Fantasy RB rankings (part two)
What we've covered so far:
Running back rankings (part one)
Also, don't forget to check out the Daily News' fantasy football preview.
Here are the rest of the running backs, Nos. 15-30:
15. Laurence Maroney, Patriots
Maroney owners hope he'll resemble the running back who had four 100-plus yard games in the Patriots' last six contests (including playoffs) in 2007. Maroney would be ranked higher, but the Patriots have a number of running backs on their roster, and no one really knows just how they'll be used.
16. Brandon Jacobs, Giants
No one would have guessed he would score less with Tiki Barber gone than he did when Barber was there. Jacobs was good when healthy last year, but he scored just six touchdowns. He's productive when in the lineup, but is a bit of a risk, considering the Giants have solid backups and Jacobs has yet to prove he can shoulder the load for a No. 1 back
17. Darren McFadden, Raiders
If there's an Adrian Peterson of this year, many think it will be McFadden. Oakland ran the ball 508 times last season, fourth-most in the league. And they were pretty effective too, averaging 130.4 yards per game on the ground, sixth-best in the league. Look for instant production from McFadden.
18. Earnest Graham, Bucs
In 2007, only four players had more rushing touchdowns than Graham, who found the end zone 10 times. He also showed versatility with 49 catches, 13 of which came in one game in Week 7.
19. Thomas Jones, Jets
New York made moves to improve its offensive line after Jones had nowhere to run last year. He had over 1,300 rushing/receiving yards but scored just twice. It's rare for running backs to have strong fantasy years after their 30th birthdays.
20. Reggie Bush, Saints
Who knows if he'll ever be a really good fantasy option? Bush didn't show any improvement from a fantasy standpoint in his second season, totaling fewer than 1,000 yards in 12 games. Bush averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, but he did have 73 catches, which ranked second among running backs.
21. Michael Turner, Falcons
The Falcons struggled in pretty much all areas last year, including running the football. Now, Turner gets the ball as the primary back after years of being drafted as LT's handcuff.
22. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
He averaged over 141 rushing/receiving yards per game in 2007 before going down in Week 7 with a torn ACL. How much of a concern is Brown's health? Will Ricky Williams be a factor? Those are the questions that prevent Brown from being ranked any higher.
23. Edgerrin James, Cardinals
He quietly ranked seventh in the NFL with 1,222 rushing yards, and only Portis had more carries. However, at the age of 30, James seems much more likely to fade than improve. He's a risky pick.
24. LenDale White, Titans
The Titans drafted RB Chris Johnson, but White had a solid 2007 season, ranking 12th with 1,110 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. His 3.6 yards per carry should be a concern though.
25. Fred Taylor, Jaguars
At the age of 31, he was the league's ninth-leading rusher with 1,202 yards to go along with an impressive 5.4 yards per carry. Taylor has quietly put together 1,100 yard seasons in five of the past six. And he's only missed two games since 2006. Age, Maurice Jones-Drew and the fact that Taylor's not a threat as a receiver are all concerns
26. Selvin Young, Broncos
Draft Mike Shanahan running backs at your own risk. Young looks like he'll be the man in Denver – for now. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season.
27. Kevin Smith, Lions
If he can replicate the numbers from his senior season at Central Florida, Smith will go down as the greatest fantasy player of all time. The rookie piled up 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns in college last year. If you're going to pick a Lions running back (and I'm not saying you should), he's the one to take a chance on.
28. Matt Forte, Bears
With Cedric Benson out of the picture, it looks like Forte, a second-round pick, will get the bulk of the carries in Chicago. Unfortunately, the Bears averaged 3.1 yards per carry last season, the worst mark in the NFL.
29. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
The talent is there, but excitement should be tempered, considering Stewart is likely to split carries with DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers ran for just seven touchdowns as a team last season.
30. Julius Jones, Seahawks
He never really produced as a fantasy back in Dallas, but maybe a change of scenery will help. Jones is only 27-years-old but could be splitting carries with Maurice Morris.
Others to consider:
Ricky Williams, Dolphins
Chris Johnson, Titans
Chris Perry, Bengals
DeAngelo Williams, Panthers
Justin Fargas, Raiders
Chester Taylor, Vikings
Andre Hall, Broncos
Maurice Morris, Seahawks
Rudi Johnson, Bengals
Kenny Watson, Bengals