(Getty)
2015 was a rough year for running backs.
Among the first 10 off the board in fantasy football drafts, only two–Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte–finished the season there. Whether it was due to injuries (Le’Veon Bell, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles) or players just not being very good (Eddie Lacy, Jeremy Hill, DeMarco Murray), the early-round busts were widely prevalent at the position.
Combine that with a number of monster years from wide receivers, and the days of running backs dominating the first round are over.
But while it’s true that you can get by without taking a running back in the first round, the amount of busts last year is going to create some immense value at the position.
Here’s an early look at the Top 50 for standard leagues:
2016 Running Back Rankings
1. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
3. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
4. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
5. Lamar Miller, Houston Texans
6. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
7. Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
8. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
10. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
11. CJ Anderson, Denver Broncos
12. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills
13. Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks
14. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
15. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
16. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
17. DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans
18. Matt Jones, Washington Redskins
19. Ryan Mathews, Philadelphia Eagles
20. Matt Forte, New York Jets
21. Dion Lewis, New England Patriots
22. Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders
23. Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
24. Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins
25. Jeremy Langford, Chicago Bears
26. Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts
27. Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers
28. Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions
29. TJ Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns
31. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals
32. Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers
33. Chris Ivory, Jacksonville Jaguars
34. Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
35. Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
36. Karlos Williams, Buffalo Bills
37. DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers
38. Rashad Jennings, New York Giants
39. Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
40. LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots
41. Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons
42. Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears
43. C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks
44. Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions
45. Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings
46. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
47. Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens
48. Charcandrick West, Kansas City Chiefs
49. Shane Vereen, New York Giants
50. Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins
