There are 11 NFL Franchises that decided to make a change at the head coaching position this off-season and, in some cases(49ers), last season. It’s very important to know who these new coaches are, where they came from, and what kind of philosophy their coaching staff will bring to the table.
New Coaches can not only bring about a dynamic change in a team’s locker room but they can also change the entire scope of your fantasy football season ala Michael Turner in Atlanta with coach Mike Smith.
There might be some high expectations for these coaches after the success of last year’s rookie crop that included Tony Sporano, John Harbaugh, and the aforementioned Smith. Of the 11 new hires, only Jim Mora and Eric Mangini have any head coaching experience, so I’m not expecting any major impacts here.
Jim Caldwell – Indianapolis Colts
What Jim Caldwell lacks in experience he more than makes up for with his familiarity to the team, having been the quarterbacks coach and been handpicked by Coach Dungy to be his successor. Caldwell inherits a championship caliber team that has grown accustomed to winning, as they have won at least 12 games in each of the last five seasons. Peyton Manning should be able to handle the offense and new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer will tweak the defense slightly from its standard cover-2 scheme. Still a 10+ win team that will make the playoffs.
Fantasy Impact: Peyton Manning is still a top tier quarterback in this league and the offense won’t skip a beat. I expect rookie Donald Brown to make an impact in his first year and Reggie Wayne will continue to strike fear into the hearts of opposing defensive backs as Peyton Manning’s primary target. |
Jim Mora – Seattle Seahawks
Jim Mora already has a head start on getting to know the team, being that he has been on the team’s coaching staff since 2007. Another big fantasy impact is the fact that he brought his old friend, Gregg Knapp, over to call the plays for the offense. The last time the two teamed up, they had an offense that was the second ranked rushing offense in the league in ‘o4.
Fantasy Impact: I expect the Seahawks to run the ball a lot more in 2009 but they certainly don’t seem to have the runners to do it. They also didn’t acquire TJ Houshmandzedah to not feature him in the passing game. I still expect the Seahawks’ air attack to be prevalent but the new zone-blocking rushing scheme will be a welcomed addition for Julius Jones’ “one cut and go” style of play. |
Rex Ryan – NewYork Jets
A lot of people are REALLY big fans of this guy but I can’t really see how the Jets’ offense will be effective with either Kellen Clemens or Mark Sanchez at the helm. Rex Ryan has already brought a very clear message at this early stage and that is physical play. It’s no doubt that the defense will be tough but I’m not one of the folks who think that Ryan will transform the Jets into the Ravens in his first year with the team.
Fantasy Impact: This is still a team that likes to run the ball but I don’t know how successful they’ll be without solid QB help. I see them struggling to put points up but their offensive line remains strong and they do have a talented stable of runningbacks. I expect another improved season from TE Dustin Keller, as the passing game is sure to utilize plenty of short/safe passes. |
Mike Singletary – SanFrancisco 49ers
Singletary has really paid his dues and worked very hard to get a Head Coaching job. The team did well once he was named the interim head coach after week 7. The NFC West is still a weak division and there is always room for an upstart team. I don’t agree with some of the optimists that are looking for SanFrancisco to win the division but they are certain to be very improved.
Fantasy Impact: Frank Gore is still the king of this offense and I don’t care how good Alex Smith or Shaun Hill look in camp, this team’s offense isn’t turning into a passing scheme anytime soon. I really don’t have my eyes set on any 49ers fantasy player other than Gore but I might consider WR Josh Morgan very late in drafts this year. He was rumored to be more talented than Eddie Royal while at Virginia Tech. |
Eric Mangini – Cleveland Browns
“The Mangenius” certainly found employment faster than I thought he would. The Browns situation appears to be all in Mangini’s lap as of the moment and the ownership seems to very happy with him. I don’t see the Cleveland defense improving that much and I expect the Browns to continue playing from behind in a very tough division.
Fantasy Impact: If When Brady Quinn wins the job, he’ll be a solid QB option in deep leagues because I expect Braylon Edwards to have a huge rebound year. Braylon will present a great value this season since his ADP is right around 43rd overall, making him a mid 4th round pick. I look for Jamal Lewis to slow down even more this season and for the Browns to air it out in ‘o9. |
Steve Spagnuolo – St.Louis Rams
Steve Spagnuolo had been rumored to be taking a head coaching position last season but stayed with the Giants instead. Spags cut his teeth under guru Jim Johnson in Philadelphia and he has a very similar style with his aggressive blitzes and schemes. It’s to be believed that the Rams defense will finally get out of the gutter but their offense is still a ways away as well. If Spagnuolo can change the the culture on this team, then Steven Jackson’s value will be solid again.
