| 1.
LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) |
LT is still
the most consistently dominant fantasy player out
there and clear no-brainer for #1 overall pick in
all fantasy drafts.
Since entering the league in 2001, LT has
never rushed for less than 1,200 yards or scored
less than 10 TD's in a single season.
He's also averaging about 2,000 yards from
scrimmage per year which, in most leagues,
translates to about 200 fantasy points in yardage
alone. |
| 2. Adrian
Peterson (MIN) |
In only 14
games last year Peterson rushed for 1,341 yards,
caught 19 balls for 268 receiving yards and cashed
in with 13 total TD's. Highlights from Peterson's
2007 season include two 200+ yard rushing games (in
one game he broke the single-game rushing record
with 296 yards) and
four multi-rushing TD games.
With much improved offensive and defensive
units in Minnesota, Peterson will no doubt improve
on his numbers from 2007. |
| 3. Brian
Westbrook (PHI) |
Tagged as
the most versatile back in the NFL, Westbrook turned
in 1,200+
rushing yards and 10+ total TD's for the second
straight year.
With questions surrounding McNabb's health,
Westbrook will again be asked to shoulder the load
for the Eagles.
The last two years should show us that he's
up for the challenge. |
| 4.
Steven Jackson (STL) |
Despite only
playing 12 games in '07, Jackson managed to rush for
his third-straight 1,000+ yard season.
Fantasy owners had to be a little
disappointed with last year's TD total (6), but
expect that number to at least double this season
with the improved health of the Rams offense. |
| 5. Joseph
Addai (IND) |
Since
becoming a Colt, there was never any question that
Addai would be the club's every-down starter.
In his second year in the NFL, Addai posted
his second-straight 1,000+ yard rushing season and
saw his TD total jump to 15 from 8 in '06.
Addai should have no problem reaching that
mark again during his third year in the explosive
Indianapolis offense. |
| 6. Marion
Barber (DAL) |
I've
received some negative feedback for placing Barber
so high in my rankings, but as I see it he's in for
a huge year.
In '07 Barber was given just over 200 carries for
the first time in his career and responded by
rushing for 975 yards and banging out 10 rushing
TD's.
Barber has proved he can be an
every-down back and will likely see his number of
carries increase to around 250 this year.
Barber's total TD's did drop from 16 in '06
to 12 in '07 but without Julius Jones hanging around
to contest the starting role, Barber should be able
to get back to pounding out the TD's.
Rookie Felix Jones
will factor into the mix this year, but it's highly
unlikely that he'll get the 164 carries that Julius
Jones saw last year. |
| 7. Brandon
Jacobs (NYG) |
Brandon
Jacobs is an absolute monster in the backfield.
In only 11 games last year, Jacobs managed to
hammer out 202 carries, over 1,000 rushing yards and
6 total TD's. I can't wait to see what he can do in
a full season.
It's still unclear how Ahmad Bradshaw and/or
Derrick Ward will factor into the New York offense,
but there's no doubt that Jacobs will get the bulk
of the carries behind the Giants' dominant offensive
line. |
| 8. Frank
Gore (SF) |
Gore took a
step back in his second year as the 49ers feature
back. After
carrying the ball 312 times in '06, his rushing
attempts dropped to 260 in '07 and his stats showed
it. Along
with his number of carries, Gore's rushing yards
(1,695 in '06; 1,102 in '07) and rushing TD's (8 in
'06; 5 in '07) also dropped off.
That being said, he did still post
back-to-back 1,000+ rushing seasons and will likely
post a third this year.
I'm also a little uneasy about San Fran's
acquisition of former Carolina starting RB DeShaun
Foster and what that will mean for Gore's numbers
this year. |
| 9. Larry
Johnson (KC) |
After
posting stellar numbers in '05 and '06 (back-to-back
1,700 yard rushing and 15+ TD seasons), Johnson
stunk up the field in the 8 games he played in '07.
Johnson finished the year with only 559
rushing yards on 158 attempts and 4 total TD's.
Needless to say he was a major disappointment
for any GM that gave him the benefit of the doubt on
draft day. If
healthy, Johnson will post 1,000+ yards this year,
but you have to come to the realization eventually
that the ground game in KC just isn't what it used
to be. |
| 10. Willie
Parker (PIT) |
Parker's
yardage has been consistent over the past few years,
as he's shown by rushing for over 1,200 yards in
each of the last 3 seasons.
One thing that should concern fantasy owners,
and the reason Parker drops to tenth in this
ranking, is that his TD totals are extremely
unpredictable (5 TD's in '05; 16 TD's in '06; and 2
TD's in '07).
