These 2010 Fantasy Football Running Backs Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other 2010 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2010 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material.
MISSING
-
Shonn Greene, RB, Jets. Bye: 7. 
AUG. 29 UPDATE: Shonn Greene ran unbelievably well in New York’s third preseason game, gaining 56 yards on 12 carries. He bulldozed over defenders, and Jets play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle got so excited on one play that he shouted, “Shonn Greene… emerging! There wasn’t even a hole there!”
That said, I’m moving Greene a bit down in my rankings. The reason being LaDainian Tomlinson. Unfortunately for Greene, Tomlinson will be receiving tons of touches this season.
AUG. 23 UPDATE: Shonn Greene caught a pass, which is encouraging for his PPR prospects, but struggled otherwise, gaining 10 yards on six carries. LaDainian Tomlinson had superior numbers (26 yards on three attempts) to go along with two receptions, though it should be noted that 20 of his 26 yards came on one carry.
AUG. 17 UPDATE: Shonn Greene looked great in the preseason opener. He bulldozed his way for 26 yards on five carries. He also lined up in the slot on one possession and caught a 5-yard pass. Most importantly, Greene – not LaDainian Tomlinson – was in the backfield when the Jets entered the Giants’ 5-yard line. Feel free to draft Greene as your RB1 at the end of the first round. He could legitimately score 15-plus touchdowns this year.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: In two playoff games, Shonn Greene showed us exactly why the Jets traded all of their second-day draft picks to get him. Greene tore up the Bengals and Chargers, rushing for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
With Thomas Jones gone, Greene will get all of the first- and second-down carries behind a behemoth offensive line. Jones wasn’t even all that good last year, and yet he managed to generate 1,402 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on a 4.2 YPC average.
I really don’t see any reason why Greene can’t duplicate or even exceed those numbers. He’s younger and better than Jones was in 2009. In the wake of the Leon Washington trade, Greene doesn’t really have anyone to share carries with (LaDainian Tomlinson sucks and Joe McKnight is just a third-down back). I’m expecting something close to Michael Turner’s 2008 numbers.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,250 rushing yards. 10 catches. 60 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 203.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.
-
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers. Bye: 6.
Like I said, Jonathan Stewart over DeAngelo Williams by a hair in non-PPR leagues. Both runners are capable of 1,100-plus yards and about 10 touchdowns this season as long as the offensive line stays healthy.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,150 rushing yards. 33 catches. 275 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 202.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 235.
-
Ryan Grant, RB, Packers. Bye: 10.
AUG. 17 UPDATE: Ryan Grant did not have a good preseason debut. He fumbled on his first carry and suffered a concussion on his third attempt. Grant should be fine for the regular-season opener though.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Anyone who had Ryan Grant on their fantasy roster last year knows that he was very consistent. They also know that he really caught fire at the end of the season. Grant thrived when he had both Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher in the lineup. Consider the following numbers:
Grant WITHOUT Clifton or Tauscher (8 games): 147 carries, 604 yards (4.1 YPC). 3 TDs.
Grant WITH Clifton and Tauscher (8 games): 135 carries, 649 yards (4.8 YPC). 7 TDs.
Clifton and Tauscher aren’t strong run blockers, but their presence improved the offense as a whole and gave Grant more opportunities. A strong finish in 2009 should lead to a promising 2010 – especially with Bryan Bulaga on the roster.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,250 rushing yards. 16 catches. 110 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 202.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 218.
-
Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints. Bye: 10.
AUG. 12 UPDATE: According to Adam Schefter, Lynell Hamilton suffered a torn ACL on Wednesday morning. This sucks for Hamilton, but it’s great news for Pierre Thomas’ fantasy season. Sean Payton looked like he was going to experiment with Hamilton at the goal line. With Hamilton gone, it’s one less mediocre running back that Payton will be able to mess around with.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Despite missing three games, not having his Pro Bowl left tackle, and sharing touches with Mike Bell and Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas managed 793 rushing yards, 39 receptions, 302 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns.
