The Season is Approaching: Running Backs - Part 2

This is "Part 2" of a two-part series on drafting running backs for the 2016 fantasy football season: you can find and read "Part 1" here.

Los Angeles Rams (LA)
-Previously St. Louis Rams (STL)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Malcolm Brown
2. Benny Cunningham
3. Aaron Green
4. Todd Gurley
5. Terrence Magee
6. Tre Mason
7. Chase Reynolds

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Todd Gurley
2. Benny Cunningham
3. ?

The Rams now have a 1st-round QB and RB as their presumed starters, and both should benefit from this.
Jared Goff may end up having been a reach with the Rams' #1 overall pick, but Gurley can only make his life easier.
Gurley is a good draft pick for fantasy football players anywhere, and likely in the top three rounds.
The backup situation is unclear at this point, as Tre Mason, the originally presumed backup, is dealing with off-field issues currently.

Miami Dolphins (MIA)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Jay Ajayi
2. Kenyan Drake
3. Arian Foster
4. Isaiah Pead
5. Daniel Thomas
6. Damien Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Arian Foster
2. Jay Ajayi
3. Kenyan Drake
4. Damien Williams

Losing Lamar Miller is quite a blow, but the 'Phins were fortunate to pick up Foster, and considering all the positive reviews surrounding his current practices with the team, they may have even found a temporary upgrade (if they use him properly, which is always a big "IF" with the Dolphins).
Ajayi is talented, but dealing with injuries, and may have injury issues throughout his career.
Foster and Ajayi are the only running backs worth drafting from this team: the others are replacement-level or specialty 'backs.

Minnesota Vikings (MIN)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Matt Asiata
2. C.J. Ham
3. Jerick McKinnon
4. Kevin Monangai
5. Adrian Peterson
6. Jhurell Pressley

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Adrian Peterson
2. Jerick McKinnon
3. Matt Asiata

Adrian Peterson has long been known as one of the best running backs in the game during the last decade.
Last year was no exception: he played in all 16 games and ran for nearly 1,500 yards while adding over 200 receiving yards and scoring 11 touchdowns.
He should continue being a top draft pick, though apparently both he and McKinnon have been bit by the injury bug during this training camp.
McKinnon will be the main backup if he's healthy and might be worth a very late-round flier.
Asiata and others may function as TD-vultures on occasion, but they aren't worth a draft pick.

New England Patriots (NE)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. LeGarrette Blount
2. Brandon Bolden
3. Donald Brown
4. D.J. Foster
5. Tyler Gaffney
6. Joey Iosefa
7. Dion Lewis
8. James White

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. LeGarrette Blount
2. Dion Lewis
3. James White
4. D.J. Foster

New England running backs are notorious for being unpredictable, mostly due to coaching choices.
Because the Pats gameplan changes drastically from game to game based on the opposing team, there are weeks where one RB will be run 30 times for well over 100 yards, and then will drop to less than 10 carries the next week.
Blount has been the closest to consistent for NE, but is coming off a major injury and isn't even a lock to make the roster.
No Patriots RB is worth a draft pick outside of the latest rounds at this point.

New Orleans Saints (NO)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Travaris Cadet
2. Tim Hightower
3. Sione Houma
4. Mark Ingram
5. Daniel Lasco
6. C.J. Spiller
7. Marcus Murphy

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Mark Ingram
2. C.J. Spiller
3. Tim Hightower
4. Travaris Cadet

This is a tough one for injury-related reasons: Mark Ingram is one of my favorite runners in the game right now, but he has struggled to stay healthy, including dealing with a season-ending shoulder injury in week 13 of last season.
He should regain lead-back duties with Spiller functioning as the relief back.
Both Hightower and Cadet earned themselves occasional looks with their performance during the last four weeks of last season, so expect them to get some carries as well.
Ingram is still worth drafting somewhere in the upper rounds, especially if the Saints offense gets back to being the offensive machine it once was.

