Fantasy Football 2012: 5 Reasons LeSean McCoy Will Be Fantasy's Top Running Back

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy had his coming-out party in 2011.

He finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,309, scored a franchise-record 17 touchdowns and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.

His accomplishments were all the more astonishing, knowing that they came out of the pass-happy offense of Andy Reid, where the pass-to-run ration can be as high 70/30.

Believe it or not, McCoy is poised to be even better in 2012 despite the loss of Pro Bowl offensive lineman Jason Peters.

McCoy's versatility and play-making ability will do some serious damage in fantasy leagues.

Here's five reasons why.

He Can Catch the Ball

This is crucial for fantasy running backs.

Catching the ball, as well as running it, is what makes running backs so valuable in fantasy football. LeSean McCoy fits that bill.

His receiving efforts took a step back last season, because he was asked to carry the ball more, but he still caught 48 passes and three touchdowns.

In 2010, he caught 70 passes for 592 yards.

Expect McCoy to keep catching passes out of the backfield in 2012.

He Will Receive More Touches

With the constant injuries to quarterback Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy received a lot more touches on the ground purely out of necessity.

Andy Reid and the coaching staff may have stumbled upon the guy who the offense should go through in the process.

Although his catches have fluctuated during his three seasons, his carries have increased every season, going from 155 to 207, and to 273 last season.

More touches means more points for fantasy owners.

McCoy showed Reid that the offense should go through him and that he can shoulder a bit of the load.

The Eagles have never really been about ball control under Reid, but with a weapon like McCoy in the backfield, they may have to change their philosophy a bit.

The Schedule

When looking at the 2012 schedule, the first inclination is that there are some tough teams on there for the Eagles to deal with.

But LeSean McCoy could have a big day against all of them, if you look at their stats from 2011.

Including teams from the NFC East, the Eagles will play only six teams that ranked in the top half of the league in rushing defense during the regular season.

And none of those teams are named the New York Giants. The Giants were 19th in the league last season in rushing. McCoy rushed for more than 100 yards in both games against them last season.

You also have to factor in the New Orleans Saints, who were 12th in rush defense last season, but who knows what that defense will look with the possible suspensions that could be levied?

The Eagles will also play the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who ranked 30th and 32nd in the league, respectively.

A Motivated DeSean Jackson

Let's face it. DeSean Jackson might as well have held out last season.

His contract situation was messy, and it clearly effected his attitude and production on the field.

With a new contract going into this season, that is all but a distant memory. Jackson will have a better attitude; he'll be a lot happier and a lot richer.

So what does this have to do with LeSean McCoy? It's simple.

When Jackson is on top of his game, he can blow the top of almost any defense with his speed. With Jackson ready and willing to stretch the defense, that could mean more running room for McCoy.

A Healthy Michael Vick

If Michael Vick can stay healthy in 2012, it will only pay dividends for LeSean McCoy.

Having Vick will give the Eagles a solid passing game and take some of the load off McCoy.

As much as the offense should go through McCoy, you don't want to wear him out too early like the Eagles did with Brian Westbrook.

Sure, McCoy is only in his fourth season, but he is playing the most brutal position in football and is not the biggest guy in the world.

Vick being healthy will add another dimension to the offense that will help McCoy stay healthy.