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These 2016 Fantasy Football Running Back 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 2016 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2016 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates. |
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2016 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 7):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
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Todd Gurley, RB, Rams. Bye: 8.
One NFL team compared Todd Gurley to the next Jim Brown last offseason. Gurley lived up to the hype, rushing for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the first three weeks. He averaged 4.8 YPC while running behind a mediocre line and being paired with terrible quarterbacks. If Jared Goff proves to be an upgrade over Nick Foles and Case Keenum, Gurley will be even more dominant, as teams won’t be able to play eight men in the box on every down.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,570 rushing yards. 33 catches. 280 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 257.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 290.
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David Johnson, RB, Cardinals. Bye: 9. 
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Cardinals GM Steve Keim called David Johnson the best receiving back he’s ever seen. Keim cited that many compare Johnson to Marshall Faulk. Keim is one of the top general managers in the NFL, so this is all significant. Johnson probably should be the second running back chosen in fantasy drafts this summer.
AUG. 13 UPDATE: David Johnson is a freak of nature. He carried the ball just three times in the preseason opener, but made those opportunities count, gaining 31 yards in the process. Johnson showed off some great vision on a gain of eight. On his next try, he displayed terrific speed to break outside and pick up 23 yards. It could be argued that Johnson should be the second running back selected in fantasy leagues this summer. He won’t be sharing his touches. He’s too good.
JULY 19 UPDATE: Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com is reporting that David Johnson is the unquestionable starter for the Cardinals this season. There was a report earlier in the summer that Chris Johnson would be given the job, but that has proven to be false story, which is what many thought was the case at the time.
Based on how David Johnson played down the stretch, you have to wonder why Bruce Arians had to wait for Chris Johnson to get hurt to name him the starter. The third-round rookie exploded when given the opportunity, eclipsing 100 total yards in his first four starts. He was also brilliant in the NFC Championship. David Johnson has a bright future ahead of him, and he’s certainly worthy of a first-round selection this summer, especially in the wake of the Evan Mathis signing.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,310 rushing yards. 52 catches. 390 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 242.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 294.
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Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings. Bye: 6.
AUG. 31 UPDATE: In the Live Fantasy Football Mock Draft I just did with Kenny, someone in the chat asked me about Adrian Peterson’s status in relation to Teddy Bridgewater’s knee injury. I don’t think it’s affected very much. The Vikings still have a solid offensive line, while the defense will help keep games close, allowing Peterson to rack up a substantial amount of carries. So, I’m not giving Peterson a stock up or down.
AUG. 2 UPDATE: Adrian Peterson is dealing with a slight hamstring strain. – Ben Goessling, ESPN. Goessling called it “slight,” but any sort of injury is noteworthy for running backs over the age of 30. I’m slightly down on Peterson this year, as he’s bound to regress soon.
JULY 21 UPDATE: The Vikings want to run more shotgun formations in 2016, which could hurt Adrian Peterson, according to Matt Vensel, Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Peterson averaged less than two yards per carry out of the shotgun last year, and has never done well in that formation throughout his career. Clearly on the decline, Peterson is someone to shy away from this season.
A year off was good for Adrian Peterson, who bounced back from a mediocre 2013 campaign to lead the league in rushing this past season. However, Peterson turned 31 this offseason, so it’s difficult to imagine him matching his production. I would not want to take a 31-year-old running back in the top half of the first round of a 12-team format, but someone in your league will.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,240 rushing yards. 33 catches. 250 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 215.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 248.
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LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills. Bye: 10.
AUG. 14 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy certainly got off to a strong start to his 2016 campaign. He made a great cut on his only carry of the night, picking up nine yards. He also caught a 2-yard pass. McCoy appears to be in great shape, and he could definitely finish as a top-five fantasy running back this year.
AUG. 9 UPDATE: I like LeSean McCoy this year, but he’ll be getting a stock down today in the wake of Cordy Glenn’s injury. Glenn could be back for the season opener, but there’s a chance he’ll miss a couple of games.
AUG. 2 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy reportedly has been exceptional in training, and the Bills as a result expect a “huge year” from him. With Karlos Williams suspended, McCoy definitely seems poised to be one of the top fantasy producers of 2016.
