The Romo or Dak QB controversy is back

Photo from cowboyswire.usatoday.com

Things have been going great for the Dallas Cowboys -- especially on Nov. 14 when Tony Romo held a press conference to address the media regarding his status on the team.
Romo conceded the starting job to rookie Dak Prescott with the intent that it would end the debate on who should start once Romo was healthy.
It actually worked too (for the most part).
Then the New York Giants beat the Cowboys 10-7 on Sunday Night Football to sweep them for the season series, and the "who should start" debate was reopened just enough to stir things up again.
And owner Jerry Jones is probably most to blame when he went on a Dallas radio station to talk about the starting quarterback situation.
"I don't have a definition for it, but you'll know it when you see it," Jones said. "It's kind of like a definition I heard one time of another issue trying to define a negative topic, and they said, 'I don't know how to say it, but it's just something that when you see it, you know it's there.' We'll see it.
Only one person on earth knows what that means.
Certainly, Prescott has impressed and surprised throughout the season, but the last two weeks have led to the gossip emerging once again.
The Cowboys have scored 17 and seven points in the last two games, have failed to get 300 yards total offense and are an abysmal 2-for-24 on third down conversions. Dallas also has five turnovers during that stretch while only committing seven turnovers in the previous 11 games.
Something is wrong, but we can't define it... so let's take a look at the numbers.

Photo from si.com

The Prescott sample size is only 13 games, but to give a more representative sample of Romo, we will use averages from 2010 (since age 30) and statistics from 2014 -- the year when former Cowboy running back DeMarco Murray was having a season very much like rookie Ezekiel Elliot's.
Prescott's yards per attempt is at 7.9, which is good for fourth among qualified quarterbacks. Romo is at 7.7 which would be tied for sixth, but in 2014 Romo was at 8.5.
Prescott's QBR is at 82.8 which is third-best in the league and trumps (sorry for the lack of a better verb) Romo's 63.9 dating back to 2010, but in 2014 Romo had a career-best 83.6.
Touchdown and interception percentage can show if a quarterback is not just scoring efficiently, but how careful he is with every pass attempt. Prescott's touchdown and interception percentages are 5.1 (ranked 9th) and 1.0 (tied for fourth), while Romo's six-season average is 5.7 and 2.5 (7.8 and 2.1 in 2014).
The numbers show that Prescott is a quality starting quarterback in the league and in comparison to Romo's. But the only thing we have for Romo is the "what if" question.

Photo from amarillo.com

When you look at the more commonly-used statistical categories like completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating they still tell a story, but can be misleading.
The NFL seems to be moving into a passing philosophy that has affected the dynamic plays fans love to see. More teams are using short passes and checkdowns at a higher frequency than years past.
Prescott's completion percentage (65.8), touchdown-to-interception ratio (5:1) and passer rating (102.7) would lead one to think he is ripping through opposing defenses. In reality, the Cowboys just don't dial up the risky plays they did with Romo, and perhaps we are starting to see why.
Prescott is getting a simple gameplan that can be disrupted with pressure. Romo was allowed to take shots down the field, and often could deliver gains of 20-plus yards. The time needed to let those routes develop could also lead to more sacks.
Since 2010, Romo was sacked on six percent of dropbacks (6.3 in 2014) while Prescott's is five percent. Now, if Prescott is not taking as many chances downfield why is he still getting sacked five percent of the time Dallas is throwing the ball?

It's an interesting thought, but what would you want to trade off; a dynamic offense or an efficient and careful one? It seems as if the Cowboys can't have both.
Apparently, this topic will not go away, and if the Cowboys continue to struggle offensively (or lose) the noise will get louder.
Head coach Jason Garrett will not be able to ignore them if it does happen, and Romo will be ready if need be.
And Jerry will be smiling down from his private suite.

Photo from quotesgram.com

*All stats were found using pro-football-reference.com, the Jerry Jones quote was found in a foxsports.com article (link posted below), all images were credited from the websites they were found and the ESPN First Take video was found from YoutTube.com.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/dallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-dak-prescott-comments-radio-interview-tony-romo-quarterback-starter-121316

