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David Johnson, ARI: Basically a younger and more durable version of Le'Veon Bell.
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Ezekiel Elliott, DAL: Lingering off-field issues hint at possible trouble down the road.
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Le'Veon Bell, PIT: Combination of injuries/history of off-field issues keeps him from being No. 1 on this list.
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Todd Gurley, LAR: Addition of Lance Dunbar curbs 2017 upside, but OL upgrades should help him return to respectability.
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Leonard Fournette, JAC: Should be a near-lock for around 300 touches every year.
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Jay Ajayi, MIA: Bone-on-bone knee condition will always make him a risk, but he is the offensive centerpiece in Miami.
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Devonta Freeman, ATL: Ranks this low only b/c of OC change and the fact Tevin Coleman isn't going to go away.
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Christian McCaffrey, CAR: Perhaps the "safest" rookie RB; could be a threat for 700-plus yards rushing AND 600-plus receiving.
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Lamar Miller, HOU: Good time to buy Miller short-term, as D'Onta Foreman isn't a huge threat and C Nick Martin's return should boost o-line.
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Joe Mixon, CIN: Almost impossible to rank but a great gamble for owners with two top-five picks; IF he stays out of trouble, he has Tier 1 upside.
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Isaiah Crowell, CLE: Crowell appears locked in as the main guy and Cleveland is building a very good o-line.
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Dalvin Cook, MIN: Best talent in Minnesota but has more obstacles than any other rookie RB: injury history, off-field, Latavius Murray, etc.
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Tevin Coleman, ATL: Owners have reason to be concerned new OC Steve Sarkisian won't have same "feel" for backfield as Kyle Shananhan did.
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DeMarco Murray, TEN: Rather trade him a year early as opposed to a year too late. Derrick Henry is going to get his sooner than later.
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Kareem Hunt, KC: May not be the second coming of Jamaal Charles, but HC Andy Reid typically works magic with RBs.
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Carlos Hyde, SF: Entering walk year, is he is a fit in new offense? Joe Williams a threat to steal work right away.
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Marlon Mack, IND: Frank Gore will slow down soon, and this big-play rookie is in line for big workload as early as 2018.
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Samaje Perine, WAS: Rob Kelley does not present a huge obstacle; rookie is the favorite for goal-line duties right away.
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Alvin Kamara, NO: Saints see next Reggie Bush/Darren Sproles but will there be enough touches for him after Ingram and AP?
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Mark Ingram, NO: Difficult to gauge just how much AP's arrival hurts his overall short-term value.
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Mike Gillislee, NE: Never easy to trust Pats RBs, but he is the most powerful back on a loaded offense.
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Paul Perkins, NYG: Good: Giants didn't give him much competition via draft. Bad: Big Blue didn't do much to upgrade o-line.
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Jamaal Williams, GB: Likely to get first crack at filling role Eddie Lacy's old role. Should be Packers' early-down/goal-line back in short order.
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Kenneth Dixon, BAL: Four-game suspension to begin 2017 may present buying window for owners.
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Joe Williams, SF: Kyle Shanahan's handpicked RB could be his next Tevin Coleman.
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Spencer Ware, KC: Isn't going away anytime soon, but Kareem Hunt should emerge as the lead back quickly.
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Bilal Powell, NYJ: With Matt Forte aging/passing game lacking proven playmakers, Powell could be garbage-time king in 2017.
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James Conner, PIT: Le'Veon Bell's handcuff is perhaps the most valuable one in fantasy.
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Marshawn Lynch, OAK: Will year off help him or hurt him? Is he back for more than one season?
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Eddie Lacy, SEA: Tough to get too excited about this "starter" when he has two more dynamic players backing him up.
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Jonathan Williams, BUF: Very likely Williams will be featured if/when LeSean McCoy gets hurt.
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Jeremy McNichols, TB: After discovering Charles Sims wasn't a three-down RB, rookie should be Doug Martin's handcuff.
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Aaron Jones, GB: May take a while to pay off; value would skyrocket if Ty Montgomery goes down.
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Latavius Murray, OAK: More of a buzzkill for Dalvin Cook owners than anything else at this point.
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Terrance West, BAL: Hard to see improving his fantasy stock much w/ Danny Woodhead possibly stealing goal-line work.
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Danny Woodhead, BAL: Will probably find someway to be Ravens' top fantasy RB, but how much longer can/will he play?
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Giovani Bernard, CIN: At the very least, Mixon will likely steal most of his passing-down work.
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Donnel Pumphrey, PHI: Has as good of a shot as any Eagles RB to emerge as the lead back.
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Jerick McKinnon, MIN: Entering contract year; superb athlete should get another shot at being lead back somewhere else in 2018.
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Branden Oliver, LAC: Only RB on roster after Gordon capable of doing similar things, albeit at a lower level.
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Elijah Hood, OAK: The logical successor to Lynch and the most likely lead back in Oakland if something happens to Beast Mode.
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Charles Sims, TB: Jeremy McNichols' arrival is bad news for his long-term future.
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Kyle Juszczyk, SF: Niners did not give him a four-year, $21 M deal just to block.
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= Upside
= Risk
