Fantasy Football Focus II - Running Backs

In fantasy football drafts, top running backs are chosen early and often. While running backs often offer the biggest opportunity to gain points in your draft, the risk of choosing a star running back is often difficult since injuries are usually a major factor. Except for Brain Westbrook, 4 of the consensus top 5 running backs missed significant time last season so it is important to choose a running back who not only puts up big numbers, but can stay healthy as well.

Pick ‘Em:

1. Ladainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers: 2007 Stats  315 Carries, 1,417 Yards, 15 Touchdowns, 60 Receptions, 475 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 0 Fumbles

Although our final memory of L.T. last season was seeing him sitting on the sidelines with a torn MCL at the end of last season, he remains arguably the top fantasy choice this season (despite pressure from Adrian Peterson) because he provides big yards running, catching and sometimes throwing the football. All reports indicate that Tomlinson has recovered from his knee injury and with the Chargers’ passing game poised to improve this season, there is no reason to believe that Tomlinson will experience a significant drop-off in production.

If there is one concern about Tomlinson, it is that he will be 29 (an age were some running backs begin to experience a decline) and playing without former back-up Michael Turner who signed with Atlanta in the off-season. San Diego needs rookie Jacob Hester or Darren Sproles to emerge as reliable back-up RB’s to keep Tomlinson fresh and injury free next season.

2. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles: 2007 Stats  278 Carries, 1,333 Yards, 7 Touchdowns, 90 Receptions, 771 Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 1 Fumble

Although Adrian Peterson has emerged as the most likely successor to Tomlinson’s fantasy crown, Westbrook remains one of the most versatile fantasy players because he has so much success as both a rusher and a receiver. In many ways, the Eagles game plan of regularly using Westbrook as a receiver has prevented him from taking the same pounding as other RB’s and Westbrook has played in 15 games the past two season. Even with a couple of missed games, Westbrook is the most important player on the Eagle’s offense so look for him to enjoy another strong season as the go to guy for both Donovan McNabb and coach Andy Reid.

3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 2007 Stats 238 carries, 1,341 yards, 12 Touchdowns, 19 Receptions, 268 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 4 Fumbles

I will be honest, I doubted Peterson would have anything close to the impact he had last year considering his injury history. In addition to missing two games last season with a torn LCL in his right knee, Peterson missed time in college with a high ankle sprain and broken collar bone. As a result of his big play potential and history of injuries, I think Peterson is going to make or break a lot of fantasy leagues this season.

He has put up big up numbers everywhere he has played and his numbers should only get better this season (if he avoids injuries) so he could easily justify being the number one pick in any draft. However, injury concerns and the reality that defenses will be focused upon stopping him (and forcing Tavaris Jackson to throw the football) could also mean Peterson will struggle to match his excellent rookie season.

Sleepers:

1. Selvin Young, Denver Broncos: 2007 Stats: 140 Carries, 729 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 35 Receptions, 231 Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 2 Fumbles

With Travis Henry released and suspended, the door is wide open for Young, an undrafted free agent a year ago, to become the next 1,000 yard rusher in the Broncos backfield. Although Young’s numbers are nowhere near L.T. or A.P., he impressed the Broncos enough that the team passed on talented RB’s Rashard Mendenhall and Johathan Stewart in the draft. With Rookie RB Ryan Torain injured and WR Brandon Marshall suspended for at least the first two games of the season, expect the Broncos to hand off early and often to Young. Even with the Bronco’s offensive line weaker than it was in the past, Young will break off big runs once he hits the open field.

2. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons: 2007 Stats: 71 Carries, 316 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 4 Catches, 16 Yards, 1 Fumble

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