August 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) warms up before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE
Running backs are ranked in a side-by-side fashion for PPR and standard leagues. Check them out along with some news on players to watch during the week.
Well, it's time to start throwing darts while wearing a blindfold as we head into Week 1 of the NFL season. Several teams made a ton of changes in their personnel as well as changing their identity. Players like Michael Turner were must-start backs for the past four years, but now the Falcons look to be a pass-happy O and he's no longer a player that will be started on every team. Of course, that could change.
Similarly, teams that had a Pop Warner-type defense last year spent a fortune on adding new defensive pieces. The Bills dumped one of the worst corners in the league in Drayton Florence, added an impressive rookie with Stephon Gilmore now manning the RCB spot and we all know about the massive $100 million deal they handed to Mario Williams. It should be interesting to see how teams like the Bills could transform from a favorable matchup to a team that may put the brakes on a guy that would usually be a must-start stud.
Let's take a look at some news heading into Week 1:
Ryan Mathews is back at practice. While this is encouraging to his owners, it's still almost impossible to trust him on a Monday night. Ronnie Brown is a decent flex in deeper formats for now.
Jonathan Stewart will travel with the Panthers for their game against the Buccaneers. The Bucs ranked dead last in rushing yards allowed, so this is a matchup that his owners would love to see him get double-digit carries. However, there's almost no way he should be starting until some concrete news is released. DeAngelo Williams would become a must-start back should J-Stew miss the opener.
Leslie Frazier said that Adrian Peterson will play a minimal role in the Week 1 game against the Jaguars. All Day has exceeded every expectation to this point, so there's really no reason to doubt him entirely here. He still belongs on benches in most leagues and the uncertainty takes a little allure of starting Toby Gerhart.
Kevin Smith was back at practice yesterday and it looks like he'll be good to go in a fantastic matchup against the Rams. Start him.
We have provided PPR and standard scoring rankings below, but if your league has unique scoring with things like bonuses for big plays or for hitting 100 yards, you can ask me on Twitter @MikeSGallagher.
For more fantasy info, check out the SB Nation Fantasy War Room 4-8pm ET Monday through Friday and 8am to 1pm on Sunday. Check out SB Nation's own Fantasy Football game, Pick 6!
| Standard | PPR | ||
| 1 | Arian Foster | Arian Foster | |
| 2 | LeSean McCoy | LeSean McCoy | |
| 3 | Darren McFadden | Darren McFadden | |
| 4 | Chris Johnson | Chris Johnson | |
| 5 | Ray Rice | Ray Rice | |
| 6 | Steven Jackson | Steven Jackson | |
| 7 | Doug Martin | DeMarco Murray | |
| 8 | DeMarco Murray | Doug Martin | |
| 9 | Marshawn Lynch | Matt Forte | |
| 10 | Matt Forte | Darren Sproles | |
| 11 | Jamaal Charles | Jamaal Charles | |
| 12 | Kevin Smith | Marshawn Lynch | |
| 13 | Fred Jackson | Fred Jackson | |
| 14 | Darren Sproles | Kevin Smith | |
| 15 | DeAngelo Williams | Reggie Bush | |
| 16 | Stevan Ridley | DeAngelo Williams | |
| 17 | Ahmad Bradshaw | Ahmad Bradshaw | |
| 18 | Willis McGahee | Willis McGahee | |
| 19 | Trent Richardson | Stevan Ridley | |
| 20 | Cedric Benson | Donald Brown | |
| 21 | Reggie Bush | Rashad Jennings | |
| 22 | Frank Gore | Trent Richardson | |
| 23 | Rashad Jennings | Cedric Benson | |
| 24 | Donald Brown | Ronnie Brown | |
| 25 | Shonn Greene | Frank Gore | |
| 26 | Michael Turner | Evan Royster | |
| 27 | Evan Royster | Peyton Hillis | |
| 28 | Peyton Hillis | Shonn Greene | |
| 29 | Ronnie Brown | Michael Turner | |
| 30 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | |
| 31 | Adrian Peterson | Jacquizz Rodgers | |
| 32 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Adrian Peterson | |
| 33 | Toby Gerhart | Maurice Jones-Drew | |
| 34 | Jacquizz Rodgers | Toby Gerhart | |
| 35 | Ryan Williams | Ryan Williams | |
| 36 | Ben Tate | C.J. Spiller | |
| 37 | Michael Bush | Roy Helu | |
| 38 | Beanie Wells | Ben Tate | |
| 39 | Isaac Redman | Michael Bush | |
| 40 | Roy Helu | David Wilson | |
| 41 | C.J. Spiller | Beanie Wells | |
| 42 | Jonathan Stewart | Shane Vereen | |
| 43 | Mark Ingram | Mark Ingram | |
| 44 | David Wilson | Isaac Redman | |
| 45 | Shane Vereen | Kendall Hunter | |
| 46 | Kendall Hunter | Jonathan Stewart | |
| 47 | Jonathan Dwyer | Bilial Powell | |
| 48 | Bilal Powell | Jonathan Dwyer | |
| 49 | Alfred Morris | Felix Jones | |
| 50 | Vick Ballard | Taiwan Jones |
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