Fantasy Impact: Regardless of any coaching change, Steven Jackson is still the man. He’s poised for a great year if he can just manage to stay healthy for all 16 games. The new look Rams will feature Donnie Avery and Laurent Robinson at WR with Marc Bulger returning from injury to throw them passes. Bottom Line – Jackson is the only Ram that isn’t complete and total bantha fodder this season. |
Todd Haley – KansasCity Chiefs
The one thing that gives Kansas City automatic credit is Scott Pioli but we’ll all be witness to how good Todd Haley’s passing offense is in his first year. It’s a good thing that the franchise went after Matt Cassel in that trade because the Chiefs are sure to be airing it out early and often, as the team is likely to be playing a lot of catch-up with the defense still being a work in progress.
Fantasy Impact: Dwayne Bowe’s stock couldn’t be any higher since he’s the unquestioned primary target in this offense. I have seen Larry Johnson fall as late as the mid 5th round and I don’t agree with that at all. One of my favorite saying is that “there’s value to be had everywhere” and Larry Johnson is still in line to get 300+ touches in this offense and that equates to at least a good RB2. Matt Cassel could provide some value in deeper leagues but don’t reach too far for him, as he could turn out to be the next Scott Mitchell. |
Tom Cable – Oakland Raiders
The Cable Guy looked to have the Raiders playing good football towards the end of the season, as they ended Tampa Bay’s playoff chances as well as John Gruden’s job in the process. You never can tell what the Raiders are going to try on offense but the team has a very talented stable of running backs and their offensive line is improving. I look for them to focus on the run while they continue to bring project JaMarcus Russell along slowly.
Fantasy Impact: I look for Darren McFadden to have a much bigger impact in ‘o9 than he did last season with an ailing shoulder and ankle problems. I expect Fargas to be phased out of the scheme and for the Raiders to continue to bring Michael Bush along but as more of a fullback type. Don’t expect Darius Heyward-Bey to blow up this year but he could turn a few bombs into TDs with his super speed and leaping ability. |
Raheem Morris – TampaBay Buccanneers
It’s still hilarious to realize that this guy went from defensivebacks Coach, to defensive coordinator, to Head Coach within the span of one month but Morris is rumored to be a player’s coach. He does have the benefit of familiarity with the current roster, especially on defense. Chan Gailey will be calling the plays on offense but I’m not expecting big things from the Tampa offense with the questionable QB help they’ve got. Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, and Josh Freeman don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators.
Fantasy Impact: Derrick Ward is going to be the focal point of the rushing attack sooner rather than later. Earnest Graham will still factor in but Ward is the better pass catcher and pass blocker so expect to see him on field a lot more. Antonio Bryant is returning from a stellar 2009 campaign but I don’t see a repeat performance due to the fact that Jon Gruden is no longer calling the shots in West Florida. Jeremy Stevens might present some immediate value since the Tampa offense has such limited QB help. |
Josh McDaniels – Denver Broncos
This kid is a retard plain and simple. I don’t care that he was an assistant coach for the Patriots. Look how all of the other Patriots assistant coaches have done at their respective positions. They’re all frauds and this kid is just another in a long line of failures to come out of the Belichick coaching tree. I’m still of the opinion that Crennel, Weiss, Mangini, McDaniels, and Scott Pioli are all merely gophers that Belicheat has sent out to do his evil bidding but that’s just me being me I suppose.
Fantasy Impact: The biggest thing to remember about my Broncos is that they still possess a very good offensive line that returns all five starters. Tony Scheffler has made up w/ Josh McDaniels and they still have both Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokely, and Brandon Marshall. I expect the offense to continue to be forced to put points up on the board and they’re still going to be solid with Kyle Orton under center. Knowshon Moreno WILL be featured in this offense due to McDaniels’ need to backup his own ego. |
Jim Schwartz – Detroit Lions
“My Advice to you is to start drinking heavily”. Seriously folks, the Lions have a long way to go before they can be considered as respectable and no coach can fix this mess in only one year. Schwartz has the label of a defensive guru having come from Jeff Fisher’s Titans Coaching Staff. Scott Linehan will be running the offense, so I expect the RB to get a lot of work in this offense.
Fantasy Impact: Megatron is the key here but I expect Kevin Smith to have a good season when you consider that Linehan loves to feature the RB in his offenses. I’m filing Matt Stafford away into the 2010 file as far as re-drafts go but in a dynasty league, he’d be considered as a decent QB2 with a ton of upside. There’s some good stats to be had here, even though their team is still a joke of sorts. |
So many of the NFL teams have gone to a “runningback by committee” approach to running the ball. With so few 3-down backs left in the league, it’s necessary to have full knowledge of every team’s depth chart.
In order to help you break down your own fantasy football running back rankings, I’ve broken down all 32 NFL Teams’ running games and what kind of committee approach they are using.
To take things a little further I’m attempting to show you all what each NFL team’s RB depth chart will look like currently, what it will look like in week 11(fantasy playoff time), and next season in 2010. It’s important to get a broad view to understand each team’s perspective on the position now and in the future.
As always, I expect a ton of criticism on the show for this…
Arizona Cardinals
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Beanie Wells | 205 | 1,050 | 20 | 205 | 11 | 1st/2nd Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Tim Hightower | 115 | 650 | 25 | 150 | 6 | Goal Line | Backup | Backup |
Jason Wright | 30 | 120 | 15 | 80 | 1 | 3rd Down | Backup | Not On Team | LaRod Stephens | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Backup | Tim Castille | 1 | 8 | 4 | 11 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The Cardinals receivers have grown accustomed to the offense focusing on the pass but I have a feeling that Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt and new offensive coordinator Russ Grimm want to run the ball more effectively and that’s a big reason Beanie Wells is in town. I look for Wells to establish himself as the top dog in Arizona and revitalize a running attack that has been inconsistent.
Atlanta Falcons
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Michael Turner | 350 | 1,600 | 10 | 55 | 15 | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | | Jerious Norwood | 100 | 500 | 35 | 350 | 6 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Thomas Brown | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Special Teams | Jason Snelling | 15 | 60 | 7 | 85 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Verron Haynes | – | – | – | – | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: Only one team ran the ball more than the Falcons did last year and I don’t expect Coach Mike Smith’s philosophy to change any time soon. Look for Michael Turner to have at least one more season of 300+ carries, as the running game helps keep things simple for Matt Ryan. Jerious Norwood presents decent value in PPR leagues.
Baltimore Ravens
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Ray Rice | 280 | 1,150 | 45 | 475 | 11 | 1st/2nd Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Willis McGahee | 105 | 650 | 21 | 150 | 3 | 3rd Down | Backup | Not On Team |
Cedric Peerman | 70 | 315 | 15 | 120 | 1 | Special Teams | Special Teams | RBBC | Jalen Parmele | – | – | 5 | – | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Le’Ron McClain | 40 | 205 | 4 | 27 | 6 | Goal Line | Goal Line | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Speaking of running the ball a lot, the Ravens ran more than any team last year with 590 total carries on the season. I think they’ll run a little less with rookie QB Joe Flacco making progress but I’m actually expecting a huge season from Ray Rice. He’s a very talented runner and a great receiver out of the backfield. While McGahee may still be on the roster, expect Rice to be the focal point of this team’s rushing attack.
Buffalo Bills
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Marshawn Lynch | 275 | 1,150 | 40 | 260 | 10 | Every Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Fred Jackson | 100 | 520 | 25 | 230 | 3 | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Dominic Rhodes | 30 | 80 | 5 | 35 | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Xavier Oman | 5 | 4 | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Practice Squad | Corey McIntyre | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: With Marshawn Lynch’s suspension, Jackson’s workload will still be heavy but the bottom line is that the Bills offense stands to be much improved with the arrival of Terrel Owens. I still think that Lynch falls in most drafts and can be had as late as the 4th round in some drafts. All of the off-season reports have read that Lynch looks to be in terrific shape for the start of the 2009 season.
