2011 Fantasy Football Busts: Running Backs

Now it’s time to take a look at our Fantasy Football Bust Running Backs for the 2011 season. You don’t have to avoid every guy on this list come Draft Day, just go into your draft with your eyes wide open.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England Patriots
 

2010 stats: 229 carries, 1,008 rushing yards, 12 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 13 total touchdowns

The man with one of the best nicknames in football, the “Law Firm,” BenJarvus Green-Ellis broke out and surprisingly emerged as a featured back in 2010, something the New England Patriots don’t usually have. He ran for 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns and was a must-start fantasy football option for the majority of the season.

Entering 2011, the consensus is that Green-Ellis will start the season as the No. 1 option, and while he will probably get the majority of the carries there are a lot of mouths to feed in New England. Danny Woodhead enjoyed a fine season for the Patriots last year and the team is high on rookie running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.

There is no shortage in the running game, and the Patriots' impressive passing game also hurts Green-Ellis’ chances of repeating. The addition of Chad Ochocinco to an already-loaded array of receivers makes New England’s high-octane passing game that much better and could lead to fewer scoring chances for the run game.

Green-Ellis had 20 or more carries in just three games last year, and he ran for 100-plus yards just twice. He’ll likely have his fair share of scoring opportunities and will still be a solid flex-option, though you’ll still have to deal with weeks where he becomes an afterthought in an overloaded offense.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns

2010 stats: 270 carries, 1,177 rushing yards, 61 receptions, 477 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns

Hillis was featured on our deep sleeper list in 2010 after rookie Montario Hardesty went down with a torn ACL, and that came to fruition in a big way. Hillis took the NFL—and fantasy football owners—by storm. He punched in 13 touchdowns over Cleveland’s first 11 games and went from "just another guy" to a household name by season’s end.

On the year, Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and he was a valuable receiver, as he added 61 receptions for 477 yards.  Many think his big season means there is a lot to like entering 2011, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

Hillis failed to find pay dirt over the Browns’ final five games and he struggled mightily against AFC North opponents the second time through the schedule.  Hillis torched division opponents for 287 rushing yards, 93 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first meeting, but managed just 107 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards the second shot.

While quarterback Colt McCoy stands to improve in 2011, the Browns still have unproven wideouts on the outside and defensive coordinators don’t respect their aerial attack enough to game-plan against. Instead, they will focus on shutting down the Madden cover boy.

Hillis is going to need to overcome double-teams right out of the gate this season and could struggle to find scoring opportunities. He’ll also have Hardesty waiting in the wings for his slightest of struggles. Consider Hillis a quality RB2 or flex option, but be careful not to overvalue him like many fantasy players will do in Round 2 of 12-team leagues this year.

Read more of our content here:

2011 SLEEPERS, UNDERVALUED:  QB  |  RB  |  WR 

2011 BUSTS, OVERVALUED:  QB  |  RB