NFL Box Score Bits: The Running Back By Commitee, and the Guys You Want

Hopefully many of you were successful in your first match ups of the 2010 fantasy football season, and if not, hopefully you still have a good shot with the Monday Night Football match ups tonight.

I believe a major facet to being successful in any fantasy league, is to know how to properly read a box score. And sometimes, that's not as easy as it seems.

So without further adieu, lets take a look at the something that has troubled us all.

The ultimate fantasy football killer...the running back by committee.

Chances are, we have all owned one half of a popular running back tandem, and are often plagued with the tough decision of placing said back in our every day fantasy lineup.

After the first week, it is still iffy on whether the coaches will continue to distribute the carries this way, or if they will go with a new scheme each week, depending on the hot hand or the opponent. But for now, this is all we have to go on.

Cleveland Browns

 Jerome Harrison: 9 carries, 52 yards 
Peyton Hillis: 9 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD, 2 Fumbles
Josh Cribbs: 3 carries, 11 yards

Who Did it Best: Hillis had the best day points wise, but Harrison appeared to be the better back, especially after his 39 yard trounce, and after Hillis put the ball on the ground not only once, but twice.

What to Expect: Cribbs should continue to see his few wildcat carries every game, but in the long run, I expect Harrison to see about 18 per game, and Hillis, about half of what he did to day.

Dallas Cowboys

Marion Barber III: 8 carries, 39 yards
Felix Jones: 8 carries, 38 yards
Tashard Choice: 5 carries, 18 yards

Who Did it Best: Definitely an even split between Jones and Barber. They each had one carry of over ten yards, and all had some pretty average runs, getting about three or four yards on almost every single carry.

What to Expect: This one is going to be much tougher to predict. Wade Phillips seems content on splitting the carries evenly. From a fantasy standpoint, Jones had a much better chance as a home run threat, but Barber could see the goal-line touches.

New York Giants

Ahmad Bradshaw: 20 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD
Brandon Jacobs: 12 carries, 44 yards

Who Did it Best: After watching this entire game, it was clearly Bradshaw. He notched almost eighty total yards, and looked especially fresh when he got into the secondary. Jacobs struggled against the Carolina rush defense, but averaged as many yards as Bradshaw, and didn't have to rely on any big plays.

What to Expect: Bradshaw should continue to see the majority of the carries this season, but Jacobs will get his due, and serves as one of the better backups thanks to his ability to get the close TD's.

It should be noted, Jacobs had the first crack at the points when the G-Men got inside the ten, but was stuffed before Bradshaw hit pay dirt the following play.

Seattle Seahawks

Justin Forsett: 7 carries, 43 yards
Julius Jones: 8 carries, 18 yards
Leon Washington: 6 carries, 12 yards

Who Did it Best: Although he may not have had the game that many Forsett owners were hoping for, but he did more with his carries than any of the other Seattle backs.

What to Expect: If early numbers are any indication, I think Forsett eventually breaks away from the pack here and can expect to see around 15 carries per game, with Jones and Washington splitting the other ten.

Forsett owners certainly have the benefit of the doubt that unlike other time shares, they obviously own the best back on the team. Another thing to rest easy on, is knowing that Pete Carrol is going to do his damndest to win every single game, and Forsett obviously gives him the best chance to do just that.

Kansas City Chiefs

Jamaal Charles: 11 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD
Thomas Jones: 11 carries, 39 yards

Who Did it Best: From my seat at home, it seemed like Jones got a lot more carries, although it was obviously a much closer total. Charles ripped off a 40 yard TD in the first quarter, and proved why he deserves to be getting the majority of the carries for the Chiefs. Jones was consistent, as he seemed to get four to six yards every time he touched the ball however.

What to Expect: For the time being, I would expect the equal time share to continue, but remember that Charles will be a threat for a home run sprint at any time. Unfortunately for Charles owners, we all know who will be getting the goal line snipes.

New York Jets

LaDainian Tomlinson:  11 carries, 62 yards
Shonne Greene: 5 carries, 18 yards

Who Did it Best: This one goes to Tomlinson hands down. Greene never once looked comfortable when he took the ball Monday night, and the two fumbles certainly didn't help his case. Tomlinson on the other hand looked fresh, explosive, and ready to shoulder his lions share of the carries.

This one, like the others, is going to be a little dicey to predict, but hey, that's what I get paid for (kidding of course). I honestly think that Tomlinson is going to be in the situation for the remainder of the season, and the Greene owners should get ready for that.

Although, I do think that Greene will be able to grab the touchdowns, that is assuming that the Jets actually find the end zone next week.

San Diego Chargers

Ryan Mathews: 19 carries, 75 yards
Darren Sproles: 4 carries, 5 yards

Who Did it Best: Although Sproles didn't get many looks, he didn't look as polished as Mathews did. Mathews on the other hand, looked like a veteran already, with the exception of forcing Rivers to drop the ball on a play action. He is a north and south runner, which means only good things for his fantasy owners.

What to Expect: Norv Turner clearly isn't going to shy away from giving Mathews the full work load this season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go over the projected 240 that Turner had previously projected, if he can find the end zone, he will be deadly

Week One Recap:

Hopefully as the season goes on, some of these fantasy committees start to have a lead stallion break away from the pack. We also have to remember, that most of these committees work well for the NFL team that runs them, we just can't truly appreciate it because...well...its cost's us points!

Good luck in Week Two fantasy fiends!

If YOU have any questions that deserve some attention, please email [e-mail], and they will be answered in the following email.

Travis Rand is a Communications Major at the University of Southern Maine, and an enormous NYG and Oklahoma Sooners fan. 

His archive can be found here.