2009 Fantasy Football Running Back Forecast for the NFC North

With the 2009 NFL Draft having come and gone it is now time to start focusing more on the most important draft of all in football, YOUR Fantasy Football draft. And the Bruno Boys can't think of a better way to get in the mood than to start focusing some attention on the running back position.

Now, we are not saying that the running back position is make or break, because we firmly believe that the best way to ensure success is to not only have an extremely well rounded team, but a deep team as well.

But, as Bruno Boys Nation already knows, part of my (Bruno Boys Ziza) responsibilities at the Bruno Boys is critiquing the running back position on a weekly basis throughout the season. 

So, today I am bringing you a rundown of what is happening in the NFL, that way you are not left scratching your head when August rolls around, wondering why Edgerrin James is not a Arizona Cardinal anymore.

During the weeks leading up to the season, myself and Bruno Boys Greg will be bringing you periodic updates that will guarantee that you stay one, no... thirty two steps ahead of your competition.

Today we will be focusing on the teams in the NFC North. Keep on checking back with the Bruno Boys for other divisional running back updates that will help you stomp your way into your leagues Fantasy Football playoffs.

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CHICAGO BEARS

Bruno Boys Ziza's Take:

2008 was a heck of a rookie year for the Chicago Bears' Matt Forte. He compiled a total of 1,715 all-purpose yards while gathering 12 touchdowns to boot. There is no doubt that he is the main back in Chicago but his stats could suffer a little in 2009 for various reasons.

First of all they acquired quarterback Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos this off season. Their game strategy will be geared more towards the passing side than it has in the past, though they will be a run first team.

Also you can look for Kevin Jones grab some carries in attempt to keep Forte healthier and fresher in 2009. Forte is a solid pick as a RB1 just don't expect him to reproduce his outstanding 2008 campaign.

As for Jones, he is a solid handcuff, but you are better off not wasting a draft pick on him. Adrian Peterson has no real fantasy football value unless both Forte and Jones go down to serious injury.

Bruno Boys Greg's Take: 

The Bears found themselves a workhouse out of the backfield a year ago when they drafted Matt Forte out of Tulane. He finished the season with 1,700 total yards and 12 touchdowns. 

The presence of QB Jay Cutler helps take some of the pressure off Forte and the running game. Even with Cutler there, the Bears will still lean on the run. Forte is a RB1 and should be a top 5 pick. 

His backups are Kevin Jones, Adrian Peterson(not the star), and Garrett Wolfe. Not one of these guys should be owned in a league this fall.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: *Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe

2009 SCHEDULE: @ GB (1), PIT (2), @ SEA (3), DET (4), BYE (5), @ ATL (6), @ CIN (7), CLE (8), ARZ (9), @ SF (10), PHI (11), @ MIN (12), STL (13), GB (14), @ BAL (15), MIN (16), @ DET (17)

DETROIT LIONS

Bruno Boys Ziza's Take:

There were so many successful rookie running backs last season that the Detroit Lions' Kevin Smith has been overlooked some. 

Last year, Jones started in only 12 games with Rudi Johnson starting the other four. 

While Smith got off to a slow start which resulted in the switch for a little while the Lions had a change of heart, plugged Smith back into the starting lineup and never looked back.

In fact he had 1,262 all-purpose yards, ran in 8 touchdowns and finished the season on a high note, averaging over 90 yards per contest while punching in a touchdown each game.

This year they drafted tight end Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State who is widely respected by scouts to be an exceptional run blocker while being able to keep opposing defenses honest with his soft hands and receiving ability. 

Both of those skills will definitely help open up the field for Smith to showcase his talents even more.

Look for Smith to start producing enough to be considered a solid RB2 in most leagues, if not all, while his backup Maurice Morris fits in as a solid handcuff but nothing more.
 

Bruno Boys Greg's Take:  

The Lions struggled to get the running game going early in the season before rookie Kevin Smith came into his own. 

Smith will return as the starter in 2009 and should see a majority of the work. Detroit needs to establish a running game and Smith can make a difference on this ball club. 

Right now he should be considered a low end RB2, as he is one of the building blocks for the Lions. Detroit brought in Maurice Morris to be his backup and may steal some carries from Smith, but not enough to do any damage. 

Morris should be a RB4 at best. The Lions also drafted Aaron Brown in the 6th round out of TCU. He may get some touches here and there from the backfield but his contribution will mainly come on special teams.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Kevin Smith, Maurice Morris, Aaron Brown

2009 SCHEDULE: @ N.O. (1), MIN (2), WAS (3), @ CHI (4), PIT (5), @ GB (6), BYE (7), STL (8), @ SEA (9), @ MIN (10), CLE (11), GB (12), @ CIN (13), @ BAL (14), ARZ (15), @ SF (16), CHI (17)

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GREEN BAY PACKERS

Bruno Boys Ziza's Take: 

After a stellar 2007 season big things were expected from one Ryan Grant. He did produce one big thing, and that was disappointment. His yards per carry was down nearly 1.5 yards from the previous season, and his touchdown production was cut in half although his games started doubled.

The Green Bay Packers do have a solid backup in Brandon Jackson who averaged 5.5 yards per carry last year and could force a true running-back-by-committee (RBBC) in Green Bay.

While that most likely won't be this year the possibility is still up in the air, especially if Grant comes out of the gate struggling again. The Packers do have a pretty tough run schedule mixed in with some cupcake defenses as well so you will definitely want to look back from week-to-week for the Bruno Boys running back rankings as Grant will fluctuate from a starter to someone you may want to consider benching.

Bruno Boys Greg's Take: 

The Packers bring back a running game they would like to get more involved in 2009.  Ryan Grant started out the season slow after his contract holdout but came alive in the 2nd half of the year.  Expect him to get back to his old form of 2007. 

Heading into 2009 I am plugging Grant in as a low-end RB1 and feel he could get to 1,500 yards rushing while doubling his total touchdowns of 4 from a year ago.  His backups are Brandon Jacksonand DeShawn Wynn. 

With Grant getting the bulk of the carries, both backups should be a RB5 at this point and nothing more.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn

2009 SCHEDULE: CHI (1), CIN (2), @ STL (3), @ MIN (4), BYE (5), DET (6), @ CLE (7), MIN (8), @ TB (9),  DAL (10), SF (11), @ DET (12), BAL (13), @ CHI (14), @ PIT (15), SEA (16), @ ARZ (17)

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MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Bruno Boys Ziza's Take: 

The Minnesota Vikings possess the consensus No. 1 overall running back in Adrian Peterson. They also have one of the better backups in Chester Taylor. Peterson, no matter where he goes in your draft is a running back that you will have to start every week as a RB1.

Taylor on the other hand is someone who should be joined in all deeper leagues just in case Peterson were to go down with injury, but he holds only flex play value in deep leagues. Look for Peterson to shine once again.

Bruno Boys Greg's Take: 

Minnesota currently owns the best player in fantasy football, Adrian Peterson. He is a tough runner and if you own the number one pick, you have to take him. Yes he does have injury issues, but his skill is too much to pass up. 

His backup is Chester Taylor and while I do not like taking a handcuff guy, you may want to consider Taylor if you get Peterson number 1 overall. Any back would succeed behind that massive line, and Taylor has done it before.  Grab him and stash him as a RB4.

FANTASY DEPTH CHART: Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor

2009 SCHEDULE: @ CLE (1), @ DET (2), SF (3), GB (4), @ STL (5), BAL (6), @ PIT (7), @ GB (8), BYE (9), DET (10), SEA (11), CHI (12), @ ARZ (13), CIN (14), @ CAR (15), @ CHI (16), NYG (17)

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2009 RUNNING FANTASY FOOTBALL BACK FORECAST (by division)

AFC EAST | AFC NORTH | AFC SOUTH | AFC WEST

NFC EAST | NFC NORTH | NFC SOUTH | NFC WEST

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