Fantasy Football Brothers RB Ranks & Write Ups

The Brotherhood has been hard at work with our draft kit roll out. Last week we ranked all of the RBs and this is our combined ranks. There was a ton of debate here as usual with fists being pounded on the table and lots of spirited discussion to put it mildly. We will be updating our positional ranks early and often as we head towards the start of the season. And as a note to the reader, even though there are some injuries already, we are not going to move the players up and down the ranks due to a minor injury. We are keeping an eye on Knowshon Moreno and Pierre Thomas closely right now. The Broncos signing of LenDale White will eventually bump him down the ranks now that he has landed in Denver. Let us know what you think, we love feedback from you, the reader.

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1) Chris Johnson – TEN – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 2,006 Yards / 14 TD / 50 Receptions / 503 RecYds. / 2 TD / 71 Targets

What would Chris Johnson do as an encore after his 1,200 yard, 10 total touchdown stellar rookie campaign? All he did was become the sixth back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. The Titans gave him the ball early and often when they fell out of playoff contention as he approached the 2,000 yard barrier and fantasy owners loved it. CJ2K is a dual threat beast that can take the ball to the end-zone on any given play from anywhere as his 5.6 yards per carry can attest to.

His blazing speed means opposing defenses need to account for him on every play. QB Vince Young needs to continue to improve as a passer to take pressure off the run game allowing Johnson to wreak havoc. Johnson will get his carries in 2010 but it is very unlikely that he will be fed the ball the way he was in 2009. He should be the consensus No. 1 overall pick heading into drafts. CJ2K has said that he wants to break Eric Dickerson’s rushing record this season, we would be more than happy to see anything over 1,700 yards.

2) Adrian Peterson – MIN – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,383 Yards / 18 TDs / 43 REC. / 436 RecYds. / 57 Targets

Peterson entered 2009 as everyone’s No. 1 back and if it weren’t for being overshadowed by Johnson he would have been the No. 1 back again. All he did was lead the league in rushing touchdowns. A.P. also showed that he is a receiving option in '09 catching 43 balls, a huge improvement after only catching 21 balls in 2008. His improved play as a receiver allowed the Vikings to part ways with RB Chester Taylor and Minnesota has named him the third down back.

The Vikings did draft RB Toby Gerhart this year to back him up. The rookie is a real threat to possibly steal some goal-line carries and short yardage duties after Peterson showed some problems holding onto the ball. If Peterson worked on his ball security in the off-season, Gerhart will likely be relegated to backup down duties.

3) Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,391 Yards / 15 TDs / 53 REC. / 374 RecYds. / 1 TDs / 71 Targets

MJD exceeded all expectations taking over the lead back job after the departure of RB Fred Taylor. Despite the poor play of QB David Garrard and the entire passing game as a whole, he was still able to run wild. Their was concern that he would break down like RB Marion Barber did when he carried the load. Jones-Drew was second in the league in rushing touchdowns, and fourth in rushing yards. Even with the added carries he was still a threat in the passing game and is a solid Points Per Reception back. The Jags will have to get better in the pass game to take some pressure off of the mighty-mite. Armed with a run friendly schedule Jones-Drew could easily improve on his excellent numbers of 2009.

4) Ray Rice – BAL – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,339 Yards / 7 TDs / 78 REC. / 702 RecYds. / 1 TDs / 101 Targets

We all knew Rice could catch the ball after grabbing 33 balls in his rookie year in limited duty. Even after backfield mate RB Willis McGahee’s first three games, Rice was able to cut into his playing time. Rice led all RBs with 78 Receptions and was targeted 101 times. Despite all his catches he was still able to rush for over 1,300 yards for a nice 5.3 yards per carry. Despite all his touches he only scored eight total touchdowns which pushes him down in the ranks.

The Ravens re-signed McGahee to continue to be the short yardage goal-line back, after scoring 12 rushing touchdowns, 11 of which were in the red-zone in 2009. Rice is a P.P.R. beast that will get a ton of yardage but will likely come off the field when the Ravens get inside the five yard line. The Ravens pass game looks much improved which always helps take pressure of the run game. Their will be more than enough carries to go around in Baltimore in 2010, the only concern will be do they limit Rice’s early season touches to keep him fresh for a playoff push?

5) Frank Gore – SFO – RB
2009 Stats: 14 Games / 1,120 Yards / 10 TDs / 52 REC. / 406 RecYds. / 3 TDs / 75 Targets

Gore continues to be plagued by injuries missing two more games in 2009 and hasn’t played a full slate of games since 2006. Despite the injuries he was able to have a solid season and answered some questions around his ability to break long runs, he broke runs of over 20 yards eleven times, including his 79 and 80 yard touchdown jaunts against the Seahawks before getting hurt. If Gore can stay healthy in 2010 he is set up to have a spectacular season.

The 49ers appear to have finally settled on a QB, and they drafted two offensive linemen in the first round. The Niners love to run the ball, and Gore doesn’t come off the field unless he gets injured. The schedule set up very nicely this year with two games against the sieve-like run defenses of The NFC West and they play the defensively challenged AFC West. They also face a home game against the Buccaneers. All in all, if healthy Gore could finish as a top three back by season’s end.

6) Michael Turner – ATL – RB
2009 Stats: 11 Games / 871 Yards / 10 TDs / 5 REC. / 35 RecYds. / 7 Targets

You either love him or hate him. Turner owners in 2008 loved him and likely rode him into the playoffs. Burner owners in 2009 likely hate him. Turner was a steal for owners in 2008, and in 2009 owners drafted him in the first round, even with all of the talk around his excessive carry total in 2008. He started off a little slow, but was a beast scoring 10 touchdowns in what was basically nine-and-a-half games and rushing for 871 yards.

When Turner went down with a bad ankle the Falcons continued to attempt to roll him out making owners nuts and killing any chance of winning those weeks. Look for a healthy return this year, as the entire team struggled offensively and played out of sorts at times. Turner’s value takes a beating in P.P.R. leagues since he isn’t, nor will he ever be, a big threat in the passing game.

7) Steven Jackson – STL – RB
2009 Stats: 15 Games / 1,416 Yards / 4 TDs / 51 REC. / 322 RecYds. / 75 Targets

Jackson continues to wear the injury-prone label, but his 15 games was a huge improvement over the previous two seasons when he only was able to play in 12. SJack was a one man wrecking crew on offense for the Rams last year. Despite every team knowing he would get the ball, no one could stop him except in the red-zone.

Jackson only scored four touchdowns, which was a testament to just how bad the team he was playing on actually was. He continues to be a threat in passing game, and gets a bump in P.P.R. leagues. The team looks to be much improved for 2010, but when you have no where to go but up, any improvement offensively will be huge for Jackson’s success.

8) Rashard Mendenhall – PIT – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,108 Yards / 7 TDs / 25 REC. / 261 RecYds. / 1 TDs / 32 Targets

Mendenhall was finally able to overtake an ineffective RB Willie Parker. The Steelers missed the playoffs, fans and ownership agree it was due to the heavy reliance on passing game.

With that said, Mendenhall was being set up for a potential huge year. Mendenhall has the backfield all to himself and was able to score seven times add an additional 50 plus carries to this season, and we are looking at 1,400+ yard season. The was is because QB Ben Roethlisberger decided to play Ben Goes Wild, and has earned a suspension of at least four games but could be up to six if he can’t keep out of trouble.

The Steelers will now be lead by QB Byron Leftwich which is a huge downgrade. His play will determine how the Steelers go through the first four weeks. The good news is the schedule sets up very nicely for the first three games against Atlanta, Tennessee and Tampa Bay. Mendenhall has shown he can get it done in the passing game and we look for an improvement in that department as well.

9) Ryan Grant – GRE – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,253 Yards / 11 TDs / 25 REC. / 197 RecYds. / 30 Targets

Grant is straight up vanilla. Nothing amazing, but is more than good enough. Grant was over-valued in 2008, and then was under-valued in 2009. His four rushing touchdowns in 2008 were an aberration; we told you that he would rebound nicely and he did scoring 11 touchdowns. Grant plays on offensive juggernaut and the touches and scores will be there again in 2010. The Packers will also have an improved offensive line that hopefully will help the run game.

Grant will be good for 300 carries and there is no one else on the roster that is a threat to his load unless rookie RB James Starks sets training camp on fire, which some of us think he can do (more on that much later). Not really a great receiving option but has shown improvement in that area, as well. The schedule will be tougher than usual but the fantasy playoff schedule lightens up just a little bit.

