Chris:

I tend to agree with you on consistent production from running backs but Barber has scored in 18 of his last 22 games. He did just go through a two game skid where he didn't and it does hurt. I had to use him since S-Jax was hurt. I can certainly see why someone would rank a LOT of backs ahead of him. I think he is an acquired taste.

Will you guys do a list like this for receivers soon?

Thanks for the help.

Greg (with one "g")

I have Addai and Portis. I missed the Chatman pickup... I think he'll do quite well. I'm deep at WR, with Houshmandzadeh, Coles, Santonio Holmes, and Brandon Marshall. I have Isaac Bruce and Burleson (who's basically ineffective now) on the bench. I also have DeShawn Wynn, Jerious Norwood, Kenton Keith, Greg Olsen, and Selvin Young on the bench. I'm hoping Dunn starts losing carries soon. All that said, the person who picked up Chatman has 8 RBs on his team, including LT2, Jacobs, and Bush. What is Chatman worth? I need another RB pretty badly; Portis looks awful on the field, and everyone knows about Addai. I'm at 6-1, with 100 more points than anyone else in the lueague, so I can afford to coast for a little bit if that means the better team come playoff time.

Last question: going forward, who is the better fantasy QB? Brees or Eli Manning? I could get either in a trade without hurting myself too badly.

I have to pick up a QB this week as Romo is on a bye. I can't figure out who to drop. It's between Jerious Norwood and Heath Miller. Norwood is my 5/6th back and I have Winslow ahead of Miller. I know Norwood is everyone's sleeper pick, but how much could he really do?

i just want to clarify for Chris my earlier post regarding Marion Barber III - it was 100% sarcasm. earlier in the season after one of Barber's better games, Gregg made a top 10 RB list that didn't include him.

there was rampant outrage in the comments, with bloodthirsty Cowboy homers hoisting their axes and calling for the head of Rosenthal.

most of us thought it was pretty funny, and like to take a stab at the now-invisible Barber backers.

i assure you i don't think he belongs in anyone's top 10. he certainly has the potential to be there at season's end if he can score enough TDs, but i agree with your criteria completely. you never know if he's gonna get 19 carries or 7.

i, too, like the pro-Jackson stance. i'm not convinced yet, but i sure as hell hope you're right on that call.

Greg and Chris,

Gore's receptions seem to be way down over last year. I haven't been following him or San Fran very closely, so I'm not sure whether this is the product of his hand injury or the 49ers stagnant offense. How many spots would you drop him in a PPR league.

Also, an owner with a serious Megatron crush is willing to give up Gore for Chatman and Calvin Johnson (PPR league). Would you pull the trigger?

Thanks for the help!

The interesting thing here is that you can rank the RBs like this, but if you go back to the Tier system, it makes little difference. The RBs are grouped much more closely than any time in recent memory.
If you were going to rank them by tiers going forward it would look like this:

Tier One

1. LaDainian Tomlinson 2. Brian Westbrook

Tier Two

3. Willie Parker 4. Marshawn Lynch 5. Marion Barber III 6. Kevin Jones 7. Clinton Portis 8. Adrian Peterson 9. Joseph Addai 10. Larry Johnson 11. Reggie Bush 12. Laurence Maroney 13. Steven Jackson 14. Frank Gore 15. Brandon Jacobs 16. Jesse Chatman

Tier Three

17. Edgerrin James 18. Willis McGahee 19. Kenny Watson 20. LenDale White 21. Maurice Jones-Drew 22. LaMont Jordan

Individual Notes:

3. Willie Parker would be in top tier if he were a TD threat.
4. Marshawn Lynch just battled through toughest stretch in fantasy football. He managed to put it in the end zone during that stretch and now has a much better schedule, especially during the fantasy playoffs.
6. Kevin Jones will be in position to score and has been used effectively near the goal line so far. Lions play 8 of their next nine on turf. Jones would be #3 in PPR formats. (He'd be lower if you get bonus points for 100 yards rushing.)
7. Portis claims his health continues to improve. He's the anti-Parker, anti-McGahee. He's continued to score TDs during this rough patch.
8. Adrian Peterson is clearly the best back in the NFL right now, even better than LT, but Maurice Jones-Drew has demonstrated this year how hard it is to consistently score TDs when you have to take it in from distance. The Minnesota offense is so bad it will have a bigger drag on his points from here out.
9. Addai's carry loss will be significant.
10. Even during the last two weeks LJ played abysmally.
11. Bush might be too low.
12. They've been protecting him; look for the Pats to try to establish Maroney as they get ready for the playoffs. Even though some get vultured, the Pats number of trips to the red zone are in sharp contrast to the Rams and 49ers.

17-18. McGahee/James - You have to be loaded at other positions to win a fantasy title with guys who are big game proof.

How much drop off in Addai's value do you see? I picked up Keith, and think he may have more value than D. Foster for the rest of the year. Hopefully, use Foster and/or my other RBs for trade bait.