Top 15 RB's in 2009

[The Moz 69]

1. Maurice Jones-Drew - maybe not so bold here. he has basically no competition and IF he holds up physically he should be a monster with the revamped and upgraded Oline. While Holt is old he is at least a viable option in the passing game. the only question is wether his little body can really make it.

 

2. Steven Jackson - Some might be scared away - All I will say - is look close at his points per game played. last 3 years 2-7-2..

 

3. Ladainian Tomlinson - Most think he is washed up but he will again be the bell cow and Something tells me he has something to prove this year with having 2 non LT like seasons. Now I am not looking at 06 numbers thats silly - but a 1500 yd 12-15 TD season in a final swan song.

 

4. Steve Slaton - Houston is really setting themselves to be a premier offensive team. He has basically no real RBBC threat for serious time and Should pick right up from last year only better IMO.

 

5. CJIII - Watching him shread Baltimore until he was hurt was unreal. Guy is a GREAT runner and would be higher here if not for being in a 60/40 RBBC and losing all shorties. One of the best natural runners in the game right now next to AD.

 

6. Adrian Peterson - if not for getting No receptions at all really he would be #1 or #2. His lack of receiving really hurts him in PPR. The best pure runner in the NFL with size and speed. He is #1 in talent but IMO only #6 in FF.

 

7. Knowshown Moreno - Laugh and slam me here if you want to. I watched KO alot and he reminds me so much of Marshall Faulk. Maybe not as great high end speed but ability to cut on a dime and change direction , accelerate and be patient for the blockers. Also a great pass blocker and receiver as well. Denver IMO throw him in day 1 as the feature back with a slight RBBC with Buck at first.

 

8. Larry Johnson - Everyone is down on this guy right now. But KC has added NOONE only Jamal Charles as a COP.. LJ is also a solid pass receiver as well - though last year his chances got limited. I think Haley wants to use this guy a lot. Their line is a little better and they got a down field QB and Bowe elevating his game as well. I can see a return of LJ!

 

9. Pierre Thomas - Yes Pierre - ahead of Westbrook , Forte , Gore , Dwill , and Turner. IMO Nola has the leagues #1 Offense next season with a healthy Colston to start. Bush will be the lesser half of a RBBC and line up a lot in slot. Pierre will be the bell cow in the running game and really shine. he also adds value as a solid receiver as well.

 

10. Clinton Portis - Just keeps on posting solid numbers every season. should be no different with noone else in washington

 

11. Brian Westbrook - I might be alone here but I really think McCoy eats heavily into Westbrook's numbers. Reid IMO will want to try an keep Westbrook healthy and there will be a load sharing in PHilly. Also I think McCoy is plain really good and will earn this as well. I still see solid numbers but not what we are used to.

 

12. Micheal Turner - really good runner - zero receptions. I think last year was his peak season and this year while being solid he returns to earth a little. Also he got a ton of carries last year history isn't kind to players when that happens especially in Atlanta

 

13. Ryan Grant - Came on strong last season at the end and started to get used in the passing game. With 1 year under down in the new era packers I think the offense gets even better and Grant despite a tough schedule flurishes and starts to show what he did in 07.

 

14. Matt Forte - he was last seasons #1. Many ( okay Most ... if not all really ) would have him as a top 10 at least back. I watched him alot and he showed a lot last season. This ranking is with no good reason other than a gut feeling he will have a somewhat down season in relation to the 1.5-1.10 draft slot he gets. bash away here - again just a feeling i got..

 

15. Jonathan Stewart - Yes him ahead of Dwill. Watching both runner last year I honestly like Stewart better than I like Williams and i think he ends the year with better numbers. This isn't sayin gi think Williams will suck I have both in my top 20 but I think he gets by far the most TD's and he equals or has more yards.

 

 

bash away

 

NOTE: this is not the order I would draft them in but The order I think they finish.

[WhiteWonder 2,734]

some of these are bold but really all are feasible.

I assume you are predicting injury for DeAngelo? or do you really think Stewart will leap frog him after the year Williams had?

 

Also, I like your numbers for LT but I think if he attains those it most definately will not be his swan song. Despite the notion that RB's break down after 30, soe have had some pretty good years and we know LT wants the all time rushing record. Im not saying he can, but he will try.

 

He should pass Thurman Thomas, Franco Harris, Edge, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk and Jim Brown this year and with a very good year possibly Dorsett.

He would then sit around 5,300 yards behind at age 30. Emmitt played 3-4 seasons after he turned 30 right?

 

anyways im off topic now,,, back to the point. good list!

[shaqers 0]

i love the bold picks like Pierre and Larry Johnson. I do like LJ if everything goes well for him in the offseason, not so much with Pierre.

