Preseason Rankings Disclaimer:

My favorite fantasy football analyst, Jamey Eisenberg, said "making playoffs is skill, making the championship is luck". Pertaining to my preseason rankings, I can't predict the future, so don't take these rankings literally. These rankings are where I feel comfortable taking guys based off of last year, but more importantly what I think they can do the following year. When projecting what could be done next year, I take into account if a new Head Coach and/or Offensive Coordinator was hired, and their tendencies. In addition, I take into account free agent signings, trades, or draft picks made at the player's position, so opportunity might not be there. Also, I take into account free agent signings, trades, and draft picks made by the team that could affect the player, age, and the player's contract status. Historically, players play better in contract years. However, players coming off of a bad year, who are usually good, are players I'm high on to bounce back as long as they're not up there in age.

Preseason Rankings Archive (Updated 9/2):

​2018
RB
  1. Le'Veon Bell​
  2. David Johnson
  3. Ezekiel Elliott
  4. Todd Gurley
  5. Leonard Fournette
  6. Alvin Kamara
  7. Melvin Gordon
  8. Kareem Hunt
  9. Christian McCaffrey
  10. Saquon Barkley
  11. LeSean Mccoy
  12. Dalvin Cook
  13. Jordan Howard
  14. Devonta Freeman
  15. Joe Mixon
  16. Kenyan Drake
  17. Royce Freeman
  18. Dion Lewis
  19. Carlos Hyde
  20. Alex Collins
  21. Rex Burkhead
  22. Jamaal Williams
  23. Marshawn Lynch
  24. Lamar Miller
  25. Mark Ingram
  26. Adrian Peterson
  27. Alfred Morris
  28. Peyton Barber
  29. Chris Carson
  30. Marlon Mack
  31. Jay Ajayi
  32. Derrick Henry
  33. Chris Thompson
  34. Tevin Coleman
  35. Duke Johnson
  36. Theo Riddick
  37. Tarik Cohen
  38. Giovani Bernard
  39. Austin Ekeler
  40. James White
  41. Kerryon Johnson
  42. Bilal Powell
  43. Corey Clement
  44. Ty Montgomery
  45. Devonta Booker
  46. Rashaad Penny
  47. Ronald Jones II
  48. Sony Michel
  49. C.J. Anderson
  50. LeGarrette Blount
  51. Matt Breida
  52. Nick Chubb
  53. Kallen Ballage
  54. Spencer Ware
  55. Nyheim Hines
  56. Jordan Wilkins
  57. Isaiah Crowell
  58. Aaron Jones
  59. Latavius Murray
  60. Mike Gillislee
​2017
RB
  1. David Johnson
  2. ​Le'Veon Bell
  3. Melvin Gordon
  4. Lesean Mccoy
  5. Devonta Freeman
  6. Demarco Murray
  7. Todd Gurley
  8. Jay Ajayi
  9. Jordan Howard
  10. Marshawn Lynch
  11. Christian McCaffrey
  12. Kareem Hunt
  13. Dalvin Cook
  14. Joe Mixon
  15. Isaiah Crowell
  16. Carlos Hyde​
  17. Lamar Miller
  18. C.J. Anderson
  19. Ty Montgomery
  20. Danny Woodhead
  21. Ameer Abdullah
  22. Mike Gillislee
  23. Robert Kelley
  24. Frank Gore
  25. Ezekiell Elliott
  26. Leonard Fournette
  27. Doug Martin
  28. Thomas Rawls
  29. Adrian Peterson
  30. Mark Ingram
  31. Terrance West
  32. Paul Perkins
  33. Telvin Coleman
  34. James White
  35. Theo Riddick
  36. Duke Johnson
  37. Darren Sproles
  38. Chris Thompson
  39. C.J. Prosise
  40. Bilal Powell
  41. Jacquizz Rodgers
  42. Shane Vereen
  43. Darren Mcfadden
  44. LeGarette Blount
  45. D'Onta Foreman
  46. Dion Lewis
  47. Jamal Charles
  48. Samaje Perine
  49. Jamaal Williams
  50. Derrick Henry
  51. Charcandrick West
  52. Matt Forte
  53. Tarik Cohen
  54. Charles Sims
  55. Wendell Smallwood
  56. Eddie Lacy
