Updated: RB Tiers of Heaven

You may have heard this offseason that it's a "down year" for running backs because of all the committees. While there is certainly more uncertainty after the Top Ten than usual, it's more accurate to say that last year was a down year for running backs. That is mostly reflected in our Top-200 rankings, where we recommend taking most WR1s over second running backs.

Editor's Note: It's not too late to get the 2008 Rotoworld Football Draft Guide

Just don't get carried away. Because of position scarcity, nabbing three quality running backs is still a must for any owner with designs on a title. You just may be able to grab those starters a round or two later than usual. Quality players will fall to the fifth and sixth rounds.

Note: These players are ranked in standard non-PPR scoring.

Tier One: LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson

Peterson's collapse in December made this decision easier, but not a cinch. Peterson is a singular talent. Drafting him is drafting a 10% chance at a historic season. He still has a lot of room for improvement, which is scary. LT2 is still the best, but he's not going to reach his 2006 dominance again.

Tier Two: Steven Jackson, Brian Westbrook, Joseph Addai, Frank Gore

We'd take all these backs before any quarterback or receiver. Westbrook is likely to see fewer touches this season, but remains the best pass-catching back in the league. Jackson performed as expected after his injury last season despite a terrible team. The offensive line has to get better. Jackson is back after his holdout and we aren't worried about a slow start or injury. Addai is the safest bet for 12+ scores other than LT2, but probably won't reach 300 carries. Gore's talent and the addition of Mike Martz will make him a great value if he falls.

Tier Three: Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis, Marion Barber, Ryan Grant

The end of the true RB1s. This is a season with very few sure things at the position. Lynch is clear of any legal problems and is entering his prime. No one breaks more tackles. Other than Barber, we see 300 carries from the other backs in this tier. Barber makes it up with touchdowns and receptions. It would've been nice to have seen Grant play in the preseason, but he's healthy. Even though the top wideouts are safer picks, we'd still grab these RB1s before most of them. Grant is starting to slip behind a few top receivers, though.

Tier Four: Maurice Jones-Drew, Larry Johnson, Brandon Jacobs, Willis McGahee, Jamal Lewis, Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, Jonathan Stewart

Leagues will be won and lost this season at the RB2 position. Mo-Jo needs Fred Taylor to get hurt to realize his full potential. Larry Johnson may be healthier, but he was struggling badly on the Chiefs before getting hurt next year. He won't look like the old L.J. until Will Shields and Willie Roaf un-retire. McGahee was very steady last season, but his offensive line is worse and he's coming off a mid-August surgery. Jacobs, Bush, and Maroney could be buy-low candidates on explosive offenses, but they have to worry about carries. Jacobs has the highest ceiling of any back here if he stays healthy. Stewart is an intriguing all-down bruiser who could be a great value as a rookie like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch last season. He may not open the year carrying the load, but he'll finish it that way.

We see more boom-or-busts in this group than ever. Taking a second-round wide receiver makes a lot of sense this year ahead of most of these guys. You can limit your risk and maximize value by taking this group in round three. Two backs from the top four tiers starts off your running back group with strength.

Willis McGahee took a hit in our most recent draft guide rankings.

Tier Five: Darren McFadden, Thomas Jones, Michael Turner, Earnest Graham, Selvin Young

The last of the legitimate RB2s. McFadden may not last long, but the other four could fall into the fourth and fifth rounds. Jones isn't flashy, but he could give you 300 cheap carries. Jones is a safe bet to score more. Turner is a great talent, but is stuck in a nearly impossible situation. Earnest Graham is unlikely to carry the load as much as last year. Selvin Young is the ultimate boom-or-bust pick, but he'll be a difference maker while healthy. If you don't have a RB2 before this tier, make sure to get one.