JULY 15 UPDATE: Rookie Jonathan Williams has been charged with a DUI. What is going on with Buffalo running backs this offseason? From punching people at nightclubs, to driving drunk, to eating pickles and ice cream uncontrollably, they can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Williams had a golden opportunity to lock down the No. 2 running back job with Karlos Williams being super fat, but his chances of doing so have diminished. LeSean McCoy’s stock, by the way, is looking better and better.
JULY 14 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy will not be disciplined for the night-club incident from earlier in the offseason. McCoy is lucky to escape justice. I was once down on McCoy earlier in the offseason, but with this event as well as Karlos Williams ballooning 25 pounds, McCoy’s 2016 campaign now looks very promising.
JUNE 21 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy’s not having the best offseason. He got into trouble with the law earlier, and now he’s dealing with a hamstring injury. That may not sound serious, but soft-tissue injuries tend to linger, and it’ll allow Karlos Williams to impress the coaches even more.
LeSean McCoy couldn’t manage to stay healthy in 2015, and he wasn’t the best running back on the team as a consequence. That was Karlos Williams, who will eat into McCoy’s workload this upcoming season. That makes McCoy a risky RB2, especially with his potential legal problems.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,240 rushing yards. 38 catches. 300 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 214.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 252.
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Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers. Bye: 8.
AUG. 19 UPDATE: Le’Veon Bell’s suspension has been reduced from four to three games. This makes him more appealing at the beginning of the second round for me (late first in a PPR format). However, I’d still hate to not have my initial selection for three contests.
JULY 22 UPDATE: Le’Veon Bell has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Again. If there’s a silver lining, it’ll allow Bell to have more time to return from his torn PCL and MCL, but he’s now a late-first, early-seconder instead of a top-three selection.
JULY 10 UPDATE: Le’Veon Bell told the media that he’ll be read for training camp. Bell is coming off a knee injury but should be fine. He’s a top-three lock in all formats.
It’ll be a heated debate whether Le’Veon Bell or Todd Gurley belongs as the No. 1 running back. As of right now, I’d say it’s Bell, but if Jared Goff looks better than expected in the preseason, Gurley could move into the top spot, as teams won’t be able to play eight men in the box every time. The concern with Bell is that he has played all 16 games just once in his 3-year career, but he’ll be a huge producer when he’s on the field.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,070 rushing yards. 59 catches. 490 receiving yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 213.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 272.
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Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys. Bye: 7.
AUG. 27 UPDATE: I’m not giving Ezekiel Elliott a stock up or stock down in the wake of Tony Romo’s injury. The Cowboys will be more conservative with Dak Prescott, which will mean more runs for Elliott. However, Elliott could have slightly fewer scoring opportunities. So, only bump Elliott down if you’re in a touchdown-only league.
AUG. 26 UPDATE: If it weren’t for Tony Romo’s back injury, the major story regarding Dallas’ dress rehearsal would’ve been Ezekiel Elliott’s debut. Much was expected of the fourth-overall pick, and he definitely did not disappoint. One of Elliott’s first carries was a 9-yard run that he broke outside with some impressive speed. He then had another 9-yard burst and then showed terrific vision with a 13-yard scamper. On the next drive, Elliott spun off a Kam Chancellor tackle to gain eight. Elliott was given just seven carries, but turned them into 48 yards. He could have a huge year, and it’s quite evident how high his talent level is, but it’s still too risky to take him a first-round fantasy pick.
AUG. 25 UPDATE: Ezekiel Elliott was six pounds overweight when he hurt his hamstring. It’s worth noting that Elliott showed up slightly out of shape, which was not a good first impression. It shouldn’t impact his season, but he’s still being overdrafted.
AUG. 4 UPDATE: Ezekiel Elliott is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a hamstring injury. This shouldn’t affect Elliott’s 2016 campaign unless the malady lingers. It’s something to pay attention to prior to your draft.
JULY 23 UPDATE: Ezekiel Elliott has been accused as domestic violence. Elliott claims to have evidence proving that the woman in question is trying to set him up, and the 9-1-1 call doesn’t sound all too convincing. This probably won’t affect Elliott’s status at all, but I thought I’d at least mention it.
JUNE 29 UPDATE: DallasCowboys.com is projecting Ezekiel Elliott to reach 300 carries this season. This is a lofty goal – ony one running back eclipsed that mark in 2015 – but the Cowboys didn’t spend the fourth-overall pick on Elliott to have him stand on the sidelines.
