Gregg and Frank's Top-15 Running Back Rankings

best Friends Forever. M Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do do do Yeah, this is the Fantasy best Friends Forever. Here the Fantasy Sports Radio Network along sign Frankie Stanfell. I am Greg Sauceman. Greggy. What's going on man? Not much? Greggy? Pretty excited? Um. You know someone I was talking to you about downstairs. Getting me excited, not only as a Fantasy fan but as a Jet fan of course, is the comments coming

out from Josh Norman about Sam Donald. I thought that was great yesterday him talking of Sam Donald playing like a veteran making all the great decisions already in training camp. That's great to read. And then yesterday I caught up on hard Knocks. I didn't catch the first episode last week, and then I watched both of them last night. Stood up entirely too late, but it was well worth it. A sag. Listen, I love that. Okay, there you go. I didn't. I did not watch Hard Knocks last night

yet still the first episode I did. Bless him, list him, Davis Landry, I got it or laundry? Um, yeah, no, no, I I like the first episode. I gotta be honest with you. It's what kind of boring they Yeah, I want to like it, but I find myself every single time I watched, no matter what time of day, I wind it like falling asleep for part of it, and

I had to rewind it every time. I watched every season and listen to a lot of it was like, all right, I come home from work before Judy gets home and the perfect time to watch, right, I mean, you're probably tired, it was. It was a long day, of course, so that's one of the problems. And then I watched it. So the first episode I watched it when I woke up on like Umi st anymore. I woke up and it was before our draft. So I

watched Hard Knocks. I find myself. I guess I wasn't falling asleep, but I was like sitting on my phone like on Twitter. Really, it just it just doesn't captivate, doesn't captivate me like Jarvis Landry speech did in that first episode, but like not the whole show. I want to like it. I watched every year. I just I think it had the opposite effect on me. Actually, eleven PM I put on the first episode and I was like, Wow, that was really good. I want to watch the second one.

So I just ended up watching bold episodes and then I went to sleep after that. But it's pretty good man. And you know, while you know, you feel bad for Hugh Jackson everything that he's going through the whole like him versus Todd Haley thing like you would think, all right, Hugh Jackson, you're one in thirty one in your last thirty two games, maybe you should take some advice from Todd Haley. You know, don't be don't try to be bigger than you are. I mean, Todd Haley just came

from the Steelers. He knows what a successful organization he is when he's come from successful organizations in the past, so he knows what works. Greg Williams also the coach of the Chiefs and was maniacal and ran a program into the ground and they he was he was crazy. Man, That dude was wild. And Casey oh yeah, and he pretty much got driven out of the Steelers because they didn't like him there either. But look, say what you

want to I'm not disputing that at all. But in terms of football acumen, yeah, he had Antonio Brown and Levy on Bell, but he got the he got the most out of those guys. You're in a year out, all right, Um, on the program today, we're gonna get into running back rankings, your tears, your debate, your sleepers, your bus, all that good stuff we did without the quarterbacks yesterday. If enjoyed the program, make sure you check that out. Frankie on Monday also came out with a

brand new white Boards series video. Pick number five, Yes, pick number five. We pick number three is up next? Correct, I'm gonna just pick eight, Okay, So the little change of plans there, Pick eight will come up next. Pick three on the way later this week, we can assume, sir. Okay. Um. So with that all being said, I want to get into the running backs. Before we do. We begin with the stat of the debt, and I'm pretty excited about

this one. Greggy. I want to make this clear that Frank goes to me earlier, I have a great stat of the day, like all right, awesome, what is it? And then he goes, well, it's about the Vikings, all right, cool? Well what is it? Oh, you have to say just for the show? Why are you? It's a teaser off their It's literally just a teaser for me, all right, you know, like to tease your best friends a little bit. By the way she teasers for first playoff game tonight,

how's that going. Did you guys finish? Oh? Well, interdivision? Inter division? So yeah, with the one seed on so the playoffs start tonight, would pay the bow socks of this kickball. I would say that we were the one seed on our side of the bracket. Um, it's not I'll be easy. And then of the confidence and then next week it really begins. I think lots of lots of bunts being dropped by Greggy tonight. Yeah, they expected to after the first two I dropped last time. They

were like's gonna bunt? And like yeah, and did you still successfully bunt for a hit. Yeah, that's embarrassing for them. It's gonna putting the right spot. Man. Wait, so if you bunt and then they know what's coming, what what's your counter to that? Do you just like pop it over the third base and then I'm too nervous to do that because I think I'll pop it up if

I try to do that. So in kickball and the league, we plan that you have your pictures man, like right here, let's say you have your pictures mound right in the middle, and then on the sides, like right right to the right side and to the left side, there's cones and you can't and the third basement or the let's say first basement approaching in can't go past those cones after

the ball is hit. Why does mean? Because if the possible to a bunt for a hit, and it also shouldn't be a thing anyway, Greg, Well, it's also impossible to do some other things. All right, Greg, I trust, I trust you and your your kickball, your kickball skill out the day tomorrow will be my my batting line tomorrow. There you go, Frank. So, after Dalvin Cook's injury, starting in week five, Latin Murray and Jerick McKinnon combined for three hundred and forty two carries in fifty six receptions

in twelve games. That's twenty eight and a half carries four point six receptions per game combined between Lithavias Murray and Jerk McKinnon per game last year for the Vikings offense. And I know they don't have Pat Sherber anymore, but um we still, you know, we we like a lot of the pieces that are still involved with this Vikings offense. And I just think this is very reassuring for Dalvin Cook owners, for people who you know, are expecting to

draft him. Even Latavious Murray's involved, even if he gets eight to ten touches per game. I mean, these these guys were combining for over thirty two touches a game, Greg, So I just thought that was insane for only in twelve games carries fifty six receptions. What is their offensive line rank rank? Well, that's not very good, which I also brought up to you downstairs. Um, they lost a

few pieces on the offensive line. PFF currently ranks him as the offensive line in football, which among the top ten running backs being drafted right now, they are the lowest projected offensive line um, so that's not great. But last year at season's end, they ranked twenty swond so I think this is more of you know, even if Latavius Murray and Jerk McKinnon weren't all that efficient, because

