SC.COM Fantasy Football Rankings: RUNNING BACKS

Welcome to the SPORTSCOLUMN.COM Draft Kit! Unlike the corporate crooks at ESPN who aren’t happy just having 50 Porsches in their driveways and now must charge for their Draft Kit Package (Even if you are a paying FANTASY MEMBER) we offer FREE RANKINGS and Cheat Sheets for our readers.  We also bring you a dual view of the FANTASY Football world from our resident Fantasy expert from Philadelphia, PA (FILTHadelphia) and his nemesis from Baltimore, MD (baltiMORON).

Enjoy:

RB Analysis FILTHadephia

I think we can all agree that Philadelphia sports fans are more passionate and knowledgeable than Baltimore fans, with that being said…I’ll let you decide who knows what they’re taking about…

BaltMORON really perplexes me. His top 10 rankings look as though he went to the newsstand and bought the latest Fantasy football magazine and wrote down the names one by one. How many times do you read the same Fantasy football rankings year after year and then draft those players based on prior year success and they blow? Exactly. Someone needs to tell you when Priest Holmes (2002) is going to become a star or Jamal Lewis is going to run for 2000 yards (2003). Right? Isn’t that what you pay good money for? Exactly…That someone is me…

Ignore his love for Travis Henry, Michael Bennett and especially TJ Duckett (What do they put in the beer down in Baltimore?) and trust in the young upstarts that I have to offer who will be the shock of your draft but the stars of 2004; Rudi, KJ in Detroit, Domanick, Westbrook and a guy who will be the man in 2005…Willis McGahee.

Enjoy…And as always feel free to rip me a new one or provide feedback!

(Scoring based on 3 main components. Potential + Health + Role)

#1 LaDainian Tomlinson (29)
LT is a wonderful football player. It’s ashame he’s on the Chargers…or is it? He’s their main weapon and it could be a long year of LT, LT, LT before we see Rivers.

Potential: 9
Health: 10
Role: 10

#2 Priest Holmes (28)
Priest is simply the best fantasy player in the game today. Period. The only issue is his health. He appears destined for overuse in KC and has already had some injury problems. In the world of FFL he’d be #1 and Brian Westbrook would be #2 if players never got hurt. Alas – that’s not the case.

Potential: 10
Health: 8
Role: 10

Priest Holmes is insane but rumors about almost retiring and overuse cause him to drop from #1

#3 Clinton Portis (27)
Clinton is a superb running back and Joe Gibbs and Joe Bugel are going back to the days of the “HOGS” with their o-line. They will run right at teams and when not running at teams – Brunell will find Portis in the flat. He’s a perfect fit here. DO NOT PASS on this guy.

Potential: 10
Health: 7
Role: 10  

#4 Deuce McCallister (27)
Duece is a tremendous player. Like most backs who get used as much as he does, he’s nicked up. I see a nice season for the SAINTS and that means a prominent role and tremendous season from Deuce.

Potential: 9
Health: 9
Role: 9

#5 Ahman Green (26)
Green would be higher if he wasn’t the most fragile running back on this or any RB list. He held up very well last year and put up great numbers but his threshold for pain and penchant for taking himself out when he’s banged up causes great concern here. Something doesn’t smell right about AHMAN this year.

Potential: 10
Health: 7
Role: 9

#6 Rudi Johnson (26)
RUDI! RUDI! RUDI! Corey Dillon is gone. Marvin Lewis is bringing Carson Palmer into the league this year for real. The Bengals are going to surprise. Our most shocking player on this list – look for Rudi to be one of the top fantasy backs in the league this year. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!

Potential: 9
Health: 10
Role: 7

#7 Jamal Lewis (25)
Jamal had an incredible season last year. No question. However, with his small legal problem, the fact that Kyle Boller is his QB and Kevin Johnson the #1 Wideout for the Ravens…well…don’t look for an encore performance. He’s had injury questions in the past but really the cloud and problems this offseason should cause him to take a step back.

Potential: 8
Health: 8
Role: 9

Cocaine or not this guy is a workhorse. With
no passing game he might be in for a tough year but he’s still getting the ball 30 times a game which is incredible

#8 Shaun Alexander (23)
Seahawks are poised for a big year. Yet, Holmgren is a passing guy and Alexander can be forgotten. He’s a real nice player, just something is always missing with him.

