Top NFL RBs for Fantasy

In today's installment of the Top Fantasy Players to look out for in this year's fantasy drafts we are going to talk about RBs. RBs in my opinion are better for a first-round pick than QBs. Because RBs can get you both receiving and rushing yards in most of today's West Coast Offenses. Here are the ones to keep an eye out for.

(Each year Arian Foster (left #23) gets better and better, this year looks to be no different.            Photo Courtesy of www.newyorktimes.com)

Top 20 Fantasy RBs

1. Arian Foster (Texans)- Arian Foster didn't have the most fantasy points last year, but he is definitely worth a first-round pick. Foster had 1200+ rushing yards and 600+ receiving and missed the first couple games of last season. If the Texans are going to repeat their AFC South crown, they will need to get the ball to Arian Foster. 

2. Ray Rice (Ravens)- Analysts on most sports networks say that the key to the Ravens offense is Ray Rice. They are right, because just like Arian Foster, the Ravens get the ball to Ray Rice because of what he does when he gets it. Rice had 1300+ rushing and 700 receiving yards with 15 TD. The one advantage Ray Rice does as opposed to Arian Foster is that he does not get injured often and doesn't share the backfield.

3. LeSean McCoy (Eagles)- Like Rice and Foster, LeSean McCoy is another RB that will justify using the #1 overall pick on, if your lucky enough to have it. McCoy showed fantasy owners last year that he is more than just a speed back, he is not afraid to go between the tackles and be that power back. And being in Andy Reid's West Coast Offense, he is sure to get receiving yards also. 

4. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)- There is a reason that they call him "Pocket Hercules." MJD led the league in rushing yards with 1606. This was done in a stale offense in which the Jaguars would go 5-11. Like Ray Rice, MJD hardly appears on any injury reports despite being one of the hardest players to tackle. He is very much worth a first-round pick.

5. Michael Turner (Falcons)- Michael Turner is the last of the RBs I believe are worth a first-round pick. Turner is another cog in the offense of the Falcons that some weeks were very hot but some weeks were less than average. But he still managed to get more than 1300 yards and proved to be versatile similar to Arian Foster. 

6. Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)- Anytime anyone speaks of Marshawn Lynch, people still mostly think about the play against the Saints in the playoffs a couple years ago when Lynch broke multiple tackles for a TD and caused the stadium to rock measuring on the Richter Scale. Last season wasn't any different, Lynch still rushed for more than 1200 yards. While he may not be a first-round pick, he is still worth an early second-round.

7. Adrian Peterson (Vikings)- If AP hadn't injured his knee toward the end of last season, then I would put him closer to the top. Despite Adrian Peterson saying he will be ready by Week 1, it will be hard for him not to have any rust and be the old Adrian Peterson. But even missing a few weeks AP still had more than 900 yards rushing.

8. Matt Forte (Bears)- Matt Forte is going through issues right now with his contract. But he has been for two offseasons now and has not seen a slide in production. Before getting hurt in the middle of last season, Forte had 997 rushing yards and almost 500 yards receiving.

9. Fred Jackson (Bills)- Fred Jackson is very similar to Matt Forte. He was having a career season and then he got hurt in the middle of last season. He had more than 900 yards rushing and more than 400 receiving. His injury is one of the key reasons why the Bills started to see a slide in production.

10. Chris Johnson (Titans)- Chris Johnson is an interesting story. He had two great seasons got a great deal and saw a slide in production that didn't stop till the middle of the season. He still managed to finish with more than 1000 yards, but definitely should be better this year with a good offseason and training camp.

11. DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)- The Cowboys during their winning streak last year may have found their RB for the future that they have been looking for since Marion Barber started to have his slide in production. DeMarco Murray was only the starter for a few weeks and had 895 yards rushing and 183 receiving. Definitely worth a second-round pick if he stays healthy.

12. Darren Sproles (Saints)- Darren Sproles was a surprise last season for the Saints, and very much missed by the Chargers. With Drew Brees throwing the ball to him as much as his receivers, Sproles is good for more receiving yards than rushing and a very versatile threat to the opposing defenses. While he may be a late second-round pick, he is worth an early second-round pick.

13. Jamaal Charles (Chiefs)- Jamaal Charles got injured in Week 1 of last year and tons of fantasy owners may have forgot about him. Like Adrian Peterson he is going to have some rust, but Romeo Crennel is a defensive minded coach so he is going to try to run a two-back backfield with Charles and Peyton Hillis. It may be hard for either of them to have a lot of fantasy points but, Jamaal Charles will likely be the starter.

14. Steven Jackson (Rams)- Steven Jackson may go earlier in most fantasy drafts, but fantasy owners need to remember the slide in production he had last year in an injury-plagued season. Still, when he did get healthy he was a great commodity and is worth a late second-round pick. 

15. Frank Gore (49ers)- Frank Gore is similar to Steven Jackson. He misses at least one game a season, but is better power back than he is a speed back which is why he is more suited for the second-round. He still had more than 1000 yards and was a key piece to a 49er offense that is slim at receiver.

16. Reggie Bush (Dolphins)- It will be interesting to see what Joe Philbin does with Reggie Bush in Miami in his first year of head coach. Reggie Bush worked very hard last season to be an every-down back and also be their answer for the future. He had more than 1000 yards and almost 300 receiving. 

17. Willis McGahee (Broncos)- Willis McGahee saw a career resurgence last year in Denver. Most analysts are saying it was after Denver switched to Tim Tebow on offense, but he was average almost 100 yards a game as a back up to Knowshon Moreno. With the Broncos switching to Peyton Manning it may be a little harder for him to get carries, but he is still a safe third-round RB.

18. Ryan Mathews (Chargers)- The Chargers seemed to fix Ryan Mathews fumbling issues and he still had more than 1000 yards rushing in the high-powered, high-flying passing offense led by Philip Rivers. Mathews could break out even more this year, but he needs to become more of a between the tackles RB with Mike Tolbert going to Carolina. 

19. Beanie Wells (Cardinals)- Last year, the Cardinals finally got the production out of Beanie Wells that they hoped for when they drafted him in the first round of the 2009 Draft. Wells ran for more than 1000 yards and that was with the Cardinals having a rough season going 8-8.

20. Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants)- The Giants seem to be shifting their style of play by giving the ball the Eli Manning to throw more. They also drafted a RB in the first round of the draft this year. But that doesn't mean they are going to stop handing off to Bradshaw.

*Sleeper* Trent Richardson (Browns)- Remember when Peyton Hillis had his great season in his first year with the Browns. Trent Richardson is a fast RB and not afraid to bounce off the tackles. Whether its Colt McCoy or Brandon Weeden, he is worth a chance pick. 

*Bust*Rashard Mendehall (Steelers)- The Steelers always seem to want to rush the ball, but end up throwing it instead. Mendehall will still get carries, but he won't get the top-level production that one would want out of him for fantasy purposes. Only take him if you have a high scoring receiver and QB on your team also.