RB Rankings

1. LaDainian Tomlinson - LT should be the #1 player drafted in every fantasy league regardless of number of teams, scoring format, or skill level of those competing. If you are participating in a draft where Tomlinson does not go first overall, then immediately stop the draft and petition your commissioner because collusion must be involved, unless of course you have the #2 pick. If that is the case then sit down and shut up and try and wipe that stupid smirk off your face.

2. Steven Jackson - Jackson has little risk and plenty of upside. He has no competition to split carries with him. There is no goal line vulture back. He catches the ball well enough to continue to score points even when his team is getting dominated. And he has a small injury history.

3. Larry Johnson - Johnson is similar to Jackson in that he has little risk and large upside. However, Jackson gets the edge on him because Johnson is returning after a season in which he carried the ball a league record 416 times. I'm not too worried, but worried enough to move him out of the #2 spot.

4. Shaun Alexander - Many people are down on Shaun this season and I can understand why. He is over 30 which is normally death to a RB, and he is coming off a season where he missed a good portion of games due to injury. However, I think the injury may do more good than harm. He should be fresher this season after fewer carries and less hits in 2006. Plus, he still plays 6 games against the lousy NFC West.

5. Rudi Johnson - Safe pick here for sure. Rudi is almost a lock to finish in the top 12. He gets plenty of touches in Cincinnatti and his share of touchdowns. His upside isn't as great as some below him, but he is a very low risk pick. My philosophy is that you can't win your league with your first round pick, but you can lose your league with that first pick. I don't expect Rudi to finish this high, but I rank him here because of that low risk.

6. Frank Gore - Many people have Gore ranked as high as 2 or 3, but I'm not sold yet. He needs to play at a high level for more than one season for me to rank him in the top 5. While I like the directions the Niners are headed, I still have a hard time trusting any of their offensive players. Also, Norv Turner is no longer running their offense (Gore nearly begged him to stay), so I'm not sure how the play calling will change with a new Offensive Coordinator. (notice that Gore marks the 3rd RB in the top 6 that resides in the NFC West)

7. Brian Westbrook - If I knew he was going to play in all 16 games I might have him ranked 2nd, but alas that is not the case. Westbrook is a big risk/reward player and his injuries cannot be overlooked, but neither can his production. He finished 4th among RBs last year despite missing one game with injury and one game as he rested for the playoffs.

8. Willie Parker - Parker has now put a 2 very good seasons together in Pittsburgh. I have my concerns with a new Head Coach, new offensive coordinator, and new offensive line coach though. Plus, with Parker's small stature there is always the possibility that he loses goal line carries to a bigger running back.

9 and 10. Joseph Addai and Laurence Maroney - I am torn between these two players. Both are second year backs that excelled as rookies despite sharing the load. They enter 2007 with their veteran backfield mates having moved on. Both are in line to get plenty of catches and carries in 2007. If push came to shove right now I would probably grab Addai first, but Maroney is a nice consolation prize.

11. Travis Henry
12. Clinton Portis
13. Willis McGahee
14. Ronnie Brown
15. Cedric Benson
16. Chester Taylor
17. Maurice Jones-Drew
18. Reggie Bush
19. Brandon Jacobs
20. Thomas Jones
21. Ahman Green
22. Marion Barber III
23. Deuce McAllister
24. Edgerrin James
25. Cadillac Williams
26. Tatum Bell
27. Warrick Dunn
28. Jamal Lewis
29. DeAngelo Williams
30. Julius Jones