Fantasy Football Profile: Ryan Grant, Jonathan Stewart, & Joseph Addai

Ryan Grant

I love Ryan Grant as an RB2, but he needs to find the end zone.  He had an impressive 1200 yard season, but scored just 4 rushing TDs, which matched Aaron Rodgers for the team high. 

He also needs to bump that 3.9 yards per carry up over four and cut down on his three lost fumbles.  He is a gifted runner though and can catch the ball out of the backfield.  With no contract issues this offseason he should be able to get off to a better start than the 46.5 yards per game he averaged in the first four weeks. 

It’s not often that a 1200 yard back has as much room for improvement, which is why I like Grant in ‘09.

He starts the season off with Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Minnesota (possibly without the Williams Wall). 

He goes on bye and then faces Detroit and Cleveland.  He has one more soft matchup against Detroit in Week 12, but you may be wise to move him before then.  He faces Baltimore in Week 13 and has a fantasy playoff schedule of the Bears (in Chicago), Pittsburgh, and Seattle.  Perfect Sell High candidate if you can find a taker.

Grant will likely go in the third round of fantasy drafts and should put up 1500 total yards and 8 TDs.

Jonathan Stewart

Jonathan Stewart had an amazing Rookie season, especially when you consider he wasn’t even the feature back.  He ran for 836 yards with 10 TDs.  If only DeAngelo Williams wasn’t ahead of him on the depth chart, we may be talking about a first round pick. 

As it stands he is a backup fantasy back that will likely be taken in the seventh-10th round depending on format.  There is plenty of value for him though, especially as an RB3 and in TD-heavy leagues.  You can try to pair him with DeAngelo Williams, but that would require investing two early picks, much like the year when Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson went early. 

I don’t expect DeAngelo to flounder like Priest nor J-Stew to dominate like LJ though. 

As I mentioned in DeAngelo’s profile, the Panthers have a tough fantasy playoff schedule.  They face New England, Minnesota, and the New York Giants, though his running style may be more effective against them. 

Unfortunately one of the Saints games comes in Week 17, which doesn’t help most fantasy owners.  His easiest games appear to be Week Eight & Nine against Arizona and New Orleans.

Assuming he stays healthy, I expect J-Stew to compile 1150 total yards and 10 TDs.

Joseph Addai

Joseph Addai was one of the biggest fantasy disappointments in 2008.  His total yardage dropped from 1406 in 2006 and 1436 in 2007 to 750 (544 rushing, 206 receiving) in 2008.  His TD production went from 15 in 2007 to 8.  His yards per carry dropped for a third straight year as it was 4.8 in 2006, 4.1 in 2007, and 3.5 last year. 

The Colts reacted to his decline by drafting Donald Brown in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft.  While that doesn’t signal the end of Joseph Addai’s fantasy reign, it’s not a good sign.  Addai needs to show that he can be healthy and productive.

He’ll have some opportunities to do just that as he faces Arizona in Week Three and St. Louis in Week Seven.  When the Colts’ offense is firing on all cylinders the matchup almost become irrelevant.  His fantasy playoff schedule consist of Denver, Jacksonville, and the Jets. 

If he stays healthy, Addai could put up 1200 total yards and 8-10 TDs.  I’m afraid the odds of that happening aren’t great though.

Articles originally published at LestersLegends.com.