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:
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
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. 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.
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. Frank Gore – SF = 28
8. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jac = 26
9. 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.
10. Steven Jackson – StL = 28
11. Michael Turner – Atl = 29
12. DeMarco Murray – Dal = 23 — injury ? – broken ankle / should be fully healthy to start the 2012 season
13. Marshawn Lynch – Sea = 25 — *RISING*
14. Ahmad Bradshaw – NYG = 25
15. Ryan Mathews – SD = 24
16. Fred Jackson – Buf = 30 — injury ? – broken leg / should be fully healthy to start the 2012 season.
17. 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.