The good news is that the mediocre Bell is gone, meaning Thomas only has to relinquish some of his work to Bush. Unless Sean Payton falls in love with another pedestrian running back, Thomas should be in for a big year.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,100 rushing yards. 40 catches. 310 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 201.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 241.
-
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs. Bye: 4. 
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Believe it or not, Jamaal Charles started in the third preseason game. No, it’s true! Charles was in the lineup on Kansas City’s first play. People who didn’t watch the game will cite that he was credited with a lost fumble on his first carry, but it was really a botched exchange from Matt Cassel. Charles looked great otherwise, totaling 40 rushing yards on six attempts to go along with a 20-yard reception.
Charles limped off the field after injuring his ankle at the end of the first half, but was walking around pretty freely on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs Television Network also neglected to mention anything about it, so go ahead and confidently take him in the second round of your fantasy draft.
AUG. 14 UPDATE: While the Chiefs struggled to open up any holes for the decrepit Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles was much more successful in the preseason opener. Charles carried the ball only four times, but was able to total 37 rushing yards. It’s clear to 99.99999 percent of the universe that Charles is the superior Kansas City running back. Unfortunately, the 0.00001 is the man who matters most in this situation. Todd Haley has to be insane if he thinks Jones gives him a better chance of winning. If he paid attention to this game, Charles will become the starter going forward.
AUG. 10 UPDATE: When the Chiefs gave Thomas Jones the first-team carries ahead of Jamaal Charles at the beginning of training camp, I thought it was cute. However, Jones is still listed ahead of Charles on the depth chart. Charles is a very talented runner, so he might just be too skilled for Todd Haley’s offense. In all seriousness, if Haley doesn’t give Charles the touches he deserves, he should be fired on the spot. Of course, I wrote this after Week 7 last year, but Kansas City ownership didn’t listen.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Rashard Mendenhall is being overdrafted. He’s going in the first round of many fantasy mocks, and he was even listed as high as No. 10 in Matthew Berry’s pre-NFL Draft top 100.
A flash in the pan? Some may think so, but I don’t. Jamaal Charles is a stud. In the middle of the season, before Charles went nuts and nearly set the single-game rushing record at Denver, I wrote a thesis on why Todd Haley was an idiot for not using Jamaal Charles enough. It took him a while, but he finally listened.
Charles’ final four games, when he finally received 20 or more rushes: 94 carries, 658 rushing yards, 14 catches, 79 receiving yards, four touchdowns. Not too shabby.
Like Ray Rice, Charles won’t get the goal-line looks (Thomas Jones), but he has the talent to generate about 1,700 total yards; he had 1,417 total yards last year, and he didn’t even get 200 carries.
Two issues: First, Dexter McCluster will take some receptions away from Charles. And second, Charles is only 200 pounds, so there’s no telling if his body can hold up over a 16-game slate of 25-plus touches per contest.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,180 rushing yards. 46 catches. 380 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 198.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 244.
-
Jahvid Best, RB, Lions. Bye: 7. 
AUG. 29 UPDATE: Jahvid Best is amazing. He opened the third exhibition game with a 51-yard run on the first play. On the next snap, he caught a pass and juked a defender for a 10-yard reception. He was done after the first series, which is a great sign because Jim Schwartz obviously plans on utilizing him heavily in the offense. Best is a must-draft if you can get him in the fourth round. Personally, I wouldn’t have any problem taking him in the third round of a 12-team league.
AUG. 23 UPDATE: Jahvid Best once again shined for the Lions. The electrifying rookie rushed for 49 yards on just eight carries, and also had two catches for 10 receiving yards at Denver. He touched the ball on the the first two plays of the game. More importantly, he was taken out of the contest after just one quarter (most of the starters played the whole half), which goes to show that Jim Schwartz thinks so highly of him that he doesn’t want to risk injury. If Best can stay healthy, he’s going to have a huge season.