I don't think they were. That's part of the reason why we've bashed Jack McKinnon here is because he's never really been an efficient running back. I think that there's a lot of volumes to go around here, and I'm going to continue to beat that drum in volume over efficiency. Even if the offensive line isn't great, I still do think Dalvin Cook is gonna be right there in line for twenty touch per game, maybe over twenty touches. Even if Lutevi's Murray gets his eight to ten per game,

I'm not worried about it. I think there's enough to go around for both. Okay, we're gonna get more into Dalvin Cook coming up in a moment, but we're gonna go through the top twenty four running backs on today's show, and to do that, we start with the number one overall pick, which, listen, we have said for a while it's Todd Gurley or it's Living on Bell, and we haven't really spent much time saying which one it should be. So let me ask you who should it be? Todd

Gurley living on Bell. So this might be cop out, but I dude think that it's uh, it's format dependent, and I would take Todd Gurley in standard just based on you know, the touchdowns he had last year. And look, we're not going to project him for close to twenty touchdowns once again, but just based on the way that they used him. Eighteen rushing attempts from within the five that led all running backs last season. Of his team's rushing attempts within the five. That's also the highest percentage

of any running back last season. Fifteen goal line carries also led all running backs last season. So in the non PPR format where touchdowns are so important, I lead Todd Gurley. But in any other format, half point, PPR or full point, I will go with Levian Bell. All Right, I think I think it's reasonable. Um, I probably agree. I probably agree. In an auction, I'm gonna talk more about auction strategy this week. I have my auction on Monday. Monday's show will be in all auction programs. We get

excited for that. UM. In auction I have them priced the same number. I do think it's that close. I agree in the PPR and any sort of PPR, you have to go with lady on Bell. The receptions will be there more often, um in a standard I'm going with or non PBR should say I'm going to Tide Gurley for all the reasons you mentioned. We completely agree on that point. Yeah, and Levian Bell look as good as he is. He's never had more than nine rushing touchdowns in any single season. We all like Levian Bell

a lot um. I think he's gonna be over four hundred touches again this year. Look, he was number one in snap share among running backs last year, number one in percentage of team carries plus targets, number one and carries overall. So I think Levian Bell and probably Ezekiel Elliott are the best locks for one hundred plus touches this season. I think it's an easy slam dunk one and two for Todd Gurley and Levian Bell. Not much

more to same in my opinion. Then you get to three and four, which also we know three and four are and somewhere David Johnson and Ezekie Elliott. But again, Frank we haven't exactly spent much of time discussing, well, who should go first? Are you gonna give me the same compound answer in a non PPR Ezekiel Elliott and the PPR half point, you go with David Johnson. So in not in non PPR and havelf PPR, I'll still take Ezekiel Elliott um because I just think overall, I

think he has more upside than David Johnson. We saw a couple of years ago what David Johnson and do scored the twenty total touchdowns. But you know there's questions about that offense overall, whether it's Sam Bradford, whether it's Josh Rosen. The offensive line is not great there either. And you know, David Johnson, for what it's worth, looked very good in that first preseason game. Looked like vintage

David Johnson. I don't think that I'm not one of these guys who's gonna push him outside the top four because you know some people are trying to get a little bit too sexy and push David Auson down the board. I'm not gonna do that. But in non PPR, just think, look, Zekel Ellett is the Cowboys offense. They've shown that once they get inside the red zone, they're just gonna feed, feed, feed. Ezekiel Elliott, he's gonna score. I think there's a lot

to score double digit touchdowns. So in non PPR and even half I'll take Zekiel because I think that he can flirt with fifty plus receptions this year based on how many targets are available. Jason Witten gone, Des Bryant gone from this team, Alan Hearns and Michael Gallup, they'll do their thing, even Cole Beasley too, But they're talking up um Zekil like getting more receptions in this past game, and I do buy that. So non PPR and half

point I have him three. In the full point PPR just because I think David Johnson has eight plus reception upside, I'll put him third. But typically that's how I'm gonna rank it. It's it's based on format. Once again, not to give you the compoun answer, but I completely agree with you. Um Again, the more I've read about this. Initially I had David Johnson ranked everywhere. Uh I should just say everywhere half point PDR and PPR ahead Ezekue Elliott.

But the more I thought of that, the more I looked into it, You're right, Frankie, and that David Johnson is in an offense with a lot of unknowns, with the offensive coordinator he's never had before, the quarterback he's never had before. The offense is simply changed. Ezekue Elliott hasn't. It's been the same offense as he came into the league. Was also really good about Ezekie Elliott. He's completely healthy

and there's no distractions going on in Dallas. Like you mentioned those wide receivers that ultimately will step up for Dak Prescott. That's great, but we know this team, this offense is gonna revolve around Elliott, and I'm while I'm

sure that Cardinal's offense will rely around David Johnson. Um the questions, the questions are there, and as good as he looked in that first preseason game and as good as he's looked at practice, he's been injured each of the last two years and then the end of the year before injured. It's just there's a lot of injury history there, and some of it's flukey, obviously, but some

of it's not. And I think that seeing the place that Ezekiel Elliott currently is in makes me feel more comfortable and safer taking him in both the non PPR and the half point PBR, and that's why I go with Elliott over Johnson in those formats. Yeah. Plus, David Johnson is a little bit older than we realize. He's twenty six years old. He had eight hundred and sixty six career carries at Northern Iowa. Zeke a little bit younger, has some youth on his side, and plus a row.

I just think the you know, while people are poo pooing the Cowboys offense, I do think that it will it will be better than the Cardinals offense. The offensive line is clearly better, and I don't think the weapons are as bad as people have made it out to seem. So I think that's an easy one. Zeke. Three non PBR, HA PBR full point IGO with David Johnson has the A P plus reception up. All right, let's continue now. And it's interesting because the next couple of picks have

kind of the next two pictures in saney. I don't keep breaking down in two because but they've kind of sorted themselves out also over the past couple of weeks. I don't know if you so much agree with this. But it used to be a tear I thought of of four guys, and now I feel like that tears two guys, and it's Alvin Kamara and it's stake Kwon Barkley. Everything to me is the dust have settled here a bit with mark Ingram suspension with Stakelan Barkley. I know

he's he's battling that hamstrings tweak. It doesn't seem overly serious. And in the EPR you're obviously I would think going Camara there um, but Barkley. In the non PPR people are feeling very comfortable with that. With all the noise talking about how good, how many carries Barkley should get Camara in half pint b BR versus Barkley, I think it's a debate. I'm gonna let Frank opine on that, but it certainly seems like five six in some orders

Camara in Barkley. I think in both PPR formats the full point, in the half point, they're both right there, five and six. In my opinion. In non PPR, I've moved Camara down to really, in my opinion, the bottom of this here, which is within Kareem Hunt behind Melvin Gordon, just because I think those guys have more touchdown upside. And you know, look, Alvin Kamara scored the touchdowns last year, but based on his efficiency where he scored them on the field, you know he didn't have a lot of

carries from inside the five, inside the red zone. I guess he's gonna catch a ton of passes. That's why you know, in half point PPR, I still have him as my RB six, right behind Sea Kwon Barkley. Um in full point PPR, I think that they're interchangeable. I'm still gonna take se Kwon Barkley overall. So no, my number five over overall? Is he number five ahead of Antonio Brown and he's number five running back? Is he number five overall? In a half point PPR and half

point PPR, yes, not. In full point I would take Antonio Brown over Sa Kwan full point PPR. So when it comes to any sort of PPR, I'm gonna have Camara over Barkley because I know that Barkley is is that trouble threat, being able to block me gonna run, and being able to catch and those wheel routes that he specialized in at Penn state. Um. I recognize that, like it's going to be there in the offense, but I have a lot of weapons with Evan Ingram and

with Odell Beckum JG. You're going to read the uh the pet Schermer led running back numbers in the final twelve games once again? Would you like me to do that? If you'd like no, I don't want to. You go back and lit'en to it. I'll read it for you. Three and forty two carries and fifty six perceptions in the final twelve games over pet Schumer led Vikings offense last year with Latavius Murray and Jerk McKinnon. Just think about it. It's mouth watering upside for se Kwon Barker.

I think he's one of a handful of running backs who can get three d and fifty plus touches this year. It's just that volume I'll take over Camara in both the half point and actually in any format I'll take. I'll take that volume, that opportunity more so than Camara's efficiency. Before we hit the break, I want to get to you at eight four, eight, four, three, six seven nine. Let me go to Logan in Michigan. What's up logan,

what's up, guys? What's your question? My man? Alright, So, uh, in my home league, I'm drafting at the sixth spot in the ten team PPR league, and so I've done a few mock drafts drafting at the same spot with the same format and all that stuff, trying to get ready and uh, like the first round, you know, I'm taking Camara Barkley, second round kind of around the Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, and then third round it's kind of like Larry fit Stefon Diggs. But in the fourth round is

where I'm having my issues up. Um. Usually there's like the Marius Thomas um Umari Cooper, um like Marvin Jones, and then there's also like a Joe Mix and Jordan Howard, Like where would you guys go with that? In a full PPR. I feel like, um, I feel like Amari Cooper would have the upside, and I don't really want to be re sing on a Marvin Jones, but it's just tough decisions for me. In the PBR, Marvin Jones might least Marvin Jones and de Marius Howards. Did you

guys at least interested there? I think wide receiver wid Alamore at Cooper the running backs to the best players there, John Mixon and Jordan Howard. So I think I'd have to go with that. Despite being APPR. Yeah, I agree. If you take a running a wide receiver from the third, you're gonna want to get that RB in the fourth. But I will say this ten team PPR. If you get McCaffrey in the third, that's where I'm leaning take the wide receiver in the fourth grade. We take a break.

More running back rankings and debate coming up next, from the NFL to the NBA. Daily Rodo dot com is the place to win millions in daily fantasy. You can get the best DFS NFL coverage all season long for a price of one, or dominate the entire Daily Fantasy Sports realm with the Elite package at per month. If you use the promo code f n T s Y,

you get ten percent off your Daily Rodo package. Go to Daily rodo dot com, pick your NFL Elite Package, enter promo code f n T s Y, and you'll be on your way to becoming the next Daily road a millionaire. I spent the break looking over um the fouls ruled out River on. Just put up sweet director, your officials. This this head, this helmet is mind bogging. What is it you exact like when you so the new rule in the NFL is that you can't you can't lead with your helmet whatsoever, as a defender or

as a running back. Right, I thought that that was the thing for a while though, well maybe it was. Now that just like overly enforcing it. But they're the last three in which in this video that they said they're fouls. I like, don't know what the player did wrong. Every time you know, you can watch you can watch the last three francs. This happened during the preseason. So these are all from the preseason Week one. You missed one and see the next wanted in the Browns the

Giant game. I don't one after that. Um, these were all called against defense. All should be fouls. I don't know who they're called against or whatever, but I don't. I didn't. I didn't see anything wrong. The video glitz right when the tackle was happening. That's unfortunate, and I mean, look and for people who are wondering last one explaining actus, I don't get it. I don't care. The Saints quarterback. Right,

I don't know what happened. For those wondering like what this might have to do for fantasy, think about it. You know, if it's a third down, this is gonna keep drives alive. This could cause more offensive production, which

ultimately helps us for fantasy purpose. Well, it might help, It might help you, you know, lose, It might go the other way against you, but ultimately, you know, if more penalties are being called weekend and week out, it's gonna lead to more drives being sustained and more offensive production coming. Yeah. It absolutely well something you're gonna have to take note of and we'll see how um tight

they call it during this season. Now, I want to get back to a running back rankings and tears and of course, Frank right, things are located inside the Exclusive Edge Fantasy Football package is available right now at roto experts dot com. Frank also texted me, I'll get to in a second that you could now think your half point PBR ranks of fantasy pros, and he was thrilled.

It's almost like they were listening to us yesterday. Maybe they were so normally they would just take your standard and your PPR and just kind of like merge them and form their own half point, but now you can edit them yourself, and I'm very excited about that already. Um, if you want to use get into the Rotal Experts Exclusive Edge Package and you want ten percent off, you could use the promo code Frank the Tank, Frank the Tank, Frank the Tank ten percent off when you check out.