Potential: 9
Health: 8
Role: 6

#9 Kevin Jones (23)
Detroit is ready to roll this year…at least on offense. The Lions are stacked at WR and they will run the WCO as well as they can with Harrington calling the shots. That being said, the Lions haven’t had a RB since Barry left and they will feed Jones the ball over and over and over again to try and make him ROY and forget Mr. Sanders. Will it work? My money says yes.

He may have spurned my Alma Mater Penn State for Va Tech but I won’t hold that against him. Jones is ready to hit Motown and roll

#10 Edgerrin James (22)
James. Ah…Edgerrin James. He and Marshall Faulk used to be the diamonds of every fantasy football draft. Injuries have take away from this promising superstar and Manning loves to throw and throw some more. Not to mention the depth in the backfield that Indy has.

Potential: 7
Health: 7
Role: 8

The Rest

#11 – Domanick Davis (8-8-6-22)
#12 – Brian Westrbook (10-5-7-22)
#13 – Marshall Faulk/Steven Jackson* (9-3-9-21)
#14 – Fred Taylor (7-5-8-20)
#15 – Kevan Barlow (7-6-7-20)
#16 – Stephen Davis (7-5-8-20)
#17 – Quentin Griffin (7-6-7-20)

Denver always runs the ball well. No matter who they have at Running Back. This year Mr. Griffin will shine in Denver.

#18 – T Minor, MIA (7-6-7-20)
#19 – C Dillon, NE (7-7-5-19)
#20 – M Bennett, MIN (9-4-6-19)
#21 – T Henry, BUF (8-5-6-19)
#22 – C Brown, TEN (5-7-7-19)

Antowain Smith isn’t on this list because Chris Brown is about to burst on the scene w/o Eddie George to hold him back

#23 – C Martin, NYJ (5-7-7-19)
#24 – D Staley, PIT (5-7-7-19)
#25 – L Suggs, CLE (7-7-5-19)
#26 – T Barber, NYG (5-8-6-19)
#27 – J Jones, DAL (7-7-5-19)
#28 – W McGahee, BUF (8-4-6-18)

McGahee will be a top 10 pick in 2005. You may want to stash him on your bench for when Travis  Henry is injured early on Willis takes over the rest of the way.

#29 – D Foster, CAR (9-4-5-18)

Foster may leap up the charts if Stephen Davis, who has a penchant for being injured, starts to wear down once again

#30 – O Smith, MIN (8-5-5-18)
#31 – T Bell, DEN (7-7-4-18)
#32 – A Thomas, CHI (6-6-5-17)
#33 – C Buckhalter, PHI (6-5-6-17)
#34 – M Shipp, ARI (6-5-6-17)
#35 – N Davenport, GB (7-7-3-17)
#36 – T Duckett, ATL (6-5-6-17)
#37 – G Hearst, DEN (6-5-5-16)
#38 – T Jones, CHI (5-5-6-16)
#39 – W Dunn, ATL (6-4-6-16)
#40 – C Garner, TB (6-5-4-15)
#41 – E George, DAL (5-4-6-15)
#42 – T Wheatley, OAK (5-5-5-15)
#43 – W Green, CLE (7-3-5-15)
#44 – A Zereoue, OAK (4-6-4-14)
#45 – L Toefield, JAC (7-5-2-14)
#46 – A Pinner, DET (4-7-2-13)
#47 – C Perry, CIN (3-8-2-13)
#48 – R Anderson, DAL (4-7-2-13)
#49 – K Faulk, NE (4-4-4-12)
#50 – L Jordan, NYJ (4-3-5-12)
#51 – M Williams, MIN (3-7-2-12)
#52 – T Hambrick, OAK (4-5-3-12)
#53 – E Smith, ARI (2-4-5-11)
#54 – J Bettis, PIT (2-5-4-11)
#55 – J Fargas, OAK (5-4-2-11)
#56 – J White, TB (2-5-3-10)
#57 – R Dayne, NYG (5-2-3-10)

Rumblings out of New York say that Coughlin wants to go with Dayne as the #1. Now if Dayne could excuse himself from the Country Kitchen Buffet for five minutes to get that memo

#58 – C Taylor, BAL (1-7-1-9)
#59 – J Simon, WAS (1-7-1-9)
#60 – S Bryson, DET (2-5-2-9)
#61 – A Cason, DAL (2-5-1-8)
#62 – M Alstott, TB (2-2-4-8)
#63 – M Pittman, TB (1-3-4-8

RB Analysis baltiMORON

Running Back Analysis-by the Baltimoron

    Let me start off by saying I respect FILTHadelphia’s opinion and also his boldness for not ranking the following players in the same god-forsaken order of : LT, Priest, Ahman, Portis, Deuce, Alexander, Jamal, Ricky, Edge….etc…..That being said, he’s an idiot! Rudi ahead of Alexander!

