2013 Fantasy Football Tiered Running Back Rankings

The Running Back position is easily the most important to solidify this year in fantasy.  Owning as many as possible increases the likelihood of getting a breakout player, and hopefully a first-place finish.  Most of you have already read or know this, but I thought I would point it out.  My first three tiers are all guys I wouldn't mind having as my #1 or #2 backs, and then it drops off.  Here are my tiers for this years RB position.


Tier One:

• Adrian Peterson (Purple Jesus is in a league all by himself.  He's half man and half robot)

Tier Two:

• Jamaal Charles (Andy Reid knows how to run an offense. Charles and Bowe are going to see most of it)
• C.J. Spiller (I'm a believer of the hype.  He was the only other back to average over 6 yards a carry last season)
• Doug Martin (Muscle Hamster should have another great year, seeing as he plays in a division with poor run defense)
• Arian Foster (The Texan's run the ball.  A lot.  I would grab Tate just in case however)
• Chris Johnson (Yeah, he's back.  Chance Warmack is arguably the best guard to come out of college since Steve Hutchinson, and with a mobile QB, watch out for CJ2K)
• LeSean McCoy (It will be interesting to see how he's used in Chip Kelley's offense, but if he's smart, it'll be a lot.  
• Marshawn Lynch (He will benefit from the loss of Harvin, and put up another monster year)
• Ray Rice (Mr. Consistent.  I'm not a believer in Pierce being a vulture for carries)

Tier Three:

• Trent Richardson (I wouldn't mind having him as my first back, and luckily he doesn't have any talent below him on the depth chart, but Norv Turner worries me.  That's the sole reason I have him in the 3rd tier.  I've seen him as high as #2 overall, but Weeden looks good passing and I think they'll do more of that this year)
• Steven Jackson (Always a top pick while in St. Louis, and now he's going to a team that hands it off a lot inside the 10.  I think he'll have an increase in TD's, and right around 1000 yards rushing)
• Matt Forte (I hear Trestman likes running backs.  If he gets used the same way as previous years, 1300 combined yards and 10 TD's isn't out of the question)
• Alfred Morris (He has improved in the pass-catching area, and if he can stay healthy, barring no Shanahanigans, he could be a top 5 guy)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (I think MJD and CJ2K are last year's Adrian Peterson.  Coming off injury, question marks... He has no talent below him, and the dude is just a fantasy stud)
• Stevan Ridley (Clearly the #1 guy in New England.  Vereen will end up being the change of pace guy, but no more Danny Woodhead should lead to more touches)

Tier Four:

• Frank Gore (I hate having him this low, but with so much talent below him and his age, it worries me. When Kaepernick took over at QB, his production decreased as well)
• Reggie Bush (Could be a stud, especially if they use him in the passing game)
• Darren McFadden (Is this the year?  Or next year?  Way too many injuries have me concerned.  But if he stays healthy for the year it's a great pick)
• DeMarco Murray (Needs to avoid injuries.  Solid #2 guy if he stays on the field)
• David Wilson (Will end up being the feature back in NY, but Andre Brown will be a Brandon Jacobs type guy for the goal line carries)

Tier Five:

• Lamar Miller (Daniel Thomas is bad.  The offensive line isn't much better, but he could be the Doug Martin of last year)
• Darren Sproles (No one was hurt as much as Sproles with Payton's absence last year, so I expect some upside here)
• Le'Veon Bell (Someone has to run the ball for the Steelers.  He's got talent and Redman/Dwyer didn't do anything last year)
• Chris Ivory (Shonn Greene was awful in NY, and a more explosive Ivory should help that team a lot. He could be a big surprise)
• Ahmad Bradshaw (Question marks here too, but a new offensive system with more running plays has me interested)

Tier Six:

• Eddie Lacy (Landed on a bad run-blocking team, but he has the most talent of any rookie back.  The only thing hurting him right now is that toe)
• Ryan Matthews (How many years will it be before he breaks out?  Talk of RB by committee has me worried)
• Montee Ball (Going way too high in drafts right now.  I think he's a third down back, and that's it.  Go Hillman if you even want a Broncos RB)
• Giovani Bernard (Explosive back, looks like he's going to get a lot of touches, but hasn't separated himself from the law-firm. A solid option since the Bengals will score)
• Shane Vereen (Looks like he will benefit from the loss of Woodhead too.  More involved in the run game and likely more targets as well)
• Rashard Mendenhall (Just barely gets into this tier, for the sole reason of being a starter.  He's a good back, but has a history of fumble problems)

