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The Shot Caller's Report - RBs
Your Weekly Guide To Fantasy Lineups
10/20/06
Positions: QBs | RBs | WRs/TEs

Running Backs

Must Start: The Top 15

1. LaDainian Tomlinson @ KC—Four TDs is mighty nice but I’m here to tell you he won’t do it again the rest of the year. Why? Because nobody does! Well, nobody not named Shaun Alexander, that is, who happens to be inactive this week. Look for something like 75-100 yards and two scores at Arrowhead as the Bolts look to up their mark to 5-1.

2. Clinton Portis @ IND—Portis and the ‘Skins were inexplicably waxed by the previously winless Titans last Sunday and things are now starting to look pretty grim in our nation’s capital. A loss in Indy this weekend and they’ll be staring at 2-5 and likely oblivion in the tough NFC East. Only one way to prevent that from happening? A healthy dose of Mr. Portis. The Colts are dreadful against the run (5.2/carry and 166.8/game) and, unlike the Bears, can’t score when they don’t have the ball.

3. Brian Westbrook @ TB—The Eagles appear to be handling him with care since he missed the Week 4 Monday nighter against Green Bay. That should be neither surprising nor particularly discouraging. Yes, it means fewer touches but it also means he’s more likely to finish the season. Tampa’s been none too stout against the run thus far so he should find plenty of running room this weekend. Keep starting him.

4. Tatum Bell @ CLE—Bell didn’t explode against the Raiders (83 yards) but he did score once and did carry the ball 23 times. In fact, he’s averaging about that many carries over the last three contests. Who said he’d never be a 20-carry back? Oh, yeah. That was me. Start him against Cleveland’s dubious front seven (143 yards/game) this Sunday.

5. Larry Johnson v. SD—Johnson hasn’t tallied 83 yards in the last two games combined, at least not on the ground. He is, however, the most prolific pass-catcher at the position (54.8 receiving yards per). Forget last week. The Chiefs were out of it early and couldn’t afford to pound him between the tackles. He should bounce back this week in a game the Chiefs must have if they hope to contend in the AFC West. Believe it or not, I think they’ll get it.

6. Ronnie Brown v. GB—Brown busted out of a season-long slump against the Jets last Sunday, tallying 127 yards and a touch in the loss at the Meadowlands. This week, he gets the rebuilding Pack, a team that really doesn’t do much of anything well, though the numbers tell us they’re OK against the run. I think Miami gets ahead early and uses the former Tiger to salt away that elusive second W.

7. DeShaun Foster @ CIN—Predictably, Foster had a rough outing against the stout Ravens in Week 6. Luckily for the Panthers, Baltimore DIDN’T have an answer for his teammate, Steve Smith. I’m not sure Cincy will have an answer for either of them this weekend and that means you should definitely get the former Bruin in your lineup. He should be good for 100 yards and a score.

8. Rudi Johnson v. CAR—The Bengals will counter with the Johnsons, CJ and Rudi, in hopes that the Panthers are equally clueless against their potent attack. Though there’s been nothing potent about Rudi’s game of late (no more than 65 yards in his last three), I have a feeling that will change this weekend. Mark him down for 85 yards and a score.

9. Tiki Barber @ DAL—Tiki’s bombshell announcement has keeper leaguers scrambling but it probably doesn’t affect his value in the short term. If anything, ya’ gotta think he’ll be even more explosive than usual, hoping to go out with a bang, so to speak. Many more games like last week (227 total yards) and the Giants will be begging him to stick around another year.

10. Cadillac Williams v. PHI—Things are looking up in Tampa, though not the kind of up that is likely to lead to a playoff berth. Not that Caddy’s owners care. They’d be happy with another effort like the two he’s recently put up (125 and 104 yards, respectively, in his last two games). Give him the nod and hope the Bucs are able to keep it close enough for him to stay involved.

11. Julius Jones v. NYG—He’s averaging a whopping 178.5 yards/game in his career v. the
Giants. The sample size is low (two games), but…178.5! Worth a start in my book, even if he loses precious goal-line touches to top-notch poacher Marion Barber III.

12. Kevin Jones @ NYJ—The other other Jones seems to have finally turned the corner of late, racking up four scores and plenty of yards in his last four tilts. This week, he draws a Jets team that flat-out can’t keep opposing rock-toters out of the end zone. Expect him to find paydirt once (and maybe twice) at the Meadowlands this Sunday.