Penn State isn't College Football Playoff worthy

Photo from usatoday.com

The College Football Playoff is approaching, and the playoff committee announced their top four seeds of the championship tournament this past Sunday.
Undefeated (and defending champion) Alabama leads the way as the No. 1 seed followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Washington.
This is year three for the championship playoff format which replaced the controversial Bowl Championship Series. The unfortunate problem is that the playoff system has its own controversy.
Four teams get a chance to play for the national championship, and the teams on the outside looking in spend a few days publicly voicing their displeasure with the bracket.
The committee's job is to get the four best teams in college football, and it is a difficult job. Imagine it as the sports equivalent of the Bachelor's (or Bachelorette's) final episodes to narrow it down to the last one standing.
Alabama has proven to be the best in the nation despite what many would say has been a down year for the Southeastern Conference.
Eight of their 13 victories were against top-20 ranked opponents with four of them on the road. Alabama's margin of victory was 24.3 points in those eight wins.
The Crimson Tide arguably have the best defense in the country. Only two other teams allowed fewer yards, and none gave up fewer points.
Offensively, Alabama is 15th in total yards and 13th in points scored.
Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts is a player to watch, but the defense steals the show and is led by senior lineman Jonathan Allen.
Head coach Nick Saban has the cream of the crop.

Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports

The "snub" that got the Internet buzzing involved Penn State.
Their résumé had many arguing a playoff spot in their favor, but to reiterate the committee must select four of the best teams. Penn State is not one of them.
Head coach James Franklin led this team to a Big 10 conference championship, but they are certainly not one of the four best teams in the country right now (and never have been at any point of this season).
If this were the Bachelor, Penn State would be the contestant that slipped through the cracks just because they were at the right place at the right time. That is hardly a quality of a champion -- much less a championship contender.
But to be fair, let's review said résumé. Penn State is 11-2, a power-5 conference champion and have notable wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin (Big 10 championship game).
Penn State's flaws are much more noticeable than their accomplishments though.
Their 42-39 loss to unranked Pitt is a big blemish, and losing to Michigan by 39 points is even worse. Historically, no team with a 30+ point loss has competed for a national championship.
Plus, the Nittany Lions only rank 25th in points scored and are not even in the top 30 for total offense, total defense and points allowed.
Penn State was so under the radar, it's as if they wore Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility.

Photo from si.com

At least Alabama has Hurts to go with Saban.
Clemson has Heisman hopeful Deshaun Watson (pictured above) and head coach Dabo Swinney.
Ohio State has J.T. Barrett and head coach Urban Meyer with his multiple championships.
And even Washington has a Heisman candidate of their own in Jake Browning paired with an offensively-creative head coach Chris Peterson (formerly of Boise State).
Penn State lacks a current level of relevant prestige that their respective counterparts have.
When you look at notable wins, Clemson (the Atlantic Coast Conference champions) has three over ranked opponents to Penn State's two. Ohio State and Washington (Pac-12 champions) each have four.
Margin of victory can also be used to indicate which teams stand above the rest.
Ohio State's four quality wins (Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan) were by an average of 22.5 points. Washington beat four top-five Pac-12 teams (Stanford, Utah, Washington State and Colorado) -- all ranked -- by an average of 26 points.
Penn State's margin of victory from their 11 wins was 19.5 points. Not impressive by any stretch.
Even Michigan has more quality wins (Colorado, Penn State and Wisconsin) with a 34.6 point margin of victory.
And that's just comparing the wins.

Photo from fansided.com

Ohio State's one loss was on the road against the eventual conference champions, and was only by three points.
Clemson's home loss to Pitt was a devastating one at the time -- and looks bad to a certain degree -- but was only by one point.
Washington lost at home by 13 to a ranked USC, but that loss has a little value since some experts recently have touted the Trojans as better than their record and rank indicate.
Clemson, Ohio State and Washington's single losses look better than the two losses Penn State has.
And Michigan's two losses were both one-possession games, and both were on the road.
I would even give the tiebreaker to Michigan because at least the loss to Iowa is more acceptable than Penn State's loss to Pitt. Iowa was an preseason favorite to contend for the Big 10, but hardly anybody ever expects Pitt to win their conference.
In the end, the four teams in the tournament (and arguably Michigan) check off more boxes than Penn State does -- especially using the eye test.
Penn State just doesn't have enough to be that finalist so no Bachelor rose for them, but they are smelling Pasadena roses at least.
Nonetheless, the committee did what is expected of them; get the four best teams in the College Football Playoff.

*all stats were found at espn.go.com and foxsports.com.

WWE Survivor Series: five things we learned

Wikimedia Commons / Miguel Discart

No. 1: Brock Lesnar is no longer "The Beast Incarnate."

Ever since Lesnar's return to WWE, creative crafted a narrative that he was basically an unstoppable force. For years Lesnar mowed through opponents with ease (for the most part), and the fantasy booking of a rematch with Bill Goldberg became a reality weeks ago. Goldberg had not competed in 12 years. All it took was a few minutes, two spears and a jackhammer to dismantle that narrative. Fans took their displeasure to social media.