Tier Six: Ronnie Brown, Matt Forte, LenDale White, Willie Parker, Edgerrin James, Chris Johnson, Rashard Mendenhall, Fred Taylor, Chester Taylor

The best of the committee backs and RB3s. Ronnie Brown is a top-five talent, but has yet to top 300 touches and is coming off a torn ACL. Don't forsake him just because he'll start slow. And do you really want to bet on Ricky Williams staying healthy all year? White faces a challenge from Chris Johnson, but still should lead a smashmouth team with a great line in carries. He can still crack 1,000 yards and 8-10 scores. He's a safer pick than Johnson in non-PPR formats, but Johnson should get the ball enough to be an intriguing fantasy reserve. Johnson moved up in the last two weeks. Forte has a decent chance to lead all rookie runners in carries, but the Bears' offense is a concern. Parker is going to lose work to Mendenhall, and now profiles like a younger Fred Taylor, needing a big play every week to be worth using. Chester Taylor has stand-alone value, but Adrian Peterson owners should reach a round early for him.

We look at RB3s as a starter, whether you use a flex position or not. You will need to use them over the course of the season. These are the best of the bunch and have mid-round grades.

Tier Seven: DeAngelo Williams, Ricky Williams, Chris Perry, Felix Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, Julius Jones, Justin Fargas, Kevin Smith, Maurice Morris

Shaky starters, promising backups, and some players in between. The situations in Cincy, Carolina, and Detroit remain up for grabs. Kevin Smith and Chris Perry are the favorites, but are no locks to keep their jobs or stay healthy for long. Committees look likely. DeAngelo Williams may open the year as a starter in Carolina, but probably won't play in the red zone and is likely to lose his job. Bradshaw could be the most dynamic committee back in the league. Fargas was a perfect fit for Oakland's scheme and may be ignored in drafts this year. Felix Jones is a dynamic third-down back at worst. Julius Jones is set up for a rebound in Seattle, but has looked like an average talent. He will probably spend the year splitting carries with Morris, who is undervalued. Ricky is a boom-or-bust pick that should be productive until gets hurt.

RB4s are ultimately reserves, so be careful of reaching too early for risky picks. They should start going off the board halfway through a 12-team draft. Pick a player or two that you feel is undervalued to build your depth. Ideally, you'd draft four backs from the first seven tiers.

Tier Eight: Ray Rice, Jerious Norwood, Kenny Watson, Pierre Thomas, Steve Slaton

For the most part, these are high upside backups and third-down backs. Rice has earned a big role in Baltimore with an impressive rookie off-season. He could play more early with Willis McGahee banged up. Slaton is the only person guaranteed a role in Houston's backfield and could wind up leading the team in carries. Thomas has extra value as a backup on a high-octane offense. Norwood continues to be limited by his situation in Atlanta, but he's very talented.

Tier Nine: Fred Jackson, Ladell Betts, Rudi Johnson, Tim Hightower, Andre Hall, Dominic Rhodes, LaMont Jordan, Chris Brown, Kevin Jones, Ahman Green, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Ward, Leon Washington, Jason Wright, Chris Taylor, Brandon Jackson, Tatum Bell

The best of the remaining draftable players and handcuffs to attach to your starters. Of this group, Hightower, Green, and Jordan have the most potential to emerge with a bigger role. Hall and Rhodes are intriguing because they are an injury away on explosive offenses. Hightower is already a goal-line back and will push for a much larger role as the season moves ahead. Jackson is a good handcuff for Ryan Grant. Rhodes is a must-have for Joseph Addai owners. Rudi and Chris Brown could be cut this weekend.

Tier Ten: Deuce McAllister, Michael Bush, Jamaal Charles, Correll Buckhalter, Chris Taylor, Lorenzo Booker, Jacob Hester, Sammy Morris, DeShaun Foster, Brian Calhoun, Kolby Smith, Adrian Peterson (CHI), Kevin Faulk

Mostly reserves here with questionable roles, but they are all on the fantasy radar. McAllister has the chance for a big role, but any success would be going against all medical precedent after dual ACL and microfracture surgeries in the off-season. Watch our news closely to see what develops with all the borderline cases.

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