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Jahvid Best was utilized early and often by the Lions in their first exhibition contest. In fact, he carried the ball on the first four plays of the game for Detroit. Best showed unbelievable explosion, generating 29 yards on six carries in addition to a 9-yard reception. I had him as my No. 29 overall player in my PPR rankings going into the weekend, and I’m beginning to think that’s a bit too low.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: With Kevin Smith coming off a torn ACL, Jahvid Best is Detroit’s featured back. That means he could be in line for 250-300 touches; perhaps even more. Unfortunately, Best is really brittle and injury-prone. If he plays, he’ll produce for you. But don’t count on him being in the lineup for 16 games.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,110 rushing yards. 47 catches. 440 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 197.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 244.
-
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts. Bye: 7. 
AUG. 27 UPDATE: Joseph Addai appears to be a great RB2 option this year. He opened the third preseason game with a 49-yard run on Indianapolis’ first play. He finished with 60 yards on seven carries, and chipped in with two receptions for 40 receiving yards. Unfortunately, Addai suffered a concussion when chasing down a Green Bay defender following a Peyton Manning fumble. With 16 days to go until the regular season, Addai should be fine. Donald Brown, who once again struggled, (5 carries, 6 yards) is not a threat to take touches away from Addai.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Joseph Addai started the Toronto game. He saw plenty of early action (2 carries, 13 rush yards, TD; 2 catches, 23 rec. yards), which included a pretty 26-yard completion down the sideline. He left the contest early, as it seemed like the Colts were trying to preserve him – which is definitely a good sign.
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Joseph Addai received all of the first-team work for the Colts in the preseason opener. He rushed for 11 yards and a touchdown on five carries to go along with a 12-yard reception. Addai really outplayed Donald Brown, who basically just ran in circles.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Joseph Addai is once again projected to be the main runner in Indianapolis. Last year, Addai rushed for 828 yards, and caught 51 balls for 336 receiving yards. More importantly, he scored 13 touchdowns in the process – a figure that should remain steady based on how highly productive the Colts’ offense is.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 925 rushing yards. 44 catches. 325 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 197.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 241.
-
Arian Foster, RB, Texans. Bye: 7. 
AUG. 29 UPDATE: As I wrote on the forum: Arian Foster, Australian for Fantasy Stud. Foster was unbelievable, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. He also chipped in with four catches for 40 receiving yards. Foster was active in the passing game and goal-line situations. He’s a legitimate RB2.
AUG. 22 UPDATE: Save for one play, Arian Foster had a very good performance. He ran well, gaining 28 yards and a touchdown on six carries to go along with his two catches for 15 receiving yards. The blemish? Foster fumbled, which is a big no-no for Gary Kubiak. However, the fumble was a play in which Foster seemed to lose his footing once he obtained the ball from Matt Schaub. Foster was back in the game on the next drive, so he should be OK for now.
If Foster limits his fumbles, he could have a monstrous statistical season (Steve Slaton played exclusively in the second half). That said, we’ve seen how quick Kubiak’s hook is pertaining to running backs putting the ball on the ground.
AUG. 15 UPDATE: With injury comes opportunity. Ben Tate is probably out for the year with a broken ankle, so Arian Foster and Steve Slaton will get the majority of the carries this season. Foster played really well in the exhibition opener, as his first carry went for 21 yards. He finished with 31 yards on four attempts. Slaton, meanwhile, looked pretty decent at times (10 carries, 22 rush yards; 1 catch, 21 rec. yards), but once again fumbled at the goal line. Slaton was not seen after fumbling, which isn’t surprising considering how Gary Kubiak operates. Kubiak won’t be able to trust Slaton, which means that Foster could be in for a HUGE fantasy campaign.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: Arian Foster finished the year well, rushing for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries in the final two games of the season. Foster is currently the No. 1 back on Houston’s depth chart. Ben Tate could easily pass him, but Foster is definitely a sleeper.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,125 rushing yards. 28 catches. 240 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 196.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 224.
-
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals. Bye: 6.
AUG. 31 UPDATE: Cedric Benson ripped right through Buffalo’s anemic defensive front, gaining 50 yards on eight carries. His only blemish on the night was a dropped pass. Benson is well worth a second-round fantasy pick; don’t worry about Bernard Scott stealing touches.
AUG. 21 UPDATE: Cedric Benson has looked great this preseason. A big development against the Eagles was the five targets he saw. Benson caught all five of the passes thrown his way for 29 yards. With Brian Leonard out, it seems like Benson will be a much bigger part of Cincinnati’s passing game.
