Position Profile: Running Backs

Examing the Running Back Position

A good football team is built on a good running game. Same is true for fantasy football. Running Backs are workhorses that can be Pro-Bowlers one season and Kyle Bollers the next. That's why they're the scariest position to draft early. Every year you look at the top-10 ranked preseason Running Backs; 4 had great seasons, 2 were so-so, 2 landed on IR, and 2 were thrown into a Running Back by committe.

I don't care what pick I have, drafting a RB in the 1st scares me. There's plenty of RB's I love going in rounds 3-7, that I almost feel safer drafting than some of the top-end talent. I'm going to examine the Top-Tier of RB's and than give you the names of sleepers, you must be aware of draft day.

Upper-Echelon Backs

Best Bets:

Matt Forte-I love him. I would come close to considering taking him 1st overall, and if I owned the 2nd pick, he would be my guy. He's going to catch a ton of balls this year, and has the speed and ability to make big plays. Forte doesn't have anyone looking over his shoulder, and he's probably the only player Jay Cutler won't alienate this season.

Adrian Peterson-Peterson's goal is 2000 yards this year, and I believe in him. Forget the Vikings QB Soap Opera and look at what Brett the Jet did for Thomas Jones. Adrian Peterson is the only playmaker Favre and the Vikes have to work with. All Day will do more than live up to his #1 pick status.

Steve Slaton-Slaton is available at the end of the 1st round, early 2nd. How nice would it be to get a combo of Calvin Johnson and Slaton at picks 12,13. Not a bad consolation prize for picking last. Slaton got the full-time gig in Houston and never looked back. Schaub is back, and that will open up the field even more for Slaton. Listen, are you really worried about Chris Brown vulturing TD's? It's not even a concern for me.

Buyer Beware:

Steven Jackson-When Jackson is healthy and on the field, he has one of the best per-game fantasy production of any player. That is despite playing for the league's worst team, and Marc Bulger and countless OL starters continually hurt. When S-Jax is healthy, he can be the best fantasy back. If your not someone who likes to roll the dice, stay away.

Frank Gore-Basically the same as above, but Frank Gore can never stay healthy. Even in college. The good thing for both Gore, and S-Jax they play in a pretty weak division and offer plenty of good matchups during playoff time.

Fantasy Player Consensus:
LaDanian Tomlinson-LT's best days are behind him. Darren Sproles is poised to take a lot of carries, and LT isn't worthy of a 1st round draft pick.

My Verdict-No way. LT pissed off a lot of Fantasy Owners who owned the 1st overall pick, myself included, but the fact is at the end of the day LT was the 6th best fantasy RB last year. Not too bad. He hears the grumblings, and is motivated for another good season. He may not be Adrian Peterson, but he's perfect capable of last years numbers, which despite the perception are not bad.

Chris Johnson-CJ is falling out of the Top 5 now, because Lendale White, surprisingly, is impressing his coaches. Lendale White is back to vulture Chris Johnson's TD's.

My Verdict-Who cares about Lendale White? CJ put up double-digit TDs as a rookie, even with Lendale vulturing. Tennessee has had all off-season to start designing an offense designed around Johnson's insane talent. Johnson will put up double-digit TDs, again, easily.

Mid-Round Backs

Love:

Ray Rice-He's the primary back in Baltimore. Cam Cameron is an offensive genious, and Baltimore's training camp has been full of screen plays and short passes to get the ball to Rice in space.

Leon Washington-He's going late in drafts. He may be the best offensive player in the AFC East not named Brady or Moss. The Jets will utilize his talent even more this year.

Knowshon Moreno-There isn't talent close to Moreno of Denver's roster. Don't give me the Denver RB nonsense.

Ahmad Bradshaw-Derrick Ward put up 1,000 yards last year behind Brandon Jacobs. Ahmad Bradshaw will be that guy.

Darren McFadden-The Raiders offense won't be as inept as people think. McFadden is a game-breaker and will be the guy in Oakland this year.

