Week 2 RB Rankings — Sponsored by SKYLLZONE

We learned an awful lot about the NFL running backs position in Week 1, but we also had just as many new questions arise. Our Week 2 RB Rankings hope to help solve some of those problems for you to either help you get to 2-0 or to help you get your first win … or to help you not tie?

The running back position in Baltimore is certainly the biggest question mark entering Week 2.

Considering Ray Rice didn’t play last week and was suspended still for this week, it’s crazy to think news surrounding him sent the Week 2 RB Rankings into a tailspin!

Well, it was the new of his release from the Ravens paired with the horrible performance of Bernard Pierce against the Bengals that really got us crazy.

Balling/Bawling in Baltimore

My belief is that the Ravens will go with Justin Forsett for the larger portion of carries, even though Baltimore says they’ll split time. Forsett has had time in Gary Kubiak’s offense already and he’s adept in the passing game. (Although, we don’t expect Joe Flacco to throw it over 60 times again any time soon.)

The SKYLLZONE Week 2 ADP shows Pierce with an ADP of 80.22, and Forsett at 8.361.

One thing I’d like to point out is that the Ravens also have rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro sitting on their bench, and he has a better build to be a starting tailback than Forsett, who is better as a change-of-pace guy. And Taliaferro led the NFL during the preseason with 243 rushing yards. Granted, the 3.7 yards per rushing attempt isn’t the best number, it does prove the Ravens wanted him to ramp up and be NFL-ready.

If you have a deep roster – pick up the rookie running back from Coastal Carolina for later weeks.

Backup Browns Backs

Another AFC North team with some issues behind the quarterback, Cleveland will be without their oft-injured free-agent signee, Ben Tate, for a few weeks because of a knee injury. That leaves two rookies to “carry” the load for the Browns for the next couple weeks.

Terrance West is the main backup for Tate, and the rookie out of Towson was expected to be the main tailback in Week 2. He rushed for 100 yards in Week 1, after a very disappointing preseason, with just 83 rushing yards on 31 attempts (2.7 yards per carry).

Not only did fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell perform better (105 yards, 3.8 YPC), but so did the other rookie, QB Johnny Manziel (88 yards, 7.3 YPC).

West was owned in about 70 percent of CBS leagues this past Tuesday, so it was the rookie out of Georgia that was the big pickup. Crowell was the 2011 Freshman of the Year, but off-the-field troubles got him booted out of Georgia. He’s full of talent, so I like him as a nice deep-league pickup as an RB5.

The SKYLLZONE Week 2 ADP shows fans are banking on Crowell getting more touchdowns in Week 2 with an ADP of 58.22, and West is surprisingly low, at 83.04. For Week 2, I think I’d switch those numbers around.
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Week 2 RB Rankings

These rankings are based on standard non-PPR Fantasy leagues with six points per touchdown.

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Which running backs do you think we have too high or too low in our Week 2 RB Rankings? These articles are meant to help readers, so your comments give them an added perspective.