    For starters Alexander plays behind an all-pro line with an all-pro offense and despite the Coach Walrus’s love for the passing game, he uses Alexander when it matters most: the red zone.  And TD’s is ultimately what its about.  Also I disagree with the rating system because frankly role means twice as more than potential and I’d even break it into subdivisions of “role” and “usage”; do they stay in on third downs as a receiver and do they get ALL the goalline carries?  Hey, at least we agree we have no idea what to do with the St. Louis situation.  Without assigning a ratings system for the rankings the proceeding is the true running back rankings.

#1 Tomlinson, SD – 100 receptions! Imagine Randy Moss with 100 yards per game rushing

#2 Holmes – he’s getting old but one more year in the tank and if it’s inside the 10, it’s three tries for Priest

#3 Alexander – See above; consistency and in a contract year

filthy Doesn’t know how great Alexander will be this year…watch

#4 Portis – so much unknown here with new coach, team and durability concerns but most talented

#5 Jamal – I’m not worried about pending drug case; other than Carruth when was the last athlete actually incarcerated?

#6 Ahman – Improved receiving corp bolsters passing game and takes some scores away

#7 McAllister – Game-breaking potential but still plays for the Saints, talent is wasted

#8 F. Taylor – Fragile Fred is healthy and Jags D and Leftwich will have him with more opportunities to score TD’s

#9 T. Henry – I’m not giving the job to McGahee this year and Henry wins it in contract year with new coach emphasizing offense

#10 Edge – Uh Peyton, can I have a turn? Just too many passing TD’s going around

#11 Bennett – Will win the job behind stellar o-line and turn the SOD into a SOB

#12 Duckett – This ranking is based on projections for the second half the season; every year there is someone who shoots up the rankings out of nowhere

Rudi Johnson? Can you say Duckett!!!! That’s my sleeper

#13 Barlow – Did I say Deuce was the most wasted talent? Who wins 49ers vs Hurricanes?

#14 D Davis – Keep an eye on Tony Hollings and this is still an unproven team

#15 Rudi Johnson – Just like D. Davis, he hasn’t shined for a full season and he’s basically got a rookie QB behind him.  However in Marvin Lewis we trust so should be solid #2 back.

#16 S. Davis – In a keeper league, take Foster first…Australian for playing time

#17 Dillon – Only because Tom Brady’s too efficient as a passer

#18 Westbrook – I love this guy but Philthy’s coach better learn that the running games wins NFC championship games

#19 K. Jones – I love this guy too but do you really want to count on a rookie Lion? Maybe next year

#20 Griffin – There was a time when anything Michael Jackson put out was a #1 hit; Shanahan ain’t Michael Jackson

#21 Barber – only if your league favors receptions and yardage but last year was a disaster for the Giants and they’ll still suck but he eats up yards

#22 (Tie) Faulk
#23 (Tie) Jackson
#24 Staley

The DUCE is loose in Pittsburgh. He’ll continue to be a solid #2 in Fantasy leagues

#25 Foster
#26 Shipp
#27 Suggs
#28 A. Thomas
#29 George
#30 L. Jordan
#31 Garner

With Pittman beating up his wife…Garner may emerge one for last great season

#32 O. Smith
#33 T. Minor
#34 Suckhalter
#35 T. Jones
#36 McGahee
#37 Martin
#38 Bell
#39 Vick (he’ll probably out-rush the bottom half of this list)

No need to keep going when it becomes more of a gut but there are some insurance sleepers worth taking a flyer on in round 16, especially in keeper leagues where they could shine next year:

Maurice Morris, Sea – Alexander will be gone next year and this guy is quicker and will be behind all-pro linemen.

Ladell Betts, Was – Portis has missed two games in his first two years, the Skums line is overrated but still decent and Gibbs makes winners out of nobody’s.  I think Timmy Smith just tried to sell me insurance!

Greg Jones, Jax – He backs up Fragile Fred, enough said

Tony Hollings, Hou – Davis had one good half  season, so did A-train and now look at his stock.

…oh and Chris Perry? Meet Larry Johnson…

Download RB Cheat Sheet
RB Rankings.xls

Other Rankings:
Wide Receivers
QBs