2012 Fantasy Football – Running Back (RB) Keeper Rankings

2012 Fantasy Football Running Back (RB) Keeper Rankings are based on a three year outlook for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 fantasy football seasons. 2012 Running Back (RB) Keeper Rankings are established for a standard fantasy football scoring system, with scoring categories including: Passing Yards: 1 point = 20 passing yards / Rushing Yards: 1 point = 10 rushing yards / Receiving Yards: 1 point = 10 receiving yards / Passing Touchdown: 4 points / Rushing/Receiving Touchdown: 6 points / Interceptions: -2 points / Fumbles Lost: -2 points

A *RISING* or *FALLING* status is included after specific players based on their potential ranking heading into the 2012 season. Each players age is listed after their name. For additional Fantasy Football information, check out the Hawk Fantasy Sports Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fantasy-Football-Start-Sit-Lineup-Advice/262183993792691.

2012 Fantasy Football Keeper Rankings — QB Keeper Rankings — RB Keeper Rankings — WR Keeper Rankings — TE Keeper Rankings — Top 20 Hidden Gem Keepers

Rankings Updated: June 5, 2012

1. Arian Foster – Hou = 25 —– After a breakout 2010 season, Foster has proven this season that he is no one year wonder. At age 25, and with a solid offense surrounding him in Houston, there is virtually no reason to not rank Arian Foster as the #1 fantasy football RB heading into the 2012 season.

2. LeSean McCoy – Phi = 23 —– A small version of Arian Foster with less touchdown potential, McCoy is an absolute yardage monster who can consistently rack up 100 total yards per game week in and week out. His small size is somewhat of a problem for dynasty keeper leagues, but for the next 3-4 seasons McCoy should consistently be a top 5 fantasy football scoring RB.

3. Ray Rice – Bal = 24 —– One would have thought that Rice would be an easy top 3 fantasy football RB at this point in his career, but the lack of touchdowns have really hurt his fantasy football value in leagues that score heavy on touchdowns rather than yards.

4. Matt Forte – Chi = 25 —– A bigger version of LeSean McCoy, Forte is more suited to take the pounding that an NFL back receives on a weekly basis, and at age 25 there is no doubt that Forte is definitely in his prime right now.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jac = 26 —– Bouncing back from injury, Jones-Drew showed his durability once again during the 2011 season, and at just age 26, he is in the prime of his career and should be a top 10 scoring RB in fantasy football leagues over the next three seasons.

6. Chris Johnson – Ten = 26 —– A huge drop in production for this 2011 pre-season holdout, Johnson’s fantasy football keeper value has taken a significant hit heading into the 2012 season. However with Johnson firmly entrenched in the prime of his career at age 26, there is plenty of reason to believe that Johnson can rediscover his magic in 2012.

7. Darren McFadden – Oak = 24 —– After a slow start to his NFL career, McFadden finally lite the fantasy football scene on fire during the 2010 season, and if not for a nagging foot injury in the middle of the 2011 season, McFadden would easily be a top 5 fantasy football scoring RB in 2011. At just age 24, and with an emerging offense in Oakland that is now led by Carson Palmer, there is plenty of reason to believe that McFadden should be ranked as an easy top 5 RB keeper heading into the 2012 season.

8. Ryan Mathews – SD = 24 — if Mathews could prove to stay healthy, he would easily be a top 10 keeper RB heading into the 2012 season.

9. Adrian Peterson – Min = 26 — injury ? – torn ACL and MCL / if the injury had been early in the season like Jamaal Charles’ then Peterson could be ranked higher, but with the injury coming so close to the end of the season, it is quite possible that Peterson only plays a handful of games if that during the 2012 season. As of right now, I would not be surprised if Peterson does not make any type of fantasy football impact in 2012.

10. Trent Richardson – Cle = 21 — Easily the best running back prospect entering the 2012 NFL draft, Richardson will have the opportunity to be a workhorse from day one in Cleveland. Touchdowns may not be easy to come by in 2012, but Richardson could easily finish as a top 15 fantasy football RB as a rookie in 2012.

