Back by popular demand! Mano y Mano, a top 40 running back (RB) and linebacker (LB) countdown that coincides with the 40 days leading up to NFL kickoff! As much as football has changed in the 100+ years, the game is still fundamentally the same. Although it is a dynamic and complex game, the moment the ball is put into play it is quite simple. Someone carrying the “pigskin”, and several others attempting to get the person carrying it to the ground. As an old rancher told me watching his first football game, ‘that ball sure attracts a lotta attention.’

In the modern era passing is the preferred method of moving the ball, but it revolves around the run game. This article highlights the best of the best for the purposes of fantasy football. Who are the strongest, who are the thumpers, who hits the hole with passion, and who stops momentum right in it’s tracks? The running backs are ranked on 0.5 point per reception (PPR), with 100 yard bonus. The linebackers points are based off of a combination of high tackle incentives and high points for sacks, interceptions, and pass deflections.

A new article will be uploaded daily, with a brief description of the player and their expectations for the 2025 fantasy football season. Remember to check back and let me know what you think. Do I have a player ranked too high, too low, am I completely wrong about a RB room, and am I forgetting about an upcoming linebacker?