Needless to say, WWE has left their fans scratching their heads yet again.

Photo from wwe.com

No. 2: WWE values Roman Reigns more than Kevin Owens.

This is not new information that WWE favors Reigns more than any superstar on their roster, but it is somewhat disturbing that Owens' stock has never been higher -- especially since teaming up with Chris Jericho. Owens has proven he is more than just talented in the ring. His promos and mic skills make him a complete package. Reigns on the other hand lacks even an average skill when he's on the mic or cutting promos, and many times his in-ring work is good because of who is working with him. The WWE Universe has voiced its opinion of Reigns with overwhelming boos, but in the 5-on-5 match WWE booked Reigns as the last man standing for Team Raw before losing by pinfall to Bray Wyatt. The current United States champion is very possibly going to have another push to main event status as the road to WrestleMania approaches, and that may continue to be met with disgust from the WWE Universe until Reigns turns heel.

Photo from dailyddt.com

No. 3: Bayley will get a push for the women's championship.

Bayley is slowly being groomed to be not just the face of the women's division, but the next No. 1 contender for the championship that is currently held by Charlotte. After Bayley scored the victory for Team Raw, Charlotte attacked Bayley moving the storyline in a new direction immediately. Since the brand split, the women's division has been somewhat stagnant to capitalize off of the momentum it built during the women's revolution. Monday Night Raw has not been able to build the storylines it once was capable of doing when there was a full roster to work with, but there should be less pressure to for Charlotte and Sasha Banks to carry the load by adding Bayley into the mix. Also, Banks can transition to a more natural babyface role by inserting Bayley into the equation as the face and a viable contender. This may happen at Roadblock: End of the Line, but it certainly should happen for the Royal Rumble.

Photo from lazygamer.net

No. 4: The status quo for the cruiserweights will continue.

This summer's Cruiserweight Classic (CWC) gave subscribers to the WWE Network phenomenal entertainment over the course of several weeks, and things appeared to move in a direction where SmackDown Live would gain control over the cruiserweight division after Survivor Series. The Brian Kendrick and Kalisto gave the WWE Universe a wonderful match, but Baron Corbin interfered costing Kalisto the championship. SmackDown Live's general manager Daniel Bryan was so upset with The Lone Wolf's actions that also cost the blue brand's opportunity to takeover the division as Monday Night Raw will keep the cruiserweights. Raw has not been able to replicate the magic the CWC made, and the lack of excitement from the WWE Universe has been noticeable. It would have been to the cruiserweight division's benefit to be on SmackDown Live as Bryan -- technically a fellow cruiserweight -- would be the perfect person to handle it since he was a commentator for the CWC, but the status quo remains for now.

Photo from voicesofwrestling.com

No. 5: Cesaro and Sheamus are a legitimate threat to the New Day.

Arguably the pleasant surprise of Survivor Series. The 10-on-10 tag team elimination match gave fans plenty of action from tag teams old and new, but Cesaro and Sheamus emerged as the team that locked up a win for Monday Night Raw. Stephanie McMahon was ecstatic, and rewarded The Swiss Superman and Celtic Warrior with a tag-team title match opportunity for the Nov. 21 Raw. It's very possible the New Day's early exit is just an anomaly, but Cesaro and Sheamus can be a serious threat to ending the reign of Raw's current tag team champions. WWE has failed to utilize Cesaro -- who is already over with the crowd -- properly in singles' competition, but they have been more successful when he is part of a tag team. Maybe New Day's Survivor Series performance was just a hiccup they will retain on Raw. Just don't be surprised if we end up with new tag team champions because Cesaro and Sheamus are at their peak right now.

Cinema Anniversary: Casino Royale's 10th year

Daniel Craig in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures' Casino Royale 2006

Action movies have been a staple of an audience's movie catalog, and among them are the Arnold Schwazenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis classics.
Superhero movies have joined and are considered the baby brother of the genre, and westerns have the action audiences enjoy yet are considered to be grandpa's action movie.
The spy movie has left a large impression on many generations because one can imagine how awesome it would be to have all the cool toys, fastest cars, freshest threads, hottest women and craziest danger to endure.
The James Bond franchise hits these notes in virtually every movie that has been made, and 2006's Casino Royale -- featuring Daniel Craig as the new Bond -- did exactly that.
Before landing the job as 007, Craig was best known for his roles in Layer Cake (2004) and Munich (2005), but inheriting Bond made Craig an international superstar.
Casino Royale even introduced Bond fans to Eva Green as this installment's "Bond girl" and her career flourished since then.