New York Giants (NYG)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Marshaun Coprich
2. Orleans Darkwa
3. Rashad Jennings
4. Paul Perkins
5. Bobby Rainey
6. Shane Vereen
7. Andre Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Shane Vereen
2. Rashad Jennings
3. Andre Williams
4. Paul Perkins

The Giants' RB coach is currently talking up Jennings, and he certainly was hot during the last four weeks of last season, but there was a four-headed committee during last season that doesn't seem to have truly disappeared.
This offense is one of my least favorite for consistent running backs, but if you want to take a chance, feel free to draft Jennings in the mid-rounds and/or Vereen in the late rounds.
No other RB on this roster is good enough to draft, or even worth picking up later off the waiver wire.

New York Jets (NYJ)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Matt Forte
2. Romar Morris
3. Bernard Pierce
4. Bilal Powell
5. Matthew Tucker
6. Dominique Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Matt Forte
2. Bilal Powell
3. Bernard Pierce

Chris Ivory may be gone, but replacing him with Matt Forte isn't bad at all.
Forte is one of the most respected running backs in the game, and also among the most versatile: he has caught more balls than most wide-outs in the game today.
Last year, Ivory and Powell formed a one-two punch with Powell getting about a sixth of the carries and catching balls occasionally as well, and Bowles has gone on record as saying that this year's plan is the same.
Forte should be worth a high pick once his hamstring is fully healed, and Powell may be worth a later flier as well.

Oakland Raiders (OAK)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. George Atkinson III
2. Taiwan Jones
3. Latavius Murray
4. Jalen Richard
5. DeAndre Washington

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Latavius Murray
2. Taiwan Jones
3. George Atkinson III

Murray is the clear-cut leader in this group, and the Raiders hardly even gave him a rest last season.
He didn't have the best season of all time, but it was still pretty darn good (over 1,000 yards rushing and over 200 yards receiving), so feel confident that he will be toting the rock often again this next season.
The No. 2 and No. 3 'back positions are up in the air, with anyone able to win them, so if Murray goes down due to injury, there may be a couple weeks of experimenting before a true replacement is selected.

Philadelphia Eagles (PHI)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Kenjon Barner
2. Byron Marshall
3. Ryan Mathews
4. Cedric O'Neal
5. Wendell Smallwood
6. Darren Sproles

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Ryan Mathews
2. Darren Sproles
3. Kenjon Barner

Mathews is the standard multi-down RB here, but he has proved to be injury-prone and (surprise!) has been out since the start of camp with an injury.
Sproles is a talented and versatile player, but he is 33 years old, and won't function well as an every-down 'back.
Barner has been getting the lead reps in camp, but once Mathews is healthy, he should be the only running back worthy drafting from this team anywhere above the late flier rounds.

Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Le'Veon Bell
2. Brandon Brown-Dukes
3. Christian Powell
4. Daryl Richardson
5. Cameron Stingily
6. Fitzgerald Toussaint
7. DeAngelo Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Le'Veon Bell
2. DeAngelo Williams
3. Fitzgerald Toussaint
4. ?

The best fantasy football RB is Le'Veon Bell, or he would be, if not for two factors: (1) he is recovering from a nasty ACL injury, and (2) he is facing what is likely a four-game suspension to start this season.
Fortunately, he has one of the best backups in the league in DeAngelo Williams, so Bell should maintain some upper-mid round value, and Williams is worth a pick as well.
If both are injured, Steelers running backs are always a good bet for fantasy points, so feel free to pick any full-time starter replacement off the waiver wire during the season.

San Diego Chargers (SD)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Kenneth Farrow
2. Melvin Gordon
3. Branden Oliver
4. Dreamius Smith
5. Danny Woodhead

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Melvin Gordon
2. Danny Woodhead
3. Branden Oliver

Gordon was terrible last season as the lead RB.
Woodhead was only the pass-catching and relief running back, but he was much more efficient, and is actually worth drafting over Gordon in my opinion.
Neither are more than 6th round picks in my book: if the Chargers have a better offense this year, it'll be because of Philip Rivers and their wideouts.

