Fantasy RB Situation for all 32 Teams

Norv Turner has announced the Chargers will basically use a 50/50 split at RB.
At this point I very well might take Tolbert ahead of Matthews in fantasy drafts.

Barber's listed as 3rd on the Bears first 2011 depth chart behind Chester Taylor. Even I'm surprised by that and I think the guys washed up.

Yeah, you misunderstood dude.
I say McFadden is a top 10 pick and then start talking about Michael Bush. I say he'll spell McFadden, his value is limited, and he's going in the early 40s at RB.

Chiefs:

Nothing’s changed here either in regard to Todd Haley being stupid. Thomas Jones is still the starter and will get nearly half the carries. The combination of this and the Chiefs brutal schedule is why Jamal Charles is only a top 6 or 7 pick instead of top 3.

Raiders:

Darren McFadden suffered a fluke break of his orbital bone in camp and hasn’t seen any game action yet. This shouldn’t be anything to worry about and I fully expect him ready to go week 1.  He’s still easily a top 10 pick. Michael Bush has been good starting in his place the first 2 preseason games. If McFadden goes down he immediately becomes a high upside RB2.

Chargers:

All implications are that Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert will see nearly even work, with Tolbert will get passing downs and GL carries. If this is the case then he probably has to be ranked higher in both standard leagues and PPRs. Right now Tolbert has peaked on RB rankings at 27. Matthews is looking more and more like a bust. He checks in as my 32^nd RB.

Broncos:

A slightly slimmed down Knowshon Moreno has played well in the Broncos first 2 preseason games, but it’s new addition Willis McGahee that will get the short yardage and GL work. Moreno is still a RB2 and I have him as my 22^nd ranked RB. Give him a bump in PPR leagues. McGahee’s worth a shot in the low to mid 40s at RB but in standard formats only.

Giants:

Unless we see an injury, the RB situation for the Giants is pretty set regardless of what happens during the preseason. Bradshaw should prove a quality RB2. In my RB rankings he’s 16. The GMen plan on getting Jacobs a little more work this year and he still projects in the mid to late 30s at RB.

Eagles:

We’ll see lots of Lesean McCoy. He’s a solid RB1.

Redskins:

Ryan Torain’s hand injury opened the door for Tim Hightower and he’s (no pun intended) run with it. He’s climbed all the way to #30 in my RB rankings and has RB2 upside if the Redskins can get some competent QB play. Both John Beck and Rex Grossman have looked good in the preseason so maybe there’s hope.

Rookies Roy Helu and Evan Royster have both had a big preseason performance. Don’t think either’s worth a late round shot right now though. It doesn’t look like Ryan Torain will be healthy by the season opener, so check out the Redskins 3^rd preseason game. It may well decide which rookie back spells Hightower early in the year.

Cowboys:

Felix Jones has been very impressive so far in the preseason and he appears to have no competition for carries in the Cowboys backfield. If (I know, big if) he can stay healthy then he has low end RB1 upside. He’s currently my 18^th ranked back.

Bears:

There’s nothing new to report in Chicago. Forte’s still a top 15 back and could easily end up in the top 10.

NFL experts continue to say they expect Marion Barber to be the #2 and get GL carries, but as of right now he’s still #3 behind Chester Taylor. Neither is worth drafting.

Vikings:

As long as he still has all four limbs then Adrian Peterson is still a top 3 pick. Even with 3 limbs he’s still a top 15 pick.

Packers:

Even though the Packers were quick to name Ryan Grant the starter and clear cut lead back, that doesn’t necessarily seem like the case. In the Packers first preseason game, Grant and James Starks split nearly 50/50 with the starters. Starks didn’t play the second game so the all important third game could give us a huge idea how this situation might play out. I’ve dropped Grant a couple spots but he’s still a RB2. He’s 23 in my RB rankings and Starks comes in at 38.

Lions:

The season ending injury to rookie Mikel Leshoure opened the door for a huge season for Jahvid Best. The problem is that it’s looking less and less likely that Best can stay healthy, as he’s just suffered a concussion. I have him ranked 18 at RB and think his upside is huge, especially in PPR leagues, but he’s a risk.

Panthers:
DeAngelo Williams continues to hold strong just inside my top 20 at RB. I’ve dropped Jonathan Stewart a few spots into my mid 30s at RB, but it’s because of other guys moving up and not a knock on him.

Bucs:

We’ll give the benefit of the doubt and say LeGarette Blount has been average this preseason. His 4 carries for 1 yard against New England was awful, but apparently nobody on the Bucs knew they had a game that day. At least Blount doesn’t have anyone to compete with for carries. I guess that doesn’t stop him from being a bust, but I’m certainly not prepared to say anything like that after a couple preseason games. If things don’t pick up a touch in the 3^rd preseason game though, I might start to get a little worried and drop him a couple spots.

Falcons:

I’ve given a little credit to Michael Turner who has looked better this preseason then I expected and have moved him up a couple spots in my rankings to 13. I still have my doubts though so I can’t see him climbing any higher.

Saints:

Running back swapping mad man Sean Peyton appears to be at it again. Word from the Big Easy is that Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas will come close to a 50/50 splits. Ingram should still get the GL work but finds himself the lowest we’ve seen yet on my RB list at #26. Thomas though has climbed to a new high in the late 30s.

49ers:

We’ve heard word today that Frank Gore is unhappy that no progress is being made in talks for a contract extension and may demand a trade. He is the 49ers offense, but his body has taken such a beating that he’s likely to be on the decline very soon. It’s going to be tough for the 49ers to give him the long term deal that he’s seeking. He if were to leave town (and I highly doubt it happens) then rookie Kendal Hunter would likely get his chance. Hunter’s looked good in the preseason and could have low end RB2 value. I’ll be monitoring this situation.

Rams:

Nothing’s changed here. Steven Jackson’s still #11 in my RB rankings an elite RB2/low end RB1.

Cardinals:

Ryan Williams became the 2^nd rookie RB to suffer a season ending injury. Now Beanie Wells won’t be looking over his shoulder, even though that might’ve been a good thing and kept him motivated. He still moves up a couple spots in my RB rankings to #21.

Seahawks:

Marshawn Lynch projects as a very low end RB2 or RB3. Pete Carroll has said he plans on getting Leon Washington involved, but Pete likes to hear himself talk so I’ll believe it when I see it.

Reports today are that Fred Jackson feels "disrespected" by the Bills staff because of the increase in Spiller's playing time. I can't say I blame him. When you outplay a guy in every faucet of the game, and the staff goes with him anyway, it's absurd.
Chan Gailey's response is that "both men are #1 backs." LOL Great stuff Chan. Way to deflect.

The Dolphins adding free agent Larry Johnson is absolutely hilarious. Not really sure what the thought process is here. Redskins cut him almost a year ago and he hadn't even been mentioned. He has ZERO fantasy value. Doubt he even makes the roster.