Foster: fantasy football running back draft prep rankings

With the 2016 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror and most NFL free agents with their new squads, here are the FOX Fantasy department's way-too-early 2016 fantasy football draft strategy rankings.
You can click on the links below to switch between FOX Fantasy experts' draft rankings and positional rankings:
Foster: QB | RB | WR | TE | Fowler | Meyer | Halpin
Player | Bye Week |
1. Le'Veon Bell (Pit - RB) | 8 |
2. Todd Gurley (StL - RB) | 8 |
3. David Johnson (Ari - RB) | 9 |
4. Adrian Peterson (Min - RB) | 6 |
5. Devonta Freeman (Atl - RB) | 11 |
6. Lamar Miller (Hou - RB) | 9 |
7. Ezekiel Elliott (Dal - RB) | 7 |
8. Jamaal Charles (KC - RB) | 5 |
9. LeSean McCoy (Buf - RB) | 10 |
10. Latavius Murray (Oak - RB) | 10 |
11. C.J. Anderson (Den - RB) | 11 |
12. Mark Ingram (NO - RB) | 5 |
13. Doug Martin (TB - RB) | 6 |
14. Thomas Rawls (Sea - RB) | 5 |
15. Jonathan Stewart (Car - RB) | 7 |
16. Eddie Lacy (GB - RB) | 4 |
17. Dion Lewis (NE - RB) | 9 |
18. Matt Jones (Was - RB) | 9 |
19. Matt Forte (NYJ - RB) | 11 |
20. DeMarco Murray (Ten - RB) | 13 |
21. Jeremy Hill (Cin - RB) | 9 |
22. Carlos Hyde (SF - RB) | 8 |
23. Melvin Gordon (SD - RB) | 11 |
24. Jeremy Langford (Chi - RB) | 9 |
25. Jay Ajayi (Mia - RB) | 8 |
26. Justin Forsett (Bal - RB) | 8 |
27. Ryan Mathews (Phi - RB) | 4 |
28. Chris Ivory (Jac - RB) | 5 |
29. Danny Woodhead (SD - RB) | 11 |
30. Ameer Abdullah (Det - RB) | 10 |
31. Frank Gore (Ind - RB) | 10 |
32. T.J. Yeldon (Jac - RB) | 5 |
33. Giovani Bernard (Cin - RB) | 9 |
34. Charles Sims (TB - RB) | 6 |
35. Duke Johnson Jr. (Cle - RB) | 13 |
36. Karlos Williams (Buf - RB) | 10 |
37. LeGarrette Blount (NE - RB) | 9 |
38. Rashad Jennings (NYG - RB) | 8 |
39. Theo Riddick (Det - RB) | 10 |
40. Ka'Deem Carey (Chi - RB) | 9 |
41. Bilal Powell (NYJ - RB) | 11 |
42. James Starks (GB - RB) | 4 |
43. Tevin Coleman (Atl - RB) | 11 |
44. Charcandrick West (KC - RB) | 5 |
45. Isaiah Crowell (Cle - RB) | 13 |
46. Arian Foster (FA - RB) | N/A |
47. Javorius Allen (Bal - RB) | 8 |
48. Kenneth Dixon (Bal - RB) | 8 |
49. Christine Michael (Sea - RB) | 5 |
50. Derrick Henry (Ten - RB) | 13 |
51. Darren McFadden (Dal - RB) | 7 |
52. Andre Ellington (Ari - RB) | 9 |
53. Tre Mason (StL - RB) | 8 |
54. Cameron Artis-Payne (Car - RB) | 7 |
55. James White (NE - RB) | 9 |
56. Chris Thompson (Was - RB) | 9 |
57. DeAngelo Williams (Pit - RB) | 8 |
58. C.J. Prosise (Sea - RB) | 5 |
59. Alfred Blue (Hou - RB) | 9 |
60. Darren Sproles (Phi - RB) | 4 |
61. Brandon Bolden (NE - RB) | 9 |
62. Jerick McKinnon (Min - RB) | 6 |
63. Shane Vereen (NYG - RB) | 8 |
64. Chris Johnson (Ari - RB) | 9 |
65. Lance Dunbar (Dal - RB) | 7 |
66. Spencer Ware (KC - RB) | 5 |
67. C.J. Spiller (NO - RB) | 5 |
68. Alfred Morris (Dal - RB) | 7 |
69. Tim Hightower (NO - RB) | 5 |
70. Mike Tolbert (Car - RB) | 7 |
71. Shaun Draughn (SF - RB) | 8 |
72. Kendall Gaskins (SF - RB) | 8 |
73. Antonio Andrews (Ten - RB) | 13 |
74. Robert Turbin (Ind - RB) | 10 |
75. Ronnie Hillman (Den - RB) | 11 |
Le'Veon Bell is the most patient running back I've ever seen. Even after the injuries, he has the vision to average over five yards a carry, and his receiving skills are legit. He's still my top ranked RB.
Todd Gurley and David Johnson are nipping at his heels, though. Johnson showed big play ability and great hands out of the backfield, which is a fantasy combination we covet. The days of the true bellcow are over, but Todd Gurley is the closest thing we'll have to it next year. The only downside with him is the lack of receptions.
Devonta Freeman's year was a little fluky, but PPR players shouldn't drop him too far. He'll carry you with receptions, even if the touchdowns and yards continue to slow down. I'm excited to see what Lamar Miller can do with an actual coach who will be comfortable giving him the ball 20 times a game instead of 10. The guy averages 4.6 yards a carry on his career, after all.
It's rare we get a rookie RB in the top-10, but Dallas is a different monster. That offensive line brought Darren McFadden back to life, and we know the Cowboys want to run the ball a ton.
Jamaal Charles is great when he plays, but you have to wonder if he can fully rebound from another major injury. I'm still not taking untrustworthy options like LeSean McCoy, Doug Martin and Eddie Lacy over him.
The dropoff after the first eight or so running backs is pretty severe, in my view. If you don't get one early, it might be best to load up on receivers and draft committee members later on.