Top 10 Fantasy Running Backs That Don't Get Enough Respect

Fantasy football can only be won if everything goes as planned. Sometimes planning can be a bit distracting if you base your opinions solely on last years results.

Instead, base your picks on what you learn about teams in the off-season and their schedules for 2009, Don't focus on the individual players and their hype. And remember that any rb can be a victim of the RBBC (Marion Barber) or worse... an injury (Tom Brady).

Talent can out weigh the worst of teams (Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte... not Larry Johnson or Steven Jackson). Its not about wins, its about fantasy points.

Selecting clutch picks in the middle of your draft can give you the edge in 2009.

Drafting a Great WR like Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss or Andre Johnson can pay off if you are lucky enough to draft 3 running backs that are solid fantasy options down the stretch.

Let's take a look at the running backs that don't get enough respect but have the stats to back it and their teams are on the up!

Who can step up and be the DeAngelo Williams of 2009?

No. 10 Jerious Norwood

5.1 yards per carry in '08 and one injury away from being in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Honorable Mentions:

Sammy Morris
Chester Taylor
One of the Bronco backs
Laurence Maroney
Cedric Benson

No. 9 Julius Jones

Does he have the passion for football to have a season like his brother Thomas Jones had in '08?

A hopeful healthy Hasselbeck and the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh can possibly be the keys to Julius' career. Keep in mind that Jones is only 27. His brother Thomas is 30.

Call it a stretch or a hunch but I would happy to grab him.

No. 8 This Just In.... LeSean McCoy

Westbrook proceeds to have minor surgery... if things don't heal right????
This could be a chance for McCoy to showcase his potential behind a huge offensive line and a pass threat of McNabb.

McCoy could be a fantasy low risk yet high reward sleeper.

The Eagles didn't draft him to sit the bench.

No. 7 Felix Jones

Although I'm a huge fan of Marion Barber I can't help but be electrified by the speed Felix Jones has. Break-away speed and field vision can make for big fantasy points.

Being a non-starting running back can mask his potential. Make no mistake as I project him to be a solid No. 3 RB on your roster.

At 8.9 yards per carry last year he makes a strong case to be drafted in the mid to late rounds.

No. 6 Marshawn Lynch

Yes he's suspended...but don't let him slip away!

This sounds a bit obvious but there is no reason to let him slide past the 25th pick this year...

You don't win fantasy leagues by winning your first couple of games. You win by stacking your team for the playoffs.

Marshawn is the beast of the East and plays harder than almost every running back out there. The addition of T.O. will clear lanes that we haven't seen him run through in his young career.

Things look bright for the Bills and from a fantasy stand-point I like the possibilities.

Lynch is listed on some fantasy web sites as the projected 18th best RB for '09... I beg to differ. This could be the winner of the DeAngelo Award for sure!!!

No. 5 Derrick Ward

Running in the shadows of Brandon Jacobs has paid off and landed Ward a starting job in Tampa.

I'm a bit puzzled by the Bucs this year as the departure of Gruden and the new faces could be interesting.

Sneaky things will surface for the fantasy scene from Tampa Bay. Someone is bound to score some points! My guess is Derrick Ward.
Draft him as early as the late fourth round, early fifth.

No. 4 Tim Hightower

Ever since Beanie Wells fell into the equation in Arizona Tim's stock dropped tremendously.

Losing Edgerrin James in my mind out-weighs the value to Hightower far more than the deduction of adding Wells to his competition for the starting job.

He has the experience. He knows the plays.

Why wouldn't you want the Super Bowl Runner-up's running back if he comes cheap? ...NO RESPECT that's why!

No. 3 Joseph Addai

What happened to Joseph last year? Did he over-extend himself at the beginning of the year as a result of Peyton's nagging injury?
Either way, Addai makes the top three of the most disrespected fantasy running backs.

Going back to my point of dwelling on last years statistics, Joseph Addai was a big let-down in fantasy points and in his poor numbers in 2008 seems to have left a scar on most everyone's minds.

The Colts even disrespected him (it is hard to admit my favorite team's mistakes) by drafting Donald Brown with their first pick!

Donald Brown was a beast in college but still has some growing to do before he can steal a big percentage of Addai's carries. I say this because Peyton Manning's style of play requires at least one year of training to fully grasp.

The departure of Rhodes is the biggest part of my argument for his success.
It would not be impossible for Addai to play his heart out and flourish one more solid year.

Addai should be seriously considered in the third round.

No. 2 Thomas Jones

What does Thomas Jones have to do to get a bid as a top 10 fantasy consideration?

Stop aging? Get Brett Favre back? Have Dirty Sanchez step up real real quick?
Ok, so maybe he doesn't have everything going for him right now on paper. But he is a work-horse of a back that has surprisingly soft hands. He will get you tons of 100 yard games.

He is consistent from week to week as he is in the best shape of his life at age 30.

He surprised me by getting 13 rushing touchdowns last year. Combine that with 1312 rushing yards with 4.5 ypc... not shabby!

I predict he will have a better season again this year than Frank Gore and boldly enough DeAngelo Williams...you heard it here first.

No. 1 Brandon Jacobs

Just take a real good look at his picture...

How can you over-look the power and speed of a guy who is that damn big?

I like to compare Jacobs to Steven Jackson as I feel they are both very huge running backs in the league as far as size and ability.

2008 Stats:

Steven Jackson :253 Carries, 1042 yds, 4.1 yards per carry, 7 touchdowns

Brandon Jacobs: 219 Carries, 1089 yds, 5.0 yards per carry, 15 touchdowns

Brandon had 47 more yards on 34 less carries. And last time I checked 8 more touchdowns would give you 48 more fantasy points.

Jacobs will miss having Plaxico keeping the defenses honest.

He will however stand a chance to pick up more carries with the absence of Derrick Ward. If the GIants can land a stud Wideout they could be back in Championship form.

Prediction for 09: 1300 +yds, 21 tds