Carolina Panthers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
DeAngelo Williams | 250 | 1,325 | 20 | 110 | 13 | RBBC | RBBC | RBBC | | Jonathan Stewart | 225 | 1,100 | 15 | 90 | 10 | RBBC | RBBC | RBBC |
Mike Goodson | 30 | 80 | 5 | 35 | – | Backup | Backup | 3rd Down | Jamall Lee | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Backup | Brad Hoover | 5 | 20 | 5 | 40 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: I know… two thousand yard rushers on the same team? I’m just that big a fan of Carolina’s offensive line and coaching philosophy. John Fox’s crew wants nothing more than to crush opponents on the ground, eat up the clock, and keep Jake Delhomme from making costly mistakes. Jonathan Stewart’s time is coming but it looks like he’s going to have to wait another year or more before he gets all the carries in Carolina.
Chicago Bears
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Matt Forte | 315 | 1,260 | 60 | 475 | 15 | Every Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Kevin Jones | 30 | 100 | 5 | 18 | 2 | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Garrett Wolfe | 15 | 70 | 1 | 8 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Special Teams | Adrian Peterson | 20 | 100 | 5 | 40 | – | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Not On Team | Jason McKie | 10 | 25 | 10 | 60 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: It’s tough to imagine Matt Forte being better than he was last year but that’s what is possible with the addition of Jay Cutler. Chicago needs to resolve some issues on the front five but Forte worked wonders with a sub-par surrounding cast last season. It’s amazing how much of the team’s offense was all due to the rookie’s stellar play. I expect another stud RB performance from the Tulane product.
Cincinnati Bengals
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Cedric Benson | 240 | 980 | 25 | 230 | 7 | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | RBBC | | Brian Leonard | 45 | 215 | 10 | 85 | 1 | 3rd Down | Backup | Backup |
Bernard Scott | 105 | 560 | 18 | 162 | 4 | Special Teams | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | DeDe Dorsey | 12 | 50 | 3 | 14 | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Jeremi Johnson | 7 | 25 | 7 | 40 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: Ugh. I don’t like what I’m seeing from Cincinnati run game but as I always say; “There’s value to be had on every NFL team”. Cedric Benson emerged from the pack last year to help revitalize the Bengals running attack. Cincy appears to be fine going into this season w/ Benson as their featured back. I really like Bernard Scott to eventually usurp Brian Leonard as the primary backup and ultimately turn into a future playmaker for this team.
Cleveland Browns
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Jamal Lewis | 235 | 905 | 19 | 110 | 7 | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | Not On Team | | Jerome Harrison | 40 | 305 | 22 | 150 | 2 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
James Davis | 36 | 150 | 5 | 35 | 3 | Backup | Backup | 1st/2nd Down | Noah Herron | 8 | 47 | 7 | 52 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Lawrence Vickers | 11 | 35 | 10 | 75 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The Browns aren’t too far away from getting a running game going again but Jamal Lewis appears to be on his last leg. I’m not expecting a lot from the Brown’s ground attack and I could see them airing it out a lot more this season with Brady Quinn leading the offense. Still though, Jamal has some marginal value as solid reserve fantasy player and as a potential bye week starter. Look out for James Davis from Clemson in 2010 though.
Dallas Cowboys
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Marion Barber III | 285 | 1,150 | 55 | 420 | 12 | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | RBBC | | Felix Jones | 82 | 705 | 22 | 175 | 5 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Tashard Choice | 25 | 125 | 12 | 75 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Keon Lattimore | – | – | – | – | – | Backup | Backup | Practice Squad | Deon Anderson | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team |
Fantasy Focus: Dallas will need to focus on their ground game to help ease the blow of losing an Owens-type player. The Cowboys still have a very physical offensive line and they love to run the ball right over teams if they can. I expect Big D to ride their very talented RB corps to the playoffs this year. I think MBIII is still a great option as a RB2 and could exceed expectations if he can stay healthy.
Denver Broncos
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Knowshon Moreno | 245 | 1,210 | 30 | 215 | 11 | 1st/2nd Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Correll Buckhalter | 70 | 385 | 35 | 405 | 3 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Lamont Jordan | 53 | 315 | 5 | 31 | 2 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Darius Walker | 35 | 108 | 8 | 67 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Peyton Hillis | 3 | 14 | 9 | 57 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: It’s no secret that I can’t stand the new coaching regime in Denver but they clearly thought RB was a huge area of need on offense and they’ll no doubt want to back their own egos up by giving the Georgia product a ton of carries in his first year. McDaniels is known as an offensive guru, so I expect him to use Moreno in a variety of ways. Moreno will be the first rookie RB taken in your fantasy drafts for a reason.
