Sportsocracy's Fantasy Football Player Rankings: Running Back

by user The Jim

Running back is a currency so valuable in fantasy football, it's akin to rappers and malt liquor. In most years, there's one back who captures all the buzz and is a consensus #1 pick in every league in the world. Not so this year. In fact, it seems to basically be a 3-way tie. So, with a St Ides in hand, we look at the chosen 3 and everyone else.

1a. LaDainian Tomlinson - Chargers

Fantasy owners fell in love with this guy in 2004 after he racked up 1600+ yards and 100 catches totalling 17 TDs. Since then, his yardage totals have been down, but his TDs have actually been up on the rushing side. His receiving totals have not been nearly as great though. Still, I think he's the top back and expect him to have a huge year, especially with his new inexperienced QB at the helm.

1b. Larry Johnson - Chiefs

Fantasy owners are drooling over the prospects of LJ. He started just 9 games last year and managed 1750 yards and 20 TDs. Extrapolating those numbers over a whole season makes for some scary possibilties. It would put Johnson well over the single season mark for yards and shattering the single season TD record of 27, set by his predeccessor in the KC backfield, Priest "Jesus Jr" Holmes. Still, this will be LJ's first full season as a starter and despite his impressive stretch last year, he's still largely unproven. Yeah, I'll still take him too.

1c. Shaun Alexander - Seahawks

Despite being the overweight, long, lost, Barber triplet, Alexander is a fantasy stud, ratcheting almost 1900 yards last year. Barring injury, there's no reason to think he won't continue to put up the big numbers in yardage, TDs, and double cheeseburgers

4. Tiki Barber - Giants: I once proclaimed him "Hottest Player in the league as of Week 4 in 2000". May lose some TDs to that 290lb tailback the Giants have. Not Ron Dayne.

5. Clinton Portis - Redskins: Banged up in the preseason, but still crazy as ever.

6. Edgerrin James - Cardinals: New digs out in Arizona, figures to see lots of carries.

7. Rudi Johnson - Bengals: Somewhat unheralded, despite 1400+ yards the last two seasons. No one wants him as their #1 fantasy back but you could do so much worse.

8. Steven Jackson - Rams: Has a question mark on him with a new head coach. Could steal the show from some of the guys higher up on this list.

9. Ronnie Brown - Dolphins: We're going to find out how good the big back is very early on in the season. He's not splitting carries this year with Sportsocracy favorite, Ricky Williams, so most people expect good things.

10. Willis McGahee - Bills: Definitely the only Bills player worth getting anywhere near, McGahee had 1200+ yards last season, but only 5 TDs playing on a terrible team.

11. Cadillac Williams - Bucs: There seems to be much debate over Williams, with some draft experts putting him as high as the 4th best back in the league. He started the season very well and then faded late last year as a rookie, hopefully he'll leave a little something in the tank this year.

12. Brian Westbrook - Eagles: Another subject of great debate is the worth of Westbrook. He plays on a team that wants to pass more in the red zone than run, however he's a great receiver out of the backfield so that ends up not being that bad of a thing. If the Eagles return to their winning ways, he could be an excellent pick.

Sleepers/Darkhorses: Willie Parker - Steelers: Everything keeps pointing to Parker returning to Earth and playing like an undrafted free agent, yet this guy keeps on truckin'. If Duce Staley goes back to what he does best (wearing sweat pants and flashy jewelery on the sidelines), Parker could collect all the yards and TDs with that powerful Steelers offense Lawrence Maroney - Patriots: If Corey Dillon really falls apart as predicted, Maroney could be an absolute steal. Still #3 on their depth chart though.

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Date

Thu 08/24/06, 7:20 pm EST