San Francisco 49ers (SF)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Mike Davis
2. Shaun Draughn
3. Kendall Gaskins
4. DuJuan Harris
5. Carlos Hyde
6. Kelvin Taylor

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Carlos Hyde
2. Shaun Draughn
3. DuJuan Harris

Here's a conundrum: Hyde is one of the most talented running backs in the league based on pure playing style and physical attributes, but he may now have the "injury-prone" label (mostly due to a stress fracture in his foot he suffered week 7 last year: it ended his season) and is playing what was widely regarded as the "worst offense in football" last season.
With Chip Kelly installing a familiar system that Hyde is familiarized with from his college days, there's a chance for a breakout season: many FF draft pundits are predicting him to explode for 1,500 yards.
Nonetheless, I have no faith in this organization's leadership, in Kelly's coaching, or in the 49ers' O-line.
Hyde is worth a draft pick, but not in the first couple rounds.
No other RB here is worth a draft pick.

Seattle Seahawks (SEA)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Zac Brooks
2. Alex Collins
3. Tre Madden
4. Cameron Marshall
5. Christine Michael
6. C.J. Prosise
7. Thomas Rawls

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Thomas Rawls
2. Christine Michael
3. C.J. Prosise
4. Alex Collins

Thomas Rawls may be a household name by the end of this season: he functioned as Marshawn Lynch's backup last season, and nearly out-performed Lynch in his 7 starts.
Unfortunately, he went down with a fractured ankle in week 14, and has yet to get through a training camp practice.
As a side note, Rawls isn't the only one dealing with training camp injuries: Prosise and Brooks have dealt with hamstring issues, and Madden is nursing a shoulder injury.
If Rawls isn't able to get onto the field by week 1, Michael will likely be the lead back with Collins as backup and Prosise functioning as the passing-down 'back.
This situation should clear up during the preseason games, but Rawls is likely the only one worth a mid-to-high draft pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Peyton Barber
2. Russell Hansbrough
3. Mike James
4. Storm Jounson
5. Doug Martin
6. Charles Sims

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Doug Martin
2. Charles Sims
3. Mike James

During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, fans of the Bucs had questions about whether or not Doug Martin could regain his 2012 form.
Those were answered last year: he had nearly 1,700 combined rushing and receiving yards, and should only get better as his chemistry with QB Jameis Winston improves.
He is worth a high pick: don't worry about his backups unless he gets injured.

Tennessee Titans (TEN)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Antonio Andrews
2. David Cobb
3. David Fluellen
4. Derrick Henry
5. Dexter McCluster
6. DeMarco Murray
7. Bishop Sankey

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. DeMarco Murray
2. Derrick Henry
3. Dexter McCluster
4. David Cobb

Originally expected to be a workhorse again this year, Murray may be in a 60/40 timeshare with 2nd-round pick Derrick Henry if Henry keeps performing well and improving at training camp and in preseason games.
There are many mid-round draft picks on this roster, but for fantasy purposes, Murray is probably no more than a 4th or 5th round pick at maximum, and Henry is probably better as a late-round flier if you feel the need to draft a Tennessee RB.

Washington Redskins (WAS)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Mack Brown
2. Matt Jones
3. Robert Kelley
4. Keith Marshall
5. Chris Thompson
6. Kelsey Young

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Matt Jones
2. Chris Thompson
3. ?

Jones is the presumed RB1 on this team with Thompson functioning as the 3rd-down back when necessary, though Jones has also been sitting out at camp a couple days, so his backup has gotten plenty of time with the 1st-stringers.
As long as Jones is healthy, this is a situation to take advantage of in fantasy drafts: since Kirk Cousins has plenty of weapons in the aerial game, there is less pressure on the 'Skins running backs, which could lead to good things this season.

The Season is Approaching: Running Backs - Part 1

The infamous decline of the fantasy football running back is one of the most-discussed off-season topics among all fantasy players.

Running backs used to be the most-drafted position in the first round, but that has slowly changed over the last 3-4 years as team philosophies have shifted and the fantasy football community has become more aware of the challenges that running backs face.

Of course, the unique challenge that presents itself to the actual RB position is that it revolves around, well, physically running into opposing defenses a good portion of the time: much more often than your typical wide-out or quarterback.
This results in a potential increase to injuries, and a potential decrease to shelf-life.
Other common factors in poor performances among the top running backs can include:
1. A bad QB (who can't distract from the running game, thus allowing the opponents to game-plan around stopping the run)
2. A cannon-armed QB (who has only memorized the "go" routes)
3. Age (let me tote the rock 20 times a game after I get another hip replacement)
4. Multiple-RB backfields ("It's my turn!" "No, it's my turn!" "I want a turn!" "Share, children, or you'll all be in time-out and we'll send in Orleans Darkwa.")

