Fantasy: 2017 Rankings - Running Backs

theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 of FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in four of the last five seasons.

Scroll down to get an early look at his rankings for 2017, including analysis below. Defenses and kickers will be published after free agency, while rookies will be added following the NFL draft.

Standard Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | Top 150

Running Backs

• Notable Free Agents - Le'Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray, LeGarrette Blount, Danny Woodhead, DeAngelo Williams, Darren McFadden

• Le'Veon Bell - There's a clear top three at running back heading into next season, with Bell battling David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott for the RB crown. Bell gets knocked to the bottom of that pack due to his suspension and health risks, but if we were basing it purely on talent, the ranking would be Bell, Johnson, Elliott.

• Jay Ajayi - The Dolphins breakout star put up 1,272 yards after playing limited snaps over the first month of the season. Miami believes he's just scratching the surface of his abilities, which is true, but for Ajayi to reach the next level the Dolphins need to improve their offensive line during the offseason. Ajayi's rushing totals dipped during a tough stretch of the schedule when the line was dealing with injuries.

• C.J. Anderson - The Broncos starter is one of many players who will be undervalued due to a season-ending injury in 2016. While Anderson didn't blow the doors off in his seven appearances, he was far more effective last year than his replacements and will return as the focal point of the offense.

• Spencer Ware - Jamaal Charles could be a cap casualty, which means Ware has a chance to enter the season as the Chiefs top ball carrier, a role he filled all last year when Charles was sidelined. Many will look at Ware's good-but-not-great numbers, missing the fact he has the skills to be an RB1 in fantasy.

• Paul Perkins - Despite an embarrassingly inefficient rushing attack, the Giants refused to give their dynamic rookie a majority of the carries until late in the season. He rewarded them with a 4.8 yards per carry over the final three games, which included the team's first 100-yard game of the year. Hopefully they learned their lesson.

• Adrian Peterson - Finding out which jersey Peterson will be wearing is one of the biggest storylines of the offseason, but while the name on the back remains the same, the player inside it is in full decline. Unless he ends up in a perfect situation, Peterson shouldn't be taken in the early rounds.

• Chris Ivory - When he was on the field, Ivory played well for a Jacksonville offense that struggled to get leads. If the Jaguars don't use a high pick on a running back, Ivory could be a nice value pick for fantasy owners.

Standard Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | Top 150