Detroit Lions
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Kevin Smith | 265 | 1,130 | 44 | 325 | 9 | 1st/2nd Downs | Every Down | Every Down | | Maurice Morris | 70 | 285 | 18 | 125 | 2 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Backup |
Aaron Brown | 15 | 95 | 3 | 18 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Special Teams | Aveion Cason | – | – | 1 | 0 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Jerome Felton | 6 | 13 | 3 | 41 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: New Coach Jim Schwartz will likely bring a Tennessee style attitude over to Detroit which means running the ball…. a LOT! The Lions still have a poor offensive line but they have made some improvements. Second year pro, Kevin Smith, looks to improve on a decent rookie season when you consider the fact that he was playing for the worst team in NFL history. I’m still a big fan of this kid and I think he’s in store for a good season.
GreenBay Packers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Ryan Grant | 305 | 1,205 | 21 | 135 | 8 | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | | Brandon Jackson | 60 | 350 | 38 | 240 | 6 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
DeShawn Wynn | 10 | 55 | 3 | 18 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Special Teams | Kregg Lumpkin | 10 | 40 | 1 | 6 | – | Backup | Backup | Backup | Korey Hall | – | – | 8 | 43 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: I’ve never been a really big fan of Ryan Grant but the Packers still want him to their primary ball carrier and he does fit their rushing scheme extremely well. He fits the mold of a zone-blocking scheme and if Grant can manage to stay healthy, he should be in store for a 300+ carry season. Hopefully for Grant’s fantasy owners, he can find the endzone more often than last year.
Houston Texans
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Steve Slaton | 291 | 1,350 | 55 | 405 | 14 | Every Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Chris Brown | 52 | 208 | 3 | 15 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team |
Ryan Moats | 20 | 75 | 5 | 30 | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Arian Foster | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Backup | Vonta Leach | 1 | 0 | 11 | 84 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Steve Slaton is racing up draft boards this off-season and it’s no wonder why. Not only does Slaton have more rushing yards than any of the other rookies from last year, he also has no other RB in his way competing for touches and stealing carries. Slaton is a legit #1 RB in almost every single fantasy format. He gets used a lot in the passing game, he rarely leaves the field, and he should only improve with another year of experience.
Indianapolis Colts
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Joseph Addai | 140 | 608 | 25 | 205 | 7 | RBBC | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | | Donald Brown | 250 | 1,050 | 41 | 325 | 11 | RBBC | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down |
Mike Hart | 13 | 85 | 8 | 68 | – | Backup | Backup | Backup | Chad Simpson | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Lance Ball | – | – | – | – | – | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Fantasy Focus: Joseph Addai’s days as a number 1 Fantasy RB are over. Not only did Addai struggle mightily last year but the Colts felt the need to go out and replace him with a rookie from Connecticut. Brown should start the season in a committee but I expect him to separate himself from the rest of the pack and become the primary ball carrier for the Colts in 2010. Brown should present tremendous value in redraft leagues, as he isn’t likely to be the first rookie RB to be drafted but might outscore all of them.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Maurice Jones-Drew | 265 | 1,280 | 58 | 550 | 16 | Every Down | Every Down | 1st/2nd Downs | | Chauncey Washington | 30 | 70 | 2 | 8 | – | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Rashad Jennings | 70 | 280 | 12 | 80 | 5 | Special Teams | Backup | Backup | Alvin Pearman | 5 | 30 | 1 | 8 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Greg Jones | 2 | 20 | 11 | 108 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: This is the year for Maurice Jone-Drew dynasty owners to have ball because he’s finally out from underneath the shadow of Freddy Taylor. MJD has always played above expectations but how can the pint-sized UCLA Bruin match the expectations that so many fantasy owners have form him this year? I expect the Jags offense to be much improve on the front five, the WR crops, and David Garrard is returning for another year at the healm which is great news for MJD’s PPR value.
KansasCity Chiefs
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Larry Johnson | 295 | 1,058 | 25 | 203 | 9 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Jamal Charles | 85 | 408 | 28 | 270 | 4 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Kolby Smith | 14 | 75 | 5 | 28 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Javarris Williams | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Practice Squad | Practice Squad | Mike Cox | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Yes it’s true. The KansasCity Chiefs suck but that doens’t mean that Larry Johnson can’t still have a good season in 2009. The fact that KansasCity has yet to make a move for another RB via Free Agency is a good sign that LJ is the main plan as far as running the ball goes. Johnson still has some tread left on the tires and should be able surpass his surprisingly low ADP right now.