 

my top-10 (PPR)

 

mainstays from last year

ADP

MJD

Forte

Turner

DeAngelo

Westbrook

 

new faces in the top10

Gore

Ronnie Brown

Steven Jackson

Reggie Bush

 

10-20

Portis

Moreno

Slaton

CHris Johnson

Larry Johnson

Stewart

Beanie Wells

Marion Barber

Felix Jones

LT

[kmbryant09 1]

I like the LJ pick - I owned him last year, and it was so frustrating because (besides his legal troubles) he was productive, but SOOOOO under-utilized. Throw in the fact that they brought in Cassel to stretch the DEF, and I think he could have a top10 year IF he gets the touches...

 

What doesn everyone think of Donald Brown?? I'm a big Colts fan, but despite that I was preaching this guy be4 the draft (and I had never imagined the Colts would have interest in him)...He reminds me of the Matt Forte/Marshall Faulk/Edgerrin James/Emmitt Smith type RB - despite not doing anything UNBELIEVABLY WELL - he has great vision/patience, an explosive burst, and has a great combination of elusiveness and power. He has been regarded as a really high-IQ type player who can pick up blitzes and catch the ball, and should pick up the Colts offense quickly. Addai is always getting hurt/taking himself out of games, I think Brown could get 250+ touches which would result in 1200 total yards and possibly 10+ TDs in that offense.

 

Also - Kevin Smith: I really thought the Lions shouldve addressed the OLine with the #20 pick overall, but nonetheless they have upgraded (slightly). If Culpepper (with a year under his belt) or Stafford (if he's all he's made out to be) can be even decent as the QB throwing to Calvin, the Lions should be able to have some success on the ground. Kevin Smith seems like he will have very little competition getting touches, and he is very talented (this guy lead the nation in rushing his senior year in college). I think if this offense gets their sh!t together, he could have a Frank Gore/Steven Jackson type breakout year (1,500-2,000 total yards and 10-15 TDs).

 

Just my $.02

[Ray_T 753]

I like the LJ pick - I owned him last year, and it was so frustrating because (besides his legal troubles) he was productive, but SOOOOO under-utilized. Throw in the fact that they brought in Cassel to stretch the DEF, and I think he could have a top10 year IF he gets the touches...

 

What doesn everyone think of Donald Brown?? I'm a big Colts fan, but despite that I was preaching this guy be4 the draft (and I had never imagined the Colts would have interest in him)...He reminds me of the Matt Forte/Marshall Faulk/Edgerrin James/Emmitt Smith type RB - despite not doing anything UNBELIEVABLY WELL - he has great vision/patience, an explosive burst, and has a great combination of elusiveness and power. He has been regarded as a really high-IQ type player who can pick up blitzes and catch the ball, and should pick up the Colts offense quickly. Addai is always getting hurt/taking himself out of games, I think Brown could get 250+ touches which would result in 1200 total yards and possibly 10+ TDs in that offense.

 

Also - Kevin Smith: I really thought the Lions shouldve addressed the OLine with the #20 pick overall, but nonetheless they have upgraded (slightly). If Culpepper (with a year under his belt) or Stafford (if he's all he's made out to be) can be even decent as the QB throwing to Calvin, the Lions should be able to have some success on the ground. Kevin Smith seems like he will have very little competition getting touches, and he is very talented (this guy lead the nation in rushing his senior year in college). I think if this offense gets their sh!t together, he could have a Frank Gore/Steven Jackson type breakout year (1,500-2,000 total yards and 10-15 TDs).

 

Just my $.02

 

Cassel isnt going to stretch any Defense. He's not that kind of QB. his game is the short game. If he was the type to stretch a defense, Moss would have put up huge numbers last season and it just didnt happen..

 

The people who will benefit from the addition of Cassel will be the possession receivers.

 

Personally, I dont know that KC is the kind of place where Cassel will put up the best numbers. But he's there now, so I wish the guy luck.

[listen2me 23 1,873]

I like the Moreno pick. Not because I think he will finish that high and I wouldn't have the balls to take him as even my #2. But a rookie RB usually always finishes well. Last year Forte, CJ. Stewart, and Slaton all finished well. Moreno has the best shot unless Westy or Addai goes down with injury. The McCoy and Brown could really excel.

[Raider 84 29]

I think Slaton can be a top 5 rb. The one concern is if he will get enough touches at the goal line.

[kmbryant09 1]

Cassel isnt going to stretch any Defense. He's not that kind of QB. his game is the short game. If he was the type to stretch a defense, Moss would have put up huge numbers last season and it just didnt happen..

 

The people who will benefit from the addition of Cassel will be the possession receivers.

 

Personally, I dont know that KC is the kind of place where Cassel will put up the best numbers. But he's there now, so I wish the guy luck.

 

Not sure I agree - you don't hafta throw 5 passes of 50+ yards a game to stretch a defense...all you need is a QB with a good arm and a decent 10-20 yard passing game. This prevents defenses from loading 8 or 9 guys in the box. I know they lost Gonzo, but they have Bowe, who is an elite WR, and a couple other young WRs. Cassel should provide enough of a passing game to open up the running game. That's all I'm saying.