Updating the lists (RBs) - 2007

Here are the new RB rankings...

There are some significant moves made.

1. Ladanian Tomlinson - SD	2. Steven Jackson - StL
3. Rudi Johnson -CIN	4. Shaun Alexander - SEA
5. Larry Johnson - KC	6. Frank Gore - SF
7. Brian Westbrook - PHI	8. Laurence Maroney - NE
9. Ronnie Brown - MIA	10. Joseph Addai - IND
11. Reggie Bush - NO	12. Thomas Jones - NYJ
13. Willie Parker - PIT	14. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jax
15. Clinton Portis - WAS	16. Travis Henry - DEN
17. Edgerrin James - ARI	18. Willis McGahee - BAL
19. Cedric Benson - CHI	20. Marion Barber - DAL
21. Duece McAlister - NO	22. Brandon Jacobs - NYG
23. Carnell Williams - TB	24. LaMont Jordan - OAK
25. Marshawn Lynch - BUF	26. DeAngelo Williams - CAR
27. Adrian Peterson -MIN	28. Jamal Lewis - CLE
29. Ahman Green - HOU	30. Jerious Norwood - ATL
31. Chester Taylor - MIN	32. Chris Henry - TEN
33. Fred Taylor - JAX	34. DeShaun Foster - CAR
35. Tatum Bell - DET	36. Julius Jones - DAL
37. Verand Morency - GB	38. Brandon Jackson - GB
39. Ladell Betts - WAS	40. Warrick Dunn - ATL
41. Michael Turner - SD	42. Mike Bell - DEN
43. Kevin Jones - DET	44. LenDale White - TEN
45. Leon Washington – NYJ	46. Reuben Droughns - NYG
47. TJ Duckett - DET	48. Ron Dayne - HOU
49. Dominic Rhodes - OAK	50. Anthony Thomas - BUF

Currently Shaun Alexander is at 4. Even though he should probably fall. Frank Gore would be a better 4, probably. Alexander could be a 6.

Maurice Jones-Drew stumbled a bit, due to Fred Taylor's health, and the bevy of RBs in Jacksonville.

The Atlanta backs both fell a bit... Warrick Dunn has fallen dramatically, and Norwood has either stayed the same or fallen a bit. Dunn is hurt, and Atlanta has a silly QB. You can take a chance on Norwood, but I'd just rather avoid the Falcons altogether.

Chris Henry of the Titans, is falling. The signing of Chris Brown hurts his value and he isn't doing anything with his opportunities in the preseason. I'd rather avoid this backfield as well.

There are few other notables, such as Kevin Jones, and Thomas Jones... Kevin is a flier, and Thomas might be making strides into the top ten. Leon Washington would be a mandatory handcuff to Jones, Washington looked nice against a stout Vikings rushing defense.

Top 50 RBs of 2007

Here we go... Time to list the top 50 RBs heading into this year. Like my QB list, this one should have a few surprises.

So without further ado...

1. Ladanian Tomlinson - SD 2. Steven Jackson - StL
3. Rudi Johnson -CIN 4. Shaun Alexander - SEA
5. Larry Johnson - KC 6. Frank Gore - SF
7. Brian Westbrook - PHI 8. Laurence Maroney - NE
9. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jax 10. Joseph Addai - IND
11. Reggie Bush - NO 12. Ronnie Brown - MIA
13. Willie Parker - PIT 14. Clinton Portis - WAS
15. Thomas Jones - NYJ 16. Marion Barber - DAL
17. Edgerrin James - ARI 18. Cedric Benson - CHI
19. Travis Henry - DEN 20. Willis McGahee - BAL
21. Duece McAlister - NO 22. Brandon Jacobs - NYG
23. Carnell Williams - TB 24. Adrian Peterson -MIN
25. Marshawn Lynch - BUF 26. DeAngelo Williams - CAR
27. Chris Henry - TEN 28. LaMont Jordan - OAK
29. Ahman Green - HOU 30. Jamal Lewis - CLE
31. Chester Taylor - MIN 32. Warrick Dunn - ATL
33. Tatum Bell - DET 34. DeShaun Foster - CAR
35. Jerious Norwood - ATL 36. Julius Jones - DAL
37. Verand Morency - GB 38. Ladell Betts - WAS
39. Fred Taylor - JAX 40. Brandon Jackson - GB
41. Michael Turner - SD 42. Mike Bell - DEN
43. Anthony Thomas - BUF 44. LenDale White - TEN
45. Leon Washington - NYJ 46. Reuben Droughns - NYG
47. TJ Duckett - DET 48. Ron Dayne - HOU
49. Dominic Rhodes - OAK 50. Kevin Jones - DET

LT is the predominate rusher in Fantasy Football. He might not score as many TDs this year, as last, because Phillip Rivers has come into his own. However, he still is the undisputed #1 overall in Fantasy land.

LJ, Last years #2 heading into the preseason, is bumped down to #5. He's still a great player, and heading into a contract year. However, his coach has stated that he is not going to be used as much, his line got worse, his QB got worse, and Michael Bennett could steal some of his 400 carries from last year.

Steven Jackson is this years #2 RB. He does it all in St. Louis. He catches out of the backfield, and rushes more than anyone wants to give him credit for. Since Marshall Faulk went down, Jackson has become the focal point of the offense. Being surrounded by Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Ike Bruce, and whoever else wants to catch passes, tends to leave Jackson with more running room than most rushers in the NFL.

Brian Westbrook is much like Jackson, in that he does it all, and has a great team surrounding him. He isn't ranked higher because he has a history of injury. However, last year he proved he could handle 90% of the season, which moved him up from the late teens to #8. I have a lot of faith in Westbrook, and wouldn't mind him as a #1 RB, depending where you draft.

The rest of the backs have their reasons for being where they are, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at eikey1729@sbcglobal.net.

Rhodes is 49 because he got himself suspended for 4 games for a DUI in Oaktown shortly after moving out there.
Kevin Jones is currently 50th, because noone knows if he will play this season. If he does play, you would move him closer to Tatum Bell (while moving Bell down). The Detroit backfield could be a complete mess this year, and I'd probably just stay away from it, like I do with Denver's Backfield.