Miami Dolphins
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Ronnie Brown | 235 | 1,005 | 40 | 360 | 9 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Ricky Williams | 120 | 490 | 25 | 195 | 3 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Patrick Cobbs | 10 | 45 | 11 | 108 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Lex Hilliard | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Lousaka Polite | 20 | 75 | 5 | 20 | 0 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The Wildcat offense may have been fun and entertaining but let’s see exactly how effective it was now that every NFL defensive coordinator has had a chance to watch film on it. None of this really hurts Ronnie Brown’s value since he’s clearly the best player on that RB depth chart. I don’t think Ricky Williams can hold on much longer, so don’t expect any drop off in Brown’s production.
Minnesota Vikings
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Adrian Peterson | 355 | 1,810 | 24 | 155 | 14 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Chester Taylor | 109 | 454 | 42 | 380 | 4 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Ian Johnson | 12 | 75 | 5 | 41 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Backup | Albert Young | – | – | – | – | – | Backup | Practice Squad | Practice Squad | Naufahu Tahi | – | – | 15 | 35 | 0 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The best running back in football is back for more and he’s even more fired up about it than ever before. I doubt Peterson is going to be breaking the rushing record like he keeps saying but I know Peterson will be the driving force behind the Vikings’ stellar rushing attack. There’s a reason Peterson goes first in every draft out there and that’s because he has no equal right now. The only downside is that ADP isn’t a PPR dynamo at this point in his career but that should come with time.
NewEngland Patriots
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Fred Taylor | 172 | 805 | 18 | 145 | 8 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Kevin Faulk | 70 | 440 | 45 | 370 | 3 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Sammy Morris | 95 | 410 | 8 | 75 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Laurence Maroney | 75 | 300 | 5 | 35 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | 3 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Fantasy Focus: This is one of the most cluttered RB Committees in the league. My best guess is that Belicheat has a mind to ride Fred Taylor out until the playoffs hit and then he’ll use Kevin Faulk for everything under the sun. Seriously though, it look as if Freddy T will once again be a very relevant fantasy starter in 2009. Also – Laurence Maroney is likely done in New England if he can’t get his act together and stay healthy.
NewOrleans Saints
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Reggie Bush | 155 | 610 | 84 | 672 | 9 | RBBC | RBBC | 3rd Down | | Pierre Thomas | 215 | 980 | 40 | 350 | 11 | RBBC | RBBC | 1st/2nd Down |
Mike Bell | 35 | 130 | 2 | 12 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | P.J. Hill | 8 | 20 | 7 | 35 | 1 | Backup | Practice Squad | Not On Team | Heath Evans | 7 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Reggie Bush will remain as a starter but Pierre Thomas will be filling the role of Duece McAllister and most FF experts are drafting Thomas way ahead of Reggie Bush in non-PPR formats. To tell you the truth, I don’t blame them. Bush is coming off of Micro Fracture Surgery on his knee and his durability is questionable. Thomas should provide value in almost any format as a quality RB2 this year.
NewYork Giants
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Brandon Jacobs | 280 | 1295 | 7 | 42 | 14 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Ahmad Bradshaw | 70 | 360 | 10 | 82 | 2 | 3rd Down | Backup | Backup |
Andre Brown | 130 | 750 | 33 | 305 | 6 | Backup | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Danny Ware | 3 | 15 | – | – | 0 | Backup | Practice Squad | Not On Team | Madison Hedgcock | – | – | 7 | 46 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Brandon Jacobs is going to be leaned on heavily this year and he should continue to be a red-zone/short-yardage monster but it remains to be seen if he has the ability to make it through 16 games. For those of you counting on Ahmad Bradshaw to fill the role of the departed Derrick Ward, let me tell you about Andre Brown. The NC State product is an all-around back who is very football smart and possesses great size. He would have been a 1st day pick had he not fractured his foot in two places in college.
NewYork Jets
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Thomas Jones | 260 | 1,135 | 35 | 210 | 4 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | Not On Team | | Leon Washington | 115 | 550 | 53 | 390 | 7 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Shonn Greene | 63 | 250 | 4 | 28 | – | Backup | Backup | 1st/2nd Down | Danny Woodhead | – | – | 1 | 0 | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Tony Richardson | 10 | 65 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The new name in town is Shonn Greene but Thomas Jones isn’t going anywhere just yet. Greene will be phased into the rushing attack because the Jets love to run the ball but Thomas Jones will still get a majority of the carries with Leon Washington complimenting him on 3rd downs and passing situations. Next season, Greene should have a wide-open alley to be the team’s primary ball carrier.