I went through my five and six, which for me and a half point and a full point. I'll just say half point because of let's we specify that's what we're talking about. Was Alvin Camara and then it would say kuon Barkley, But Frank, pretty much in all formats outside of the full PBR, he's got Barkley five and the half point's got Camara six. And then in the standard or not PPR seven eight and some for me my seven eight and for him number six it is

Melvin Gordon and Kareem Hunt. We have stressed early and often, Frankie that Melvin Gordon belongs in this tier, but I still have Kareem Hunt ahead of him. Who do you have that, Kareem Hunt or Melvin Gordon? Yes, so I still do have Kareem Hunt ahead of Melvin Gordon in every format. And you know, you look into Kareem hunts

season last year, it was very very interesting. Look there was that low uh, I'll breakdown his season by like thirds the first seven games of the season, yet at least seven at least one yards from scrimmage in each of the first seven games. He didn't score a touchdown. However, in nine straight games that was from weeks four through and I just found that, you know, some of it is unlucky. But what needs to happen here, Greg, is if they don't make Kareem Hunt the workhorse running back.

Based on everything that we saw last year, what he did, I mean, three touches as a as a rookie, coming in UM forty three red zone touches with seventh among running backs. Think about this one and thirty seven evaded tackles first among running backs. Eighteen runs of fifteen plus yards first among running backs. Six hundred and thirty two

yards created by himself, first among running backs. All the metrics and everything that we saw last year, especially at the beginning of the season and the end of the season, says that Kareem Hunt is a beast. Now if any reed comes out this year and for whatever reason gets Spencer Wear or whatever other schmuck involved involved in the Chiefs run game and it's not Kareem Hunt. I'm telling you this will be one of the biggest flops in

fantasy football history. I'm talking about like anything that we we saw in the World Cup. Greg Seriously, like this will be terrible because I just think all the metrics, the way he ran last year, what he did and that low in the middle of the season was because they weren't really giving him the ball. That's the only way Kareem Hunt will bust is out of his control.

That's basically how I'll say it. Because when he's on the field, if they give him fifteen to twenty touches per game, he's going to live up to his first round value. And I wholeheartedly leave that in this offense, which I think is gonna get down the field of ton. I know Patrick Mahomes turning the ball over in training camp, but I just I don't see how he could fail with these weapons, Travis Kelsey, Tyreek Hill, the big arm,

they bring in, Sammy Watkins. They're going to get down the field of ton that I think that's gonna just lead to more scoring opportunities for Kareem Hunt. If anything goes wrong, it's because Andy Reid caused it. In my opinion, injury can predict I ultimately totally um, I totally agree

with you. Is you look at Kareem Hunt and at four point nine yards for carry, is just just really stands out, especially when you prepare him as I am against the Melvin Gordon, because Melvin Gordon never gets over four, right, You're looking at three point nine three point consistently, and that's fine. And we've said many times on the show, we have no problem what Melvin Gordon dollars because you

know what you're getting. The touchdowns will be there, and yeah, he's gonna catch a ton of balls and that's awesome. But I don't think he has a potential in a lot of sty and maybe I'm going out on a limb to finish the number one overall back and I think cream Hunt does. And that's what makes me really like Kareem Hunt more than a Melvin Gordon. When we started this process, I had Cream Hunt ahead of Alvin Kamara, and of course marketing suspension change that. But I believe

Kareem Hunt isn't all around talent. I think we see the phase out process of Shark Hendrick West. I think Spencer wears a backup. I think um Damian Williams, if he makes the team, he's a backup nobody. I think they realize that Cream hunts their man and this team, we talk about all the weapons they have, Cream hands a major part of that. I think he only gets better in year two. I love cream Hunt. This year he's absolutely next for me, you know all formats, and

then I have Melvin Gordon. Yes, so in non PPR, I have both Kareem Hunt and Melvin Gordon ahead of Alvin Kamara. Like I mentioned, just based on that touchdown upside, but I wholeheartedly agree with you with I think Kareem Hunt has that upside based on what we saw in those first seven games where he started his career his NFL career with one yards of scrimmage or more in

each of the first seven games. And not only that, like he had Monster games where he helped you win early on, and then he had Monster games where he helped you win. I mean, this guy helped me win Fantasy Championships last year. If you just take what he did early in the season last year and towards the end of the season last year, and we could just make that a little bit more consistent throughout the season. He legitimately does have you know, top three running back upside.

I believe that as well. Great, and then we continue on to the next two and I like, how ever, bringing them down by a two years, and that's almost really how they go. And you get to Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook. I think this is where we probably disagree, even the Dalvin Cook guy all along. I've been the Leonard Fournette guy all along. I know what you read about the vikings with Latavia's Mary and with Jack McKinnon, and I've read you plenty of stafts with Letter Fournett

and just how much that offense revolves around him. I think we're pretty set in our positions. UM. I think that full point p BR, I probably lean Dalvin Cook to be fair, because I dont think Leonard Fournet catch as many passes. I think we see a lot of t J. Yelden and Corey Grant on third down. UM. But in the half point and then the non PBR, I'm going to stick with Fournett. Yeah, so I have Devin Cook ahead of Leonard four Nett in every four Matt.

I've been consistent with that. I'm gonna remain that way. I remember when we had Dr A on I even asked him based on both injury histories here because Dalvin Cook again coming off the torn a c L and you know, maybe we don't talk about that enough, but he has an injury that he's coming back from, and then Leonard Fournette has the chronic foot ankle injuries. And I asked Dr A you know who would you rather draft, and he said, undoubtedly it's Dalvin Cook. So he just

kind of, you know, reassured what I thought already. And you know, question marks about the Vikings offensive line, but I think that offense is gonna be great. They're gonna get down the field of ton Um. Dalvin Cook was averaging eighteen and a half rushing attempts himself before he got hurt. The Vikings overall, their offense was second in rush attempts last season. You know who was first, It

was actually the Jaguars. But um, I think I'm only really worried about the injury concerned with Leonard Fournet because they improved the offensive line. Like everything else there, it sets up perfectly for Leonard four Nette, Like he is a workhorse. He averaged over twenty carries per game, everything that you want out of your running back. And I think the p PR concerns are a little bit overblown because I think Leonard Fournette catches forty plus balls this here.

But to me, the only reason why I have him behind Dalvin Cook is the chronic foot and ankle injury concerns. Greg Yeah, so um it's fair, and I like where he's going, Like I don't like if Dalvin Cook is gone and I'm at the swing and I'm gonna take Leonard Fournet. Yeah, I don't have a problem. I don't have a problem with I just splitting hairs here. The only thing scares me about Dalvin Cook is that line. I know, Jackson Ba's line, which is already good last year,

he gets better than Andrew Norwell. Um, so for me, I don't have that fear of the line like I do with the Vikings and Dalvin Cook, Like, yes, he's he's totally fine and he's practicing fully healthy. And Leonard Fournett has the chronic issue you addressed at frank Um. But for me, that line's gotten better. For that seems healthy. He lost a little bit of weight, which I always appreciate. That's the edge for me, and it's very, very close.

