Fantasy: Dynasty running back rankings

These rankings are intended for use in dynasty and keeper fantasy football formats. They are influenced by a variety of short- and long-term factors, including a player's talent, place on the depth chart, age, injury history, and contract.

OVR | QB | RB | WR | TE

Running Backs

• Don't worry about Le'Veon Bell's marijuana suspension. It truly sounds like he made an immature mistake and has learned his lesson.

• DeMarco Murray, LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles are by no means old, but Todd Gurley is at least six years younger than any of them. If Gurley is 75 percent of what draftniks say he is (and what the Rams told us they believe he is by where they drafted him), it's worth the risk of taking him over some proven high-end RB1s with significantly less gas left in the tank.
  
• Like Gurley, Jeremy Hill's youth (he's 22) gives him the edge over Murray, McCoy and Charles. Hill proved he can dominate as a pro, but his upside falls a bit short of Gurley's.

• Adrian Peterson is the rare fantasy asset whose short-term ceiling is so high that he's worth more than most younger players - even some who have very bright futures ahead of them. Worry about future production after Peterson carries you to a title this year.
  
• Only a few years ago, Trent Richardson was ranked by some fantasy analysts as the No. 1 asset in dynasty football. That should tell you something about how difficult it is to predict future running back production. Spend your capital on quarterbacks and wide receivers. Those positions retain far more value from year to year.