Jerry Jones didn’t draft Ezekiel Elliott to stand on the sideline. Elliott will be starting at some point in his rookie campaign, and with Dallas’ strong offensive line blocking for him, the sky is the limit. That said, everyone knows this, and Elliott will be over-drafted as a result. I’d let someone else buy into the hype.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,270 rushing yards. 24 catches. 170 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 210.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 234.
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Lamar Miller, RB, Texans. Bye: 9.
Lamar Miller is very talented, and it’s a mystery as to why the Dolphins never figured out how to use him properly. I have to imagine that Bill O’Brien will actually use Miller correctly, and if so, Miller could be a dark-horse candidate to lead the league in rushing.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,150 rushing yards. 40 catches. 290 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 204.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 244.
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Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks. Bye: 5.
SEPT. 6 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls is behind of Christine Michael on the depth chart. That won’t last very long, but it just goes to show that the Seahawks are willing to ease Rawls into the lineup.
AUG. 22 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls is now practicing without limitations. That’s obviously good news, but Rawls’ absence has allowed Christine Michael to shine. Michael will take some of Rawls’ touches.
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls practiced for the first time Monday since breaking his foot. He needs to hurry back because Christine Michael has played and practiced well in his absence.
AUG. 8 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls has been activated off the active/PUP list. This is huge, as Rawls becomes a safer lower-end RB1 option. Rawls’ ADP (3.04) makes him a bargain, though I’m sure people will take him earlier now.
JULY 11 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls told the media that his recovery from ankle surgery has been excellent. We’ll have to see for ourselves, as players tend to be overconfident with their health. But at least this isn’t a negative development.
JUNE 21 UPDATE: Thomas Rawls likely won’t play in the preseason, according to Sheil Kapadia, ESPN. As Chet Gresham wrote, “[That] would mean he’s not getting a ton of good reps through training camp. It’s a good opportunity for Christine Michael, Alex Collins and C.J. Prosise, but unless he has a set back, Rawls will be the lead back when he’s ready.” I completely agree with Rawls being the favorite to start, but this just shows that he’s not a slam-dunk running back pick.
Seattle’s offense improved tremendously when Thomas Rawls took over for Marshawn Lynch. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Rawls didn’t last very long, as he broke his ankle in his fourth start. Rawls is very talented, and with Marshawn Lynch now retired, he could be a solid RB1 for 2016 and beyond. Unfortunately for any current Rawls owners, the Seahawks spent three picks on running backs in the 2016 NFL Draft. Rawls is still favored to start, but C.J. Prosise and/or Alex Collins could cut into his workload.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,040 rushing yards. 23 catches. 170 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 187.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 210.
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Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers. Bye: 4.
AUG. 27 UPDATE: Eddie Lacy has played well this preseason, and that continued in the dress rehearsal. Lacy, who gained 45 yards on seven carries, had a 21-yard burst where he impressively broke outside when there was nothing in the trenches. Lacy’s next attempt, a 6-yarder, saw him break tackles despite having no running room. It may seem scary to draft Lacy this year, given how much he struggled last season, but he appears to be back to his former self.
AUG. 19 UPDATE: Eddie Lacy definitely looks much better than he did last year. Playing only one drive, Lacy munched through Oakland’s defense, chewing up 45 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts. Lacy was stuffed at the goal line once, but popped into the end zone on the following play. Lacy looks like a star again, regaining his burst, and he’s likely to feast upon opposing defenses this year.
AUG. 13 UPDATE: Aaron Rodgers didn’t play in the preseason opener, so the Packers made sure to feature the running game early and often. They fed the ball to Eddie Lacy on the first four plays of the game, and Lacy gobbled up gains of six, three, 11 and four. Lacy looked much more spry than last year, and he some spicy broken tackles on a couple of his runs. Those were Lacy’s sole carries of the evening, as he slurped up 24 yards on those four attempts. Eager to rebound off his disastrous 2015 campaign, Lacy seems hungry enough to do so this upcoming year, so I wouldn’t have any beef with anyone taking him in the early rounds.