It really is. And these are the top ten running backs who are consistently pretty much gone by, like the swing pick in fantasy football, regardless of format. Greg, I feel like we've done this before. But if you had to choose one or two guys from this group because it's gonna happen, who are most likely to bust? Who would you choose from this group? From these group of ten running backs that we've mentioned so far most likely to bust? I hate to say this because it's just

so ridiculous, and I know it sounds ridiculous. I think it's Alvin Kamara, and I just I just think it. Look at the workload and look at the touchdown efficiency, and it's the same conversation we have with Shaun Watson yesterday. But I think it's Kamara out of that like he's the one I'm going I would pull the trigger. I'm not saying I wouldn't. That's the one that probably scares me the most. Out of these guys, you, yeah, I

actually have three candidates. Kamara is one of them and any other two you know, based on injury concern but that's what can cause a player to bust is Leonard Fournet and David Johnson. Yeah, David Johnson I considered as well. Um, those are probably the but like I'm still not shying away, like I said, yeah, but they're the most risky running backs I'd say in the first round. Okay, cool, So

those are the top ten guys. And Frank said these wild this year, that ten, these ten running backs are legitimately going in the first about fourteen picks or depending

on what draft it is. In our flex draft and non PPR, the first ten of the first eleven picks, everybody except Antonio Brown, who I think went six seven seven seven, took Barkley Sex end of the first eleven picks and non PPR were running backs and Florio was depending on how you look at it, he was hand gifted DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham at pick twelve again in non PPR. And you're working in a lot of questions about that from listeners that if you're in the

half point and you're in a half point PPR. I just want to split the difference. If you're in that half point PPR and all of these running backs. Yeah, let's say that there's ten running backs here and there's a strong top ten, nine of them go. You're at the turn, and if nine of them go, that means you have two of the top four wide receivers left of DeAndre Hopkins and Brown be gone to the top

three DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham and Hulu Jones. Do you take like two of those and me like, holy crap, like I just got this? Or do you take that tenth running back being that's probably four net or Cook? What would you rather are doing that situation? So I actually experimented with this in one of my most recent best ball dress. I had picked Levin Uh and by the time I got there, I had to either take Dalvin Cook, he was the last running back available, or

one of the wide receivers. I ended up taking DeAndre Hopkins. Dalvin Cook went at the turn, and I ended up with Julio Jones in the second round, which started in a half point PPR. Now, I'm not really I don't feel great about my running backs. I ended up with Derrick Henry Ronald Jones, and I think Marshall Lynch as like my first three, and if I had to do it over again, I probably would take Dalvin Cook right and then whatever wide receiver felt to me around two.

So so that was that was one question. That's the question we had is at eight we talked about Cream Hunt Melvin Gordon being potential picks in that spot depending on format. Would you rather have those guys around the eight spot? I know this is a whiteboard series that's coming up today, You're doing the number eight pick. Would you rather have a Karea Hunt? And again you could just say I'm answering later Cream, We'll say Melvin Gordon.

Would rather Melvin Gordon or DeAndre Hopkins? There? Yeah, I would take the running back because I like the wide receiver value better in that early second round, because you know you could get one of Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, Devantae Adams a J. Green. To me, the combination of that workhorse running back in the first where it's like Melvin Gordon or Kareem Hunt, plus that elite wide receiver

in the second is better than DeAndre Hopkins. And then whoever you're gonna pair with him in the second, whether it's Devonte Freeman, Uh, Joe Mixon, Uh, you know, Jordan Howard are running back like that? While you know DeAndre Hopkins might outscore Melvin Gordon for sure, that can happen. I think the combination of Melvin Gordon and one of those elite wide receivers will outscore whatever running back you pair with DeAndre Hopkins, So I would take the running

back at pig. There you go. That's the most common question. We have to an break here seven nine. To get back to you, I want to go to Jason in Colorado next. Jason, Hey, how's going great? What's going on? Start for Frank? What's love the series you've been doing. I'm just curious, what's uh your favorite one to punch from the from the first two rounds? Your favorite combination

of players you're able to kind of grab. I think it's a great question, and obviously the answer to to that is what pick you've clearly preferred the most because of the two players you you can grab. Yeah, well, I think it's awesome. Yeah, it's awesome to grab one of the workhorse running backs. But in my opinion, again, you miss out on one of those elite wide receivers.

And don't get me wrong, some wide receivers are going to break out, but to me, the cut off is a J. Green, and it's a J Green Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, and Michael Thomas working my way backwards in the second round. So as early as you can get in the first round where you can guarantee that you get one of those wide receivers, that's what I like. I started another Best Ball draft yesterday, Greg, and I came in here and told you today I had the six pick. I took Sae Kwon Barkley, and I ended

up getting Keenan All in the second round. I love that start. I don't know if you can guarantee that every time, but you know, if you're anywhere from that six to ten rain and you get a work horse running back and then you get an elite wide receiver,

I think that's probably my best range. And that's why I think pick eight, and we'll see it today with your video, I think I pick eight might wind up being your favorite because I think that scenario is probably most likely right around there, which is what I had in Flex and I too, Kareem hunt first here you go, I'll well go back to you Jonathan new Jersey or next John. Hey guys, UM, how you doing? And I I had called the other day and I asked about

full point twelve team PPR with pick number five. You guys told me that undoubtedly you probably go with Antonio Brown appeals on board. But I figured, now, since you guys are talking about running back, let's let's assume that Antonio Brown like goes Forth, Um, and I missed out on him and I got like Ezekiel Elliott there or uh, you know, one of the top four guys. Um, what would you be your advice for the second round? Uh?

