2002Tiki Barber, NYG1,3875971,98411264.4
52.2001Ahman Green, G.B.1,3875941,98111264.1
53.2011Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.1,6063741,98011264.0
54.2003Deuce McAllister, N.O.1,6415162,1578263.7
55.2001Shaun Alexander, Sea.1,3183431,66116262.1
56.2004Domanick Davis, Hou.1,1885881,77614261.6
57.2004Edgerrin James, Ind.1,5484832,0319259.1
58.2000Mike Anderson, Den.1,5001691,66915258.9
59.2002Travis Henry, Buff.1,4383091,74714258.7
60.2006Brian Westbrook, Phil.1,2176991,91611257.6
61.2002Charlie Garner, Oak.9629411,90311256.3
62.2011Arian Foster, Hou.1,2246171,84112256.1
63.2004Corey Dillon, N.E.1,6351031,73813253.8
64.2009Ray Rice, Balt.1,3397022,0418252.1
65.2000Ahman Green, G.B.1,1755591,73413251.4
66.2012Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1,5901961,78612250.6
67.2014Matt Forte, Chi.1,0388081,84610248.6
68.2008Adrian Peterson, Minn.1,7601251,88510248.5
69.2000Fred Taylor, Jac.1,3992401,63914247.9
70.2015Devonta Freeman, Atl.1,0565781,63414247.4
71.2001Curtis Martin, NYJ1,5133201,83310247.3
72.2012Alfred Morris, Wash.1,613771,69013247.0
73.2000Robert Smith, Minn.1,5213481,86910246.9
74.2005Clinton Portis, Wash.1,5162161,73211245.2
75.2008Matt Forte, Chi.1,2384771,71512243.5
76.2010Peyton Hillis, Clev.1,1774771,65413243.4
77.2006Tiki Barber, NYG1,6624652,1275242.7
78.2010Adrian Peterson, Minn.1,2983411,63913241.9
79.2008Thomas Jones, NYJ1,3122071,51915241.9
80.2010Jamaal Charles, K.C.1,4674681,9358241.5
81.2013Marshawn Lynch, Sea.1,2573161,57314241.3
82.2000Curtis Martin, NYJ1,2045081,71211241.2
83.2000Ricky Watters, Sea.1,2426131,8559239.5
84.2014Arian Foster, Hou.1,2463271,57313239.3
85.2007Adrian Peterson, Minn.1,3412681,60913238.9
86.2000Charlie Garner, S.F.1,1426471,78910238.9
87.2015Adrian Peterson, Minn.1,4852221,70711236.7
88.2013Knowshon Moreno, Den.1,0385481,58613236.6
89.2003Fred Taylor, Jac.1,5723701,9427236.2
90.2007Joseph Addai, Ind.1,0723641,43615235.6
91.2007Clinton Portis, Wash.1,2623891,65111235.1
92.2014Eddie Lacy, G.B.1,1394271,56613234.6
93.2006Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.9414361,37716233.7
94.2010Chris Johnson, Tenn.1,3642451,60912232.9
95.2003Ricky Williams, Mia.1,3723511,72310232.3
96.2001Corey Dillon, Cin.1,3152281,54313232.3
97.2009Frank Gore, S.F.1,1204061,52613230.6
98.2009Thomas Jones, Chi.1,402581,46014230.0
99.2000Lamar Smith, Mia.1,1392011,34016230.0
100.2000Stephen Davis, Wash.1,3183131,63111229.1

—Ian Allan

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