JULY 31 UPDATE: Roger Goodell announced that Cedric Benson will not be suspended for punching someone at a bar a few months ago. No suspensions for Benson, Vince Young and QB Dog Killer? Looks like Goodell has gone soft on us.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: One of my favorite sleepers last year, Cedric Benson exceeded my expectations, and rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns in only 13 games.
I like Benson again this season on only one condition – that he doesn’t get his contract extended. Benson is a lazy bum and plays only for contracts and signing bonuses. If Cincinnati gives him a new deal, forget about it; don’t even draft him. But as long as Benson is playing for money, he’s a legitimate RB1.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,225 rushing yards. 32 catches. 210 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 191.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 223.
-
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. Bye: 8.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy didn’t play much at Kansas City, but was impressive when he was on the field. McCoy had 28 yards on five carries, including an 18-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. McCoy also had two targets (1 catch, 8 yards).
AUG. 14 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy was heavily involved on offense against the Jaguars, totaling 30 yards on eight carries. Kevin Kolb didn’t target him, but you better believe that McCoy will get a ton of receptions this season. As indicated by the coaching staff this offseason, McCoy has heavily progressed in Philadelphia’s offense.
PREVIOUS UPDATE: LeSean McCoy has been receiving glowing reports in minicamps thus far. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg praised him for being confident, teaching the younger players and looking “180-degrees different” compared to his rookie campaign.
With Brian Westbrook gone, McCoy will be the featured back. He’ll likely receive 250-plus touches this season, which should translate into about 1,400 total yards and eight touchdowns.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 975 rushing yards. 50 catches. 440 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 189.
Projected 2010 PPR Fantasy Points: 239.
MISSING
More 2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football: Home
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2010 Fantasy Football Playoff Rankings - 1/5 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Week 17 Fantasy Rankings - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 6/6 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 7/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 7/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 7/20 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/10 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/11 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 9/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Linemen - 8/3 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Linebackers - 8/7 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: IDP Defensive Backs - 8/14 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Team-by-Team - 6/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Dynasty Rookie Rankings - 4/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Rookie Rankings - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Traditional - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 PPR - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 150 Touchdown League - 9/6 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: WF.com Free League - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Traditional Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/26 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real PPR Draft - 8/18 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Real Experts PPR Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Experts Mock Draft - 8/12 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Draft: Pros vs. Joes - 7/28 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR Draft with AKA - 7/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Mocking ESPN's Fantasy Mock Draft - 7/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: The Four-Man PPR Fantasy Draft - 7/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Articles:
2010 Fantasy Football Injury Reports: Week 17 - 1/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em - 12/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Add/Drop - 12/20 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Stock Index - Week 8 - 10/29 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football Buffet: Week 8 - 10/28 (Steve)
2010 Fantasy Football Stock - 9/7 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: High-Upside Late-Round Sleepers - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Top 12 Players to Avoid - 8/25 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Undervalued Players - 8/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Buy Low - 8/6 (Walt)
ESPN's 2010 Fantasy Football Magazine Errors - 8/3 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Defense Strategy - 8/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: My Round-by-Round Strategy - 7/27 (Walt)
Lack of 2010 Fantasy Depth: Blame the 2008 NFL Draft Class - 7/26 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Why You Should Pass on Chris Johnson - 7/14 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Draft Strategies - 7/13 (John)
2010 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Scarcity - 6/30 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Late-Round) - 6/2 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Sleepers (Mid-Round) - 6/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Busts - 5/31 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football Mailbag - 5/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks with New Receivers - 5/1 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Up - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: 2010 NFL Draft Stock Down - 4/29 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Up - 4/15 (Walt)
2010 Fantasy Football: Free Agency Stock Down - 4/12 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 4/10 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
|
Injured/injury risk
|
|
Potential bust
|
|
Potential sleeper
|
|
|
Rank higher in touchdown leagues
|
|
Rank lower in touchdown leagues
|
||
|
|
Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
|
|
Rank lower in PPR leagues
|