This all being said, there are off-field concerns as well, often known as the "common sense test".
There are three suspensions that are currently affecting running back rosters in the NFL for the upcoming season:
1. Karlos Williams, BUF
     -4 games, substance abuse
2. Bernard Peirce, NYJ
     -2 games, reason unknown
3. Le'Veon Bell, PIT
     -4 games, missed drug test
     -Appealing to reduce suspension

Obviously, Le'Veon Bell is the biggest name on that list, and his suspension could impact fantasy drafts immediately.
Every day, more news comes out around injuries or holdouts or off-field concerns.
To keep up-to-date, most fantasy fanatics will want to download at least one NFL news app to their mobile device (Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, etc.).

Each team keeps more than one RB, and most of the time even the best running backs can be given a rest or three during a game, giving the second-stringer a chance to get in a couple reps.

The following article will examine the backfields that are clear-cut, as well as the ones that have less definition than a Jackson Pollock painting.

Arizona Cardinals (ARI)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Andre Ellington
2. Chris Johnson
3. David Johnson
4. Elijhaa Penny
5. Stepfan Taylor
6. Kerwynn Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. David Johnson
2. Chris Johnson
3. Andre Ellington

Over the course of the last few years, Andre was the lead back for portions of 2013 and 2014, while Chris took over for the first part of 2015, and David ended 2015 on top.
Based on the current hype train, I lean towards David Johnson being a safe 1st or 2nd-round draft pick, while Chris Johnson will be his immediate backup.
Ellington will still make the team, but he will be the backup to a backup, and likely won't see the field much.

Atlanta Falcons (ATL)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Tevin Coleman
2. Devonta Freeman
3. Gus Johnson
4. Terron Ward
5. Brandon Wilds

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Devonta Freeman
2. Tevin Coleman
3. ?

Freeman started out sharing the backfield with Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers back in 2014, then earned the starting role in 2015 and shined brightly, finishing last season as #1 fantasy running back in all formats.
Coleman had quite a bit of hype last year, but will likely be a backup to Freeman, and shouldn't be on anyone's draft board before the later rounds.
The Falcons' 3rd 'back spot is up for grabs.

Baltimore Ravens (BAL)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Javiorius Allen
2. Kenneth Dixon
3. Justin Forsett
4. Stephen Houston
5. Lorenzo Taliaferro
6. Terrance West

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Justin Forsett
2. Javorius Allen
3. Terrance West
4. Kenneth Dixon

Forsett has had one of the more interesting journeys in the NFL, and was a Pro-Bowl player in 2014.
His 2015 season was cut short with a broken arm, leaving Allen to be the starter in his place.
The Ravens also spent a 4th-round draft pick on Dixon, but he has been hurt at training camp, and both West and Taliaferro have quite a bit of on-field experience, so one of them will also likely make the team, if not both.
I'm not sure how high of a draft pick I would spend on Forsett (he only had a few good games last year before he went down, he's 30, and apparently Buck Allen and Terrance West have looked good at camp), so I'm tentatively saying 4th-round.

Buffalo Bills (BUF)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Reggie Bush
2. Mike Gillislee
3. Boom Herron
4. LeSean McCoy
5. James Wilder, Jr.
6. Jonathan Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. LeSean McCoy
2. Reggie Bush
3. Jonathan Williams
4. Karlos Williams (SUS)

As a 5th-round pick and a rookie last season, Karlos Williams had some fantastic moments that led to wonderings about him becoming the next starter in Buffalo: unfortunately, he is suspended for the first four games of this year, so that's not something we can dig into too deeply right now.
McCoy becomes the starter once again by default, and isn't a bad option at all: consider a 3rd or 4th rounder on him as well.
Bush will probably be the backup, and if the current news holds, he may also be the punt returner.
Jonathan Williams was the Bills' 5th-round pick this year, but was arrested on suspicion of DWI earlier this year, so we'll see if that affects how much he is on the field at some point in this season.

Carolina Panthers (CAR)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Cameron Artis-Payne
2. Jalen Simmons
3. Jonathan Stewart
4. Brandon Wegher
5. Fozzy Whittaker

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Jonathan Stewart
2. Cameron Artis-Payne
3. Fozzy Whittaker

Stewart is one of the toughest runners in the league today, on a Super Bowl-caliber team: draft him in the early rounds, and don't look back.
Cameron seems set as the backup behind him at this point (according to multiple sportswriters', like this one and this one), but Whittaker and Wegher may be fighting for a roster spot.

Chicago Bears (CHI)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Ka'Deem Carey
2. Jordan Howard
3. Jeremy Langford
4. Senorise Perry
5. Jacquizz Rodgers

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Jeremy Langford
2. Ka'Deem Carey
3. Jordan Howard
4. Jacquizz Rodgers

"Da Bears" had one of the greatest running backs of this decade on their roster until this last year, when they released Matt Forte, who promptly joined the New York Jets, and is probably not looking back.
Langford, who filled in last season as Forte's respite runner, is the likely early-season starter at this point, but may end up giving some carries to both Carey (a training camp favorite) and Howard (Chicago's 5th-round pick this year).
Pro Football Focus has a great article on "Why You're Way Too High On Jeremy Langford", and I would avoid this backfield altogether and just hope it sorts itself out sometime during the regular season.

Cincinnati Bengals (CIN)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Giovani Bernard
2. Rex Burkhead
3. Tra Carson
4. Bronson Hill
5. Jeremy Hill
6. Cedric Peerman

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Jeremy Hill
2. Giovani Bernard
3. Rex Burkhead
4. Cedric Peerman

Though Hill has been the traditional No. 1 RB for the Bengals over the last couple years, Bernard has been much more consistent as a pass-catching dual-threat type of player.
This is one of a very limited number of situations where two running backs are probably worth drafting relatively high: both Hill and Bernard had shining moments over the last couple seasons, and both are young and in their prime.
As a consideration, Burkhead could potentially make the shift to WR this year, so keep that in mind if either Hill or Bernard goes down.

Cleveland Browns (CLE)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Isaiah Crowell
2. Duke Johnson, Jr.
3. Raheem Mostert
4. Terrell Watson
5. Glenn Winston

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Isaiah Crowell
2. Duke Johnson, Jr.
3. ?

This is the first year in a long while that I think the Browns might have a sliver of a percent of a chance to maybe not do terribly.
Partially, this is because they have a QB who was truly good at one point in his career and a head coach who knows how to run a two-RB system.
Hue Jackson (the head coach) has spoken highly of Crowell, making it known that he is excited to use him often.
Johnson will also likely be used, based on Jackson's past usage of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard with the Bengals, though I'm not sure this is a team I'd be willing to draft from; at least, not above the mid-to-late rounds.
The Browns' third running back spot is up for grabs.

Dallas Cowboys (DAL)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Ezekiel Elliott
2. Darius Jackson
3. Darren McFadden (NFI)
4. Alfred Morris
5. Rod Smith
6. Lance Dunbar (PUP)

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Ezekiel Elliot
2. Alfred Morris
3. Darren McFadden (NFI)
4. Lance Dunbar (PUP)

Who knows?
Look, the Cowboys spent a 1st-rounder on Elliott, and are going to use him often as long as he can live up to his own hype.
But they also have Morris (the starter for the Redskins for the last few years), McFadden (their own starter from last year who did quite well but is recovering from a broken elbow), and multiple veterans with game experience on their roster.
Draft Elliott first if you want to, but this may turn into a RBBC (running back by committee) situation that no one really wants to touch in fantasy: I'm not spending an early 1st-rounder on him.

Denver Broncos (DEN)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. C.J. Anderson
2. Kapri Bibbs
3. Devontae Booker
4. Ronnie Hillman
5. Juwan Thompson

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. C.J. Anderson
2. Ronnie Hillman
3. Devontae Booker

The Broncos have some of the tougher decisions to make concerning this position.
Anderson is their de facto #1 RB, despite Hillman leading the team in yardage last year.
Booker was this year's 4th-round pick, and is competing with Thompson and Bibbs, though it appears all are neck-and-neck.
This may be another RBBC, so be wary about using high-round picks on these guys.

