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Fantasy football history is filled with running backs who singlehandedly carried their owners to championships. Emmitt Smith, Terrell Davis, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, and ...

Fantasy Stud Backs: Where Are They Now?

by Buddy Smith (Senior Writer)

27

19,438 reads

Sports

November 09, 2008


Fantasy football history is filled with running backs who singlehandedly carried their owners to championships. Emmitt Smith, Terrell Davis, Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, and LaDanian Tomlinson were every down backs on high powered offenses. Owners of these players cashed in on a bonanza of points.

For awhile there it seemed like every year would produce a new record for touchdowns in a season. Owners adjusted their strategy to the environment causing countless first round picks to be spent on running backs.

Evolution in games happens quickly, and in recent years the NFL is changing. Platoon backfields have enjoyed so much success that it has become the league norm. Fantasy football owners may need to adjust their strategies as well.

I’ve examined some of this year’s top running back picks so you can take an objective look at how they have performed. You’ll be better able to decide for yourself if these picks are really worth it.



First the Good:

Adrian Peterson was projected to be the number two running back in most leagues. He’s had a respectable year himself: 1015 yards, and seven touchdowns is nothing to sneeze at. Hyped as he was, many owners are disappointed, but even talk of a 2,000 yard season may return after yesterday's performance. He was projected number two (RB), and in most leagues he is number one. You can’t complain about that.

Clinton Portis is having one heck of a season in Washington. With 995 yards and seven touchdowns, only AP is having a better year than the Redskins’ number 26. Where did Clinton Portis go in your draft? Portis was widely thought of as the eighth best RB going into the season…thus far you couldn’t have done better. Let’s see how some of those other early round picks fared.

Brian Westbrook is a warrior. He’s got broken ribs and is out producing almost every back in the NFL.  Six rushing touchdowns, plus two receiving touchdowns in eight games is quite a production pace indeed. He was projected fourth at RB and his results are in line.

Marion Barber and Frank Gore round out this top group. With these players so far owners have gotten what they’ve bargained for.

The Not So Good:

If you took LaDanian Tomlinson in the first few picks this year you have to be disappointed. While he’s not a complete disaster you had to think he was going to outscore Steve Slaton by a wider margin when the season started. Turf toe and nearly being thirty seems to have caught up with LT a bit. It’s a shame.

Author Poll

Who Will Score The Most Points?

  • Clinton Portis
  • Adrian Peterson
  • Brandon Jacobs
  • Michael Turner
  • Thomas Jones
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Who Will Score The Most Points?

  • Clinton Portis

    19.1%

  • Adrian Peterson

    52.2%

  • Brandon Jacobs

    11.7%

  • Michael Turner

    10.2%

  • Thomas Jones

    6.9%
  • Total votes: 1622
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27 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. John Lorge 8 months ago

    Ryan Grant was the most overrated back heading into this season.

    Maroney killed me, but it seems like he came into the season banged up.

    Jackson hasn't been terrible considering his squad.

    Larry Johnson needs to figure his life out, I thought this would be a big year for him, ouch is right.

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  2. Collin Hager - The Roundtable 8 months ago

    Can I toss Marshawn Lynch in this group?? He's driving me nuts.

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    • Buddy Smith 8 months ago

      I think the RB thing is overdone. There's always a Matt Forte, or Steve Slaton, or somebody who surprises. Every year there's the Shaun Alexander, or Steven Jackson who disappoints. I think it's wise to spread your pick around more than a lot of people do.

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  3. Ryan Creger 8 months ago

    I went into this season looking for atleast a pair of Running Backs as my league has 2 RB slots, and a flex WR/RB/TE spot. I walked away a lot better off than I thought especially considering I had high expectations. I have AP and Portis. They are doing fantastic for me. My downside is WR is killing me as my league plays 4. Going into this league I was a Fantasy rookie, and so far I'm holding my own tied with the second best record and second in points. I wish someone would have warned me that some WR go nuts for a crap-ton of points every game. My league is a PPR league with bonuses for 10, 15, and 20. The only one hit is the 10 with the exception of Marshall's crazy 18 reception game. I'm just glad I took AP over LT. I like the article and will next year look to get a WR or 2 early. The only thing crazier than RB's this year has been QB's!!! I mean who knew Orton was going to have as many points as he's had, Big Ben would bomb that bad, and who is Tyler Thigpen? Nice Article

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    • david kay 8 months ago

      How can you possibly have both AP AND Portis? I see your league starts 4 WRs, putting them at more of a premium than most leagues. But still. AP was projected as a top-3 pick, Portis definitely in the top-10, so unless you're in a 6-team league, there's no way Portis should have been on the board for your 2nd pick. I wish that kind of talent was still on the board for MY second pick after I used my first on LT!

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  4. Chris Ball 8 months ago

    LT is still not thirty and will be strong down the stretch. It has been a turf toe injury and a lack of commitment to the running game in SD that has hurt him, not his age. I don't think you could be more wrong. He is one of the best conditioned athletes of his era. You are talking about one of the greatest RB's... no, greatest football players the NFL has ever seen. They don't just drop off the radar. You will see in the playoffs and the rest of his career. This year is anomalous.

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  5. Brian M 8 months ago

    Hey Chris,

    "....greatest football players the NFL has ever seen. They don't just drop off the radar."

    Have you ever heard of Shaun Alexander or Marshall Faulk?? Alexander had great back-to-back years (one including league MVP), and two years later it has taken him nine weeks into the season to make it onto a depth chart. Marshall Faulk was probably the most dominate player in fantasy football history over a three year period. A year later, hurt & hardly nothing. Two years later non-existant.

    Point of this article (I believe), and mine, is that the NFL changes quickly. You have to change your draft polices depending on how the league changes. It use to be set in stone: draft two RB's with your 1st two picks (possibly even your 1st three), but times have changed...so should you!!

    **even though I did draft 2 RB with my 1st two picks**

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    • Buddy Smith 7 months ago

      I agree. We developed these strategies when platooning at running back was rare, and now it's the norm.

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    • Chris Ball 7 months ago

      I know LT has had a terrible year thus far, but don't lump him in with the Alexanders of the world just yet. That's all I'm saying. I know the implications of his lack of production are frightening to some in a fantasy sense, but people thought Jamal Lewis was done two years ago. Also, few people expected Thomas Jones to have a year this big after he turned 30. So, you all can let LT drop in the draft next year and I will reap the benefits of a comeback season. Keep an open mind... this is football- and fantasy football at that. Not everything is exactly what it seems when you are only looking at FFB point production.

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    • Chris Ball 7 months ago

      I do agree with you, overall- I'm just a Chargers fan being sensitive about my favorite player. Everyone seems to hold fast to the 30yr old RB mantra and I'm am not inclined to do so. To add to your point... I took Romo with my second pick.

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  6. Bob Lussier 8 months ago

    The wire always provides a safety net for draft day gaffes. Matt Ryan (picked up off wire) saved my ass when Romo went down. That is why I don't bother drafting a back up QB. Torrain would have been another gem if he wasn't such a damn potato chip.

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  7. Bing Wang 8 months ago

    For the next few years I suggest picking A.P first regardless. He is special and every year he will threaten that 2000 yards every single year as long as somebody called Gus Ferote or Tavaris Jackson QB that Vikings team. You have an extremely dominant O-line, a one in a million RB, a bad passing game, and a conservative coach. A.P will only get better, the only concern is he will probably miss a couple of games a season because he jsut runs too hard sometimes and risks his body.

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  8. ED SMITH 7 months ago

    I HAVE PORTIS, TURNER, GORE, AND FORTE NEEDLESS TO SAY RUNNING THE BALL IS NOT A PROBLEM I AM IN A 8 TEAM KEEPER LEAGUE THAT HAS FOUR FLEX POSITIONS. QBS I HAVE RODGERS CUTLER BIG BEN, RECIEVERS COLSTON WAYNE I AM THE LEADING SCORING DESPITE BEING IN THIRD PLACE IN MY DEVISION JUST PLAYING PEOPLE AT THE WRONG TIMES. BUT I THINK TURNER WAS MY BEST PICK UP I GOT HIM IN THE TENTH ROUND OF MY DRAFT.

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  9. Steve Wisniewski 7 months ago

    I disagree about Peterson -- coming into this year, he was drafted in most leagues in the top 5 so I would consider him a #1 every week. Marshall Faulk is also one of those guys who carried people to a championship and it's a back that can do what he did (run and *catch* like Westbrook does) that will continue to do so. Agreed about Addai, I drafted him because like you said, he was supposed to be the giuy (and I though he fit the Faluk mode. )

    Not mentione di this article are the TD vultures -- MJD and LenDale White -- who should be considered in the upper tier of RBs. MJD splits time and can cacth the ball as well, but he splits time with Fragile Fred. he does, however, pick up the goial line carries as evidenced by last week's performance.

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  10. Steve Wisniewski 7 months ago

    Peterson was drafted as a #1 in most leagues, not a #2 from looking at preseason drafts and rankings.

    Westbrook is a warrior because he fits the mold of a back who can run well and catch passes, which keeps him on the field more than most backs. (This is how Marshall faulk carried teams to Fantasy championships.)

    Guys that should be mentioned are TD vultures -- LenDale White and Maurice Jones-Drew. I know MJD splits time, but when it comes gto the goal line, Fragile Fred normally comes off and MJD goes in. Take a look at last week's box score for proof.

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  11. Matt Sear 7 months ago

    Thanks God I was smart enough to Grab Clinton Portis in the 2nd rd of my drafn(took Brady 1st)...Everyone thought I was nuts, but I know this guy is a machine...But you talk about Matt Forte, and Steve Slaton...both very good....But I didnt see anything about the "Potential" rookie of the year Chris Johnson, whom I was lucky enough to snag off waivers just before the season started...Man...what a free agent pick up he was...He's has been my #2 all season, while I keep Julius Jones, Fred Taylor, and Lendale White on my bench most of the season...I bring Lendale out for special occasions, and may have to play JJ this week due to Portis' injury...

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  12. Tony Bishop 7 months ago

    How is Matt Forte not on this list?

    Our league has two RBs and one WR/RB flex. I have Tomlinson, Forte, Thomas Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew.

    I'm untouchable, lol.

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  13. Jonathan W 7 months ago

    Wide receivers is the key. Last season I won the title with Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Marcus Colston with David Garrad and patchwork RBs. This season I have Andre Johnson, Desean Jackson, Braylon Edwards. I've use waiver wire pick ups (Hixon, Owens Daniel, Malcolm Floyd) for Edwards. I've been very lucky. It helps that I also have Kurt Warner.
    I picked Addai 5th this year and passed on Portis, Barber and some others. But I was able to get Graham, both Carolina backs and Buckholter (who filled in admirably for Westbrook). I will probably never again draft RB with my first and second pick.

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  14. Justin Lowder 7 months ago

    I picked Steven Jackson with my first pick and he's had two big games all season. Luckily I picked Michael "The Burner" Turner in the 5th round. Cris Johnson I got off of the waivers. Kurt Warner and Jay Cutler have been lighting it up for me all season long.

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  15. Richard Landro 7 months ago

    Great article. I'm in a 14 team league, and had the 14th pick. At 14 I took TO, and 15 took Drew Brees. I also managed to get Turner and Ronnie Brown with the next two. Although TO has been somewhat of a dissapointment, I'm doing pretty good. I think the trick now a days is to hit the waiver wire and hit it hard.

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  1. Andrew Stephan 7 months ago

    Nice article, backs have such a short shelf life its ridiculous. Three years ago, the top five backs in terms of rushing yards were: Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, and Edgerrin James. The only one of those backs who still is worth having is Portis. Kinda crazy if you think about it.

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  2. Ryan Callahan 7 months ago

    Great article. I feel the pain having drafted LT and Marshawn Lynch as my first two picks in my draft. I am currently in second to last in my league with a 3-7 record because both of them have not lived up to expectations. Oh well, there's always next year...

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  3. Marc B 7 months ago

    How can so many of you people own 2 top five RBs? Did you draft well late and trade for Portis? Nobody should have Portis and LT. Nobody should have AP and Marshawn. Unless you're in a keeper league (which you probably should've stated). Stop playing in 6 and 8 team leagues!

    I drafted s-jax. But luckily I got in backing him up with Turner, Forte and Chris Johnson in rounds 5-10 so I've not missed a beat. Leagues are never won in the first 2 rounds, they are only lost. To win a league through a draft you must draft strong from rounds 5-12 in my opinion.

    Full Disclosure: My first 7 draft picks ->S-jax, Reggie Wayne, Drew Brees, Michael Turner, Jason Witten, Calvin Johnson, Roddy White.

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