Oakland Raiders
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Darren McFadden | 205 | 860 | 41 | 369 | 9 | RBBC | 1st/2nd Down | 1st/2nd Down | | Justin Fargas | 120 | 460 | 7 | 41 | 2 | RBBC | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Michael Bush | 94 | 400 | 10 | 70 | 3 | RBBC | Goal Line | 3rd Down | Gary Russell | – | – | 1 | 0 | – | Backup | Backup | Not On Team | Lorenzo Neal | 2 | 1 | 9 | 82 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: I’m still of the opinion that McFadden’s shoulder was broken from week 2 on out but I’ve been known to wear a few aluminum foil hats and shout conspiracy out into the streets before. The team will look to get McFadden the ball in a variety of ways and phase Justin Fargas out, as RunDMC looks to take control. I wish they would let Michael Bush get more carries because the kid has proven to be a monster when given the opportunity but McFadden simply makes too much money.
Philadelphia Eagles
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Brian Westbrook | 245 | 944 | 59 | 480 | 12 | Every Down | Every Down | 1st/2nd Downs | | LeSean McCoy | 75 | 340 | 15 | 105 | 4 | Backup | Backup | 3rd Down |
Lorenzo Booker | 15 | 45 | 4 | 25 | – | Backup | Backup | Backup | Marcus Thigpen | – | – | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Practice Squad | Leonard Weaver | 41 | 130 | 25 | 180 | 5 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: It’s another year of football in Philadelphia and that means another year of Westbrook getting the ball 300 times in Andy Reid’s offense. The Eagles have made some nice acquisitions that should give Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook even more room to spread the field. I expect them to bring LeSean McCoy along slowly and let him get comfortable in the offense before asking him to take the reigns. Don’t be surprised to see Leonard Weaver get a lot of touches in this offense as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Willie Parker | 240 | 960 | 8 | 56 | 7 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | RBBC | | Mewelde Moore | 55 | 265 | 45 | 355 | 5 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Rashard Mendenhall | 115 | 425 | 12 | 90 | – | Backup | Backup | RBBC | Justin Vincent | – | 15 | 48 | 3 | 12 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Carey Davis | 11 | 32 | 5 | 13 | 0 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Interesting situation here. Willie Parker enters a contract year and the team has yet to make an effort to re-sign him. Rashard Mendenhall basically had a red shirt year after ending his season on IR with a broken shoulder. I think the team will continue to use both Parker and Mewelde Moore to start the season but as the year goes on, expect to see much more of Mendenhall.
St.Louis Rams
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Steven Jackson | 305 | 1,250 | 60 | 505 | 8 | Every Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Antonio Pittman | 55 | 185 | 13 | 87 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Backup |
Kenneth Darby | 11 | 85 | 20 | 190 | 2 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Samkon Gado | – | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | Special Teams | Practice Squad | Not On Team | Mike Karney | 3 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 0 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Steven Jackson is one of the more talented running backs in the league but the Rams offense remains a work in progress. All Jackson has to do is stay healthy and he’ll fall forward into a solid season considering that weak division and how many passes he’ll catch due to the team’s lack of a reliable pass catcher. Antonio Pittman is the lead candidate for handcuffing at this point because he won’t see extensive action unless Jackson get hit by the injury bug again which is not out of the realm of possibility.
SanDiego Chargers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
LaDainian Tomlinson | 308 | 1210 | 55 | 450 | 13 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Darren Sproles | 75 | 405 | 30 | 355 | 5 | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | 3rd Down |
Gartrell Johnson | 18 | 105 | 14 | 80 | – | Backup | Backup | Backup | Jacob Hester | 12 | 82 | 10 | 85 | 2 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Mike Tolbert | 3 | 24 | 13 | 91 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: I’m a member of the “Tomlinson Comeback Camp” and I think he’ll turn in a terrific season this year. Few people realize how many injuries he was playing through last season. He may be getting a little older but he’s still one of the best RBs in the league and the AFC West isn’t exactly the toughest division in the league. Look out for Gartrell Johnson, who’s a very talented runner that the Chargers took late. He has some dynasty upside.
