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 32nd 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 22nd 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 3rd 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 18th 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.