Eva Green and Craig in MGM and Columbia Pictures' Casino Royale

What made Casino Royale so special is that it served as a prequel to all other Bond films since this was Bond's first mission as 007.
The objective: get into the Texas Hold 'Em poker game ($10 million buy-in and $5 million rebuy) at Montenegro where Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a banker for international terrorists -- plans to win $101.2 million to keep his reputation on the good side of the terrorist market. M (Judi Dench) sends Bond with Vesper Lynd (Green) to prevent Le Chiffre from winning, but it proves to be more dangerous than originally thought.
The movie showed the audience Bond's initial mission to become 007 when he had his first two confirmed kills. Then, the opening sequence had the iconic gun-barrel camera shot that always led to the opening credits that played along with "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell.
Bond gives us the high-energy on-foot chase scene in pursuit of a parkour athlete shortly after that and the tone is set.
Follow that with some insubordination towards M and how things are done at MI:6, and our secret agent has you hooked, and all you want to know is what else he will do to get the job done.
The stunts and action sequences in Casino Royale are arguably the best the franchise had seen up to that point.

   
Throughout all of the chases and fight scenes, perhaps the most memorable parts of the movie could be at the poker table when Bond tries to read Le Chiffre for a tell and gets it wrong losing the $10 million the British government provided for him to play. When Lynd makes the executive decision to not give Bond the $5 million rebuy, Bond discovers he isn't the only operative at the table.
Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) is a CIA agent with the same mission as Bond and offers to stake Bond because he thinks Bond can beat Le Chiffre. And so after some disciplined poker, Bond becomes a threat to Le Chiffre.
The moment of truth comes with a pot that would very well end in either Bond succeeding or failing his mission.

Craig and Mads Mikkelsen in MGM and Columbia Pictures' Casino Royale

And what is a Bond movie without the deathtrap that on occasion threatens the family jewels? No doubt a major ingredient in the formula of nearly any Bond film in the past. Also, don't forget the funny aliases -- especially the ones using innuendo for female characters.
The contrast compared to almost any other Bond movie is that 007 actually falls for the girl (Lynd), and we learn how he became so indifferent towards females in the future.
In the end, Bond always gets his man.
So if you're an avid Bond fan or just plain curious about its greatness, one of the must-see chapters of the film franchise is Casino Royale. And why not celebrate it on its 10th anniversary (Nov. 17, 2006) with a gin martini?
Just make sure it's shaken, not stirred.

Craig in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Columbia Pictures' Casino Royale

 *some information was cited from imdb.com and movieinsider.com

The Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant "divorce" by the numbers

USA Today Sports / Kyle Terada

Now that NBA fans saw act one of the Russell Westbrook versus Kevin Durant rivalry, the missing ingredient -- head-to-head play -- has been added to the pot for this dish to simmer until fully cooked.
You already know that Durant got his first victory over his former teammate last week. You know that Westbrook was playfully prepared upon arriving to Oracle Arena with his official photographer outfit (Durant is an avid photographer). But what don't you know?
There is a lot of information to sift through so let's begin with Westbrook and Durant's time together.
According to statmuse.com, as teammates Westbrook and Durant have 527 games played together, Westbrook has 66 games without Durant and Durant has 40 games without Westbrook.
Together is the far greater sample size so that will be the starting point.

Photo from fullhdpictures.com

Westbrook averaged 20.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. Durant averaged 28.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Westbrook shot 43.7 percent from the field, while Durant made 48.9 percent of his shot attempts. As far as 3-point shooting goes, Westbrook was 30.4 percent while Durant hit 38 percent from downtown.
To be fair, Westbrook is not known as a shooter but rather a scorer, and Durant's strength offensively is his ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor.
Yet, Westbrook was taking an average of 16.7 field goals -- making a low percentage -- and 6.5 free throw attempts per game and only scoring 20.7 per game? One would think that having Durant on the floor would help Westbrook be efficient, but he was not.
Despite the ball being in Westbrook's hands for a majority of the time, Durant found a way to score more points efficiently. The strongest weapon for the Thunder did the best he could when he actually got the ball. The ball-centric, shoot-first point guard did not.