Eddie Lacy, China Food Lacy, Cheeseburger Eddie… whatever you want to call him, he was an abomination in 2015. He was 30 pounds overweight and struggled as a result, taking lethargy to a whole new level. However, there’s tons of buy-low potential here, as Lacy has appeared to be extremely fit in some pictures taken this offseason. I understand the hesitation if you owned Lacy last year, but he appears to be a changed man (or, at the very least, he doesn’t have a man in his stomach anymore.)
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 1,100 rushing yards. 25 catches. 220 receiving yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 186.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 211.
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Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons. Bye: 11.
AUG. 26 UPDATE: Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman rotated pretty evenly throughout the preseason dress rehearsal. Freeman was on the field for the entire first drive, then Coleman played the next possession, and so on. Neither looked very good, as the offensive line struggled to open up running lanes versus Ndamukong Suh and Miami’s front. The overdrafted Freeman managed just eight yards on five carrries, and he also dropped a pass and was called for a hold.
AUG. 12 UPDATE: While Matt Ryan and Julio Jones lasted just one possession, Devonta Freeman inexplicably played into the second quarter of the preseason debut. This was puzzling, to say the least, as he’s the clear-cut starter, and running backs are more prone to injury than other positions. Freeman didn’t fare very well, mustering just nine yards on five carries, most of which came on one 8-yard burst. Freeman also dropped a touchdown pass thrown right to him by Matt Schaub. Perhaps Freeman was just shocked that Schaub’s attempt wasn’t pick-sixed. In all seriousness, Freeman has major bust potential this year, and he’s someone to avoid.
JULY 12 UPDATE: The Falcons reportedly wish to decrease Devonta Freeman’s workload and create a competition with Tevin Coleman. Freeman struggled mightily down the stretch last year and appears to be a trap.
Devonta Freeman’s stock was down heading into 2015 because of a hamstring issue. However, following an injury to Tevin Coleman, Freeman exploded, rushing for 100-plus yards in four of his first five games. He also ended up with 73 catches on the year. However, Freeman slowed down at the end of the season, failing to average more than 3.4 yards per carry in any of his final five contests. The Alex Mack signing could help that, however.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Stats: 900 rushing yards. 62 catches. 470 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2016 Fantasy Points: 185.
Projected 2016 PPR Fantasy Points: 247.
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 7):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-75
More 2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/7 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/15 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/15 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/13 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/27 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 9/1 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/31 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Real Draft - 8/29 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/25 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/24 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/13 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/11 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Video - 8/4 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/2 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/28 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 7/21 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Draft - 5/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings - 8/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Articles:
2016 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 9/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/4 (Walt)
2016 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Preseason Quarterback Targets - 9/2 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Targets - 8/31 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Auction Advice - 8/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Daily Fantasy Preseason Week 2 Streaming Options - 8/18 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends - 8/17 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Draft Queue: Quarterbacks and Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Training Camp Notes - 8/10 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Avoid - 8/6 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Running Backs to Avoid - 8/5 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football Notes - 7/26 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Wide Receiver Targets - 7/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Late-Round Running Back Targets - 7/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football ADP Values - 7/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: C.J. Anderson Profile - 7/7 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Favorite MFL Players - 6/29 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout: Chip Kelly - 6/23 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Marvin Jones Profile - 6/22 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Devin Funchess Profile - 6/15 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football 2-QB Draft - 6/9 (Chet)
Fantasy Football Beginner's Guide - 6/7 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Drafting and ADP - 6/3 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Drafting and ADP - 6/1 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Eli Manning Profile - 5/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Jordan Matthews Profile - 5/24 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Draft Wrap-up - 5/18 (Walt)
2016 Fantasy Football: 2016 NFL Draft Fallout - 5/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Quarterback Values - 4/30 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 Wide Receiver Values - 4/28 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Tight End Strength of Schedule - 4/25 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Wide Receiver Strength of Schedule - 4/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Running Back Strength of Schedule - 4/20 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback Strength of Schedule - 4/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: MFL 10 - 2/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Philip Rivers - 2/16 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football: Quarterback ADP vs. Reality - 2/12 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Marshawn Lynch Retires - 2/11 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Fallout: Calvin Johnson Retires - 2/9 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Dynasty - 1/21 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Tight Ends - 1/19 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Wide Receivers - 1/14 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Running Backs - 1/13 (Chet)
2016 Fantasy Football Forecast: Quarterbacks - 1/12 (Chet)
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
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Potential sleeper
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Rank higher in touchdown leagues
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Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
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