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Gregg Rosenthal: NFL RB Rankings


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Running Back Rankings: Ezekiel Elliott Tops Backfield Renaissance

The running back position is having a renaissance. The group atop the position is deeper and more dynamic than any the NFL has witnessed since the LaDainian Tomlinson-led mid-aughts. Finding a matchup nightmare on passing downs is all but a requirement for modern offenses.
 
So how does this current crop of running backs shape up? Before training camp gets rolling, here's a look at the best 32 running backs heading into the 2018 campaign. The rankings should serve partly as a snapshot of the position, and partly as a projection. These are the players I'd most want on my roster for this season, rookies excluded.
 
6
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LeSean McCoy
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RB
Bills
 
It's strange to remember a time when the rap against Shady was that he couldn't handle a big workload. While he still occasionally gives away yardage in search of "SportsCenter," McCoy has evolved into one of the most durable runners of this century, able to improve the players around him.
 
2017 stats: 16 games | 287 carries | 1,138 rush yds | 4.0 avg | 6 rush TD | 59 rec | 448 rec yds | 2 rec TD
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Number 6 seems about right.  A lot of talented youngsters.  You definitely have to put L. Bell and Gurley ahead of him and probably David Johnson. McCoy then in a group with Elliott, Gordon and maybe Hunt. 

 

I had a fantasy football draft on Sunday (Yes, I know, way too early!) and saw the effect of the accusations related to McCoy.  He lasted until the 47th pick, whereas last year I took him with the 7th pick.  C. Ivory was also taken in the later rounds.

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5 minutes ago, LittleJoeCartwright said:

Number 6 seems about right.  A lot of talented youngsters.  You definitely have to put L. Bell and Gurley ahead of him and probably David Johnson. McCoy then in a group with Elliott, Gordon and maybe Hunt. 

 

I had a fantasy football draft on Sunday (Yes, I know, way too early!) and saw the effect of the accusations related to McCoy.  He lasted until the 47th pick, whereas last year I took him with the 7th pick.  C. Ivory was also taken in the later rounds.

 

Agree on Shady. I would not put Zeke at #1 as Rosenthal did.  My #1 guy is Gurley follwed by Bell.  DJ would be # 3 if he's back healthy.   Let's see if Kamara and Hunt can back up their rookie campaigns. 

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8 hours ago, Fred Marchibroda said:

Wow.   Deep league if someone is picking Ivory.  Perhaps he gets the goal-line touches.  

 

No, 10 team league with 18 roster spots, and it wasn’t even the same team that drafted McCoy.

 

Strange draft.  This league has 2 starting QBs.  Strangest pick was likely a Niners fan taking Garappolo with the 3rd pick.  Another team picked 4 QBs in the 1st 7 rounds.

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I have a hard time putting guys with merely one season of production(Johnson/Kamara)over McCoy. 

 

6 isn’t insulting thought. I’m picking nits but over the last couple years I’ve had him in that 4 or 5 slot. Can you imagine him in Pittsburgh’s offense, with those weapons, running behind that line? Or behind the line in Dallas? as a part of the offense in LA? It would be sickening. 

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36 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

I have a hard time putting guys with merely one season of production(Johnson/Kamara)over McCoy. 

 

6 isn’t insulting thought. I’m picking nits but over the last couple years I’ve had him in that 4 or 5 slot. Can you imagine him in Pittsburgh’s offense, with those weapons, running behind that line? Or behind the line in Dallas? as a part of the offense in LA? It would be sickening. 

Shady is good, no doubt about it but i’d have a hard time reasoning that he could be better than Gurley in LA. He does it all. If Shady ran like Gurley does inside the 5 the Bills would have scored that touchdown in Jax. Straight ahead, full speed, no hesitation and tons of power. 

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The argument could be made that McCoy has the biggest single impact of any of these guys. He is the offense.

 

I think based on consistent production he should be at least top 4. 

 

Also, Bell is overrated in my eyes and is about to drop off majorly. 

I suppose if these rankings are projection based then I can be okay with it. Shady’s age will likely start to show some this year. 

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10 minutes ago, Commonsense said:

Shady is good, no doubt about it but i’d have a hard time reasoning that he could be better than Gurley in LA. He does it all. If Shady ran like Gurley does inside the 5 the Bills would have scored that touchdown in Jax. Straight ahead, full speed, no hesitation and tons of power. 

Well I never said that he was better than gurley. And I don’t believe he is. Like I said. I have McCoy in the 4 or 5 range. My point is he most definitely would have an argument for the top 3 if he played in any of the offenses that the consensus top 3 backs play in. 

 

As I state in my prior post. It’s picking nits. I get that. But I would have him at 4 or 5. 

Edited by Stank_Nasty
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