Fantasy Running Backs
Fantasy Running Backs
I have the #1 pick in my league as well and I am trying to trade down cause I can't decide between these guys either.
Priest Holmes ... No doubt he has been the best RB the past 2 years ... I hated playing against him and the guy that had him the past two years in my league finished with the best record. If healthy, can't go wrong here.
LaDanian Tomlinson ... great player who gets plenty of touches ... no injury history (yet) ... Boston should open the offense up more and I agree that Neal is a great blocking fullback. Still not sure about the Chargers but the past 2 years, he put up great numbers for then and they were no better than they are now. Once again, can't go wrong here.
Clinton Portis ... put up awesome numbers in only 11 or 12 games started ... huge breakaway potential and plays for a Denver team that always seems to lead the league in rushing. I was not sure about this guy but I can't argue with the numbers hie put up the 2nd half of last year as he was almost as scary as Holmes ... I love him and I would like to trade down to #3 or #4 if I could still get him but I am not sure I want to take him over the above mentioned Holmes and LT. Has +2500 yard potential for sure as I think he gets over 1500 rushing again and plenty of receiving yeards too as long as Jake the Snake doesn't suck balls.
Ricky Williams ... I don't like RW, as I have been burned by him in the past when he was with the Saints, but he is going to gets more carries than any other back and the Dolphins are a good team who will rarely fall far behind and have to resort to throwing to play catchup. Could lead the league in rushing again but I don't trust him as much as the others.
Marshall Faulk ... the running back god of fantasy ... I just think he is on the downside at this point and more likely to encounter injuries than the above mentioned players. Granted, I would not be shocked if he led the league in all-around yards and TD's if he stays healthy and the Rams offense is clicking again. They need to get stud OL Orlando Pace in camp by the start of the season though for sure.
Shaun Alexander ... yes, he was a disappointment last year going in the top 3 picks in most drafts but he did score 18 TD's. The guy has major potential and Seattle's offense finally clicked the 2nd half of last year which is when Alexander did most of his damage including a 6-Td game. With Koren Robinson becoming an elite receiver and Hasselback running the offense much better than in pervious years, I think it's possible for Alexander to be as good as LT, Holmes, etc... another guy I would trade down and take if I get a chance.
Deuce McAllister ... Great all-around back who plays in another explosive offense ... was leading the NFC in rushing before being hampered and playing with injuries late in the season. I would not take him above any of the above mentioned guys but he should be a very solid #1 back again this year.
Travis Henry ... Henry put up great numbers last season despite the Bills tendency to throw the ball much more than run. Henry has always had issues with fumbling and although I could see him have an even better season than last year, I am a bit worried that Olandis Gary may steal a few Td's. Gary will be a solid backup and if you draft Henry, I would recommend getting Gary in the late rounds just in case.
Ahman Green ... Last year he was a top 3 pick in most drafts and he was a bit disappointing much like Alexander. Green is a bit injury prone but usually nothing too serious. He has great breakaway potential and is a good receiver. Another solid #1 back who I would grade similar to Henry.
Edgerrin James ... Here is the guy I am most intrigued by. He was right up there with Faulk and a definite top 3 back until his near injury 2 years ago. He was never 100% last year and he was a major disappointment but they usually say that it takes more than one year to get back to normal following major knee surgery. Supposedly he is as close to 100% as he is going to get. If he is healthy and considering the offensive machine he plays in ... he could jump right into the top 5 again. Much riskier than many of the other players in this group based on last years poor stats but he could be a huge steal.
Tiki Barber ... Tiki is the clear-cut #1 option in a Giants offense which is damn good. TE and but case Jeremy Shockey and WR Amani Toomer have really opened things up. Barber will take advantage as he is an excellent receiver who is great in open space. Although being an Eagles fan, I hate the Gaints and would not want to pick him, he is probably safer than James and may post similar numbers to someone such as Deuce McAllister.
Corey Dillon ... Yes, he plays for the Bungels and for that reason and that reason only, he will never make the Hall of Fame but this guy has incredible talent. Put him on the Broncos his entire career and he is going to chase Emmitt Smith and the other greats as one of the best backs ever to play. Not the best receiver but an awesome runner who had managed 1000+ yards and 10+ Td's despite playing on a team who is almost always behind and has rarely had a decent offensive line. Marvin Lewis is going to open up the offense and get the ball downfield and although Kitna stinks, Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick are nice weapons. Dillon may find the end aone quite a bit more this year and although I don't think the Bengals will win a lot of games, I don't think they are going to get blown out all the time either which means they shoudn't have to abandon the running game.
Fred Taylor ... Possibly the most talented pure RB in the NFL. If not for injuries, Taylor would be awesome ... Taylor managed a great year last year (he actually stayed healthy for once) despite being removed in goal line situation for backup Stacey Mack. With Mack now a Texan and a new coach in place, Taylor (if he can stay healthy) could once again return to the form he showed in his promising rookie year. If this happens, he will be a steal although I do not expect much from the rebuilding Jags.
Jamal Lewis ... This guy bounced back from similar surgery as James to have an unexpected great year. He is the focal point of the Raven offense and could be even better another year recovered from knee surgery. Ravens will run him plenty in their ball control offense and he is another of a plethora of backs who could put up #1 back type numbers.
Stephen Davis ... Davis is a workhorse who finds himself in a perfect situation for his style of running in Carolina. The Panthers will try to win and hang around in games by playing great defense and ball-control offense. That means pounding Davis 30 times a game. I'm not sure the Panthers will score too many points but I think Davis will score the majority of offense touchdowns. He is a bigger, faster and better version of Lamar Smith who posted some decent good numbers last year during the 1st half of the season for a much weaker Panther team. Once again, I think Davis could post great numbers and at worst be a great #2 back.
Eddie George ... George has been beat up plenty the past 2 years but he did manage to put up decent statistics last year although he was very inconsistent in doing so. The Titans are a good football team and I think George would be a solid #2 abck who should get 1000+ yards and could score 10+ Td's if healthy.