Assuming like the max that I've done, I haven't seen Davante Adams, I haven't seen all all these other guys, um, But what would you pick with? Assuming ab has gone number four? I end up with Zeke? Uh? Where would you go with um with your next pick? For that one? Frankie did a number five in your whiteboard series already? Who'd you? Who'd you grab? There? So I would try to get one of those wide receivers like I mentioned, but from the mock drafts, he's doing it. Sounds like

those wide receivers are gone. So you can choose to pull one of those wide receivers up the board if you really want, like a Mike Evans, a t Y Hilton, someone like that. Or you can just zig when everyone else is zagging. If everyone's grabbing the wide receivers, that means some running back value is going to fall to you. So, whether it's DeVonta Freeman or Christian McCaffrey, who personally I have ranked higher than Freeman, Frank full point, climbing down,

climbing down, Christian McCaffrey, I love it. Yeah. So if you could get McCaffrey um in the second round of a full point PPR, even though everyone says, oh, you gotta grab wide receivers in in the full point PPR format, if you start Zeke or David Johnson with Christian McCaffrey, I think that's a fabulous start in the first two rounds and then really, you know, the next three, maybe even the next four picks in your draft, I'm probably just loading up on wide receivers and playing it out

from there. Greg, let's go to Shawn in New York next, Sean. Hey, guys, so you guys been giving me advice the past couple of days about awesome sleeper running backs and wide receivers in my sixteen teams stampond league. I was wondering, you know, after my first two picks, which are probably gonna be running back, since its uh non PPR league, should I go for like an Aaron Rodgers maybe Deshaun Watson type of big scoring quarterback in like the third round in

a sixteen team league. I I simply can't recommend it. You're gonna need to just pile on running backs and wide receivers. It's just too big. That's and I said, I like one of these quarterbacks you can just pick and wait and hold on you and never have to think about it in your league. Give me the wide receivers, give me the running backs. I'm gonna worry about quarterback

way later. I understand why you might want that advantage in the sixteen team league, though, because if you get an elite quarterback, that's where you stand out each week against your opponent. But I lean with you, Greg, I'm probably loading up on wide receivers after I grab those rbs. The second round running backs, they're up next on the BFFs. Did you know that you can listen to this show

live on the award winning Fancy Sports Radio Network. Listen on the I Heart Radio app to tune in radio app, or download the Fancy Sports Radio Network app. The Fancy Sports Radio Network is the only totally free seven three sixty five fancy sports network of its kind without a subscription. Check out YouTube live on the Fancy Sports Network YouTube page and participate in the program. In there where you can ask questions discuss the topics with other fantasy enthusiasts.

I'll tell anyone that you disagree. Call into your favorite show and ask your question. The number is eight four four eight four f n T s Y. That's eight four four eight four three six eight seven nine the Fancy Sports Radio Network. You're free Fancy Source twenty four hours a day eight four four eight four three six eight seven nine. I'm gonna join in the program. You're ending on the line. We appreciate it and stick with us.

Also reminding the Daily Rotor dot com is putting more than twenty five grant on the line for its subscribers this NFL season, entering paid constas on a FanDuel and bringing you along for the free roll have a chance to win big this year alongside sportscrid ceo Jeremy Stein, one of the only men to have won two separate million dollar prizes each week, was like lucky subscribers to sweat with us and split of the profits. No profits that week, No worries, you'ren able to get tossed back

in that the following week. Head the Daily Rotor dot com slash Sweat and learn how to get in on the action and your share of twenty five thousand dollars. That's Daily Rotor dot Com slash Sweat. Also reminding, the Fantasy Factor is the only exclusive single entry DFS site. They have free rolls registering all the time and great promotion for free prizes. Keep a lookout for Fantasy Factors free million dollars of your content us opening about a

week before NFL kickoff. Go to Fantasy Factor dot com. That's Fantasy Factor dot com. So we want to do the top twenty four running backs today. That's that's simply not gonna happen. We're not gonna have time. We'll continue this discussion tomorrow. Um, but we wanted to into the second round. Guys, there's the top ten players that we just gave you. They are the top ten. They are going in the first fourteen picks, which leaves ten more picks to go to finish out your top twenty four.

And to me, in those ten picks, there are five more guys that belong there. And drafts are different, depending on format, depending on scoring, depending how your league goes. But for me personally, if I had to rank top twenty four, fifteen of them would be running backs. We've named ten. We have five more to go. Now I think our order, how many do you have more to go? Do you believe that should be the top twenty not top twenty? More running backs that should be the top

twenty four? Picks? Four? You know? You guess the one you have? You have four? You have four more TOG you're saying, fine, I thought it was the other way. Okay, So Mike Tier has five more guys. Frank's here's four more guys. I already know which one for him is not um to me, that's here is this in some order? We'll discuss it. DeVante Freeman, Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Howard, Joe Mixon, and the guy that Frank does not have, and that's

Jerick McKinnon. If you're in the half point PBR, we'll start there, Frank, the first ten running backs off the board, you're looking for running back in the second round, which one do you want? Greggy Man. We put this up as a poll two on the Fantasy bfs Twitter, and currently Christian McCaffrey and Devantay Freeman are very close. I moved him up. I have christ McCaffrey levin. He's my next running back off the board in the second round.

Although he is tasty here in the full point PPR, but I think I think the way he was using that first game is very telling. Greg. I mean, he's gonna you gotta go like I mean, that helps for sure. But he played all fourteen of the first team snaps with the offensive line and not playing in the fourth quarter. Yeah, and look, North Turner is known for having a workhorse running back. So I'm starting to buy more and more

into that theory with Christian McCaffrey. And you know, even if the Panther's offensive line isn't very good, I think that's gonna lend itself to McCaffrey catching a bunch of passes. We could see him with you know, presumably seventy plus maybe eighty plus receptions once again this year. Um, that's gonna help him the half point PPR as well. Maybe he's more likely now. I think when we first started talking about McCaffrey were like, you know, he'll probably score

like six touchdowns this year. Now he's probably maybe he's closer to like seven or eight, and ultimately that helps with seventy year eighty plus receptions if he's the workhorse for this team. So I haven't been trenched as my number eleven running back in half PPR right now. He would be number eleven in full point as well in standard. He's like a third round running back in my opinion. For me, in your half point, I have Christian cacaffrey is my twelfth ranked running back in the full point.