11. Jamaal Charles – KC = 24 —– injury ? – The torn ACL suffered in the beginning of the 2011 season makes Charles an iffy keeper RB heading into the 2012 season, but at age 24 there is plenty of hope that Charles can recover fully and once again be a force in fantasy football leagues.

12. Steven Jackson – StL = 28 —– much like Frank Gore, Jackson is a heavily used RB who is approaching the age 30 plateau.

13. Marshawn Lynch – Sea = 25 — after resigning with Seattle, Lynch should continue to be the workhorse in the Seahawks offense once again during the 2012 season.

14. Frank Gore – SF = 28 —– wear and tear may be catching up to Gore as he enters his age 28 season in 2012. Expect second year man Kendall Hunter to see a good chunk of touches over Gore.

15. DeMarco Murray – Dal = 23 — injury ? – *RISING* — broken ankle / should be fully healthy to start the 2012 season. At age 23, Murray offers top 10 keeper RB potential as the feature back in Dallas. If you are thinking long long term, then taking a chance on Murray before Steven Jackson and Frank Gore is a solid high upside gamble for fantasy teams.

16. Roy Helu – Was = 22 — *RISING* — at age 22 and as the primary RB in the Redskins offense, Helu could easily break out as a top 10 scoring fantasy football RB in 2012.

17. Doug Martin – TB = 23 — plenty of potential as the potential feature back in the Buccaneers offense, especially if Josh Freeman can rediscover the passing game to keep defenses on their toes.

18. Ahmad Bradshaw – NYG = 25 — if Bradshaw wasn’t so injury prone, he would probably be an easy top 15 keeper RB heading into the 2012 season.

19. Jonathan Stewart – Car = 24 — *RISING* — entering the 2012 at age 24, this could be the season that Stewart breaks out as a top 10 fantasy football RB.

20. Beanie Wells – Ari = 23 — the potential is there, but Beanie has injury prone concerns and often times just simple lack of stats.

21. Michael Turner – Atl = 29 — the Turner wheels are wearing down, it wouldn’t be surprising if the 2012 season was his last as a top 15 fantasy football RB.

22. Mark Ingram – NO = 21 — injury issues and a plethora of RBs in New Orleans make Ingram’s stat potential iffy in 2012.

23. CJ Spiller – Buf = 24 — *RISING* — entering the 2012 season, it is anyone’s guess as to what role Spiller will play in Buffalo if Fred Jackson is back and fully healthy as expected.

24. Shonn Greene – NYJ = 26 — if the Jets offense goes back to running the ball, Greene’s value would rocket up for the 2012 season.

25. James Starks – GB = 25 — if Starks can ever stay healthy, he could easily become an excellent late round fantasy RB in all leagues in 2012.

26. Darren Sproles – NO = 28 — more of a receiver than a rusher, and lack of TD potential hurts Sproles’ fantasy football value, but in total yardage leagues he can be a stat beast.

27. Isaac Redman – Pit = 27 — *RISING* — with Rashard Mendenhall out for at least the first half of the 2012 season, Redman is looking like the new starting RB in Pittsburgh to begin 2012.

28. Daniel Thomas – Mia = 24 — a true rusher for the Dolphins, Thomas is a better keeper RB option than Reggie Bush heading into the 2012 season.

29. Stevan Ridley – NE = 22 — *RISING* — plenty of upside here with Ridley if he wins the #1 RB job, but at the same time you have to remember that the Patriots offense just doesn’t run the ball that much to make Ridley a weekly starting option in fantasy football leagues right now.

30. Fred Jackson – Buf = 30 — injury ? – broken leg / should be fully healthy to start the 2012 season.

31. Jacquizz Rodgers – Atl = 21 — *RISING* — a new and younger version of Darren Sproles, plenty of upside as a perfect compliment to the aging Michael Turner.

32. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Cin = 26 — a warm welcome to the newest Law Firm in Cincinnati. 1000 rushing yards and 5-8 touchdowns are within reach for Green-Ellis as the feature back in the young Bengals emerging offense.

