2010 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Written by Ryan Hallam

 

1.Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
314 carries, 1,383 yards, 18 TDs; 43 catches, 436 yards

I know that Chris Johnson appears to be the consensus number one pick in this year's drafts, but I still think that it has to be Peterson.  His 18 touchdowns were still very impressive, and while the yards weren't as high as they have been in the past, he still nearly averaged 100 yards per game.  I don't see the Vikings making as much of an effort to pad Brett Favre's stats around the goal line, as they were obviously doing last year, and can see Peterson cracking 20 total touchdowns in 2010.  Sure, he does have a little case of fumbilitis, but he is also one of a few backs that can truly take ANY carry and take it to the house.  It is nearly impossible to pass on Johnson, but I would take Peterson if I had the first pick.   Doesn't it always seem like the consensus number one pick usually doesn't have the BEST season, even if he is really good?

2.Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
358 carries, 2006 yards, 14 TDs; 50 catches, 503 yards, 2 TDs

Johnson was no doubt the single most explosive player in football last year as you have endless memories of him turning the corner before galloping down the field as he had a whopping 22 runs of 20 yards or more.  Johnson is also a very accomplished receiver out of the backfield, as he has 92 catches in his first two years in the NFL.  There is no reason not to take him with the first overall pick in fantasy drafts, although I imagine that teams will try even harder to stop him this year and try to make Vince Young beat them with his arm. I do not think that he will break 2,000 yards again, but could surpass his touchdown total from 2009.

3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
312 carries, 1,391 yards, 15 TDs; 53 catches, 374 yards, 1 TD

Jones-Drew definitely belongs among the elite running backs in fantasy football, but I just have one problem with him, and that is that he disappears in too many games.  Yeah, he has his share of 150 rushing yards and three score games, but there are too many 40 yards and no touchdown games.  Jones-Drew is another excellent receiver out of the backfield which brings you even more value for your players.  He still racks up pretty impressive numbers regardless of how he gets there and he looks to have his third straight double digit touchdown season, which I see him doing with ease.  If you miss out on the top two, I think he is the next logical pick. 

4.Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
254 carries, 1,339 yards, 7 TDs; 78 catches, 702 yards, 1 TD

The most productive player in the history of football powerhouse Rutgers, Rice served notice in 2009 that he had arrived in the NFL and should even continue to improve.  Rice is built like a brick poophouse at 5'8" and 210 pounds, and can pound his way through the offensive line with the best of him.  He doesn't have the best speed, but he is quick enough to break a long run when the opportunity arises. He could jump up to the third spot on these rankings in PPR leagues as he had a very impressive 78 receptions last year.  You would like to see his touchdown total rise, and I believe that he has a great chance to do as well as doubling his total from 2009.  Rice is the real deal and definitely deserves to be one of the first few players selected on draft day. 

5.Stephen Jackson, St. Louis Rams
324 carries, 1,416 yards, 4 TDs; 51 catches, 322 yards

While he might not be in the best situation, Jackson is definitely the next most talented running back in the league.  You have to hope that the Rams offense will improve with Sam Bradford and an offensive line that HAS to be better than it was last year.  Jackson has had some trouble with injuries over the past few seasons, mostly because he has been trying to carry the team by himself.  He is a punishing runner that loves contact and has the ability to drag tacklers a long way.  Although his numbers don't show it recently, Jackson is one of the best at finding the endzone when he gets close, and with a few decent breaks he could easily score eight to twelve times.  He is another back who excels at catching the ball, as he is probably the best receiver on the team.  There is a chance that he will struggle again in 2010, but Jackson should be so much better than he was last season.   

6.Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
178 carries, 871 yards, 10 TDs; 5 catches, 35 yards

This guy has just been a touchdown machine since coming to the Falcons.  Even last season when he injured his ankle and missed a good deal of time, he still had ten touchdowns.  Turner is the undisputed starter in Atlanta and is an incredible workhorse when healthy.  The Falcons have a solid offensive line and a solid passing game that doesn't allow the defense to just focus on stopping Turner.  Considering that he stays healthy this season, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't run for at least 1,200 yards and score 13-15 times. 

7. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
229 carries, 1,120 yards, 10 TDs; 52 catches, 406 yards, 3 TDs

Gore is a very talented back, who runs very hard, but I do have a few issues with him.  First, he always has some nagging injuries and always finds his way to miss a few games a year and limps through a couple more.  Second, outside of last year he hasn't been the kind of guy who scores a lot of touchdowns.  However, that could be remedied going forward as the 49ers have the foundation for a successful offense and that should help take some of the pressure and workload off of Gore.  He also has 50+ catches in two of the last three seasons, making him more value than some guys with comparable talent.  I still get nervous every week when I own Gore, but he has been very consistent over the past few years. 