  57. Alvin Kamara
  58. Jeremy Hill
  59. Chris Carson
  60. Matt Breida
Tier 1 - The big three. We expect these three to go within the first six picks of every draft. But, watch the status of Elliott. If he's suspended, he'll move to tier 2, much like Le'Veon Bell did last year.
  1. David Johnson
  2. ​Le'Veon Bell
Tier 2 - You could argue that it's a crap shoot after the first three go off the board, but here the next viable names. As we get closer to the season, I might move Gordon and Mccoy into there own tier, as I believe they have the potential to finish number one, if everything goes right. But, Gordon has injury concerns, and Mccoy is approaching the career threshold of carries where RB's fall off.
  1. Melvin Gordon
  2. Lesean Mccoy
  3. Devonta Freeman
  4. Demarco Murray
  5. Lamar Miller
  6. Jay Ajayi
  7. Jordan Howard
  8. Todd Gurley
Tier 3 - It's starting to get ugly. Honestly, Ingram is 12, so technically he's a RB1, but anyone in this tier could claim the spot at season's end. We only have Adrian Peterson to go off of, but Lynch should be fresh after sitting out last year, and has one of the best O-lines in the NFL. But, he's on the wrong side of 30, like Peterson was. Though it's PPR, Lacy, and Lynch for that matter, should do enough on the ground to be in the low end RB1/high end RB2 discussion. Every RB in this tier has the potential to finish as a RB1.
  1. Mark Ingram
  2. Marshawn Lynch
  3. Eddie Lacy
  4. Ty Montgomery
  5. Christian McCaffrey
  6. Joe Mixon
  7. Isaiah Crowell
  8. Ameer Abdullah
  9. Danny Woodhead
  10. Dalvin Cook
  11. Kareem Hunt
  12. Paul Perkins
  13. Carlos Hyde
  14. Leonard Fournette
  15. Mike Gillislee​​
  16. Ezekiell Elliott
Tier 4 - These are solely RB2's or worse. LeGarette Blount is intriguing, but last year was a career year.  Sims is only RB2's for the first four games, as Martin is suspended four games. But hey, that could be four weeks they help your team win. Terrance West moves into this tier with news that Kenneth Dixon is out for season. Woodhead benefits the most in PPR, but West is the preferred option in standard. 
  1. Darren Mcfadden
  2. LeGarette Blount
  3. Doug Martin
  4. Frank Gore
  5. Robert Kelley
  6. C.J. Anderson
  7. James White
  8. C.J. Prosise
  9. Matt Forte
  10. Charles Sims
  11. Adrian Peterson
  12. Telvin Coleman
  13. Jamal Charles
  14. Terrrance West
Tier 5 - Handcuffs, splitting carries, and/or high upside guys if starter goes down. Hue Jackson said Duke Johnson could line up in the slot, in addition to his passing downs role. He's creeping up my rankings, and could crack the top 30 before the season starts. 
  1. Duke Johnson
  2. Derrick Henry
  3. Spencer Ware
  4. Theo Riddick
  5. Samaje Perine​
  6. Jamaal Williams
  7. Marlon Mack
  8. Latavius Murray
  9. Johnathon Stewart
Tier 6 - Have limited to little role on running or passing downs. But, Oliver and Vereen are in this tier and both could become the passing downs back for their team. Oliver could assume the Woodhead role, a role that saw Woodhead catch 75 plus receptions two of the last four years (other two years he was injured). Draft and stash them!
  1. Brandin Oliver
  2. Darren Sproles
  3. Chris Thompson
  4. Jacquizz Rodgers
  5. Jeremy Hill
  6. Thomas Rawls
  7. Bilal Powell
  8. Rex Burkhead
  9. Shane Vereen
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