10) DeAngelo Williams – CAR – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 1,117 Yards / 7 TDs / 29 REC. / 252 RecYds. / 41 Targets

Williams is the exception to the rule. Even the most teams are dominated by some sort of time share. The time share in Carolina works, and it works well. Williams began 2009 building on his breakout 2008 season. The only thing that was able to stop DWill was a season ending injury. In 2010 he will be completely healthy, the only problem will be that he is likely going to have to split carries 50-50 with his partner RB Jonathan Stewart.

There are more than enough carries to go around in Carolina, the Panthers love to run the rock, and with QB Matt Moore likely starting the ground pound will be the way to go. The question really will be can Moore keep opposing defenses honest? DWill’s catches went up in '09 but not enough to give him a P.P.R. bump. No matter which Panther back you grab you can count on plenty of touches to go around to make them both borderline RB1′s/RB2′s.

11) Cedric Benson – CIN – RB
2009 Stats; 13 Games / 1,251 Yards / 6 TDs / 17 REC. / 111 RecYds / 24 Targets

In '09, Benson was finally able to completely erase the bust label that was deservedly attached to him after following up a successful '08 season. Benson came on in a big way, the only thing holding him back were injuries. Benson still managed to accumulate 300 carries in only 13 games while missing most of another game. He will be the No. 1 back on a team that has a great run blocking offensive line.

The offense look to be the best it has been in years with all of the additions to the passing game. Benson still has plenty of tread left on his tires, but the Bengals still appear to be high on the younger RB Bernard Scott who is really only one year younger. Benson is in the last year of his contract so we all know he will have extra incentive. Benson catches the ball decently enough, but not enough to get bumped in P.P.R. leagues.

12) Ryan Mathews – SDC – RB
Mathews has good size, great speed, excellent vision, and he has shiftiness that has to be seen to believed. We loved Mathews coming out of Fresno St., we loved him in the draft, and now he goes to San Diego, after RB LaDainian Tomlinson gets the boot? It’s almost too good to be true. The sky is the limit for this kid, and yes I always say be cautious with rookie backs. Here is the thing. The job is his, there is no one on this team that is even close to being a threat to take touches away. Head Coach Norv Turner has already come out and said he will get 250 touches and 50 receptions. I think he will probably get more carries, probably upwards of 300 or more. We all know RB Darren Sproles will get the third down work, but Mathews’ value doesn’t take a hit in P.P.R. leagues he probably gets a little bump.

13) Jamaal Charles – KAN – RB
2009 Stats: 15 Games / 1,120 Yards / 7 TDs / 40 REC. / 297 RecYds. / 1 TDs / 56 Targets

Charles broke out and he broke out huge after finally replacing RB Larry Johnson. Charles is a lesser version of RB Chris Johnson. Excellent speed, great hands, and has some wiggle. He was a waiver wire hero, or for the smart owners, drafted late and bench warmer. He was a beast coming down the stretch rushing for 968 yards and 7 scores in the last eight games. Those ridiculous number catapulted him into everyone’s early 2010 top five.

Then the Chiefs confused everyone and signed RB Thomas Jones. Jones could possibly cut into his potential touches, but it seems to us that he will likely take the Willis McGahee role for this team, and Charles will play the Ray Rice role. Another reason we aren’t as worried about Jones’ is he is coming from a team with a great offensive line to a team whose line is almost suspect. Charles used his speed to find creases and bounced a ton of runs outside, something that Jones cannot do. Charles will get a huge P.P.R. bump, not only because he has great hands but also because he is probably their best receiver. (Sorry Dwayne Bowe, I just don’t trust you.)

14) Beanie Wells – ARI – RB
2009 Stats: 16 Games / 793 Yards / 7 TDs / 12 REC. / 143 RecYds. / 16 Targets

Wells entered the league with an injury prone tag attached to him but he was able to play a full slate of games including the playoffs. Beanie looks to take over full time duties this year after proving he was the more successful back. Blessed with size, and speed he becomes the perfect back for the likely transition from a pass happy offense to a more ground oriented game now that QB Kurt Warner has retired, and QB Matt Leinart takes over(For Now). Wells will get his yards. The question will be, can he over take fellow RB Tim Hightower on the goal line? Though Beanie has decent hands, he is not much of receiving threat and will yield to either Hightower or RB LaRod Stephens-Howling on passing downs.

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