8.  DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
216 carries, 1,117 yards, 7 TDs; 29 catches, 252 yards

I know that he has Jonathan Stewart on the same team and he really takes a lot of carries and touchdowns away from him, but the Panthers are so focused on the run that there is enough carries and touchdowns for both Stewart and Williams to be successful.  He still ran for over 1,100 yards even though he missed three games, and his seven touchdowns are enough to keep his fantasy owners pretty happy. Look for DeAngelo to top 1,200 yards and another season of 12 or more touchdowns.

9. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers
242 carries, 1,108 yards, 7 TDs; 25 catches, 261 yards, 1 TD

The Steelers aren't as much of a running team as they have been in the past, but they still tote the rock on the ground a decent amount, and there is no one to challenge Mendenhall for the lion's share of the carries.  He did fade a little down the stretch, but He is just 23 years old and should have a long string of good years in front of him.  I would think that Pittsburgh will probably lean on him more in the beginning of the season when Big Ben is forced to sit, which could lead to another tail off after Thanksgiving, but I am going to go under the assumption that he will be stronger this year in his second go around as the main man and should blast past 1,200 yards and ten scores. 

10.  Shonn Greene, New York Jets
108 carries, 540 yards, 2 TDs; no catches

If it wasn't for the signing of LaDainian Tomlinson, Greene would have probably been five spots higher up on these rankings.  I was very impressed by the way he finished the season and with the way he ran.  Greene is not afraid of contact, and definitely has a nose for the end zone.   The last month of the season he averaged well over five yards a carry and showed good explosive ability with five runs over 20 yards in very limited action.  Tomlinson definitely has a chance to vulture touchdowns from Greene, especially on receptions out of the backfield, but the Jets' offensive line is perhaps the best in football and their offense is all about running.  Even with sharing the backfield Greene will be a top ten back. 

11. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
247 carries, 947 yards, 7 TDs; 28 catches, 213 yards, 2 TDs

Moreno split carries in his rookie season with Correll Buckhalter, but still ended up with nearly 250 carries and almost 1,000 yards.  Buckhalter is still there, but I can see Moreno's workload increasing nicely in his second time through the league. It isn't Mike Shanahan's team anymore, but Denver still likes to run, and their offensive line isn't elite, but it isn't anything to sneeze at either.  Moreno is a strong runner who should have a great NFL career in front of him.  My concern with him is that the quarterback position is so unsettled in Denver, and he doesn't have great receivers to keep the defensive pressure off of him.  Either way he should easily top 1,100 yards and I believe he can just surpass his seven scores from 2009. 

12.Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals
301 carries, 1,251 yards, 6 TDs; 17 catches, 111 yards

Benson is proof that some guys just take a little longer to acclimate themselves to the NFL, or he could also prove the theory that some guys just need a change of scenery.  Benson was declared one of the bigger draft busts in Chicago, but broke out in a huge way in Cincinnati last season.  He scored five of his six touchdowns in the first two months of the season, but still finished with great numbers.  His 301 carries in just 13 games could be a bit of a concern considering he had never been a full time back before, but hopefully all will be well.  He doesn't have any serious competition for carries, and right now in fantasy football that is worth a lot.  Benson should easily be a 1,000 yard back and he should be able to equal his six touchdowns at worst.  

13. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals
176 carries, 793 yards, 7 TDs; 12 catches, 143 yards

Wells appears to be one of the brighter future young stars in the NFL, even though it took a long time for him to get on the field last year.  The Cardinals used Tim Hightower fairly exclusively for most of the season, and Wells didn't get one start the entire season.  However, he showed in the carries that he did get what he is capable of.  Beanie scored seven touchdowns in just 176 carries, although he did also fumble four times, something he needs to improve upon.  Hightower didn't go anywhere in the offseason, but I could see the Cardinals giving Wells more of the carries, while Hightower would be more of a focus as a pass receiver out of the backfield.  When he does become a full-time back, Beanie is going to be one of the elite, and hopefully the Cardinals will wise up and realize what they have and utilize it more. 

14. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
155 carries, 637 yards, 4 TDs; 40 catches, 308 yards

McCoy did get a chance to prove what he is capable of last season when (surprise, surprise) Brian Westbrook went down to injury.  He didn't exactly take advantage of it most of the time, as he only averaged just over four yards a carry, but you saw enough flashes of brilliance that you got the feeling that this kid is going to be something special.  I am a little concerned by the Eagles acquisition of Mike Bell, who stole a bunch of touchdowns from Pierre Thomas last year in New Orleans, but McCoy is a similar type of back to Brian Westbrook who enjoyed an amazing career in Philadelphia.  Look for McCoy to soar past last year's statistics and be worthy of this type of ranking. 

15. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
282 carries, 1,253 yards, 11 TDs; 25 catches, 197 yards

Grant has been a nice, but unspectacular running back since his rookie season, but he had his best year to date in 2009.  The Green Bay offense clicked on all cylinders, and Grant was the beneficiary of the defense having to pay so much attention to Aaron Rodgers and the high powered passing game.  He continues to hold off Brandon Jackson's chances at grabbing more carries, and Grant doesn't have anyone else to fear losing carries to.  However, even with the 11 scores last year, I don't see Grant as a top notch runner, more of a number two.  He still should break 1,000 yards, but I have a hard time believing that he will top the ten touchdown plateau again in 2010. 

16. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
221 carries, 1,133 yards, 10 TDs; 18 catches, 139 yards, 1 TD

He might be the second fiddle in Carolina, but that is still a pretty good fantasy show as far as I am concerned.  Stewart still rushed for more yards and more touchdowns than starter DeAngelo Williams.  This guy is just an amazing running back and not only does he have a knack for finding the end zone, but rarely does the first guy who hits him take him down.  It is tough to take a guy who might not start the game on the field this soon, but Stewart is the one exception to that rule.  He is not the starter, but is an integral part of the Panthers offense that completely relies on the run.

17. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
276 carries,  1,808 yards, 19 TDs; 11 catches, 122 yards (at Fresno State)

Perhaps no rookie outside of Dez Bryant fell into a better situation than Ryan Mathews.  LaDainian Tomlinson is out of town, and if the Chargers thought that Darren Sproles was the answer they wouldn't have cut him before eventually resigning him.  Mathews doesn't have blazing speed, but rarely does the first guy who hits him take him down.  He was a good pass receiver out of the backfield in college and that should translate to the pros.  He has a solid offensive line and a good passing game around him to take some of the defensive pressure off of him and very well should be the best rookie running back in 2010.  Look for him to break 1,000 yards and at least six or seven touchdowns. 

18. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
190 carries, 1,120 yards, 7 TDs; 40 catches, 297 yards, 1 TD

Charles is another guy that was robbed in these rankings by his team's offseason acquisitions, and his was Thomas Jones.  Few backs had as good of a second half as Charles but by picking up Jones it seems a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs want to share the load at least somewhat with two different guys.  However, it isn't like Charles shouldn't have instilled enough confidence by the way he played down the stretch.   He showed the ability to take the most boring looking carry and turn it into a big gain, he was a great pass catcher out of the backfield, and he scored seven times in the last eight regular season games.  However, your team doesn't bring in a guy like Thomas Jones to just sit around.  The guy has 27 scores over the past two seasons, and you have to believe that he is going to eat into Charles chances around the goal line.  Regardless of that fact, Charles will be the lead back in Kansas City and at age 23 should be a very solid back for your fantasy team and a great second running back on your team. 

19.  Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
147 carries, 793 yards, 7 TDs; 39 catches, 302 yards, 2 TDs

As Charles gained a teammate who is sure to vulture some touchdowns, Thomas lost a teammate in the offseason who did the same thing.  Mike Bell took his show to Philadelphia, which should help Thomas get more carries around the goal line.  Of course, Reggie Bush is still there, but I don't think any of us think that Bush is the type of back that is going to carry the ball regularly.  Thomas is a physical runner who is also a little above average catching the ball out of the backfield.  He isn't afraid of contact and knows how to finish runs off, especially around the goal line.  He might get passed over by some who remember him losing a lot of carries at the end of drives, but I believe that he will get those this season and surpass ten scores on the year. 

20.  Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
147 carries, 648 yards, 8 TDs; 14 catches, 98 yards

If he could just stay healthy Brown could climb ten spots up this list, but it seems like it never happens.  Brown was off to a great start in 2009 before Lisfranc surgery ended his year.  Brown is more of a finesse runner as opposed to his backfield mate in Ricky Williams, but is still good at finding the end zone.  He is also very good at catching the ball out of the backfield and can carry the load if called upon.  You are taking a risk if you draft Brown as he has only played half the season in two of the last three years. 

21. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
219 carries, 828 yards, 10 TDs; 51 catches, 336 yards, 3 TDs

Addai had a great season in 2009....finding the end zone.  His 13 scores kept his fantasy owners very happy, as were his 51 catches.  However, he barely topped 800 rushing yards, and that was at a clip of just 3.8 yards per carry.  Addai will likely get plenty more goal line carries and receptions, but you have to believe that second year runner Donald Brown is going have an even bigger role in the offense this season, and that could eat even further into Addai's production.  Don't draft him with the hopes that he repeats 2009 because I don't think it is going to happen. 

22. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
224 carries, 835 yards, 5 TDs; 18 catches, 184 yards, 1 TD

Perhaps the biggest disappointment in fantasy football last season, Jacobs went from a battering ram at the end zone to a guy who tip toed through the offensive line and average just 3.7 yards per carry with six total touchdowns.  However, it is obvious that he wasn't 100 percent in 2009, so you have to figure that he will recover this year.  The Giants offensive line has to improve, and so does Jacobs.  As long as he can stay healthy (he usually has a few nagging injuries during the season), I don't see any reason why he can't get in the end zone ten times or more.  Especially late in the season in NFC East rivalry games, fortunes ride on the team's ability to run the ball.  Few players are capable of making the clock disappear like Jacobs. 

23. Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns
194 carries, 862 yards, 5 TDs; 34 catches, 220 yards, 2 TDs

It only took Eric Mangini thirteen weeks to find out who his most explosive player on offense was, and then he rode Harrison like crazy to finish the year.  106 of Harrison's 194 carries came in the last three games of the season, as did all five of his rushing touchdowns.  Jamal Lewis is out of the picture finally, but the Browns did draft Montario Hardesty and they still have James Davis who was a popular sleeper last year before being injured.  You would hope that new General Manager Mike Holmgren would be smart enough to force Mangenious to ride Harrison for all he is worth, but you can't always count of football people to make what seems like the best move.  Harrison has great speed and is a good receiver out of the backfield, but will be limited by a subpar offensive line and even worse passing game.  However, he is still good enough to make things happen and has a chance to be a fine fantasy contributor. 

24. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
237 carries, 1,062 yards, 2 TDs; 46 catches, 371 yards, 2 TDs

Jackson is a similar type of player to Harrison in that he can make a lot of things happen when he gets into open space and just needs his quarterback to be able to deliver the ball to him in a way that he can utilize his skills.  Unfortunately for Jackson, Trent Edwards and the awful Bills offense isn't always able to accomplish this feat.  He is one of the better receivers out of the backfield as far as running backs are concerned, and if he was on a better team, he could be in the top 15 on this list.  The team did use their high first round pick on C.J. Spiller, so this could have a definite effect on Jackson in the future.  Even though there is very little talent around him, I still think he will be a solid player in 2010. 

25.  Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions
141 carries, 867 yards, 12 TDs; 22 catches, 213 yards, 4 TDs (at California)

A first round pick of the Lions, Best has a very good chance to make an impact on the NFL right from the start, even as a member of Detroit.  Kevin Smith has become completely unreliable and injured way too often to count on anymore.  Best probably would have been selected earlier in April if it wasn't for his long injury history throughout college.  Best has big play ability and an inside track to start from the first game.  It might be risky to put too much faith in him, but I really think that the Lions will improve this year and Best has a good chance to be a big part of that. 

26.  Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals
143 carries, 598 yards, 8 TDs; 63 catches, 428 yards

No one expected Hightower to have the kind of season that he did after the Cardinals drafted Beanie Wells in 2009, but Hightower held him off for much of the season with his impressive play and versatility in the offense.  Not only was he able to run the ball effectively, but Hightower was also one of the best running backs as far as receptions out of the backfield are concerned.  In PPR leagues I still think that he is going to have some value, but as you can gather from above, I really see Wells having a much bigger role this season which means Hightower can't be expected to have the same kind of year in 2010.  If he is your third running back you are probably in good shape, but if you draft him much higher than that I hope you play the waiver wire successfully. 

27. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans
131 carries, 437 yards, 3 TDs; 44 catches, 417 yards, 4 TDs

From fantasy darling to giant dud, Slaton fumbled away his starting role with the Texans, and now you have to wonder where he stands with his coach and his status on the team.  Head Coach Gary Kubiak had a short leash on all of his running backs last season and was really just playing the hot hand by the end of the year.  The Texans also used a draft pick on running back Ben Tate, not to mention they still have Arian Foster in the fold.  Slaton is still the most talented of all of the guys in the backfield for Houston and in all honesty should be the starter.  However, we all know that football doesn't always follow sound logic, and if Slaton can't hang on to the ball he will find himself back on the sidelines again.  He is a moderate risk/high reward type of player, as the Texan offense has become one of the more potent groups in the NFL. 

28. Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks
114 carries, 619 yards, 4 TDs; 41 catches, 350 yards, 1 TD

Forsett broke out in the second half of last season as he took over for an injured and ineffective Julius Jones, and while he wasn't exceptional he was pretty good. He did only have five total touchdowns, but he did average well over five yards a carry for the season.  Jones is healthy and the Seahawks did trade for Leon Washington on draft day, but Forsett should still be the starter on Week One.  I can see the running back situation in Seattle being a total mess the entire season, so I wouldn't put too much stock into Forsett, but if there are some injuries to your team he could get you through some tough times or at least the bye week period. 

29. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
214 carries, 932 yards, 7 TDs; 26 carries, 221 yards

Once one of the best drive and game finishers in the NFL, Barber hasn't quite been the same guy the past couple of seasons.  Nagging injuries, ineffectiveness, and a crowded backfield have dropped Barber down these rankings as he is no longer the guy who scared defenses with his running style and his ability to run over defenders.  In fact, if Felix Jones could stay healthy, I can't even say that Barber would be the lead back in Dallas.  At this point, Barber is a low end number two, or a good flex option and unfortunately I would guess that he has a better chance of being worse than this ranking than better.  The Cowboy offense should be even better this year with the addition of Dez Bryant, but between Barber, Jones, and Tashard Choice, it is hard to put too much faith in any of them without injuries. 

30. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
258 carries, 929 yards, 4 TDs; 57 catches, 471 yards

Oh Matt Forte, how you broke my heart! I don't know if I came into 2009 higher on anyone than Matt Forte.  I saw a solid rookie season by a guy who showed he was capable of carrying the load on a team that liked to run and was like a school girl as I drafted him in more than half of my leagues.  Well, we all know how that story ends.  Forte was absolutely horrible last year and I am not so sure that his prospects are much better in 2010.  Perhaps this ranking is that of a jilted lover, but Mike Martz is the new offensive coordinator for Chicago, and while he likes a back who is capable of catching the ball, which Forte is, the Bears also signed Chester Taylor who is a great pass receiver and a running back who has proven that he can be an effective runner as well.  Forte should still have a good NFL career ahead of him, but I am worried about his production in 2010. 

31. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
124 carries, 494 yards, 1 TD; 9 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD

Is anyone really excited about Clinton Portis?  I didn't think so.  Not only is the Redskins offensive line now one of the best in the business, but he is getting closer and closer to that dreaded 30 year old mark for running backs, but the Redskins also went out and got other old, washed up runners in Willie Parker and Larry Johnson.  The only positive thing that you can say about Portis heading into 2010 is that he is reuniting with his former coach Mike Shanahan under who he had tremendous success in Denver.  If he broke 1,000 yards I would be pretty surprised, and it is questionable whether if he should even be a third runner on a fantasy team. 

32. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
104 carries, 357 yards, 1 TD; 21 carries, 245 yards

The latest of running backs who were drafted high and haven't lived up to it yet, lots of McFadden's troubles have been injuries.  You can't doubt his talent, because it is unquestioned, but so far it has yet to translate to the pros.  He is sure to split some carries with Michael Bush, and could be on the wrong end of that committee if he doesn't get off to a good start.  The Raiders offense should be a little better with another year for their young receivers and the addition of Jason Campbell.  However, there are still too many question marks surrounding the future of McFadden to draft him too high.

33. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
78 carries, 281 yards, 3 TD;  11 catches, 169 yards

Brown missed a good chunk of the season in 2009 with a shoulder injury and had some difficulty getting acclimated to the new offense.  However, in the limited action that he did get, Brown did show flashes of what he is capable of including a 72 yard reception for a touchdown in September.  It is just a matter of time until Brown is one of the better backs in fantasy football, and if something were to happen to Joseph Addai you would have quite the popular fantasy player. 

34. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins
241 carries, 1,121 yards, 11 TDs; 35 catches, 264 yards, 2 TDs

When Ronnie Brown went down with his yearly injury, Ricky Williams showed what can happen when you stop getting all unmotivated after smoking the reefer.  In just under 250 carries, Williams ran for over 1,100 yards and scored 11 times and had (hallucinogenic?) flashbacks to when he was a perennial All-Pro.  However, I still think that while he will share the load more than other team's backup, Williams will still play second fiddle to Brown at least to start the season.  He showed that he is still a fierce runner that isn't afraid to run over a defender, and he is also a great pass receiver out of the backfield.  If Brown goes down again, which is very possible, Williams turns into a top 15 back. 

35.  Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys
116 carries, 685 yards, 3 TDs; 19 catches, 119 yards

Jones is one of the more explosive and exciting young backs in the NFL, the only problem is he can never seem to avoid the injury bug.  He has played 20 of a possible 32 games in his two year career, and the other problem is he is a part of a crowded backfield with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.  Jones is clearly the most talented of the three, but that doesn't mean that he will get the bulk of the work.  He has an incredible burst of speed and is another guy that can take any carry he gets all the way to the end zone.  At some point Jones is going to be a fantasy football stud, but between his injuries and his company at running back, you can't put too much stock in him on draft day. 

36.  Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots          
194 carries, 757 yards, 9 TDs; 14 catches, 99 yards

Maroney had the best season of his career, including a six week span in which he scored eight times.  Of course, he also fumbled three times during that time but everyone remembers the touchdowns.  I also want you to remember that until injuries happened to Fred Taylor and most of the rest of the viable backs in New England, Maroney had 32 carries in the first five games of the year.  He will probably get first dibs at starting games in 2010, but there is no way that he will be getting 20 carries a game.  Maroney has been with the team for four years now and they have never trusted him enough to be The Man, and I don't see it happening in 2010.  As the fourth running back on your team I could see selecting Maroney, but he isn't worth anything more than that. 