Associated Press / Alonzo Adams (from forbes.com)

Both Durant and Westbrook missed a good chunk of time due to injury (Durant more than Westbrook), but the sample size is sufficient.
When Durant had to lead the Thunder without his floor general he responded by increasing his production. In those 40 games, Durant averaged 32.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He also improved his field goal percentage to 51.5 percent (38 percent on 3-pointers) and distribution with 5.5 assists per game. The Thunder went 27-13 (67.5 winning percentage) in that time.
Westbrook had 66 games to showcase his abilities, and he did not waste it. During that stretch he bumped up his scoring (28.6 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg) and passing (8.5 apg). And of course Westbrook was taking more shots (22.8 per game) but was only making 42.3 percent from the field. Oklahoma City went 38-28 (57.6 winning percentage) with Westbrook minus Durant.

Associated Press / Ben Margot (from forbes.com)

The final piece to evaluate in this comparison has data, but it is not yet a large enough sample to make a true conclusion. It's like trying to figure out who is getting the better deal between Frances and Robert on HBO's Divorce without letting it play out, but let's look at it anyway.
In Westbrook's six games as the sole leader in Oklahoma City, the Thunder have gone 5-1. The Golden State Warriors have played seven games with Durant, and their record is 5-2. 
The Thunder is getting the best version of Westbrook in his NBA career so far as he sports a 33.2/9.0/9.7 slash line (points/rebounds/assists), and they are all career bests. 
Westbrook is shooting more than he ever has too as he's averaging 24.8 field goals, 5.7 3-pointers and 11.3 free throw attempts per game. Both overall shooting (44.3 percent) and 3-point shooting (41.2 percent) are the highest they have ever been, but Westbrook's also turning the ball over more than he has ever done too.
Durant is also the best version of himself in his short time in the bay area. The former league MVP is scoring 28.9 points per game off of 57.6 percent (40.6 percent from 3-point range) while taking less shots per game (17.9) while playing a career-low of 35.2 minutes per game.
Again, the sample is so small, but that is what we have to look at so far.

Photo from nbalead.com

All the data in the world isn't enough to figure this out, but one more thing can help (technically two); your eyes.
My eyes have shown me a happy and frustrated Durant in Oklahoma City. I realize he was mostly happy for the majority of his time there -- with Westbrook and the city -- but the end showed me a burnt out Durant. He didn't hate the team, the city or Westbrook.
He was ready to be the player he wanted to be, and the Warriors sold him on what they could do.
Westbrook has not shown much change at all. He still plays with the same energy, physicality and chip-on-his-shoulder mentality. He didn't look like he felt guilty about hogging the ball with Durant around, and now he can keep playing that way without some of the judgment the media threw his way.
They both can focus on being who they have always wanted to be.
Durant can now be a 1A/1B option on offense, and this edge that fans and the media have wanted to see from him has come out; a killer instinct if you will.
Durant is smiling again, and he should be.

Photo from Getty Images (gq.com)

*other information was obtained from basketball-reference.com and espn.com

MLB's 2016 World Series: Major League versus Rookie of the Year

The 2016 World Series is officially set for Oct 25, and features two franchises -- the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians -- that are desperately in need of ending championship droughts (actively the first and second-longest in MLB).

Photo from sportingnews.com

One one side, you have the Cubs chasing history because they have not won the World Series since 1908, and their last appearance was in 1945. On the other side, the Indians have not won a championship since 1948, but have had three other opportunities (1954, 1995 and 1997) to win a

Photo from wallstreetjournal.com

World Series title since. Either way, both teams have a lot a stake.
So much can be evaluated in this matchup from pitching, all-stars, postseason heroes, managers and even baseball movies from yesteryear.
I meant that last one. Baseball movies have given pop-culture plenty for the sports library, and some are even iconic. Many would reference Field of Dreams, Bull Durham, The Natural, Eight Men Out, A League of Their Own, etc.
But in this World Series the Cubs have 1993's Rookie of the Year, and the Indians have the 1989 classic Major League.

Photo from adventureamigos.net

Even for their respective time, both movies involved teams that had a history of despair as they were the laughing stocks for both films. Baseball fans are well aware of the franchise's misfortunes (the Cubs more so nationally).
So let's use both movies in comparison to make our case for the favorite to win the World Series. I realize this is unorthodox, but humor me for the sake of having a laugh.

Photo from youtube.com

Each team has their star power, and both movies had theirs as well.
Major League had Wesley Snipes (Blade), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men) and Renee Russo (The Thomas Crown Affair). We will even include Tom Berenger (Inception), Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law), Dennis Haysbert (24) and Bob Uecker (Mr. Belvedere).
Rookie of the Year had Thomas Ian Nichols (American Pie), Daniel Stern (Home Alone), the late John Candy (Planes, Trains and Automobiles), Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon), Dan Hedaya (Clueless), Neil Flynn (The Middle), W. Earl Brown (Deadwood) as well as Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla.
Major League gets the check mark here by a hair.

