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The last time we all came together I broke down running backs 21-30. Today I'll shake and shimmy to bring you running backs 11-20. Unlike 21-30, this next class of running backs has star power. Many of these running backs will be features or RB2 in your league(s). If you're planning on winning your league this season, I'd make sure to select at least one of these running backs during your draft. Before we get to 11-20, let’s recap running back 21-30:
30) Matt Forte – Chicago Bears : My Projection : 801 YDS – 6 RTD’s
29) Fred Taylor – Jacksonville Jaguars : My Projection : 801 YDS – 5 RTD’s
28) Selvin Young – Denver Broncos : My Projection : 802 YDS – 5 RTD’s
27) Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders : My Projection : 875 YDS – 6 RTD’s
26) Thomas Jones – New York Jets : My Projection : 994 YDS – 5 RTD’s
25) DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers : My Projection : 953 YDS – 5 RTD’s
24) Rudi Johnson – Cincinnati Bengals : My Projection : 1011 YDS – 8 RTD’s
23) Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons : My Projection : 1098 YDS – 7 RTD’s
22) LenDale White – Tennessee Titans : My Projection : 1054 YDS – 7 RTD’s
21) Reggie Bush – New Orleans Saints : My Projection : 802 YDS – 6 RTD’s – 551 RYDS – 2 TD’s
20) Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins : Many question marks surround Ronnie Brown and his 2008 season. Is the knee healthy? Can the offensive-line produce as they did a year ago? How many carries will Rickey Williams steal from Brown? Besides that not a bad pick. Brown was enjoying a great season last year before the knee went. If healthy, there’s no reason not to expect the same this season. Air on the side of caution, you don’t want to get burned early with this pick if he’s not healthy. My Projection : 923 YDS – 7 RTD’s
19) Earnest Graham – Tampa Bay : Recovering from a patellar tendon issue, Graham, like Brown, has many questions surrounding him. If healthy Graham should improve on last years numbers (898 YDS, 10 TD’s) which as a RB2 should help your team. Don’t go all crazy though and select Graham in the second round of your draft. He’s a middle to late third round pick at best. Many Fantasy owners though will be enticed to select him early not knowing the status of his injury. If you do select Graham, make sure to hand-cuff yourself with Warrick Dunn later in your draft. My Projection : 925 YDS – 8 RTD’s
18) Laurence Maroney – New England Patriots : Maroney is one of the players that has “BOOM” written all over him. His overall numbers improved last season, and he was especially effective late in the season. The New England Patriots seemed to start trusting him more as the weather became worst, and Maroney performed. This season could be his break-out season if the Patriots decide to feed him the ball. Last season, in 12 of 21 games Maroney failed to carry the ball 20+ times which frustrated many Fantasy owners. That right there might scare Fantasy owners off. Fear not, Maroney is a guy that should get you at least 1,000 YDS on the ground this year. My Projection : 1026 YDS – 8 RTD’s
17) Brandon Jacobs – NY Football Giants : By season’s end Jacobs could be a Top 10 running back, he has that much upside. If you look at his producing from a year ago, he started 9 games and played in 11, but projections had Jacobs over a 16 game season having 1,500+ yds, not bad for a RB2. Will he stay healthy though, that is the big question? A big bruising back who likes to lay the hammer when he runs will have his share of aches and pains. The Giants offense is perfect for Jacobs, and any Fantasy owner who owns Jacobs should enjoy a productive season. My Projection : 1053 YDS – 10 RTD’s
16) Willie Parker – Pittsburgh Steelers : Willie Parker is a risk pick this season. Already getting the “BUST” label, Parker stands to lose carries this season which will hurt his overall value. No longer a RB1, many are starting to think he might not even be a RB2 at this point in his career. With the presence of rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall, Parker will have to bust the big runs in order to see the end zone. Parker is a back I’d look to avoid this season only because of the speculation of his carries decreasing. My Projection : 1192 YDS – 6 RTD’s
15) Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars : The darling of the 2006 season, Jones-Drew started slow and really never recovered last year. This season Jones-Drew looks to put the 2007 season behind him and get back to what made him a star in 2006, scoring TD’s. We all know he’ll share carries with Fred Taylor, but he still is the featured back, and the goal line hammer. My Projection : 951 YDS – 9 RTD’s
14) Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills : Did anyone notice the numbers Lynch put up last year? No, well you’re not alone. With Adrian Peterson tearing up the league, many Fantasy owners forgot what Lynch, also a rookie, did on the field. Well, Lynch put up 1115 YDS and had seven TD’s. Not bad for a rookie. The one knock on Lynch is that he doesn’t catch the ball out of the back field which, if you’re in a PPR league could hurt. Legal problems behind him, Lynch is set to show the league that last years numbers weren’t a fluke. Lynch is a great RB2 is you can snag him in the late second round. My Projection : 1097 YDS – 8 RTD’s
13) Jamal Lewis – Cleveland Browns : Poor Jamal Lewis. Last season the talks were, “Lewis is too old, avoid him at all cost.” Going into this years draft owners are already saying, “BUST. There is no way Lewis performs at the same level.” Me, I’m in the middle. He plays in a bruising division, but the guy was effective last season. In nine out of 17 games last season Lewis carried the ball 20+ times. Lewis is a steady RB2, and still is an effective running back. My Projection : 1103 YDS – 8 RTD’s
12) Edgerrin James – Arizona Cardinals : James is one of the safest bets in this list to perform at the same level he did last year. Turning 30 before the start of the season, James may be on the downside of his career, but he still puts up great numbers. Blessed with soft hands, James adds the ability to catch the ball out of the back field which should keep defenses honest. Although this is not the Colts offense, I think it’s going to be an offense that will put up a ton of points this season which means excellent Fantasy numbers for James. My Projection : 1153 YDS – 9 RTD’s
11) Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers : To be honest, this selection here worries me the most. Although Grant enjoyed a great break out season a year ago, like many of the running backs on this list, question surround him. Will he see eight man fronts until Aaron Rogers shows he can lead the Packers? That will be Grant’s biggest task. Don’t get me wrong, the upside is there. Grant is big and fast, and has a great offensive-line, but I worry that many of us Fantasy owners are getting caught up in what he did in his nine games last year. My Projection : 1089 YDS – 11 RTD’s
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Tags: Fantasy Football NFL Running Backs Cheat Sheets Running Back Tiers 2008 Fantasy Football
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I have nothing against the guy Lenny, but he flat takes away from your show. You have votes on all sorts of things...put a poll up about limiting Tony's comments to the written word.