I do have him as number eleven. When we talked about finding the next Todd Gurley, Christian McCaffrey was my answer because I thought through one. Remember my answer is Darius guys first. Actually, no, it can't be worse than that. Who wasn't shot Penny? All right? So it was not worse. Um, it's pretty bad. Christian McAffrey is my answer because I thought the touches would be there, like even if the touch even if he could just fall into a few

more touchdowns. What Frank said he needed to do to get in that first round mix was more touchdowns and more arts. And I think given the usage in Game one of the preseason, being a little bit bigger helps this guy. And and that's why I was confident in there. And I really like Christian McCaffrey this year, like I think it could be a full purpose back. But the one that we felt had the highest floor essentially was DeVante Freeman. Yeah he's got the concussion issues and that's

the thing. Yeah he has a Tevin Coleman issue and that's the thing. And yeah he has a Steve Sarkhesian issue, which is also a thing. But the one thing with Vanta Freeman you could say about really any of these guys, because he's done it before, like he's been a first round running back. He has put together a really good receiving series season and a really good running season, and you put that together and you have a work horse running back and all the negatives that we put together previously,

like those are fair. I'm not disagreeing when you're looking at a non PBR or a half PPR, I think DeVonta Freeman is the one I can count on to do a little bit of everything and in the half, in the full point b BR. Just for the record, I would just flip flop him like I would have McAffrey eleven in him twelve. That's how good I feel about DeVante Freeman. I didn't want to break these two down into like a twosome here, but to me that the two clear next guys. I don't know that Frank

agrees with that um, but I have DeVante Freeman. Overall. My rankings are half point I've Devanta Freeman eleven, and I have Christian McCaffrey twelve. Yes, so I still have Freeman as my RB thirteen. But like I told you downstairs, Greg, the more and more I think about it, I just don't see a scenario in the second round where I

feel good drafting DeVonta Freeman. And I tried to give him this NA yeah, and it's like, look, I just I worry about the concussions, and you know you don't want to draft scared because any running back can end up with concussions. Any running back can get hurt year in and year out. But I'm more so worried about. Look the the system with Steve Sarkisian here. Last the last three years, his targets have dipped each year. He had ninety seven targets back in that was with Kyle Shanahan.

Even with Shanahan and twenty six team, his targets dipped by thirty two down to sixty five targets. Last year that dipped by eighteen more, only forty seven targets. So we're talking about DeVonta Freeman had thirty six receptions last year. That might be the same range that Jordan Howard is in this year. Like, yeah, Jordan Howard is not gonna catch a lot of passes. He might be like thirty

thirty five catches. All right, that's not great. But DeVonta Freeman a three year trend of just trending downwards with the receptions, and I worry about how Steve Sarkasan is gonna use him. I will say this Greg that as long as DeVonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman have been on this team, he dominates red zone work. When they get inside the red zone, when they get inside the ten inside the five. That is DeVonta Freeman's job. But I just feel like he is trending in the wrong direction.

And you know, for all the reasons we like the Bears offense this year, I think their offensive line is solid. They're gonna be able to move the ball more this season, just a better overall scheme. With Matt Naggi coming over, I think there's gonna be opportunities for you know, close to if not double digit touchdowns for Jordan Howard. And like I said, they mentioned they want to get him more involved. In the past game, I could see him

with thirty thirty five receptions. So as of now in the half point PPR, I've moved Jordan Howard ahead of DeVonta Freeman. I'm just kind of souring off Freeman right now with the concussions and the targets, a three year downward trend for him. I love Jordan Howard and you know that I loved him last year. I love him again. He's my number thirteen running back across the all formats.

Here's number thirteen for me. But problem with Jordan Howard is and you said, listen, you can get perceptions, and that's true, but after we too last year, I proposed trading away Jordan Howard for Rico, and then Rico owner said, no, like that's the direction we were in. How drastic it was after two weeks that was John Fox like, totally we're projecting forward now, Greggy yea, yeah, I'm just saying

how drastic it got for Jordan Howard. And I do wonder that if he does struggle in the passing game, we do see more of three cooing. And people are really high on Thurrico in this year, like extremely high. I'm not. I'm not. Maybe it's because I really liked Jordan Howard, but that fear is there, and that's ultimately why I trust him the least out of those three guys McCaffrey and Freeman. I love Jordan Howard, He's thirteen.

I just think when you're splitting hairs here, I'm gonna take the guy who I think, Jordan Howard is more of a guaranteed workhorse running back. You look the past two years, Vonta Freeman has been right around fourteen rushing attempts per game. Now his receptions have come down again or point nine per game three years ago, three point four,

two point six last year. So if he's only getting fourteen uh carries and then around three receptions per game, you're at about seventeen touches and again he's gonna get that that work inside the reds own. But if Jordan Howard, you're guaranteeing me, you know, seventeen eighteen carries the game and you know whatever it is two receptions if he's

in that thirty reception rains. Once again, I just I think I feel better about Jordan Howard being more of a workhorse running back for his team, whereas he doesn't have the injury history of the concussions concerned. Um, I just I don't feel good about drafting DeVante Freeman all

that much anymore in the second round. Again, for me, I look at DeVante Freeman much like I looked at Kaream Hunt, Like this is a guy that I if I don't even think the things to break his way that he finished a top twelve running back, and I feel the same in all formats. And I feel the same way when it comes to my number twel running

back that Christian McCaffrey could do it. Um, Jordan Howard can also, But like your first twelve running bats theoretically or r V one's right, like all those twelve guys, you believe you're gonna be r V one. I believe that even though Jordan Howard did it last year, I believe there's a better chance than projection forward, that Devonte Freeman does it than Jordan Howard. And it's again, it's two spots. That's where I have Jordan Howard, then another two some of the final two for me in the

second round. Frank has a once Rancus one guy left. I have two here, and I hope Frank tells me why he doesn't agree, and I'm sure he will. But for me, and Frank's really called me out over the order of this, I have Jered McKinnon and I have Joe Mixon. I remember when we remember we laughed at this when we said Jerreed McKinnon really and Joe Mixon

we're both second round running backs. But the deeper we get in the draft season, you're seeing it be a realization to me, these are two guys I'd much rather take towards the turn, especially if you drafted running back with your first pick. Grab the wide receivers here, grab the Allen's the Adams and Greens, the Hilton's Evans like. I like those guys better than these two running backs.

