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Mock Auction II Draft Results: RB

Two weeks ago I shared the results of my first mock auction for the 2012 season, and yesterday we compared the results from the second mock auction at QB.  Today we look at RB, which reveals some surprising variances with regard to player value.  Over the next few days we will do the same at RE, TE, PK and TDSP.

As a reminder, this is a 10 team auction, with each team given $200 to draft a 14-man roster that includes 2 QB, 3 RB, 3 RE, 1 TE, 1 FLEX (RB, WR or TE), 1 PK, 1 TDSP and 2 RES.

RB
MOCK 1
MOCK 2
CHANGE
22
47
25
22
39
17
16
30
14
4
15
11
7
16
9
8
15
7
17
22
5
5
10
5
39
42
3
18
21
3
58
59
1
Maurice Jones-Drew
47
48
1
58
57
-1
6
5
-1
62
60
-2
47
45
-2
25
23
-2
16
14
-2
10
8
-2
4
2
-2
51
48
-3
18
15
-3
16
13
-3
50
46
-4
15
11
-4
21
16
-5
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
13
8
-5
33
27
-6
9
3
-6
Stevan Ridley
10
3
-7
29
17
-12
49
35
-14
26
7
-19
44
24
-20
-
10
n/a
8
-
n/a
-
7
n/a
-
5
n/a
4
-
n/a
3
-
n/a
-
2
n/a
-
2
n/a
-
1
n/a

Arian Foster once again received the highest bid overall and there was little change among the top four running backs.  MJD replaced Chris Johnson among the top five, and both Run DMC and Michael Turner fell out of the top 10, replaced by rapid risers Trent Richardson and Adrian Peterson.

Richardson's price tag increased $25, more than any other RB, followed by Peterson, who jumped from $22 to $39.  On the flip side, Turner plummeted faster than Facebook stock from $44 to $24 and Roy Helu fell from $26 to $7.

Is Peterson's increase the result of his optimism regarding his return date?  Does the presence of Hightower really hurt Helu that much?

Notable newcomers at running back are Mark Ingram ($10), Ben Tate ($7), and Donald Brown ($5).  Other not-so-notables are Kevin Smith ($2), David Wilson ($2), and Hightower ($1).  Gone, but not forgotten, are Michael Bush ($8), Pierre Thomas ($4), and LeGarrette Blount ($3).

After I run down the draft results at all positions I'm going to wait until early August, when pre-season games begin, before conducting the next mock auction draft to see how player values change.

Until then, please share your thoughts on these drafts, player values, or anything else that is on your mind heading in to the 2012 fantasy football season.