13. Edgerrin James @ OAK—1, 0, 0, 1, 5, 1, -1, 0, 1, 12, 0, -1, 2, -2, -1, 0, 1, -2, 2, -1. Some secret mathematical array that explains Arizona’s colossal failure? Well, almost. Try Edge’s last 20 carries Monday night. Take the five and 12-yard scampers out and it totals 1 yard. Eighteen carries, one yard. No offensive coordinator on earth is gonna fix that in a week. Oakland might, though.

14. Willie Parker @ ATL—FWP got off to a reasonably slow start this season but has since turned on the jets, scoring five times in his last three games and topping the century mark twice in that same span. Coach Cowher is threatening to use Najeh Davenport more (and for good reason, if you ask me) but we’ve heard him say that before. Keep an eye on it and keep starting Parker. He’s virtually a lock for 75 yards and a red zone look this Sunday in Hotlanta.

15. Willis McGahee v. NE—His touches are way down the last two weeks and the Bills have lost both games (to the Bears in Week 5 and to the Lions in Week 6). Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out they probably need the ball in his hands more often. Coach Jauron has promised 20-30 touches in Week 7 but the Pats have stoned him before. That means he barely cracks the top 15.

Grab A Helmet:

Laurence Maroney or Corey Dillon @ BUF—This tandem was pretty ineffective the last time we saw them (in South Florida) but they murdered the Bills in Week 1 and should do so again this Sunday at Orchard Park. Feel free to start either back as they should both garner 15 carries in Week 7.

Dominic Rhodes or Joseph Addai v. WAS—This duo is little less productive but no less dangerous, especially against a Redskins team that was embarrassed by Travis Henry in Week 6 (173 yards). Rhodes seems to be the designated TD-maker at the moment but Addai is more explosive and obviously the long-term answer at the position. You’ll just hafta wait a year for him to shed the running mate.

Kevan Barlow or Leon Washington v. DET—Hey, maybe this tag-team thing isn’t so bad after all, huh? You wouldn’t wanna start these guys every week (maybe not even most weeks) but they’re not bad in a pinch and the Lions aren’t exactly a top-notch opponent. Good against the run? Well, not bad. Barlow’s the goal-line guy but Washington’s capable of breaking a big one. Try either at the #3 spot if you’re stuck.

Fred Taylor or Maurice Jones-Drew @ HOU—And one more for good measure. Taylor gets most of the looks still and is always capable of scoring, as he did in the Week 5 shellacking of New York. Jones-Drew, on the other hand, is a big play waiting to happen and has already scored four times in his brief career. In case you hadn’t noticed, that’s tops among rookie running backs. Start either one against Houston’s sad sack defense this Sunday.

Grab A Gatorade:

Wali Lundy or Samkon Gado v. JAX—Speaking of those sad-sack Texans, here’s a pair you definitely do NOT want to lean on. Houston is likely to place Ron Dayne on the inactive list for Week 7, essentially because they’ve discovered what every fantasy baller and casual football fan has known for quite some time: Ron Dayne is never, ever the answer. Neither is Lundy nor Gado, unfortunately. Keep looking.

Reuben Droughns v. DEN—Droughns has been a major disappointment thus far, averaging barely over 50 yards in four starts to date. This week, he squares off against the squad that jump-started his unlikely rise to meal ticket status, the Broncos. Though it’s tempting to think he might rise to the occasion, don’t. Be tempted, that is. Denver’s D is as stingy as they come and the Browns will be lucky to notch double digits in this Sunday snoozer.

LaMont Jordan v. ARZ—Your bust of the year front-runner, folks. So long as the Raiders are unable to move the ball through the air, he will struggle to move it on the ground. Don’t kid yourself, either. The Raiders will not be able to move the ball through the air against an Arizona D that stiffed the Bears last Monday night. Let’s just hope, for the Cardinals’ sake (and for the sake of Denny Green’s sanity), that it doesn’t come down to a Neil Rackers FG attempt.

Ahman Green @ MIA—Mike McCarthy has intimated that Green will hafta share the load with Noah Herron and Vernand Morency the rest of the way. Not a bad idea since the former Cornhusker doesn’t seem to be able to handle the 20+ touches he used to receive on a steady basis. Steer clear of Green Bay’s backfield situation. Too crowded and too average to warrant much consideration at this point.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends