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Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Dynamic Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell tops UPI's top 100 fantasy football running backs for the 2018 season. Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley and Arizona Cardinals playmaker David Johnson fill in after Bell. Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott and Minnesota Vikings back Dalvin Cook round out our top five options for the upcoming season.
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While most of the big name talents will come off of the board early, you'll need to keep an eye on other options if you are looking to find the next Alvin Kamara or Kareem Hunt and win your fantasy league. That is why, at UPI, we have ranked our top 100 running backs, in standard format, for your 2018 fantasy football draft kit.
SCROLL DOWN FOR TOP 100
For clarity, here are some of the best running backs to look out for in five separate tiers, as well as some unheralded sleepers.
HALL OF FAME
1. Le'Veon Bell, 2. Todd Gurley, 3. David Johnson
Bell is our No. 1 overall player for the 2018 fantasy season. He has yet to report to the Steelers this preseason but will be in line once again to be an opportunity monster. Bell has at least 75 receptions in three of the last four seasons. Last year, he caught a career-best 85 passes for 655 yards and two scores. He also had a league-high 321 carries for 1,291 yards and nine scores. Bell had a league-high 406 touches and racked up 1,946 yards. Expect Bell to be ready to roll in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
David Johnson might have been limited to just one game last season due to injury, but there was never an issue with his legs. Johnson is locked and loaded for Week 1 and has his sights set on a lofty goal of 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. For most running backs, that goal seems unrealistic, but Johnson had 879 receiving yards and 1,239 rushing yards in 2016, his last full season. That season was also Johnson's first campaign as a full-time starter. Bell and Johnson are in a class of their own when it comes to their dynamic skillset and Johnson could be depended on by his team more than any other running back this season. The Cardinals star also has four matchups against teams which ranked in the top five for fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2017, compared to facing just two defenses which ranked in the top five for fewest fantasy points allowed to the position.
ALL-PRO
4. Ezekiel Elliott, 5. Dalvin Cook, 6. Devonta Freeman, 7. Melvin Gordon, 8. Kareem Hunt
Dalvin Cook is our No. 5 running back this season and could even be a steal at his current average draft position. Like Johnson, the Minnesota Vikings star also had an injury-shortened 2017 season. But he looked like a star four games into his rookie campaign. Last season, Cook posted 4.8 yards per carry and ran for 354 yards in four games for the Vikings. He is a high-end RB1 and should provide a weekly advantage for your fantasy football season.
Kareem Hunt exploded onto the scene in 2017, rushing for a league-best 1,327 yards during his rookie campaign. He also had eight rushing scores and 53 catches for 455 yards and three scores under Andy Reid. Look for more of that consistency from Hunt this year. He can likely be had at the back end of the first round or early second round of your fantasy football draft.
PRO-BOWL
9. Saquon Barkley, 10. Alvin Kamara, 11. Leonard Fournette, 12. Derrick Henry, 13. Joe Mixon
While former Penn State star Saquon Barkley certainly looks the part of a future NFL star, I wouldn't recommend taking him in the first round. Yes, Barkley was a was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but I prefer safety in my first round selections when it comes to fantasy football. Nevertheless, if you want to take a chance on the rookie, it's going to cost you. I have the Giants youngster penciled in as my No. 9 running back for the season, based on his dynamic skillset and the opportunities he is likely to get.
Out with DeMarco Murray and in with Derrick Henry. The Tennessee Titans watched Murray walk into retirement this offseason, handing the job to Henry. Last season, Henry started just twice, but appeared in 16 games. He still piled up 880 yards from scrimmage and six scores on 187 touches in a complementary role. I'm expecting big things for Henry this season and he could find his way into the top 10 by the end of the season at the running back position, based on injuries and poor performances from the aforementioned players.
Cincinnati Bengals sophomore Joe Mixon is the main man in town now that Jeremy Hill is with the New England Patriots. The Bengals also beefed up their offensive line after a poor showing in 2017. Look for Mixon to get a huge workload and produce a Le'Veon Bell-lite type performance. Mixon is showing all of the signs of being a future superstar and this might be the last year you can get him at a discount.
JUST NAPPING [EARLY TO MID-ROUND SLEEPERS]
14. LeSean McCoy, 15. Jordan Howard, 18. Kenyan Drake, 20. Jerick McKinnon
Frank Gore might be in town now, but Kenyan Drake did enough in 2017 and in training camp to hold onto the starting job for the Miami Dolphins following the departure of Jay Ajayi. Last season, Drake plowed for 644 yards and three scores on 133 carries. He also had 239 yards and a score on 32 receptions, despite starting just six games. Look for another year full of big plays from the running back and a big bump in catches as the Dolphins look to replace more than 200 receptions in the offense following several key offseason departures.
"I like to have a versatile game. That's what I want to bring to this team, make plays anywhere, anytime on the field," Drake said Saturday following the Dolphins' Week 3 preseason game.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon is in a new city after spending the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He is currently dealing with a knee injury, but is expected to start for the 49ers in Week 1. He enters the 2017 season as the 49ers' starting running back and should mesh well with Jimmy Garoppolo in the quarterback's second season under Kyle Shanahan. McKinnon is my No. 20 running back and is a great target if you start your draft by drafting receivers.
DRIFTING OFF [MID TO LATE-ROUND SLEEPERS]
22. Carlos Hyde, 26. Marshawn Lynch, 32. Chris Thompson
Top 100 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
1. Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bye Week 7
2. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams, Bye Week 12
3. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, Bye Week 9
4. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys, Bye Week 8
5. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings, Bye Week 10
6. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons, Bye Week 8
7. Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers, Bye Week 8
8. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs, Bye Week 12
9. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants, Bye Week 9
10. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 6
11. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 9
12. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans, Bye Week 8
13. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals, Bye Week 9
14. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week 11
15. Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears, Bye Week 5
16. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers, Bye Week 4
17. Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 10
18. Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 11
19. Lamar Miller, Houston Texans, Bye Week 10
20. Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 11
21. Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 7
22. Carlos Hyde, Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
23. Royce Freeman, Denver Broncos, Bye Week 10
24. Jay Ajayi, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 9
25. Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 6
26. Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders, Bye Week 7
27. Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
28. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 7
29. Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 5
30. Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
31. Isaiah Crowell, New York Jets, Bye Week 11
32. Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins, Bye Week 4
33. Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons, Bye Week 8
34. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 9
35. Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 7
36. Sony Michel, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
37. Dion Lewis, Tennessee Titans, Bye Week 8
38. Duke Johnson Jr., Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
39. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 7
40. Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins, Bye Week 4
41. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 5
42. Bilal Powell, New York Jets, Bye Week 11
43. C.J. Anderson, Carolina Panthers, Bye Week 4
44. Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 9
45. Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 11
46. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals, Bye Week 9
47. Devontae Booker, Denver Broncos, Bye Week 10
48. Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears, Bye Week 5
49. James White, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
50. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns, Bye Week 11
51. Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers, Bye Week 7
52. Latavius Murray, Minnesota Vikings, Bye Week 7
53. LeGarrette Blount, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
54. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bye Week 7
55. Frank Gore, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 11
56. Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 9
57. Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 9
58. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers, Bye Week 8
59. Doug Martin, Oakland Raiders, Bye Week 7
60. Jonathan Williams, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 6
61. Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
62. Jeremy Hill, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
63. D'Onta Foreman, Houston Texans, Bye Week 10
64. Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals, Bye Week 9
65. Javorius Allen, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 10
66. Rob Kelley, Washington Redskins, Bye Week 4
67. Samaje Perine, Washington Redskins, Bye Week 4
68. T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 9
69. Chris Ivory, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week 11
70. Alfred Morris, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 11
71. Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 9
72. Wayne Gallman, New York Giants, Bye Week 9
73. Kalen Ballage, Miami Dolphins, Bye Week 11
74. Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs, Bye Week 12
75. Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens, Bye Week 10
76. Corey Grant, Jacksonville Jaguars, Bye Week 9
77. Rod Smith, Dallas Cowboys, Bye Week 8
78. Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions, Bye Week 6
79. Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bye Week 7
80. Jonathan Stewart, New York Giants, Bye Week 9
81. Elijah McGuire, New York Jets, Bye Week 11
82. C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 7
83. Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders, Bye Week 7
84. Mike Gillislee, New England Patriots, Bye Week 11
85. John Kelly, Los Angeles Rams, Bye Week 12
86. Christine Michael, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 9
87. Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 11
88. Joe Williams, San Francisco 49ers, Bye Week 11
89. Jacquizz Rodgers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bye Week 5
90. Alfred Blue, Houston Texans, Bye Week 10
91. Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers, Bye Week 8
92. Mark Walton, Cincinnati Bengals, Bye Week 9
93. Travaris Cadet, Buffalo Bills, Bye Week 11
94. Damien Williams, Kansas City Chiefs, Bye Week 12
95. DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders, Bye Week 7
96. Bo Scarbrough, Dallas Cowboys, Bye Week 8
97. Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles, Bye Week 9
98. Robert Turbin, Indianapolis Colts, Bye Week 9
99. Mike Davis, Seattle Seahawks, Bye Week 7
100. Shane Vereen, New Orleans Saints, Bye Week 6