Tier Seven:

• Mark Ingram (could wind up being a huge part of the Saint's Offense this year, and Sean Payton has indicated he will be)
• Daryl Richardson (looks like he will be the starter, but with two other backs taking away carries, he'll have to prove himself)
• DeAngelo Williams (Waiting for his former-self to come back.  Too many rushing options on that team is detrimental to his weekly success)
• Andre Brown
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis
• Ronnie Hillman (running with the first team, I think he gets the starting job over Ball)

Tier Eight:

• Ben Tate
• Bryce Brown
• Isaiah Pead
• Pierre Thomas
• Johnathan Franklin
• Jonathan Stewart (Should be a little higher, but I would just avoid Carolina backs)
• Bernard Pierce

Tier Nine:

• Fred Jackson
• Zac Stacy
• Michael Bush
• Vick Ballard
• Danny Woodhead
• Shonn Greene
• Vick Ballard
• Michael Bush
• Joique Bell
• Mikel Leshoure
• Any other backups, if you're in a deep league, make sure to grab handcuff's.

2013 Fantasy Football Tiered Rankings: Quarterback

This is a good fantasy year at the quarterback position, because we don't have to reach for one.  The decision this year on who to take will be based on your league scoring.  My league scoring setup with 6 points for every touchdown and -2 for INT's, means that I won't have to make a decision on mobile vs. pocket QB's.  In a 4 point passing touchdown league, the rushing TD's from guys like Newton, Kaepernick, Wilson and RGIII help a lot more for fantasy scoring.  Take that into consideration when making your selection.

Tier One:

• Drew Brees (Will only be better with Payton back on the sidelines)
• Aaron Rodgers (I have some concerns with him, Bulaga out, and no Jennings, but without question, the most surgical passer in the league still)
• Peyton Manning (5000 yards.  Yeah, I said it.  The Broncos ran the ball more than ever last year inside the 10, and I think Welker is going to help.  Thomas, Welker and Decker all get 1k seasons)

Tier Two:

• Cam Newton (He's pretty good, but not good enough for my first tier.  He'll get you some rushing touchdowns, but still has consistency issues in the passing game)
• Tom Brady (Should still be a first-tier play-caller, but with the questions of his receivers, I dropped him down a tier)
• Matthew Stafford (Like him a lot, his TD's were down because his receivers couldn't cross the goal line)
• Matt Ryan (Still has White, Jones and Gonzalez.... not to mention a better pass catcher in Jackson)

Tier Three:

• Andrew Luck (The new West Coast system should make life better for Luck, love the addition of Hey-Bey)
• Colin Kaepernick (The addition of Boldin and Vernon's deep threat ability makes me like him a lot)
• Tony Romo (Could have a monster year throwing to Dez.  Plus he still likes Witten too)
• Robert Griffin III (If he can get a second receiver to throw to, and Morris increases his pass catching ability, he'll see an increase from the pocket.  He isn't going to rush like he did last year, but has a great deep ball)
• Russell Wilson (Not sure about Wilson.  Everyone seemed to have him much higher, but with Harvin out for the season, he goes back to having Rice and Tate.  I think Marshawn benefits the most from Harvin's absence.  

Tier Four:

• Eli Manning (It's hard for me to have him this low, especially with targets like Cruz, Nicks and Myers, but his inconsistency of either 30 points or 10 points keeps him as a low-end 1, high end backup for now)
• Ben Roethlisberger (He'll have another solid year.  The offensive line is healthy, and if he can find Brown and Sanders downfield, it'll remain a pass-first team, especially with a rookie running back)
• Andy Dalton (A.J. Green.  Enough said)
• Michael Vick (I'm higher than most people are on him.  Chip Kelley likes mobile quarterbacks, and I think he can separate himself from Foles easily.  

Tier Five:

• Jay Cutler (He's still going to throw picks.  The addition of Bennett and an emerging Jeffrey should help)
• Carson Palmer (Believe it, I'd take him for my backup QB without hesitation)
• Joe Flacco (No weapons, just got a huge contract.... not buying him)
• Sam Bradford
• Josh Freeman (Do or die year)
• Brandon Weeden (Like having Norv there to help him out.  More deep balls should lead to more success)
• Matt Schaub (He'll be handing it off all day, but still has Andre Johnson)