Last year was the year of LaDanian Tomlinson. Not only was he the MVP but he dominated in every major running statistic. More than likely you can look for him to be the number 1 player taken overall in your fantasy draft. I suggest that if you do get the first pick you should take him.
Since running backs are a high resource for fantasy stats, the below is what you should look for with one of your first two picks in your fantasy draft.
Here Are The Top Five Running Backs For Fantasy Football This Year:
1. Ladainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers:
He was the leading rusher, scorer and overall the best player in the NFL last year. His stats include:
- 1,815 Yards Rushing.
-
508 Yards Receiving.
-
31 Total Touchdowns.
The Break Down:
Tomlinson is explosive and with Phillip Rivers a year matured and a new offensive minded coach in town, look for Tomlinson to have another standout year. The Chargers offense is too good for defenses to concentrate their entire efforts on him and he is just so explosive that it is inevitable; he will score and he will have big games.
2. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs:
He was second in the league in rushing and led the league in attempts. His stats include:
- 1,789 Rushing Yards.
-
410 Receiving Yards.
-
21 Total Touchdowns.
The Break Down:
Johnson has proved that he is durable by running the ball 400+ times last year. If the Chiefs would have had a passing threat last year and a better line, he could have easily run for over two thousand yards. His two fumbles from last year shows that he knows how to keep hold of the ball and his 17 Rushing Touchdowns makes him a constant threat in the Red Zone. The Chiefs have better back-up running backs this year and more receiving threats so look for Johnson to have an even better season this year.
3. Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks
Due to injury he only played in ten games and was hampered for a few more that he played in. His stats include:
- 896 Rushing Yards.
-
48 Yards Receiving.
-
7 Total Touchdowns.
The Breakdown:
Don't let the Statistics scare you, Alexander only played in ten games and was still hampered. Alexander is one of the brightest runners in the league and knows how to get in the end zone. With a good offensive line to run behind, Alexander will once again be the focus of the Seahawks offense.
4. Stephen Jackson, St. Louis Rams
Jackson had an extremely productive season last year, leading all running backs in receiving yards. His stats include:
- 1,528 Rushing Yards.
-
806 Receiving Yards.
-
16 Total Touchdowns.
The Break Down:
Jackson really busted out last year by gaining over 2,300 total yards last year. He's big, durable and explosive, making him the perfect fit for the St. Louis running attack. Look for another big season this year, as he should duplicate last year's numbers.
5. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
He was 3rd in the NFL in rushing yards and proved to be an explosive weapon for the young 49ers. His stats include:
- 1,695 Rushing Yards.
-
485 Receiving Yards.
-
9 Total Touchdowns.
The Break Down:
Gore came out of left field last year and ran the daylights out of the football for the struggling 49ers in only his second pro season. Gore should have an even better season this year because the overall offense will be better. Alex Smith should be a year improved and TE Vernon Davis will be healthy... not to mention the big acquisition of WR Darrell Jackson from the Seahawks. His only downside is struggling with being able to pound his way into the end zone on shorter runs.
Here Are The Five Backs To Stay Away From This Year:
1. Jamaal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is lacking on the offensive side of the house and Jamaal Lewis will be the feature for this young team. In recent years he has had durability issues as well as off the field problems. He also doesn't posses the burst he once had, so look for him to be a disappointment, even though he may still hit 1,000 yards if he stays healthy.
2. Kevin Jones, Detroit Lions
Not only will the Lions concentrate heavily on an outstanding passing attack, but Jones will be spelled by standout running back Tatum Bell, who came over from the Broncos. Jones last year failed to produce regularly, averaging only 3.8 yards per carry where as Bell averaged 4.4.
3. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He has been hurt in each of his first two seasons and has failed to show a knack for breaking tough tackles. He's not a huge threat in the end zone either, and oh did I mention that he has been hurt in each of his first two years?
