2009 NFL Preview: Sophomore Running Backs

Scribe Written on July 06, 2009

NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Darren McFadden poses for a photo after being selected fourth overall by the Oakland Raiders during the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

(This and all subsequent articles will now be available on InsidetheGridiron.com, a new website created by BleacherReport's own "The Rant")

The year 2008 was a precocious one for professional(and fantasy) football to say the least.

LaDanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook found themselves hitting the mythical age of 30; the kryptonite for NFL running backs.

Sean Alexander found himself old.

Ronnie Brown found himself teamed up with King Willie from Predator II.

Adrian Peterson turned into Tracy McGrady.

Mike Shanahan had made it his personal objective to ruin the fantasy football running back; preaching running back by committee over the 300 yard monster.

Worst of all was that it was working and catching on—both Super Bowl teams used a team of running backs over the standard one.

Looking back, the 2008 NFL Draft was the mother of all "slump busters"; the world's sexiest fat chick so to speak.

While Darren McFadden was regarded as the headliner of a mediocre crew of running backs, ironically, he ended up as the least productive of the group.

Today, I will be analyzing each rookie running back from the 2008 Draft who made an impact, and search for chances of a sophomore slump.

(Alright, as of now, I will think of another word for sophomore slump. It has become over-used and I'm officially sick of it. If anyone has any ideas for a new name let me know and I promise you will receive credit every time I use it.)

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written on July 06, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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