33. Toby Gerhart – Min = 25 — *RISING*

34. Joe McKnight – NYJ = 23 — *RISING*

35. David Wilson – NYG =

36. Ben Tate – Hou = 23

37. Donald Brown – Ind = 24 — *RISING*

38. Shane Vereen – NE = 22 — *RISING*

39. Peyton Hillis – KC = 25 — welcome to Kansas City and Jamaal Charles

40. Michael Bush – Chi = 27 — welcome to Chicago and Matt Forte…..hmmmm

41. Kendall Hunter – SF = 23 — *RISING*

42. Reggie Bush – Mia = 26

43. Felix Jones – Dal = 24

44. Isaiah Pead – StL =

45. Rashard Mendenhall – Pit = 24 — injury ? torn ACL — *FALLING* — at just age 24, Mendenhall’s keeper league value could still be fairly solid when thinking long term, but the 2012 could be a wash season for him and fantasy football teams.

46. Jahvid Best – Det = 22 — *FALLING*

47. Pierre Thomas – NO = 26

48. Willis McGahee – Den = 30

49. LaMichael James – SF =

50. Mike Tolbert – Car = 25 — welcome to Carolina and Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams……..yikes

51. DeAngelo Williams – Car = 28

52. Mikel LeShoure – Det = 21 — injury ?

53. Ryan Williams – Ari = 21 — injury ? — *RISING*

54. Kevin Smith – Det = 26

55. Joseph Addai – NE = 28

56. LeGarrette Blount – TB = 24 — *FALLING* — Blount is no longer the main RB in Tampa Bay, as rookie Doug Martin will see plenty of playing time in 2012.

57. Lamar Miller – Mia =

58. Chris Ivory – NO = 23

59. Javon Ringer – Ten = 24

60. Delone Carter – Ind = 24

61. Ronnie Hillman – Den =

62. Bernard Scott – Cin = 27

63. Robert Turbin – Sea =

64. Montario Hardesty – Cle = 24

65. Knowshon Moreno – Den = 24

66. Dexter McCluster – KC = 23

67. Rashad Jennings – Jac = 26 — injury ?

68. Alex Green – GB = 22 — injury ?

69. Kahlil Bell – Chi = — *FALLING* — the signing of Michael Bush seemingly plummets any type of fantasy football value that Bell may have had heading into the 2012 season.

70. Mike Goodson – Oak =

71. Bernard Pierce – Bal =

72. Cedric Benson – FA = 28

73. Brandon Jacobs – SF = 29

74. Vick Ballard – Ind =

75. Leon Washington – Sea = 29

76. Danny Woodhead – NE =

77. Ryan Grant – FA = 28

78. Jackie Battle – KC = 28

79. Carnell Williams – StL = 29

80. Dan Herron – Cin =

.

OTHERS:

80. Ronnie Brown – Phi = 29

78. Evan Royster – Was = 24

70. Marion Barber – FA = 28

71. Brandon Jackson – Cle = 26 — injury ?

73. Maurice Morris – Det =

74. Marcel Reece – Oak =

75. Deji Karim – Jac = 25

76. Jonathan Dwyer – Pit = 22

77. Taiwan Jones – Oak =

78. Chris Ogbonnaya – Cle =

79. Tashard Choice – Buf =

80. Justin Forsett – Sea =

81. Steve Slaton – Mia =

82. Anthony Dixon – SF =

83. LaDainian Tomlinson – NYJ =

84. Keiland Williams – Det =

85. Thomas Jones – KC =

86. Jason Snelling – Atl =

87. LaRod Stephens-Howling – Ari =

88. Jerious Norwood – StL =

89. Dion Lewis – Phi =

90. Kregg Lumpkin – TB =

91. Johnny White – Buf =

92. John Kuhn – GB =

93. Lance Ball – Den =

94. Le’Ron McClain – KC =

95. Chester Taylor – Ari =

96. Mewelde Moore – Pit =

97. Derrick Ward – Hou =

98. Jordan Todman – SD =

99. Kevin Faulk – NE =

100. Ricky Williams – FA = retired


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *