Rankings| Fantasy RB Average Carries Compared to Carries Lost

The Full-Time Fantasy Running Back has become a bit of a rarity. More teams are going to a Running Back by Committee approach and carries are getting lost on third down and at the Goal Line as well. How does this effect your fantasy RB? Sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it is nerve racking. Carries don’t mean everything, right? But sometimes you just have to think that if your guy is touching the ball more there is more opportunity than if he is on the bench.

On the last two episodes of The Fantasy Football News and Advice Show there has been a little conversation on the stock of Jamal Lewis. Matt Dana at FFGeekBlog.com (Episode 4)had been noticing that Lewis is going earlier than most would think in Mock Drafts. Revisiting the topic this week (Episode 5) we came to the conclusion that it must be related to the fact that Jamal Lewis is part of the dying breed that is the Full-Time Fantasy Back. This could make a difference in projections for cheetsheets you may be putting together. Giving more thought to this I decided to take a look at all of the teams and see just who lost the most carries in 2007.

Let’s have a look at how the player on each team with the highest average of carries per game stacked up against the average carries per game for the team. This will give us the average carries that each player lost per game. I think you may be surprised by how some of these guys rank. On one side this shows which teams look more at the featured back. On another side it shows that having to share carries does not necessarily mean a drop in fantasy production (especially if the team runs the ball a majority of the time). Of course this doesn’t take into consideration a players value in the passing game. No, it’s not a science (Yes-there are holes in it), but it’s fun anyway. So what are your thoughts? Please share in the comments below!

We will rank these in order of teams where the player with the highest average carries per game lost the least amount of carries to others (carries are rounded up).

1. Chiefs
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 23.93
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Larry Johnson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 19.8
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 3.2
Comments: When Johnson is healthy he is forced the rock. I wouldn’t look for much of a change in this…if healthy. The addition of Jamal Charles in the NFL Draft provides little reason to think it will change.

2. Redskins
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 24.5
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Clinton Portis
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 20.3
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 4.2
Comments: Last season it was suspected that Ladell Betts would hawk more of the carries. Didn’t happen. This year Portis is spending more time than usual at the Skins facilities in the offseason preparing for the new offense.

3. Cardinals
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 25.12
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Edge James
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 20.2
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 4.92
Comments: James remains the core of the running game. Although nothing near what he once was, if your looking for a guy that is going to be getting the touches, he is the guy in Arizona.

4. 49′ers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 22.31
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Frank Gore
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17.3
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 5.01
Comments: It remains up in the air as to whether or not DeShaun Foster will take more of the carries to give Gore a breather. Gore is the man…he is also the man with the toughest Run-D schedule in 2008.

5. Rams
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 25.25
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Steven Jackson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17.3
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 5.01
Comments: The Al Saunders offense is coming to town. Look for Jackson to be the focus of the offense. Little depth behind him to take away carries other than breather time.

6. Bills
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 28
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Marshawn Lynch
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 21.5
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 6.5
Comments: Lynch is one of the workhorses of the league. If things come out positive from the hit and run incident being investigated that should continue. Fred Jackson is a nice spell back.

7. Browns
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 27.5
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Jamal Lewis
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 19.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 7.1
Comments: Here is that Lewis guy we were talking about. The offense clicked last year and he doesn’t have to carry the load of the team. When they do run the ball he is the guy.

8. Dolphins
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 24.31
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Ronnie Brown
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 7.31
Comments: Ronnie Brown was taking off last year before the injury. This year more carries can be handed over to Ricky Williams as reports are in camp that he has been impressive. Good for the Dolphins. On the fantasy side, injury+Williams= Not so much for Brown.

9. Eagles
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.31
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Brian Westbrook
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 18.5
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 7.81
Comments: Westbrook seems to be underrated every year. When not on the injured list the guy is getting touches all over the field. This doesn’t reflect his value in the passing game.

10. Ravens
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 27.87
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Willis McGahee
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 19.6
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 8.27
Comments: Cam Cameron wants to make McGahee his next L.T. in Baltimore. The drafting of Ray Rice brought concerns to a RBBC thing coming in but this will likely just make him McGahee’s version of Michael Turner. 3rd down work and goal line carries should remain with Willis for the most part.

11. Lions
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 20.25
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Kevin Jones
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 11.8
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 8.45
Comments: Jones is gone. Who knows who the starter will be. Tatum Bell sits on top now but Kevin Smith could end up with the job. Regardless, we will see a lot of both…and then you can throw Brian Calhoun in the mix.

12. Jets
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 27.87
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Thomas Jones
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 19.4
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 8.47
Comments: Despite Leon Washington, Musa Smith, and Jessie Chatman, Thomas Jones is the main guy here.

13. Bears
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.43
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Cedric Benson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17.8
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 8.63
Comments: So what to do now Bears? Matt Forte looks like the guy. Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe can take some third down touches away. Watch for a possible FA signing. Chances are whoever is brought in would be there for insurance behind Forte.

14. Falcons
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 24.06
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Warrick Dunn
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 14.2
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 9.86
Comments: With the Falcons looking to be a run heavy team there should be plenty of carries to go around for Michael Turner to share some with Jerious Norwood.

15. Colts
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 27.87
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Joseph Addai
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17.4
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.47
Comments: No doubt Addai is a stud. The return of Dominic Rhodes could see some carries taken away.

16. Bengals
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Rudi Johnson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 15.5
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.5
Comments: The Bengals O.C., Bob Bratkowski, is looking at having Rudi lead the teams RBBC this year. Kenny Watson, Chris Perry, and DeDe Dorsey are all in the mix.

17. Steelers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 31.93
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Willie Parker
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 21.4
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.53
Comments: Willie took the load after The Bus rolled out of town. Looks like 1st Round Draft pick Rashard Mendenhall can take some of the load off this year. They are looking at having them both on the field at the same time. Mewelde Moore and Najeh Davenport are still in the mix for touches as well.

18. Chargers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 30.31
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: LaDainian Tomlinson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 19.7
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.61
Comments: WHAT?!?! Tomlinson is way down here? With the Chargers posting around 30 carries a game, he needs some of that load taken off. Michael turner is gone…Tomlinson returns from injury. Things are going to be a little different this year. Jacob Hester will be there when L.T. needs him.

19. Giants
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 29.31
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Brandon Jacobs
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 18.4
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.91
Comments: Brandon Jacobs got a majority of the carries but again this year he will share a little with Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrik Ward, and Reuben Droughns

20. Seahawks
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.87
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Shaun Alexander
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 15.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 10.97
Comments: You may have heard that Shaun Alexander is no longer with the Seahawks. Julius Jones is the new guy. What a mess behind him. It will be interesting to see if Jones is featured or if they go with more of a RBBC. T.J. Duckett has not done well and would likely be gone had the Hawks not shelled out so much for him in FA.

21. Texans
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.06
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Ron Dayne
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 14.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 11.16
Comments: Ron Dayne will be eating burgers somewhere outside Texas this year. Things are shaky here with Ahman Green’s ability to stay healthy and the addition of Chris Brown. Throw in Steve Slaton and the touches could be all over the board. Green should be the main man.

22. Saints
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 24.5
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Reggie Bush
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 13.1
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 11.4
Comments: So we got a little taste last year what the world would be like with Reggie Bush as the lead runner with Deuce McAllister’s injury. The starting RB gig was not his type of thing anyway since he makes his biggest contributions in the passing game and as a decoy. A few things make a serious RBBC apparent in New Orleans in 2008. Deuce should be back but will likely never be the same. The Saints like Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker….and Reggie Bush may not be cut out to be an every down back.

23. Packers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 24.25
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Ryan Grant
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 12.5
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 11.75
Comments: With Grant’s breakout year it’s a little surprising to see how much he shared the ball. From the sounds of it, Brandon Jackson has packed on some serious muscle in the offseason looking to seal up the #2 spot. Looks like Jackson will be the guy on the other end of that split if Grant doesn’t take more of the workload (as would be expected this year).

24. Panthers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 28.18
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: DeShaun Foster
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 15.4
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 12.78
Comments: Just when it appeared that DeAngelo Williams may become the guy in Carolina, the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart. Stewart will likely become the featured back but would still lose touches to Williams.

25. Broncos
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.81
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Travis Henry
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 13.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 13.1
Comments: Since Travis Henry has been given the boot it appears that Selvin Young is now the starter. The backfield depth is jumbled with Andre Hall, the addition of Michael Pittman, and the drafting of Ryan Torain. One thing we know about Coach Shanahan is that he will go with whoever has the hot hand.

26. Buccaneers
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 28.06
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Earnest Graham
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 14.8
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 13.26
Comments: Graham, like Ryan Grant, is kind of surprise here with his breakout year. The numbers say he shared the ball more than you would think. Caddy Williams injury may keep him from even contributing this year but the return of Warrick Dune to Tampa can take a few carries. There is that contract thing that Graham has going on keeping him from practicing right now too.

27. Cowboys
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 26.18
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Marion Barber
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game:12.8
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 13.38
Comments: Barber is a good example of where you can’t always put stock into the title “Starter” in fantasy football. He gets the title and the cash that go with it this year. Felix Jones comes in via the NFL Draft to be the relief pitcher.

28. Vikings
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 30.87
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Adrian Peterson
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 17
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 13.87
Comments: Here is a testament to the big play ability of Adrian Peterson. Giving away almost 14 carries per game this guy still had a monster season. He will be the man in Minnesota and one of the first couple of players drafted in fantasy leagues. He will still lose some time to Chester Taylor in third down situations and in relief but the Vikings run the ball enough to spread it around. They are toying with the idea of putting both on the field at the same time as well.

29. Patriots
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 28.18
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Lawrence Maroney
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 14.2
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 13.98
Comments: With Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk in the mix…and the Patriots passing game…makes me wonder why Maroney goes so high in some fantasy drafts.

30. Titans
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 33.93
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: LenDale White
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 18.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 15.03
Comments: Of course Vince Young’s scrambling ability will make these numbers a little off. Although it appears LenDale will be the guy, bringing in Chris Johnson in the NFL Draft could shake things up a little.

31. Raiders
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 31.75
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Justin Fargas
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 15.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 15.85
Comments: LaMont Jordan appears to be out the door. Justin fargus and Michael Bush are still around. It’s the Darren McFadden show now. The question is how much are they going to put on his shoulders?

32. Jaguars
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Team: 32.62
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game Leader: Fred Taylor
Avg. Rush Attempts/Game: 14.9
Avg. Carries lost to others/Game: 17.1
Comments: In the dictionary, next to the definition of RBBC, there should be a split picture of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Taylor is still the starter but you will see Jones-Drew going in drafts higher. Another team where the leader in average carries per game has less than the average of carries lost to other players.

Disclaimer: These are NOT Draft Rankings. No player moves or coaching moves for 2008 were taken into consideration in the ranks themselves. The rankings are based on rushing attempts and do not include pass attempts.

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