Rookie of the Year had Henry Rowengartner (Nichols), a pitcher throwing fireballs because of an accident during his little league game, and the Cubs have that in Aroldis Chapman.
Major League had a pitcher dealing some heat too in Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (Sheen), and though Andrew Miller is not THAT kind of a power pitcher, he has practically been perfect.

Photo from rantlifestyle.com

Rookie of the Year wins this battle by a very slight edge.
Most funny moments must play a role in this argument since both movies are comedies.
Major League had Cerrano performing (or at least trying) sacrifices and leaving gifts for Jobu, Doyle drinking heavily or cursing during radio broadcasts when the Indians stunk, the team improvising by creating a whirlpool tub by using a boat engine to agitate the water, etc.

Photo from quotesgram.com

Rookie of the Year had the hilarious Phil Brickma slapstick moments where his moronic behavior was on full display, Rowengartner breaking his orthopedist's nose causing the doctor to say "funky buttlovin'" and Henry's heckling of an opposing pitcher while on first base (among other less memorable moments).

Major League wins the tiebreaker and the 1990s baseball movie matchup.
Even though this will have zero bearing on how the series will turn out, it still helps some nostalgia remind us of these enjoyable films.
In reality, a Cubs World Series win is more likely, is best for the league and makes for the best story overall.
I picked Chicago to win it all before the postseason began, and I also picked this matchup for the championship series.
Go, Cubs, Go!

Fantasy football position rankings: Top 10 RBs

Welcome to part two of Informed and Unfiltered's 2016 fantasy football positions rankings series.
Part one featured the top five quarterbacks or this year's upcoming fantasy draft, but part two will be slightly different.
A standard league will require two running backs in a starting lineup so we will double our rankings list top 10. Because the position requires so many players, there will be an honorable mention of 10 more.
This is where drafts can be a little fuzzy since running back value has not been what it what was, but in ESPN mock drafts running backs are still getting picked in early rounds.
Once again we will evaluate ESPN's position rankings using 2015 statistics and 2016 projections.

No. 10 running back: Thomas Rawls

Thomas Rawls has some large shoes to fill in Seattle. The Seahawks are going from an all-pro in Marshawn Lynch to undrafted, second-year player. Photo from cover32.com

Rawls has a lot to prove after an interesting sample from 2015.
When he filled in for an injured Marshawn Lynch for six weeks, Rawls was No. 3 in points among fantasy running backs.
Rawls' running style is very similar to Lynch's as he is used mostly between the tackles for power runs, short-yardage downs and goal line situations.
In 2015, Rawls ran for 830 yards and four touchdowns in 147 carries. The receiving numbers indicate Rawls may not be a dual-threat back as he only had nine catches, 76 yards and one touchdown.
The upside is that Rawls has the opportunity to compile 16 games worth of stats for fantasy owners who take a chance on him.
2016 projections show Rawls running for 1166 yards, six touchdowns and getting 174 points. Receiving expectations are still low as Rawls is only projected to get 22 catches for 174 yards and only one touchdown.
In my opinion, the expectations are something that you should not let you dictate if you want RB 1 in Seattle. The Seahawks love to run the ball, and early on Rawls will get his touches. Just monitor his production.
I would not draft him in the first five rounds, but that is just me. I would rather let somebody else take the chance on Rawls.

No. 9 running back: Mark Ingram

Saints running back Mark Ingram is the primary back in New Orleans, but how much can he give to fantasy owners if he is on a team that throws the ball as much as it does? Photo from blacksportsonline.com

The Saints have a very good running back in Ingram, and he had a disappointing 2015. But maybe the 26-year-old is starting to come into his own.
After rushing for 769 yards, 6 touchdowns and totaling 143 points, Ingram also happened to catch 50 passes for 405 yards.
There is some value with this potential, but be aware of the risk. Ingram has missed at least three games in four of his five professional seasons.
The 2016 projections are a little more optimistic as ESPN has Ingram running for 984 yards, getting 390 receiving yards, finishing with 10 touchdowns total and racking up 195 fantasy points.
Ingram's ceiling has yet to be reached because of his durability issues, but what makes him valuable is his role as a pass-catching back.
He should be in his physical prime, and he is on a team that loves to throw the ball.
Drew Brees is getting older and throwing downfield is going to be less frequent for him. That is where Ingram can be an attractive back.
He should be available in the third round so, but if you want him that bad to take a back earlier, look elsewhere.
He's a fringe RB 1.