37.  C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
216 carries, 1,212 yards, 12 TDs; 36 catches, 503 yards, 4 TDs (at Clemson)

He was the most sought after rookie coming into the draft and fantasy players everywhere screamed when he ended up going to Buffalo.  He has good speed, but is in a crowded situation so it remains to be seen how much he is used in his rookie year.  Spiller could be a fantasy force this year, but more than likely he will be second or third on the depth chart and struggle to get more than ten carries per game.  Long term he has a bright future in front of him, I just don't know when that starts. 

38.  Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders
123 carries, 589 yards, 3 TDs; 17 catches 105 yards

McFadden might get all the press and have all the potential, but is it possible that Bush is the better running back?  He has shown more of an ability to be the grinding back that is capable of getting 20 carries, and he has also been able to stay on the field the past couple of seasons, something McFadden has been unable to do.  He isn't going to be anything spectacular, and chances are he will never win you one of your weekly matchups, but in the games that Oakland gave him the chance Bush came through with some good games. 

39.  Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers
93 carries, 343 yards, 3 TDs; 45 catches, 497 yards, 4 TDs

Sproles was one guy who got a lot of attention last year, but if you look at his numbers it is hard to see what all the fuss was about.  He didn't get ten carries more than twice all season long and that is with LaDainian Tomlinson struggling throughout the season.  Not only that but the Chargers released Sproles before resigning him, giving me an indication of how much (or little) they valued him, and drafted Ryan Mathews in the first round.  Sproles is a nice change of pace player and can come in and make an explosive play happen from time to time.  However, if you are counting on him for regular production you are going to be left disappointed. 

40.  Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants
163 carries, 778 yards, 7 TDs; 21 catches, 207 yards

Bradshaw outshined teammate Brandon Jacobs last year in pretty much every way possible and caught the attention of fantasy players everywhere.  He is a versatile runner, and a nice complement to Jacobs' punishing style.  I believe that part of his success can be attributed to his backfield mate wearing the defense down leaving them weakened to Bradshaw's darting, faster style.  I can see Bradshaw as an end of the roster kind of player, but in no way do I see him scoring seven touchdowns again or being a starting fantasy player unless Jacobs is forced to miss time. 

41.  Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
211 carries, 823 yards, 4 TDs; 28 catches, 217 yards, 3 TDs

It was a resurgence of sorts for Cadillac in 2009 as he had his best season since bursting on the scene as a young rookie runner tearing up the gridiron.  Now it wasn't that he performed at a Pro Bowl level, but especially running backs wear down and get injured as the season goes on, and Williams was a fine fantasy performer for much of the year.  He only scored four times, but he was able to break 75 yards on five different occasions.  When you are looking at depth at running back in the last few rounds of your draft he might be worth considering, but I have to think that the Buccaneers gave a lot of money to Derrick Ward and are going to want him to at least try to earn it at some point. 

42. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
70 carries, 390 yards, 5 TDs; 47 catches, 335 yards, 3 TDs

I would like to preface this by saying that I have very little faith in Reggie Bush.  I know he has a lot of talent, and I know that he can be very explosive.  However, I have two problems with him.  The first is that he goes down too easily.  Rarely does the guy ever break a tackle.  He can make some defenders miss, but if he is touched, the play is generally over.  Second, he is hurt ALL THE TIME!  Bush's knees have been his downfall since coming to the NFL as a highly touted rookie, and has been forced to miss all or part of games in every season except for his rookie year.  He is just not able to withstand the rigors of being pounded on a weekly basis by NFL defenses.  I now thought of a third issue that I have with him as well.  There are so many other weapons on the New Orleans offense, that I don't think that he will see enough meaningful touches to warrant much fantasy consideration.  He might score a half a dozen times, but he likely won't break 500 rushing yards or have more than 45-50 catches.  I would let someone else take the risk with Bush. 

43. Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
331 carries, 1,401 yards, 14 TDs; 10 catches, 58 yards

As a reward for his second consecutive impressive season, the New York Jets gave Jones his walking papers and he lands in a much worse situation in Kansas City.  The Chiefs offensive line is not even in the ballpark of the one in New York and now Jones is another year older.  He also should be second fiddle to Jamaal Charles, which is also going to limit his production capabilities.  Jones could be someone worth having if Charles gets hurt or continues to fumble the ball, but he is only worth a late round selection. 

44. Ben Tate, Houston Texans
263 carries, 1,362 yards, 10 TDs; 20 catches, 105 yards (at Auburn)

He might not be the starter in Week One, but Tate definitely should have a fantasy impact at some point during the season.  He has good size, but also runs great and is a nice combination to give the Texans versatility at running back.  If he gets the chance to play, Tate could have a decent fantasy impact given how good the Houston passing game is, defenses can't stack up the line to stop him.

