Finding fantasy starters among backup RBs

By Kyle Chrise  |   Wednesday, July 16, 2008  |  Comments( 13 )

Fantasy Football
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It’s an NFL trend that creates anxiety in the hearts of fantasy owners: teams splitting their ground work between two or more running backs. While you’ll want to be wary of starters who lose many touches to their backups, there’s also some reserves who could be worthy of No. 1 status in your fantasy lineup. Keep an eye on these guys once your draft rolls around.

Kenny Watson – Bengals

Watson was the Bengals’ best running back in 2007 with more than 1,100 total yards and seven touchdowns. Rudi Johnson pulled a hamstring in Week 3 and was never able to fully bounce back. Johnson will probably be the starter come Week 1, but if he doesn’t prove himself early in the season, Watson could very likely repeat his 2007 stats.

Sammy Morris – Patriots

Morris was the most valuable fantasy back for New England last year until he separated his sternum in Week 6, and his biggest fan -- especially in the red zone -- is head coach Bill Belichick. Starter Laurence Maroney has battled health issues in both of his NFL seasons, missing three games and parts of two others in 2007; moreover, all of Maroney’s six touchdowns last season came after Morris’ injury.

Rashard Mendenhall – Steelers

Rookie Mendenhall could eventually be Pittsburgh’s next star back, but it’s unknown how the first-round pick from Illinois will contribute this season. He has the build and power to be the go-to guy around the goal line, also possessing breakaway speed and good hands. The problem is that Pittsburgh’s starter, Willie Parker, is a Pro Bowler who led the league in rushing yards for most of last season. Parker will still get the majority of touches this year, but the touchdowns could go to Mendenhall. There’s also a chance that Mendenhall could get more and more looks by the end of the season, just in time for your playoff run.

Jonathan Stewart – Panthers

This year’s 13th overall pick will get a good share of carries in Carolina and may not be the backup for very long. His 5-foot-11, 235-pound body is built for goal-line carries. If he has a great camp and proves he can block, Stewart could also be the third-down option for the Panthers. Starter DeAngelo Williams will have a shot to be the man in Carolina, but size does matter in the NFL, and about a third of Williams’ carries in 2007 were for 1 yard or under.

Chester Taylor – Vikings

Even though the most exciting player in the game, Adrian Peterson, sat above him on the depth chart, Taylor still racked up 1,125 total yards and seven touchdowns last season. Of course, don’t except Taylor to get all those touches if Peterson actually stays healthy in Year 2 of his career. Peterson -- who has always been an injury risk -- started in only nine games last year and cracks in his armor could show at the end of the season, allowing Taylor to fill a more prominent role around fantasy playoff time. Here’s an additional note for leagues that reward receptions: Taylor has made at least 29 catches in each of the past four seasons.
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About Kyle Chrise

Like a modern-day Moses, Kyle was found drifting down the Monongahela River, wrapped in a Terrible Towel, next to what was then Three Rivers Stadium. Found and raised by the stadium's grounds crew, Chrise lived and breathed Steelers football. As a youngster, he earned the trust of new head coach...
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