No. 8 running back: Doug Martin

Doug Martin has been an attractive fantasy running back since his breakout season in 2012, but injuries have plagued him for half of his young career. Perhaps his value is high in 2016 though. Photo from cover32.com  

The Muscle Hamster (actually do not call him that because he hates it) crashed the fantasy party in 2012 with a surprising season.
2013 and 2014 snuffed him out with nagging injuries, but 2015 was a complete year for Martin as he played all 16 games.
With 1,402 rushing yards and six touchdowns, Martin went on to score 187 fantasy points with the help of 271 receiving yards.
Martin has a nice value for an RB 1, but like almost any good back there is injury risk. Two of his four NFL seasons were full seasons. How reliable is he?
Pretty reliable, but 2016 may not warrant a high pick.
Martin's projections show 1,200 rushing yards, eight total touchdowns, 245 receiving yards and 185 fantasy points.
It is not a surprise these projections expect less from Martin, but one can argue that Martin benefits from having a still very young quarterback in Jameis Winston.
Would I take Martin in the first three rounds? No. But I would think pretty hard about Martin in the fourth.
Once again, proceed with caution.

No. 7 running back: Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller is about to embark on his first year in Houston with Brock Osweiler as his quarterback. It could be scary to some fantasy owners, and could be a sleeper to others. Which one are you? Photo from houseofhouston.com

Fantasy owners should be aware of Miller's production and reliability.
He does not strike you as a great fantasy back, but he does not miss games, and he gives you solid value.
Miami did not know how to use Miller, but he overcame that with 1,269 yards from rushing and receiving. Miller also saw paydirt a total of 10 times, and ended up with 173 fantasy points.
His situation has improved, but with strings attached.
Houston has an unproven quarterback in Brock Osweiler, and Miller will be looked at to carry the load like Arian Foster was in previous years.
2016 projections have Miller accruing 1,227 rushing yards, 319 receiving yards, seven total touchdowns and 198 fantasy points.
Having a back that can produce nearly 200 points is truly valuable in modern fantasy football.
Miller could actually get more if head coach Bill O'Brien knows how to utilize Miller's talents.
It would not hurt to test Miller's durability by giving him the ball as much as possible and relieve pressure on Osweiler.
If Miller touches the ball more than 250 times, there is no telling what the results could be.
The definition of a sleeper could be Miller this year, but do not let him slip away if you want a steal.
Look to him in the third round if he is available, but any earlier may be a reach.

No. 6 running back: Le'veon Bell

The Steelers have a stellar running back in Le'veon Bell, but his off-the-field problems continue, he may be another Aldon Smith. High risk, but high reward. Photo from imageif.com

Bell has proven he has the tools to be one of the best in the NFL, but his personal problems have been a disaster to his career.
A two game suspension and a knee injury killed Bell's 2015 season, and another violation of the league's substance violation policy has put Bell in the four game suspension boat (potentially).
The positive side is Bell had a nice five-game showing with 556 rush yards, 136 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 83 points. In five games.
Bell can be a top RB 1 in fantasy. How many owners are willing to take that risk though?
The positives are that Bell is in a class organization, has an elite quarterback and a playmaker at wide receiver.
2016 could be promising as 904 rushing yards, 449 receiving yards, eight total touchdowns and 185 fantasy points could justify drafting Bell.
The question is when. Bell will be highly valued by most owners so it might be in your best interest to look at him in the third round. Just make sure you loaded up so his absence does not hurt.
If you are desperate, he is not the immediate answer.
Do not rely on Bell to be your early-season savior.

No. 5 running back: Devonta Freeman

The Falcons have a potential star in Devonta Freeman, but could he be a false fantasy god? Atlanta has to at least try to find out if they want to be contenders. Photo from heavy.com

Freeman is a dynamic, skilled back who can give so much to any fantasy owner.
He has an impressive workload in both the rushing and passing game.
2015 proved that as Freeman gained 1,056 rushing yards, 578 receiving yards, 14 total touchdowns (11 rushing) and 230 fantasy points.
Freeman has the luxury of coming off of a hot year, and not having much competition in the backfield. He has the job on lockdown; for now.
2016 may have a dip according to ESPN projections, but Freeman's upside is high. Expectations are set for 965 rushing yards, 548 receiving yards, nine total touchdowns (seven rushing) and 203 fantasy points.
That dip is a small projected dip. Freeman may be the back that helps an owner win a league.
Where should he be drafted? The best round for him is probably third, but if you are lacking an RB 1 at that point, take a shot at Freeman.

