Five Offseason RB Questions With Big Fantasy Football Implications

Fantasy Football Spin, FFSpin.com, continues our “Five Question” series by taking a look at, you guessed it, five of the most pressing running back questions facing NFL franchises and fantasy footballers. 

The answer to these five queries will drastically affect the fantasy football landscape in 2011…

1. Where Will Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs be Playing in 2011?

If Brandon Jacobs’ reaction to the media yesterday is any sign, he will not be with the team in 2011. 

The New York Giants season is over and as the players were packing up their lockers and leaving the team’s facilities yesterday, Jacobs had a few choice words for reporters, including an F bomb. 

He also seemed to allude to this being the last time they see him. 

We agree!

Jacobs is a big man with a little brain and the emotional maturity of a two year old. 

The Giants should be more willing to deal with Ahmad Bradshaw’s fumbling than with Jacobs’ idiocy and $4.65 million salary. 

I heard one analyst say that this is a decision for the folks that own the Giants, to which I replied—why would the Giants ask the Eagles? Ba-dum-bum.

FANTASY FOOTBALL SPIN:  Bradshaw stays and remains a high end RB No.2 and Jacobs goes to participate in another RBBC. 

His fumbling issue will save the Giants money. Some candidates for his talents include; Miami (Ricky Williams is gone), Cincinnati (if Benson leaves or goes to jail), Seahawks, Packers, Lions and Redskins.

2. What Rookie Backs Could Make an Immediate Impact?

This is not a strong running back class. 

As a matter of fact, taking a look at the latest mock draft from our friends at WalterFootball.com, only one running back projects as a first round pick, Mark Ingram. 

The former Alabama superstar and Heisman Trophy winner has the size 5'10'', 215 LBs and skill set to be a fantasy football starter right off the bat. 

He's slightly deficient when it comes to high end speed and he is going to need work in pass blocking before a team is going to trust him as a three down back, but in the right situation he is a guy that can be in your lineup most weeks.

FANTASY FOOTBALL SPIN:  We are going with WalterFootball.com and saying Ingram lands in Miami. 

Ricky Williams threw his coach under the bus yesterday, so he will not be a Dolphin in 2011 and Ronnie Brown is wearing down. If Brown is back on a one year deal, Ingram is a RB No.3. 

If Brown is not back, Ingram has a legitimate shot at RB No.2 status. Some other possible first round suitors include New England, Seattle, Green Bay, Cincinnati and Washington.

3. What Running Backs Will Jump Most in Fantasy Football Value Between 2010 and 2011

Bernard Scott has the chance to go from a backup running back to a starting RB. 

What the Bengals offense will look like is a mystery at this point since the team is probably in store for a major overhaul, which should include the entire coaching staff.  There are a lot of question marks, but keep a close eye on Scott. 

Jonathan Stewart will likely enter 2011 as the No.1 RB in Carolina. He will share some carries with Mike Goodson, but he should see the bulk of the work. All of this is assuming that DeAngelo Williams is out of the picture. 

Should the team resign Williams, which seems unlikely, all bets are off.

LeGarrette Blount should be considered a fantasy football RB No.2 entering 2011. He is clearly the best back in the Bucs roster. 

A caveat is that this guy is a punk.  

That should not be a problem since the Buccaneers have basically become the Bengals-South and appear to not only disregard character in personnel decisions but embrace bad people. 

Blount will surely be in the news for bad reasons in the near future.

4.  Is Peyton Hillis a Top 5 Back in 2011?

Hillis’ crawl to the finish-line in 2010 may be attributed to the curse of the big back. 

Hillis appears doomed to be haunted by the ghosts of big-backs-past. 

Natrone Means, Barry Word, Christian Okoye and Earl Campbell visit him with creaky knees and tales of careers shortened by violent collisions. 

For all of the punishment Hillis and ilk dole out, their wear and tear is cumulative, compounded, even squared.  

The answer in Cleveland is a complimentary back that can take some of the load and serve as a change of pace to keep defenses on their toes. 

A real passing game wouldn’t hurt either. 

We asked FFSpin readers where they ranked Hillis entering the 2011 fantasy football draft and here is what they said;

Fourth Ranked RB           21% of votes

Third Ranked RB             19% of votes

Second Ranked RB          19% of votes

Fifth Ranked RB              17% of votes

Not a Top 5 RB               13% of votes

Top Ranked RB                11% of votes

FANTASY FOOTBALL SPIN: Hillis had zero TDs in the final four games and over the last two meaningful weeks for fantasy football (Weeks 15 & 16) he had a combined 94 yards rushing and 38 receiving. 

Maybe he was worn down, maybe defenses figured him out, maybe the lack of a passing game caught up with the Browns. We think it is a combination of the three. We also think that those problems will be there in 2011, which is why we have Hillis as high end RB No.2, but not one of the top 12 entering the draft. 

5.  What Teams Will be Adopting or Getting Rid of RBBC Situations?

Click here for the list. It's longer than you may think.

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