SanFrancisco 49ers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Frank Gore | 280 | 1,225 | 52 | 405 | 7 | Every Down | Every Down | 1st/2nd Downs | | Michael Robinson | 60 | 205 | 15 | 185 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team |
Glen Coffee | 14 | 65 | 8 | 58 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Korey Sheets | 50 | 370 | 29 | 270 | 3 | Special Teams | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Moran Norris | 1 | 0 | 9 | 45 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Frank Gore continues to show the ability to get plenty of touches in the 49ers offense. That trend should continue but the questionable QB help continues to hamper Gore’s potential as a #1 fantasy back. Moran Norris’ return should help Gore’s rushing totals but rookie Glen Coffee, who the team took in the 3rd round of this year’s draft, will get some backup action as well. I also like un-drafted free agent Korey Sheets to establish himself in the passing game.
Seattle Seahawks
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Julius Jones | 205 | 875 | 26 | 165 | 6 | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | RBBC | | T.J. Duckett | 85 | 285 | – | – | 7 | Goal Line | Goal Line | Backup |
Justin Forsett | 40 | 170 | 20 | 180 | 2 | Special Teams | 3rd Down | 3rd Down | Justin Griffith | 35 | 108 | 18 | 110 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Not On Team | Owen Schmitt | 5 | 18 | 6 | 30 | 0 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: The only real answer for carries can be Julius Jones here but that doesn’t mean it’s the correct answer. Julius has never really proven to stay healthy in any one season and can’t be counted on to carry the ball for 16 games. This can only mean that Seattle either thinks that Julius will carry the ball 250+ times or they’re going to throw the ball even more than ever before next season. Personally, I’m picking the latter of those options.
TampaBay Buccaneers
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Derrick Ward | 205 | 940 | 45 | 360 | 9 | RBBC | 1st/2nd Downs | 1st/2nd Downs | | Earnest Graham | 175 | 680 | 20 | 115 | 4 | RBBC | 3rd Down | Not On Team |
Clifton Smith | 36 | 175 | 3 | 18 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Cadillac Williams | – | – | – | – | – | Injured | Injured | Backup | B.J. Askew | 10 | 23 | 15 | 75 | 2 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: This is a confounding situation here in TampaBay, as the Bucs gave Derrick Ward a nice size contract to be their lead ball carrier even though they have an established running back in Earnest Graham. Tampa is likely to start in a Committee and I expect them to throw the ball to Ward more and begin to phase Graham out of the rotation towards the end of the year. Regardless of how well Cadillac’s rehab is going, the team wouldn’t have gone after Ward if they though Williams would be able to stay healthy.
Tennessee Titans
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
LenDale White | 170 | 685 | 5 | 21 | 12 | RBBC | Goal Line | Not On Team | | Chris Johnson | 280 | 1375 | 55 | 325 | 13 | RBBC | 1st/2nd Down | Every Down |
Chris Henry | 1 | 9 | – | – | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Practice Squad | Javon Ringer | 50 | 205 | 5 | 31 | 2 | Special Teams | Backup | Backup | Ahmard Hall | 3 | 9 | 11 | 84 | – | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: This thing is gearing more and more towards Chris Johnson as I keep looking at it but right now LenDale is still incorporated into a lot of plays in the Titan’s offense. I think that he’ll be reduced to the goal line vulture that he is towards the end of the year but Chris Johnson should approach some record breaking levels in total yardage if he remains healthy.
Washington Redskins
| Player Name | Att | RushYards | Rec | RecYards | TDs | Currently | Week 11 | 2010 |
Clinton Portis | 315 | 1320 | 30 | 240 | 12 | Every Down | Every Down | Every Down | | Ladell Betts | 60 | 205 | 20 | 185 | 1 | Backup | Backup | Not On Team |
Rock Cartwright | 5 | 15 | 1 | 0 | – | Special Teams | Special Teams | Not On Team | Anthony Alridge | 6 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Backup | Backup | Backup | Mike Sellers | 6 | 23 | 13 | 105 | 1 | Fullback | Fullback | Fullback |
Fantasy Focus: Mr Portis is still the man as far as the Washington coaching staff goes. The team has yet to even try to bring in a back to compete with him and they seem very satisfied with Betts backing CP up. The big question is when will Clinton Portis slow down but I don’t think this year is the correct answer when he’s still in his prime and remains one of the few every-down RBs left in the league.
