Fantasy Football: Top Running Backs

By Craig Arnold  |   Monday, July 24, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Fantasy Football
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Here are the top 10 fantasy football running backs:

1. LADAINIAN TOMLINSON

Tomlinson is a premier fantasy running back in the NFL. The All Pro has shown that he is a first-round fantasy pick year after year. The departure of quarterback Drew Brees will be a 50/50 situation for L.T. Philip Rivers is an unproven quarterback, but if anything, Tomlinson will get more looks out of the backfield and will likely have to carry the bulk of San Diego's offensive production. A consistently dominant fantasy back, Tomlinson is a proven touchdown scorer, and is always good for plenty of receptions. Last year, the 221-pounder rushed for 1,462 yards and totaled 20 scores. Expect more of the same from the five-year veteran this season.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

2. SHAUN ALEXANDER

The MVP of the 2005 season, Alexander is as reliable as they come. Seattle's offensive line is still strong, even with the loss of left guard Steve Hutchinson. It's likely Alexander will have another fantastic year for fantasy owners. Last year, he had an NFL record 28 touchdowns and rushed for close to 1,900 yards. The Seahawks' ground game is always a factor, as is the passing game. Thanks to the offense's great balance, Alexander will constantly succeed. It is unlikely that the 28-year-old will surpass his great numbers from last season, but he'll end up in the 22-25 touchdown range with plenty of rushing yards.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

3. LARRY JOHNSON

Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has already stated that Johnson will be the go-to-guy in Kansas City this upcoming season. Johnson had a breakout season in 2005, managing to pile up 21 touchdowns and over 2,000 all-purpose yards despite starting just nine games. Johnson seems like a perfect choice to start for any fantasy football team. Kansas City's offensive line is as solid as they come, which will greatly aid the former Penn State star this year. I see no downside to taking Larry Johnson in a draft. Period. He should produce even more now that veteran back Priest Holmes has stepped aside and may be forced to retire.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

4. TIKI BARBER

Barber had the second-most rushing yards in 2005 behind Alexander. Tiki ran for 11 touchdowns, nearly 1,900 yards and added 530 receiving yards. Barber proved to fantasy owners last year that he can hang onto the ball, as he made past fumble issues an afterthought. Defenses can no longer underestimate Eli Manning's passing ability, which will help Barber's cause. However, the nine-year veteran's lack of size is a major concern, especially around the goal-line. Owners who take Barber need to hope he'll be a factor inside the opposing 10-yard line, rather than his hulking backup, Brandon Jacobs.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

5. CLINTON PORTIS

Thanks to his great elusiveness and speed, Portis is definitely a solid fantasy running back. All the notable offseason acquisitions for the Redskins' offense will only benefit Portis and open up the running game. The addition of coordinator Al Saunders doesn't hurt, either. Portis had 12 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,500 yards in helping the 'Skins go 10-6 last year. This upcoming season, look for the former Miami Hurricane to continue being a great weapon around the goal line, leading to double-digit touchdown production.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st round

6. STEVEN JACKSON

2005 was a decent season for Jackson, considering the Rams' running game never truly took off like ex-head coach Mike Martz wanted it to. Jackson scored 10 touchdowns to go along with over 1,000 rushing yards and an extra 320 receiving yards. The 231-pounder is a big, strong back that has very good speed. Now that the pass first Martz is gone, replaced by balanced offensive attacker Scott Linehan, and veteran back Marshall Faulk is on his way to retirement, look for Jackson to crush his numbers from last year.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

7. CADILLAC WILLIAMS

Coming off a tremendous rookie year, Williams has shown the NFL and Tampa Bay he is here to stay. He only racked up six touchdowns, but eclipsed the 1,200-yard mark on the ground in his first season. Unfortunately, fullback Mike Alstott is usually the goal-line man for Tampa Bay, due to his size. The emergence of quarterback Chris Simms will help Williams, since stretching the field through the air keeps defenses honest. This offseason, Tampa Bay has focused on improving its offensive line, drafting guard Davin Joseph and tackle Jeremy Trueblood. Those two mammoth linemen will certainly help Williams' bid in exceeding his rookie totals.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st Round

8. RUDI JOHNSON

Consistency issues made owners stray from Johnson early last season. The five-year veteran only had two touchdowns the first half of the year, which for most fantasy owners is unacceptable. However, Johnson has been working out hard this offseason trying to gain more speed to add to his power, and he did finish with 10 touchdowns in the second half of 2005. A key factor in not picking Johnson is the Bengals' current quarterback situation. If the injured Carson Palmer is healthy throughout the season, there should be no problem. Still, Johnson will need to find the end zone all year, rather than just the second half.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st-2nd Round

9. RONNIE BROWN

Not having Ricky Williams anymore is a loss for the Dolphins, but not for Brown, who can showcase his talent for a full 16-game schedule as the team's No. 1 back. The fact that Brown, a second-year man, has so much skill around him should play a key factor, since he won't have oodles of pressure heaped on him. Look for the 232-pounder to have a terrific 2006 season for the resurgent Dolphins.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st-2nd Round

10. EDGERRIN JAMES

James' production could fall off with his new team because of a questionable offensive line, but he'll still be quite productive. The versatile veteran combines speed, power and elusiveness, making him an elite fantasy threat. There is a downside to taking James, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Draft Round Estimate: 1st-2nd Round

SLEEPER PICKS:

1. REUBEN DROUGHNS

Only scoring two touchdowns last year hurt Droughns in the eyes of fantasy owners. The back will get plenty of carries now that first-year starting quarterback Charlie Frye is running the show. Droughns' main goal will be to take pressure off the young signalcaller, while helping the Browns' offense earn respectability. The former Denver Bronco has big-play ability, and should be helped greatly by Cleveland's revamped offensive line, led by tackle Kevin Shaffer and center LeCharles Bentley. Expect Droughns to gain more yards than 2005 (1,232) and easily surpass his pair of touchdowns from last season.

Draft Round Estimate: 3rd-4th Round

2. DOMANICK DAVIS

Davis isn't really a "sleeper" per se; however, he isn't a player likely to go in the first round in most drafts. Davis was injured last year and didn't break the 1,000-yard plateau. The fourth-year man only had six touchdowns in 230 attempts, but he did miss five games. If Davis can return to his form of 2004 (13 touchdowns, 1,188 yards), then he would be a worthy No. 1 fantasy back. The Texans' offense is certainly improved entering the season, so don't underestimate Davis.

Draft Round Estimate: 2nd-3rd Round

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