Jackson averages 4.6 YPC on 188 career carries. At times last season Jackson was so effective that it appeared Bills coordinator Turk Schonert preferred a Jackson-Lynch committee to keeping Lynch as his feature back. Jackson is an outstanding pass catcher and a plus-yardage threat after the reception. He's flashed the ability to carry the pile and shoulder a full load, racking up 136 yards on 27 carries in a Week 17 start against New England.

Among backs with 100+ carries in 2008, Football Outsiders ranks Jackson as the fifth-most productive back in terms of Success Rate, which measures a player's production consistency (successful running plays divided by total running plays) over the course of a season.. The Dude Abides already pointed out that Pierre Thomas ranks first. Chris Perry was last.

I've even heard it suggested that Jackson is better than Lynch.

I don't think Jackson has a realistic chance to swipe Lynch's starting job, but he's certainly in position for an increase from his 130 '08 carries, particularly if Jackson excels in the early-season games he starts. Jackson, the RB41 overall in fantasy last year, could make Buffalo's backfield into a true time split with a hot beginning. Gregg Rosenthal will probably have to project him in the top 35 as a non-PPR back and in the 25-30 range for PPR.