Top-10 Fantasy Backs

Posted by Danny Goldin on August 24, 2010   Jump To Comments

It’s fantasy football draft time, which just so happens to be one of the best four times of the year, along with fantasy baseball draft time, fantasy basketball draft time, and Casimir Pulaski Day. What’s that? You’ve never heard of Casimir Pulaski Day? Well, as a resident of Illinois, it just so happens to be the day that I got off from preschool through high school, while everyone else in the world was on their usual grind. Booyah! Anyway, enough of the late cavalry officer, and onto my Top-10 running backs heading into this season:

2,500 rushing yards? That clearly ain't gunna happen, but CJ is still the best fantasy back in all the land.

1) Chris Johnson – The man says he’ll rush for 2,500 yards this season, which he obviously won’t, but he still deserves to be the No. 1 pick. He’s good for an average of 100 rushing yards per game, which would put him at 1,600, and will top 2,000 total yards yet again.

2) Adrian Peterson –Sure, he has his issues coughing up the rock, but the man is still a freakin’ specimen. This particular specimen still possesses the best combination of power and speed in the league (and maybe ever? Alright, since Jim Brown?) and should score over one touchdown per game.

3) Ray Rice – Just take my word for it, you don’t want to be the owner that passed on this guy at the three. He’ll be good for around 2,000 total yards yet again, and I see him significantly increasing upon those eight total scores from last season, possibly to 12 or 13. Willis McGahee will still be used from time to time to keep Rice fresh, but it’s in the Ravens’ best interest to get Rice as many touches as possible.

4) Frank Gore – There’s nothing not to like here. Gore is a big back without any competition for goal-line carries. He’s also a good pass catcher and should benefit from the 49ers’ style of play, with an offense that will feature him every game and a strong defense to keep San Francisco in every game. He also faces a soft schedule.

5) Maurice Jones-Drew – I’m a bit more down on MJD than most, but let’s be real here, he’s still a stud and a Top-5 pick. Still, I’m nervous about his supporting cast. I think the Jags could be very bad this season and forced to play from behind much more than they’d like, which means less carries for their only great player.

6) Steven Jackson – Most of what was just said about MJD can be played right back, with Jackson’s name swapped in. Still, the Rams should at least be better than last year. Jackson and Thomas Jones are the only two backs in the league with five-straight 1,000-yard seasons entering this year, and after 2010, Jackson will be the only man with six in a row.

Benson is no longer a troublemaker. Instead, he's a legitimate first-round fantasy pick.

7) Cedric Benson – Last season must have been pretty sweet for a man that had previously been labeled as a team cancer and a bust. There’s no reason to think Benson won’t put up similar numbers again this year. He has little to no competition for carries and plays for a very well-balanced offense. He still has at least a few more good seasons left in him at 27 years of age with under 1,000 career carries on his plate.

8] Rashard Mendenhall – The man is built like Ronnie of Jersey Shore fame, though Mendenhall is also pretty darn fast. Last year he broke out from irrelevant to legitimate starter, and 2010 will be the season he breaks through from legitimate starter to possible Pro Bowl back. The Steelers will lean on him until Roethlisberger gets back, and the fact that the Steelers’ D should be better this season will help him as well.

9) Michael Turner – He’ll be better than he was last year as long as he stays healthy, and he’s apparently feeling great in training camp so far. Still, don’t expect him to return to his 2009 stats, as the Falcons have two capable backups in Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood to give Turner a breather. That will help keep The Burner healthy, but will also limit his upside.

10) DeAngelo Williams – I really wanted to put Ryan Grant here, and he really is my 11, but I give DeAngelo an ever-so-slight edge. The presence of Jonathan Stewart is obviously an annoyance, but Williams has proven for two years in a row now that he can coexist with J-Stew and still put up big-time stats.

Overrated

Ryan Mathews – He’s being drafted too early. Sproles will be used more than people realize.

Justin Forsett – I like him as a player, but Seattle’s offense won’t be very good, and there’s just not enough carries to go around between him, Julius Jones and Leon Washington.

Underrated

Matt Forte – The Bears’ offense will be way more dynamic under Martz’s rule, and Forte’s skill set should be perfect for the new scheme. Expect numbers in between the ones he put up in 2008 and 2009.

Clinton Portis – I realize there are some red flags, but c’mon. He’s being drafted outside the Top-30, which is crazy for a proven starter in an improved offense.

You can e-mail Danny Goldin at dgoldin@brentfavre.com.