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 don't credit for the last three weeks. The other guys I listed weren't in order - for instance Peterson and Barber would be in that mix. That said, most committee guys are going to disappoint over time, and think MBIII is a nice sell high. The odds are against him keeping up his pace if Jones keeps starting. Peterson isn't a bad one either with Taylor returning.
Posted by: Gregg | September 27, 2007 08:38 AM
Are you not ranking S-Jax in the top 10 because of his injury, or his O-line? Or do you just think he is overrated?
Posted by: Daniel | September 27, 2007 08:55 AM
As alwasy my rankings are based on PPR leagues.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson - Agreed will go back to dominance very quickly
2. Joseph Addai - solid all around like Greg said SAFE
3. Frank Gore - should prob be a couple spots lower
4. Brian Westbrook - health only thing keeping him out of top 3
5. Lamont Jordan - Rhodes a NON FACTOR
6. Reggie Bush - Sorry to the non believers but goal line carries plus catches this guy is in line to maybe crack top 3 the rest of the way
7. Willie Parker - where are the catches Willie?
8. Shaun Alexander - Consistent, you know what you get
9. Larry Johnson - it is not him, Chiefs are just plain bad
10(tie). Travis Henry - very solid in Denver
10(tie). Marion Barber - just a matter of time -he will get More and More carries -what a beast for next season
Honorable Mention: Portis, Brown, James, T Jones
Serviceable guys - McGahee, Rudi Johnson, Maroney
This guy just plain stinks(and i have been saying it for 3 years) C. Benson!
Posted by: Scott | September 27, 2007 09:03 AM
Meant to include Peterson in hon mention and WIlliams in Serviceable.
S Jax left out cuz i think he is out a LONG TIME.
Posted by: Scott | September 27, 2007 09:05 AM
Jackson's injury. I'm talking total points moving forward and missing 2-3 weeks would put him in a hole.
Posted by: Gregg | September 27, 2007 09:19 AM
1. Addai
2. Parker
3. LT
4. Gore
5. Westie
6. Jordan
7. Johnson
8. S. Jax
9. McGahee
10. Barber (despite his funny lookin helmet)
Posted by: matt | September 27, 2007 09:34 AM
I appreciate the committee thing, which is why I wouldn't put Barber in the top 5, but you don't seem to mind the committee with Portis.
My real question is this: Barber has put up consistently good numbers for more than a full season (all of last year, the first three games of this year, and even the latter part of 05), so why would you still think he's likely to disappoint? At point do you accept that in spite of the committee he's about as consistent a point producer as they come?
2nd question: With Julius Jones already suffering two concussions this year, why would you have any reason to believe that Barber's role will not expand as the season goes on? (you seem to think it'll contract).
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2007 09:50 AM