45.  Montario Hardesty, Cleveland Browns
282 carries, 1,345 yards, 13 TDs; 4 catches, 24 yards (at Tennessee)

Hardesty has already had a good deal of injuries, but he does have a chance to get a good share of carries for Cleveland right off the bat.  Even with the way he finished the year, I'm not sure how much faith Eric Mangini has in Harrison, and Hardesty is more of a pounder.  He is a high risk, high reward type of player, but again with Cleveland a huge draw back is the talent around him including the quarterback and the offensive line. 

More Names You Need To Know

These guys may or may not come up on Draft Day, but there is little doubt that their names will come up at some point before the season is over.  Running backs get dinged up probably more than any other position and between bye weeks and those injuries you will be surprised who you might end up starting before year's end.  Keep an eye on the following players.....the best of the rest. 

Fred Taylor, New England Patriots
63 carries, 269 yards, 4 TDs; 2 catches 17 yards

Taylor was doing fairly well before an ankle injury pretty much ended his season.  He did play the final few games, but it wasn't anything worth talking about.  Taylor is 34 years old and isn't capable of being a number one back.  If the Patriots trust him with some goal line carries he could have some value, but unless some injuries force him into more playing time he won't have much value. 

Javon Ringer, Tennessee Titans
8 carries, 48 yards

He only really got on the field in one game, but he made the most of his small opportunity.  With LenDale White out of the picture, Ringer is the backup now to Chris Johnson.  With Johnson missing some of the offseason workouts with a contract dispute, Ringer is getting valuable time with the offense.  If Johnson happens to get hurt, jump all over Ringer. 

Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills
120 carries, 450 yards, 2 TDs; 28 carries, 179 yards

How the mighty have fallen!  Lynch was once one of the top fifteen running backs in the NFL, but is now more of a problem than an asset.  Lynch's bad attitude and poor play have made him just an afterthought in fantasy football.  With the Bills' drafting C.J. Spiller pretty much puts Lynch third on the depth chart and it will take a trade or major injuries for him to get a chance.

LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets
223 carries, 730 yards, 12 TDs; 20 catches, 154 yards

The Jets brought Tomlinson in, but I can't see him having a major role on the team.  He could be a third down back and a pass receiver out of the backfield, but I don't see anyway he gets 15-20 carries a game.  Shonn Greene is the man in New York, and unless he is getting goal line carries, Tomlinson's value will be limited. 

Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens
109 carries, 544 yards, 12 TDs; 15 catches, 85 yards, 2 TDs

McGahee has been vulturing touchdowns the past two seasons, but since the day Ray Rice came to town, McGahee's value has plummeted and 2010 should be no different.  His carries have dropped in consecutive seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it be three.  He could be a decent handcuff for Rice, but other than that I don't see any other reason to have him. 

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals;
74 carries, 321 yards; 5 catches, 67 yards

Scott filled in quite admirably when Cedric Benson was hurt last year, but unfortunately if that doesn't happen again you can't have Scott on your roster.  If he is in line for some starts, Scott is someone that can get you through a bye week or short injury and can give you a 100 yard game and a score. 

James Davis, Cleveland Browns
9 carries, 15 yards; 4 catches, 5 yards

Davis was a guy that we had as a sleeper last year because of the age of Jamal Lewis, but a serious car accident ended his season before it even started so there is nothing really to go by in the NFL.  The Browns drafted Monterio Hardesty, putting Davis behind another player on the depth chart, but if he ever gets his chance to prove what he has, he could be a nice surprise. 

Rashard Jennings, Jacksonville Jaguars
39 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD; 16 catches, 101 yards

Given the fact that Maurice Jones-Drew and his 5'7" frame somehow is one of the more durable backs, Jennings hasn't been given too many chances to showcase his abilities, but believe me the guy would be able to carry the rock effectively if he was ever called upon.  He is a pretty good sized guy, but has above average speed and good hands.  He isn't someone to consider drafting, but definitely a name to be on the radar. 

Arian Foster, Houston Texans
54 carries, 257 yards, 3 TDs; 8 catches, 93 yards

It took Foster nearly the entire season to get on the field, but he showed what he was capable of the last two weeks of the season.  He is a good fit for the offense, but he needs to be able to hang on to the ball better.  Head Coach Gary Kubiak was so freaked out by fumbling that no running back lasted long, but hopefully in 2010 he will be a little more sensible and Foster will be given a chance. 

Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos
120 carries, 642 yards, 1 TD; 31 catches, 240 yards

Buckhalter did a great job spelling rookie Knowshon Moreno last year in Denver, but I see his role diminishing this season.  He has battled injury problems throughout his career, but is capable if called upon.  Buckhalter is definitely a guy worth taking a look at if he is in line to get more than 15 carries in a game, but it doesn't appear that will be a regular occurrence. 