No. 4 running back: David Johnson

Arizona's David Johnson may be the biggest unknown running back of all of fantasy. Having an experienced quarterback, wide receiver and smart head coach will help him immensely. Photo from arizonasports.com

Johnson displayed a promising talent during his time as RB 1 for the Cardinals during Chris Johnson's injury, and he did not disappoint.
His 2015 campaign brought fantasy owners 164 points from 581 rushing yards, 457 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns from 161 touches.
That is going to make any fantasy owner have googly eyes.
Now that the backfield is completely his, 2016 brings some new pressure and expectations.
ESPN projects a good season from Johnson with 1,121 rushing yards, 521 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns (eight rushing) and 225 points.
Johnson has Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd as well-respected decoys to assist in not just the passing game but the running as well.
Arizona's offensive line has also been a solid rock making room for runners in the backfield.
This puts Johnson in the elite status, and should make him a highly sought-after running back. He could very well go in the first round, but it may be better to snag him up in the second should he be available.

No. 3 running back: Ezekiel Elliot

Ezekiel Elliot has yet to take an NFL snap, but the offensive line that blocks for him makes him a super, attractive commodity. Where he goes only depends on a few things. Photo from bloggingtheboys.com

Elliot is a very intriguing pick in many ways. He is a rookie, he is a Cowboy, Tony Romo is his quarterback, his offensive line is among the best in the NFL, etc.
The reasons are numerous and fantasy owners are salivating but also scratching their heads as to when to draft this young prospect.
ESPN projections have Elliot running for 1,157 yards, getting 434 receiving yards, 10 total touchdowns (eight rushing) and 215 fantasy points.
I already went over the positive things that make Elliot a great pick for your RB 1, but this is the NFL and health is more important than anything.
Elliot has to prove that he can get things done at this level, and nothing but questions come from him right now.
That does not mean he is not a worthy option in the second or third round, it just means maybe you could go with more proven options.
He is a gamble regardless.

No. 2 running back: Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley impressed everyone watching during his rookie season, and his upside  is getting better. With a questionable quarterback situation in Los Angeles, Gurley should expect a big workload. Photo from arizonasports.com

Gurley amazed people when he was a Georgia Bulldog, but his rookie campaign did not let anybody down.
When he started the season on the injury list from an ACL injury in college, few expected anything from him. But he still produced.
Once he became a featured back for St. Louis in week 4, Gurley displayed an amazing prowess as a running back.
1,106 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and 176 fantasy points later he made everyone a believer that he was an NFL running back.
The receiving part of his game is not his fault solely as the Rams lacked a competent quarterback that could get him the ball in the passing game.
2016 should be more promising as Gurley has proven to his coaches that he can be trusted with the ball.
ESPN projections have Gurley getting 233 fantasy points from 1,364 rushing yards, 311 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Head coaches with quarterback problems like the Rams have, only think one thing; run the ball.
Gurley will see an increased workload, and it should pay off.
Picking Gurley in the second round is not unreasonable, but how an owner values him is a huge factor. Someone will probably take him in the first round.
He is a fantasy star in the making.

No. 1 running back: Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is yet again the king supreme. Fantasy owners still value him as the best running back option in the NFL. The 31-year-old continues to dominate as a rushing threat as the league has evolved into a passing league. Photo from christianpost.com

If there is anyone who belongs to No. 1 running back, it is Adrian Peterson. He has been nothing but a platinum weapon for any fantasy owner, and he is worthy of a first round pick.
Trepidation with Peterson is futile. He plays pretty much every game, and he produces virtually all of the time.
Peterson had 217 fantasy points in 2015 that came mostly from 1,485 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Peterson will not give an owner much in the passing game so it is wise to have a back who gives that production.
ESPN projects Peterson to get 223 fantasy points from 1,422 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and a little cushion from receiving yards.
Peterson will get the ball on early downs, short yardage plays and goal line situations. He will most likely deliver since he has shown no signs of slowing down.
If there ever was a sure thing as a running back in fantasy football, Peterson is the guy. He may have to go in the first round, but if he is sitting around in the second, do not hesitate.

*Honorable mentions for running backs 11-20 include Eddie Lacy, Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Jonathan Stewart, Carlos Hyde, C.J. Anderson, Matt Forte, Dion Lewis, Jeremy Hill and Latavius Murray