RB Tiers

[NYG1119]

I'm a beginner at a true FF league as I did a 4-man last year for fun but now I'm gonna do a true 12-man league. I feel like I can hold my own...the only problem I have had while doing mocks was what to do at the RB positions after the top tiers.

Here is my feelings of the backs, ESPN rankings included.

Tier #1
1. AP
2. Foster
3. CJ
4. Charles

So depending on the draft position in a 12-man league, after Tier 1, I can't seem to figure out who to take. If I don't get a Tier #1 I'll prob get 2 Tier 2's due to the snake.

Tier #2
5. MJD (unsure cause of last year's injury and inconsistency.)
6. Rice (feel he's not a huge number guy.)
8. McCoy
12. Mendenhall (same as Rice.)
13. Gore (worried about him, I feel he is only better than Forte on this list.)
15. Turner
19. SJax
21. McFadden
25. Hillis
27. Forte

Now is where I really have no clue...all these guys are just underwhelming and apart of subpar teams that I don't think will allow them to put up numbers.

Tier #3
30. DWill (injuries and sharing with Stewart.)
33. Bradshaw (prob the only RB in this list that I feel good about.)
35. Mathews (horrible start, injury, sharing carries, only an awesome end.)
38. Moreno (horrible last year, McGahee on team this year.)
40. Stewart (along with DWill in Carolina, just so unpredictable.)
44. Blount (came on at the end, not sure.)
45. Best (injuries but good potential.)

I would count Tier 3 up to about Addai at #78 and I could explain every RB in this tier but I have my doubts on all of them.

I would appreciate any input on these players and who you think are the best options. I will return the favor if you guys need help. Thanks

[latraffic]

I almost always draft what I will consider my #1 RB round 1 - any RB in the "top ten" on my list. I see you're clipping top tier at 4th pick but I think that's a little two narrow. Rice, McCoy, MJD, McFadden... all quality backs for the 1st round.

I also draft a "2nd tier" (10th to 20 on my list i.e. Gore, Forte, Hillis, Moreno...) RB round 2 to be my #2 RB Starter.

#1 Starter WR round 3. Usually get a guy in the top tier (top 5th - 12th on my list).

You can see I draft my key critical "starting lineup" right out of the gate. RB, RB, WR, Flex, WR, QB, etc.

[bungle613]

This is from the Cafe rankings... just broken into where I think the tiers are this year. Some of the rankings I disagree with but that is how I would tier them. Once you hit tier 6 it gets cloudy and things change quickly in preseason. You will notice Hightower is not listed for example.

TIER 1

1 Arian Foster HOU 1.50

2 Adrian Peterson MIN 2.00

3 Chris Johnson TEN 2.88

4 Jamaal Charles KC 4.00

5 Ray Rice BAL 4.75

6 LeSean McCoy PHI 6.75

TIER 2

7 Rashard Mendenhall PIT 8.00

8 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC 8.00

9 Darren McFadden OAK 8.25

10 Frank Gore SF 10.25

11 Steven Jackson STL 10.88

12 Matt Forte CHI 12.00

13 Michael Turner ATL 12.63

TIER 3

14 Peyton Hillis CLE 16.00

15 Ahmad Bradshaw NYG 16.88

16 DeAngelo Williams CAR 17.88

17 Jahvid Best DET 18.13

18 LeGarrette Blount TB 18.38

19 Shonn Greene NYJ 19.50

TIER 4

20 Ryan Mathews SD 20.13

21 Cedric Benson CIN 22.50

22 Knowshon Moreno DEN 23.25

23 Felix Jones DAL 23.75

24 Ryan Grant GB 24.50

25 Fred Jackson BUF 24.50

26 Mark Ingram NO 24.63

TIER 5

27 Joseph Addai IND 26.75

28 Marshawn Lynch SEA 27.00

29 Jonathan Stewart CAR 27.25

30 Daniel Thomas MIA 27.75

31 BenJarvus Green-Ellis NE 30.38

32 Beanie Wells ARI 32.50