Finishing out the easy ones

Alright good sir looks like we agree on the first picks. I didn't mention Rice because I was going to do that here, and I also don't think he could go #1 overall like I could see happening with MJD. But now it is time to finish off ranking the rest of the no-brainer first round running backs, because everyone and their mother at least considers taking a running back in the first round.

The way I see it, the running backs on this list, along with the top 3 backs, should be and would be my first 7 picks in any draft. If one of these guys is on the board, I would most likely take them no matter what.

I am in complete agreement with you, Fantasy Guru, on Ray Rice being the clear-cut #4 off the board. I think he has the potential to be #1, but at the same time doesn't seem like his ceiling for touchdowns is as high as any of the top 3. His catches also look like they might be going down this year with the addition of Boldin, as the Ravens will be able to stretch the field more--maybe that ends up as a good thing or maybe a bad thing. But I owned Rice last year, and a TON of his points came at the end of halves and games when they would dump it to him to try to get a field goal. I don't see that happening as much this year. And we also have to worry about the TD poachers of McClain and McGahee (would I be more intimidating on the goal line too if the third letter of my last name was capitalized?).

Moving on, I've set 3 running backs to finish out my top 7, and I wouldn't jump on Rogers/Brees or anyone else (except MAYBE Andre Johnson) before these last 3 are off the board.

5. Frank Gore--he is purely and simply a beast. The 49ers have a solid defense and have slowly but steadily improving offensively through the last 3 years, especially under Singletary. He can do everything, and in this scenario, a WR threat like Crabtree will only allow Gore to roam free of his 8 men-in-the-box nightmare that has showcased in his mind for the last 3 years. People have tried to stop him, but still can't, and with a better team, I love him at #5

6. Michael Turner--guaranteed double digit touchdowns. He hardly has any competition or touch poachers, although he does not have great hands and doesn't catch many passes out of the backfield. Also, his injuries from last year make drafting him very worrisome considering he has only had one true full season as a featured back. Overall, right now I have him here, but he will probably flip-flop with Steven Jackson by the time the season opener rolls around

7. Steven Jackson--We know what we are going to get here. 14 games, over 100 yards from scrimmage average per game, and not many touchdowns. He gets injured for a game or two, but thats usually the extent of him missing time. With Bradford and a new offensive scheme, I like him to get in the endzone a little more this year (well he and the Rams certainly can't regress from last year's offensive output). He has amazing hands, and catches tons of passes, so in a PPR league I actually put him above Turner. His off-season surgery seems trivial and he should be fine before the season begins. I have him below Turner for now, but if training camps go the way I expect them to, I will have SJax up one notch at #6 overall on my board.

So, Mr. Fantasy Guru, when do you start fluttering away from the running back nook that has so often dominated the first rounds of fantasy football's past? How early do you stray away from the statement that many owners have sworn by since the dawn of fantasy football, "Running backs are the lifeblood of fantasy football?"