Fantasy Football drafts are around the corner. Below are my top five picks at running back for next season.
1. Adrian Peterson (MIN)
18.6 PPG*. 2097 yards, 12 TD
There's no need for an analysis here. When most players need a full year to return to form after coming back from ACL surgery, AP returned and had an MVP year. A full season removed from his ACL injury will make him even better - if that's possible. He'll still be expected this season to carry his team.
2. Arian Foster (HOU)
15.5 PPG. 1424 yards, 15 TD
Foster remains a huge part of the Texans' offense. He's had three straight 1,000-plus yard seasons with double-digit touchdowns, and there's no reason to expect this year to be any different.
3. Doug Martin (TB)
15.5 PPG. 1454 yards, 11 TD
Despite a slow start, the rookie became a midseason star, tearing up defenses and never looking back. Now in his second year, expect the Muscle Hamster to continue from where he left off.
4. Alfred Morris (WAS)
14.4 PPG. 1613 yards, 13 TD
Take away the talented quarterback class last season and Morris would have been in contention for the NFL Rookie of the Year. He excelled in coach Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme, tallying 1,613 yards on the ground and ranking as a top five back. More impressive, he was still No. 2 in NFL rushing yards and touchdowns while quarterback Robert Griffin III rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.
He's set for an even better season this year. Aside from the benefit of one full NFL season under his belt, Morris will see even more carries as Shanahan likely plays it safer with Griffin on the ground.
5. Marshawn Lynch
14.6 PPG. 1590, 11 TD
Lynch is a beast. More important, he's consistently a beast. Despite the emergence of quarterback Russell Wilson and the addition of receiver Percy Harvin, ESPN reports that coach Pete Carroll wants to remain a running team.
Sleeper: Stevan Ridley (NE)
11.9 PPG. 1263 yards, 12 TD
No, Ridley shouldn't go before a number of other backs (Richardson, Rice, Spiller, Charles, Forte). But Ridley does have great upside if all the big names are off the board by the second or third round.
Ridley rushed 290 times last season - and that was with Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez on the roster. New England doesn't have the same receiving weapons anymore, and Gronk's health is uncertain. While Brady will get his numbers with whoever is on the field, Ridley should have an even more prominent role in the offense and see an increased number of touches.
*PPG - Average points per game last season based on ESPN standard league scoring.
