Fantasy Football Rankings 2017: Post-Free Agency Running Backs

Find out all the movers and shakers of a busy free agency with the most comprehensive 2017 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings out there.

Tier Five – Question Marks, Big Upside, Ideal Flexes

22. Ameer Abdullah (DET)?

Stock Up Update:  Indeed, big backs like LeGarrette Blount and Adrian Peterson, on top of a loaded class of RBs, linger to crush this ranking. Nonetheless, Abdullah still leaves the first round of free agency unscathed and clearly atop Detroit’s depth chart. Also promising, Abdullah’s been fully cleared from the foot injury that cut his 2016 tragically short, and should be getting back to work as early as OTAs.

Should he still be “the guy” and somehow stay on the field, Abdullah should have no problem producing. He was on fire to begin 2016, operating as the offensive centerpiece with 17 touches, 120 total yards, and a TD against the Colts in Week One.

Previous Assessment: If Abdullah is fully healthy and in the starter’s seat, he’ll shoot up these rankings rapidly.  Though the time was brief, this offense was humming through the sophomore.

23. Adrian Peterson (MIN)  ↘ (Previously RB17)

Stock Down Update:  Still homeless, Peterson’s value is obviously far from set. Still, the fact every team on the league is passing up on him is clearly concerning. He’s visited both the Patriots and Saints, two teams that would yield bundles of TDs and send him soaring up these rankings, but his 2017 value remains impossible to determine until we know where AP will play.

Previous Assessment: Is AP super human, or just another old, withered RB? 2017 will answer this question, and I doubt it’ll matter to any of my teams; someone will bite far earlier than I’m willing. Of course anyone with the nickname “All Day” has the potential for a massive rebound, but nothing about his 2016 suggested an upwards trend. Peterson and his overall health / role will be among the most important camp storylines to follow.

24. C.J. Prosise (SEA)   

Stock Neutral Update: Despite Eddie Lacy’s massive arrival, Prosise’s change of pace and passing down role should remain secure; in fact, as one of the team’s top talents, he’ll surely share the field with other backs and lineup out wide. Really, it’s Thomas Rawls who plummets, and he and Lacy could constantly be nibbling each other’s cheese all season. As such, Prosise should be the first Seahawks back targeted in any league that awards some form of points for catches.

Previous Assessment: I’m in love with the brief NFL tape Prosise put out in 2016 — the receiving skills and breakaway speed were truly special.  The main rub is the brevity, as Prosise struggled with separate hamstring, hand, and shoulder injuries that reduced him to only 6 total games; Pete Carroll has already expressed his worries, stating:

Still, Prosise is easily among the Seahawks most exciting offensive talents in both the running and passing game.  When healthy, he should see plenty of looks, potentially even on the same field as Rawls.  As seen in Atlanta all year and in Detroit during week one, offenses can funnel through mismatch-creating dual backfields, and the Seahawks seem like the perfect fit for a similar 2017 approach.

C.J Prosise || "The Prelude" || Full 2016 Season Highlights

25. Eddie Lacy (GB)  ↗? (Previously RB34)

Stock Up Update: As a huge Thomas Rawls guy, I absolutely hate this signing. Yet, with $5.5 million and $3 mil guaranteed invested in Tub Tub, the ‘Hawks clearly view Lacy as “The Guy.” Weight-incentives in this contract have Lacy dropping to the 240s by camp, and, at his rookie playing weight, Lacy could be an absolute force with the Seahawks. I hate that I keep finding reasons to not quit Lacy, but Seattle’s last power-back reclamation project (Marshawn Lynch) went swimmingly, and if Lacy’s looking the part, I’ll be a (regrettable) buyer.

Of course, if he is on the nonstop “China Food” train again, Lacy will fall to untouchable. There’s a lot of body analysis to come.

Previous Assessment: I don’t care how many P90x’s the impending fat free agent does. Unless he actually looks slimmed down by about 50 pounds, I don’t touch him, regardless of the landing spot.

26. Theo Riddick (DET)

Surprisingly, Riddick had his best game while sharing duties with Ameer Abdullah in Week One: 12 touches (5 receptions), 108 yards, 2 TDs (one receiving). Whether or not the two are on the field together in 2017, Riddick remains a full-point PPR force, as he’ll continue to rack up receptions in Jim Bob Cooter‘s quick strike, “middle-of-the-field” attack.  For some reason, Riddick feels unsexy, but he’s the type of flex investment that you’ll depend on all season and never regret.  If your hunting for floor in the middle rounds, Riddick is about as safe as they come.

27. Frank Gore (IND)

Until Gore retires, I will continue ranking him too low, and he will continue making me regret this. King Girth.  Indy will almost assuredly make a backfield move, already suggesting more work is coming for the uber-talented Robert Turbin (lolz, upside down smiley emoji).  Regardless, it’s impossible to see Gore, at 34, receive another featured workload…right?

 

Continue on to for a quick run down of remaining names worth your bench spots, before a final cheat sheet on the last page

Author

  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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