Couple this with Pittsburgh's 1st round draft pick,
and likely goal-line vulcher, Mendenhall and you've
got to wonder how often Willie is going to cash in
this year. |
| 11. Jamal
Lewis (CLE) |
In my mind
Lewis is one of the least respected of the top 20
fantasy RB's.
When you have a minute go check out his stats:
7 years in the league, 9,105 rushing yards
(averages to about 1,300 per year) and 58 total TD's
(averages to about 8 per year).
Lewis has also rushed for 1,000+ yards in 6
of the last 7 seasons (in 2003 he rushed for 2,066
yards). I'm
not sure what else this guy has to do to break into
my top ten, but if he's available in round 2 of your
draft you'd better snatch him up before someone else
does. |
| 12. Clinton
Portis (WAS) |
Portis got
back on track last year after sitting out half of
the '06 season.
Although he's never been able to match the
numbers he put up in Denver, Portis is a stud
none-the-less, recording 1,200+ rushing yards in 5
of the last 6 seasons and 10+ TD's in 4 of those
years. Portis
is as solid as # 2 RB's come. |
| 13. Maurice
Jones-Drew (JAC) |
Most fantasy
players are still waiting for MJD to break-out from
behind Fred Taylor's shadow and become the Jag's
feature back.
Unfortunately that doesn't seem likely unless Taylor
gets injured.
In MJD's first two seasons in the league, he's
averaged over 12 TD's and 1,200+ yards from
scrimmage per season. Although he's the apparent
second stringer in Jacksonville's offense, it's
clear that he's the number one option on the
goal-line.
Taylor might rush for more yards per season, but MJD
(with 24 TD's) has more than twice as many TD's as
Taylor (11) over the last two years. |
| 14. Ronnie
Brown (MIA) |
Brown has
yet to complete a full 16 game season since entering
the league in 2005, but when he's healthy his talent
is undeniable.
Since signing with Miami, Brown has averaged
over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and about 4 TD's per
year. In the
7 games he played last season, Brown recorded four
100+ yard rushing games.
He also recorded 200+ total yards from
scrimmage in 2 of the 7 games.
Although Brown has tremendous up-side,
fantasy owners will have to decide whether they can
handle the blow to their roster when Brown goes down
again this year. |
| 15. Willis
McGahee (BAL) |
In four
seasons, McGahee has averaged over 1,100 rushing
yards and about 8 TD's per year. McGahee benefits
greatly from Baltimore's run-first offense, but the
loss of Jonathan Ogden on the Ravens O-line
definitely hurts McGahee's chances of producing big
fantasy numbers for your roster this season. |
| 16. Marshawn
Lynch (BUF) |
Lynch
recorded impressive fantasy numbers for his first
year in the league.
In 13 games, he rushed for 1,115 yards on 280
attempts and scored 7 total TD's.
Lynch performed just as well regardless of
who Buffalo put under center, but I think it'll be
better for the team as a whole if Edwards gets the
nod.
Regardless, expect Lynch to post better stats during
his second year in the Bills offense. |
| 17. Ryan
Grant (GB) |
Grant came
out of nowhere last year to propel the Packers
running game into a respectable presence.
In his first year in the league, Grant
finished the season with 956 rushing yards and 8
TD's in only 188 attempts.
Things might get a little tougher for Grant
this year with Rodgers at the helm, but if Green
Bay's new QB can keep opposing defenses honest Grant
might post slightly better fantasy numbers in his
second year. |
| 18. Edgerrin
James (ARI) |
Even after 9
seasons, Edge still has plenty left in the tank.
Last year marked his 5th straight 1,100+ yard
rushing season and the 7th over his 9 year career.
Since arriving in Arizona, Edge has not
rushed for less than 1,100 yards or scored less than
6 TD's in a season.
Those might not be phenomenal fantasy
numbers, but the consistency in his game is what
wins fantasy championships year after year. |
| 19. Thomas
Jones (NYJ) |
With a
revamped O-line and the help of FB Tony Richardson,
Jones should be able to break-loose on opposing
defenses in '08 and remind fantasy owners that he's
a top second tier RB.
The Jets as a whole were pretty bad last
year, but somehow Jones still managed to pull off
his third consecutive 1,100+ rushing season.
With all the right pieces around him, Jones
is definitely poised for a turnaround season. |
| 20. Rudi
Johnson (CIN) |
If you can
pickup Rudi at 20 in your draft consider yourself
extremely lucky.
When looking at his numbers you really need
to throw out his injury riddled '07 season and look
at the 3 consecutive 1,300+ rushing yard / 12 TD
seasons he had in '04 through '06.
If he's back to 100% this year then you got a
steal. |