I want to preface that by saying, but as I look at the next year running backs, the guys to come after, uh, to me, the Royce Freeman's and Derrick Henry the Alex Collins, like, these guys are end of the third round guys. To me, McKinnon and Mixing are significantly better, and I'm skipping McCoy's. I honestly have no idea what to do with and maybe we can discuss that. But to me, McKinnon and Mixing or a tier above all the other names I just mentioned. That's why I

believe they fitten this tire. The guys I want to take a little bit later on more at the turn at two three may be at the beginning of the third round, but to me, Mixing and McKinnon are next. I'm buying into the Shanahan hype. I buy into the Shannahan every single year. To be perfectly honest with you, you drafted all over Carlos Side last year. I was all over Devonte Freeman the years prior to that. Because

Kyle Shanahan knows what he's doing with running backs. You go back to Washington where he at Alfred Morris, you go back to Houston where he had Arian Foster. It's not a coincidence. Kyle Shanahan knows what he's doing with running backs. This is why Matt Breeda became a thing last year. That's why many people believe Matt Brida will be a thing this year. I understand the workload concerns with McKinnon. I understand when everybody points out what he

did in Minnesota. It could not sustain all of those carries. I get it. But I think Kyle Shanahan's going to give him every opportunity to do so. The Niners line is improving. Frankie read that yesterday. I think how good the line was, um And those are the reasons to love McKinnon. Joe Mixon. I admit I have a little sour taste in my mouth from last year. I know he got better as the season went along. I know that the Bengals went out to improve their offensive line

as well. But when you look at the half point PBR and the full point PPR, and I'd say in the standard I would have mixing ahead of McKinnon, but Mixing is not gonna catch many passes on this team with giel Bernard still there, like that is still his role, that is still his job. I know mixes the goal line back, but I think McKinnon could be the goal line back anyway. I have a McKinnon and then Mixing

and the half point and the full point pbr. Yeah, so I have Mixing ahead of McKinnon in every format. I believe I have Mixing really right there, cemented it as my RB fourteen. I think he is right there behind those guys McCaffrey, Howard and Freeman regardless of format. So he's kind of just like entrenched as my RB

fourteen regardless of again, regardless of format. But I just think with with Joe Mixon, what the reason why I was kind of souring on him, like maybe he doesn't have immense upside because when last time we spoke about mixing, I said, the last five seasons, when thirteen seventeen, the lead backs for Marvin Lewis and the Bengals have average two hundred and thirteen carries per season. Four seasons before that, his lead backs average two hundred nine three carries perceedon

so I don't think we get there. But if you look at, you know, the top twelve fifteen running backs from last year, like, for example, Davantae Freeman finishes RB thirteen. He had a hundred and ninety six carries and he had thirty six receptions. Dan Lewis had a hundred and eighty carries and thirty two receptions. Like Joe Mixon can easily pay off where you're drafting him right now as

a top fifteen running back. He can pay off that value just getting two hundred and twenty carries and forty receptions. Remember last year he caught thirty of thirty four targets. I think Joe Mixon people sleep on this part of his game. He is a phenomenal receiver. Coming out of college, he was a great receiver. Gio Bernard is not going away. He will have a role, But I think that there's a fair shot that Joe Mixon can catch forty plus

balls this year, even with Gio Bernard being there. And I'll say two hundred twenty carries, so you get two hundred sixty total touches out of Joe Mixon. I think that's more than enough for him to pay off top fifteen running back value, high end RB two, maybe low end RB one, Eric McKinnon, Greg. I mean, the bad news just keeps on coming from the injury that we had before. It seems like every single day at practice, the forty Niners are running a different RB out there.

As for first team reps today, it was Jeremy McNichols. The team just signed Alfred Morris. We saw Joe Williams have a touchdown in the first preseason game, so he's a thing. Again. We have like five different running backs on this forty Niners team. And yes, while Kyle Shanahan produces, you know that those top scoring running backs, I think

this year could just be all over the map. I think, you know, Jerick McKinnon could be banged up a couple of weeks here, then we see Joe Williams, or we see him at Brida Matt Brida's banged up to I just think that we're gonna get It's gonna be all over the map this year. I've lowered Jack McKinnon all the way down to my RB twenty. He's not He's not even in the tier inside the round three running backs with Alex Collins, Lashawn McCoy, You're just County Shanahan, dude.

I know. The thing is. The thing is, I'm not I think that there can be RB value here, but on a weekend, week out basis, I don't know that you know who it's gonna be. I think it's gonna be. And I'll tell you why they paid him. They paid him money. But look, he's banged up. He's already banged up, Greg and it's the preseason. He's not even playing games. They're barely even making contact with each other yet, and the guy has already hurt. I just think once we

get into the season. And this is what Michael Florio myself continued to say when we first brought up Jack McKinnon being drafted in the second round, is there are durability concerns. Not only that, there has been efficiency concerns. He hasn't been a great running back at the NFL level yet. And I know he hasn't played for Kyle Shanahan yet. But Latavia's Murray looked pretty damn good playing with Pat Sherman and the Vikings offense last year. They

didn't bring Jack McKinnon back for a reason. They kept Latavia's Murray's, if Latavia's Murray, it's better than Jerick McKinnon. What does that say? It doesn't say anything. It says that got paid. That Jerry McKinney got paid a lot of money. There's just a really good chance that the forty Niners made a mistake and maybe they'll realize that

sooner than later. And that's what I'm expecting, because I just think it's gonna be a running back carousel this year, and maybe this is probably gonna be better for DFS. Whoever starting at the running back position for the forty Niners weekend and week out, maybe you want to plug

that guy in. But I'm not using a second, not even a third round pick on Jack McKinnon if I don't know that he's going to be the starting running back every week based on injury history or the fact that I just think that he's not really that great of a running back. Two more names I want to mention that go around here before we get to tomorrow, show Lashaw McCoy and mark Ingram. Ingram suspended for four games. Sean McCoy has a suspension probably hanging over him. Potentially,

I was probably potentially Where do you draft these guys. Yes, we'll talk about it more tomorrow, but I still think Lashawn McCoy just based on volume. Um, you know I was gonna bring this, I'll say, you know, I'll bring up the stat now. Frank Gore finished as RB nineteen last year because he had two D and sixty one carries, right. I think Lashawn McCoy, if he says healthy, he's a lot for two D fifty carries. It's based on the value he'll a volume will still pay off that third

round running back value. It's not the talent that scares me in any way. With the Shawn McCoy, it's being placed in the Commissioner's example list and then you lose him for Frank Staffle. I'm Greg Susman. More running back talk tomorrow, we hope