Tashard Choice, Dallas Cowboys
64 carries, 349 yards, 3 TDs; 15 catches, 132 yards

Choice doesn't get a ton of work when everyone is healthy, but the good news for him is that the two guys that are in front of him often have a hard time staying on the field.  Choice is an exciting runner who can catch the ball out of the backfield and has a nose for the end zone as well.  He has averaged well over five yards a carry for his career, but that can be misleading considering he hasn't had a ton of work. 

Larry Johnson, Washington Redskins
178 carries, 581 yards; 15 catches, 80 yards

Once one of the top running backs in fantasy football, Johnson has plummeted to a back up behind Clinton Portis.  Once the Hall of Fame offensive line in Kansas City disbanded due to injuries and retirement, all of a sudden Johnson wasn't the incredible back he was those couple years.  He is nothing more than a bye week fill in and isn't someone that I would worry about in standard leagues unless you have really deep benches. 

Willie Parker, Washington Redskins
98 carries, 389 yards; 6 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD

"Fast Willie" has turned into "Washed Up Willie" pretty quickly.  He was replaced in Pittsburgh by Rashard Mendenhall and has seemingly lost that signature burst that he once made his living with.  He is likely to be third on the depth chart behind Portis and LJ, so barring all the planets aligning, him finding new legs or the Fountain of Youth, I don't have high hopes for Parker in 2010. 

Mike Bell, Philadelphia Eagles
172 carries, 654 yards, 5 TDs; 4 catches, 12 yards

Bell pissed off fantasy players last year with the way he stole touchdowns from Pierre Thomas during his time with the Saints in 2009.  Will he do the same to LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia?  Well, I have to figure that the Eagles brought him over for just that reason, and he could have some value based on his chance to score a lot of touchdowns.  However, if it doesn't seem like he is getting the ball near the goal line he will be worthless. 

Chester Taylor, Chicago Bears
94 carries, 338 yards, 1 TD; 44 catches, 399 yards, 1 TD

Taylor has always been a disrespected back in my opinion.  The guy came to Minnesota and put up great numbers before the team went out and drafted Adrian Peterson (which you can say has worked out).  He now goes to Chicago where he will be the backup to Matt Forte.  I do expect Taylor to play a similar role to Ricky Williams in Miami, both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.  He could have enough of a role to be worth roster consideration right out of the gate considering the way new offensive coordinator Mike Martz likes to use his running backs. 

Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers
37 carries, 111 yards, 2 TDs; 21 catches, 187 yards, 1 TD

With Ryan Grant being one of the more durable, if unspectacular backs in the NFL, Jackson hasn't exactly been on the field much in his NFL career.  The Packers used another draft pick on running back James Starks who maybe is the guy you should be watching, so maybe that's telling you the faith they have in Jackson.  As of now he is the handcuff for Grant, but don't expect similar production if the starter goes down. 

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions
217 carries, 747 yards, 4 TDs; 41 catches, 415 yards, 1 TD

A few years back Smith was one of the up and coming young running backs in the NFL, but injuries, fumbilitis, and a lack of talent around him has him on the outside looking in when a fresh new face in Jahvid Best looks to have taken his spot.  An ACL injury should have him losing a little more burst as should keep him out long enough for Best to be the undisputed starter heading into camp. 

Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons
76 carries, 252 yards; 19 catches, 186 yards

Norwood has always been lauded as one of the faster, and more exciting backs in the NFL that hasn't had an opportunity, but if he's so great, why do the Falcons never give him a chance?  He definitely has some home run ability, but with Michael Turner and probably Jason Snelling in front of him, it might be quite a stretch to expect too much from Norwood.

Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
114 carries, 409 yards, 1 TD; 20 catches, 150 yards, 2 TDs

The Buccaneers finally go out and spend some money on a free agent and he turns out to be a total bust.  Tampa Bay has one of the least experienced quarterbacks and some of the worst receivers in the league which means they are going to have to rely on the run.  Cadillac Williams will open as the starter, but Ward should get his touches too.  I don't think anyone fully trusts the Caddy so Ward could have some value at some point during the year. 

Glen Coffee, San Francisco 49ers
83 carries, 226 yards, 1 TD; 11 catches, 76 yards

Coffee always has a chance to have an impact on a season with Frank Gore's injury history, but he didn't show much in the opportunities he got in his rookie year.  Coffee struggled to find the open holes and didn't hit them with the gusto that the Niners were hoping for.  However, San Francisco is improving and with a year under his belt, Coffee should be better.  Gore is guaranteed to miss at least two games so if he does, Coffee should be a good fill in.

Leon Washington, Seattle Seahawks
72 carries, 331 yards; 15 catches, 131 yards

Washington is coming off a major broken leg in 2009 so it is a worry if he will have his explosiveness with him in 2010.  He is now in Seattle where he is in a very crowded situation with Justin Forsett and Julius Jones, but he is the most talented of the group and if given the chance could be valuable.  He is a great receiver out of the backfield, so even if he doesn't get 10-15 carries he still could bring something to the table.

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