Who's your top running back now?
If you had a league starting this week, how would you rank your top ten running backs and receivers? I'm not asking what you would have done three weeks ago. You don't get LaMont Jordan's fast start, only his next 13 games. Here's how I'd go.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson - Hard part of schedule is mostly over.
2. Joseph Addai - Safer than safe.
3. Frank Gore - I still believe.
4. Brian Westbrook - Minor injuries a minor concern.
5. Willie Parker - Improvements haven't totally shown up in box scores, but they will.
6. Clinton Portis - Injury/Betts concerns were overblown.
7. Larry Johnson - Tough part of schedule is mostly over, but injury risk remains.
8. Travis Henry - Everything has gone as expected thus far.
9. Shaun Alexander - About what we expected.
10 (tie). Willis McGahee - Unremarkably consistent.
10. LaMont Jordan - Dominic Rhodes will be less of a threat than people think.
To be honest, the first ten are a lot easier to rank than the next ten would be. Ronnie Brown, Steven Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Reggie Bush, Carnell Williams, Brandon Jacobs and Laurence Maroney were among the backs not making the cut here. So what's your list?
I may expand this idea into a larger column later, so forgive me if you see it in some form again. We'll do receivers tomorrow.
Comments
You've been consistently down on Marion Barber. I think it's time to re-evaluate -- I think you are without question the best in the business, but your view of Barber is a bit of a black eye on your record.
The guy had 16 TDs last year. He plays on a great offense that feeds him the ball near the goalline. He's currently #2 in scoring among RBs (in my league at least). He's picked up where he left off last year, if not even better.
But most importantly, when you watch the games, you'll see that no one in the NFL right now finishes his runs better than Barber. The guy is just plain good. He'll continue to put up numbers because he's good.
Barber should easily be in the top 10.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 26, 2007 11:03 PM
Barber is a top 5 back from here on out. They don't have a difficult schedule and he's about to take all of Jones' carries. Watching that guy run, you have to believe Phillips is going to make him the full time back or at worst 75/25.
Lynch and Peterson should both be in the top 18. Lynch just had a brutal 3 game start and he still put up very nice numbers. Wait until he is integrated into the passing game more.
Cadillac and that POS McGahee have no business being mentioned here.
Posted by: Jason | September 26, 2007 11:14 PM
cedric benson is a big stick a butter!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2007 01:14 AM
Wow, you were hired how? Barber not a top 10 running back? top 5 to say the least.
Come on Greggy!
Posted by: Corey | September 27, 2007 01:44 AM
My list
1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Frank Gore
3. Willie Parker
4. Brian Westbrook
5. Joseph Addai
6. Steven Jackson
7. Travis Henry
8. Willis MaGahee
9. Shaun Alexander
10.Larry Johnson
You give no respect to S.Jackson and you also ranked Larry Johnson 7. I also think that Rudi Johnson should be consider. A bad week 3 but still.
Posted by: Lorenzo | September 27, 2007 02:06 AM
Any list that doesn't include is a list that can not be taken seriously.
Posted by: Greg | September 27, 2007 07:26 AM
Oops....I said that and then I didn't include him.
Any list that doesn't include Barber is a list that can't be taken seriously. One of the hottest runningbacks in the NFL right now.
Posted by: Greg | September 27, 2007 07:28 AM