Lesean McCoy-He was a stud at Pittsburgh. I'm thinking Westbrooks TD vulture, and a great bench player to hold onto for the 3-4 games Westbrook misses.

Hate:

Willie Parker-Can we stop calling him 'Fast Willie'? Mendenhall and even Mewelde Moore will get looks in the redzone.

Jamal Lewis-He's hit his 30's. The Browns will be the AFC's worst team by far, and they still don't know who their QB is, except in 2o10 it'll be Sam Bradford.

Deep Sleepers

James Davis-I originally loved Jerome Harrison to take over for Jamal Lewis, but James Davis has been a beast this preseason. Unfortunately his name is getting out there, but he has big-time potential.

Jamaal Charles-His skill-set fits Todd Haley's offense much better than Larry Johnson. Larry Johnson has a ton of mileage on him, and he's a headcase. Charles might get an opportunity to become a solid Flex Play.

Rashad Jennings-He's dinged up right now and losing a valuable chance to be the backup to MJD, but I love his pedigree. He's got the size and speed to be an effective NFL running back.

Houston Texans Fantasy Preview

Are the Houston Texans finally ready to break out?
Offensively, this teams is loaded with options and, by the end of the year, may boast a top 5 offense. The offense starts with quarterback Matt Schaub who has the potential to put up 3,500 to 4,000 passing yards and 25+ touchdowns. The one thing that has held Schaub back from reaching his true fantasy potential has been a rash of nagging injuries; expect him to put it all together this season. Surrounding Schaub is a bevy of talented players at every skill position. At the running back position, Slaton is expected to build on his highly successful rookie campaign and cement himself as a top 10 RB for years to come. This offense also features WR phenom Andre Johnson who, last year, established himself as an elite fantasy player (regardless of position). Finally, the offense also features a couple of excellent role players- in TE Owen Daniels and WR Kevin Walter- who are expected to factor significantly into this offense. If you can nab a couple of these players on draft day; you are putting your team in a good position to be successful this season.

Best Bets:
Andre Johnson- Do I really even need to say much. Despite having to deal with multiple quarterbacks due to injuries, Andre Johnson turned in the best season of his career by catching 115 balls for 1,575 yards and 8 touchdowns. A healthy Shaub should mean an increase, in touchdowns, to at least 10+ scores while the rest of Johnson's numbers stay constant- or slightly improve. He's a beast, he's a stud, what else can I say other than you want him on your fantasy team.

Steve Slaton- In a running back heavy draft which featured more highly touted prospects like Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Chis Johnson, Felix Jones, Kevin Smith and Matt Forte- Slaton put up arguably the best rookie numbers of them all posting 1,282 yards (a 4.8 ypc), 50 catches for 377 yards, and 10 total touchdowns (9 rushing). He also is in an offense where he is the only viable option, at the running back position, and, thus, does not have any RB competition for goal-line opportunities and splitting carries. The only concern, with Slaton, is that he is smallish, at 5'9 195 (on ESPN it says 215 but that is a lie), and may be susceptible to injury. Regardless, he has been durable through college, and in his rookie year, and represents the perfect system back for Gary Kubiak's Broncos style zone blocking scheme.

Buyer Beware
Matt Schaub- Let me preface this by say that I love, and will draft, Schaub because of his fantasy upside, and also don't really think there are any true buyer beware players in the Texans offense. Still, with Schaub, it all comes down to health and this QB has been known to miss a couple of games due to injury each year since he has come to the Texans. I say draft him, but make sure to safeguard yourself with a strong backup QB immediately after in case his injury-prone troubles continue.

Sleeper
Owen Daniels- despite the fact that he has consistently been a top 5 TE, or close to it, the last two years- he seems to consistently be undervalued come draft day. This is good news for fantasy savvy players like you and I who know that it is foolish to draft a TE early when you can sit back and grab a potential stud like Daniels. Last year, Daniels did everything but reach the end zone as he compiled 70 catches for 862 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2008 season. In 2009, expect him to reach the endzone 5+ times in addition to putting up comparable numbers to the ones he has been putting up the last two seasons.