Detroit Lions (DET)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Ameer Abdullah
2. Theo Riddick
3. Stevan Ridley
4. Dwayne Washington
5. George Winn
6. Zach Zenner

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Ameer Abdullah
2. Theo Riddick
3. Stevan Ridley
4. Zach Zenner

Abdullah should be the clear lead back in this situation, with Riddick coming in as a passing-down option and Ridley giving Abdullah some time off here and there.
Ridley has a long injury history, so Zenner could step in there if necessary.
Draft Abdullah in the early-to-mid rounds, and Riddick in the late rounds: they're both getting better, and have (hopefully) nowhere to go but up.

Green Bay Packers (GB)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Brandon Burks
2. John Crockett
3. Eddie Lacy
4. Brandon Ross
5. James Starks

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Eddie Lacy
2. James Starks
3. John Crockett

Best case situation: Lacy rocks another 1,100+ yard season while Starks backs him up with a healthy amount of receptions and occassional breather carries.
Worst case situation: Lacy gains back all the weight he lost this off-season and gets injured in week 6, causing Starks to be the lead ball carrier at age 30 and forcing Crockett into semi-starting duties.
Lacy is worth drafting high, but be warned: the weight issue is truly a factor for him, and Starks is one of the more necessary backups to own.

Houston Texans (HOU)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Alfred Blue
2. Tyler Ervin
3. Jonathan Grimes
4. Kenny Hilliard
5. Akeem Hunt
6. Lamar Miller

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Lamar Miller
2. Jonathan Grimes
3. Alfred Blue
4. Tyler Ervin

Miller, as is widely known, was heavily under-utilized (and generally poorly used) in Miami, so this is a change for the better for him.
He is probably the most-hyped RB this off-season, and with good reason: I have him down for a very high pick.
Grimes and Blue have both been Texans' backups before, but Ervin was their 4th-round pick this year and is quite the runner (4.3 fast).
The only one worth a draft pick is Miller, unless you're really into fantasy handcuffs.

Indianapolis Colts (IND)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Josh Ferguson
2. Frank Gore
3. Jordan Todman
4. Abou Toure
5. Robert Turbin
6. Trey Williams

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Frank Gore
2. Robert Turbin
3. Jordan Todman
4. Josh Ferguson

Gore was not good last year in real life, and he was just above mediocre in fantasy.
With Andrew Luck returning, his value should go up, but he's still not worth above a 4th-round draft pick at maximum.
None of his potential handcuffs are worth anything, especially since Turbin (the #2 'back) could potentially be facing a suspension this year due to marijuana possession.

Jacksonville Jaguars (JAC)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Joe Banyard
2. Corey Grant
3. Jonas Gray
4. Chris Ivory
5. T.J. Yeldon
6. Denard Robinson

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Chris Ivory
2. T.J. Yeldon
3. Jonas Gray

Ivory is one of my favorite running backs, and so I probably have him higher than others will, though many are now recognizing that this may be a fantastic year for the Jaguars' offense: I'd consider him in the 3rd or 4th round as well.
Yeldon is a good backup, and may be worth a late-round draft pick.
No one else is worth drafting at this point.

Kansas City Chiefs (KC)

Current Rostered Running Backs:
1. Jamaal Charles
2. Knile Davis
3. Darrin Reaves
4. Anthony Sherman
5. Spencer Ware
6. Charcandrick West

Likely to Make the Cut:
1. Jamaal Charles
2. Knile Davis
3. Spencer Ware
4. Charcandrick West

Last year, Charles, West, and Ware all posted a 100-yard rushing game.
That being said, Davis is the current handcuff for Charles, but Ware and West could be used throughout the season.
Charles is currently recovering from a surgically repaired knee, and if he isn't healthy by the regular season, Davis is worth a mid-round flier.
On the other hand, if Charles is fine, get him early with no regrets: just know that handcuffing him with Davis is a must.