A stud running back can make or break your fantasy team.  Your first round pick being a bust will also have adverse affects on your team as well.  In the first round year in and year out, Running Backs make up for more than 80% of the first round picks taken.  Let PFI guide you through your Running Back ranking challenges.

No one could wrap up Chris Johnson in 2009!

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2010 Fantasy Football Top 10 Running Backs

#10.Cedric Benson / Cincinnati Bengals- After burning countless fantasy football owners over his first three years in the NFL, it is hard for me to list Cedric in my top 10 RB list.  With that said, his numbers last year do not lie, and the fact that not only did the Bengals not retain Larry Johnson, they did not add anyone who appears to have the ability to take carries from him either.

1,251 yards and 6 TD’s over 13 games last year is what Benson brings to the table.  Healthy for a full 16 games, add 300 more yards and 2 TD’s to that total.  Health has always been an issue for Benson, but if last year was any clue as to what Benson has in the tank for 2010, he belongs at the #10 spot!

#9.  Rashard Mendenhall / Pittsburgh Steelers- With Willie Parker out, Rashard is clearly the go to back in Pittsburgh.  The only setback I can see with Rashard, which ultimately dropped is ranking in my eyes, is to see how effective, or ineffective the Steelers offense will be minus Ben Roethlisberger for up to the first 6 games.

After a slow start to the 2009 season, Mendenhall closed with 1,108 yards rushing and 7 TD’s.  In only his 3rd NFL season, Mendenhall has fresh legs and should be poised to pound opposing NFL defenses 20 to 25 times a game, equaling above average fantasy point production.

#8.  Michael Turner / Atlanta Falcons- After an explosive 2008 campaign where he rushed for 1,699 yards in his Falcons debut season, Turner burned countless fantasy owners last season with a dismal 871 yards over 11 games.  I expect Turner’s production to be much higher than last year if he can obviously remain healthy.  Turner is now 28 years old, and unlike 2008, the Falcons offense seems to flow more through Matt Ryan, not Michael Turner.  The addition of Tony Gonzalez last year also took short yardage and goal line carries from Turner, as Gonzalez is a short yardage, red zone beast.  Turner still remains #8 based on the chance that he can demonstrate the raw explosiveness and break away run potential he showed countless times in 2008.

#7.  Steven Jackson / St. Louis Rams- Steven Jackson is sorely underrated and has been the victim of a severe lack of a passing game over the past few years.  At only 26 years of age, Jackson has carried the entire offensive load since Marc Bulger forgot how to play the quarterback position three years ago.

Defenses knew last year the St. Louis could not pass, and all they had to do was stop Jackson on the ground.  Somehow, with defenses stacked against him, Jackson gained 1,416 yards rushing with 4 TD’s.  Evident by his 2006 season, Steven is a receiving threat out of the backfield as he racked up 806 receiving yards.  Jackson has rushed for over 1,000 yards in his last 5 seasons and will be rookie QB Sam Bradford’s best friend under center.  If Bradford starts at QB, Jackson will be used on screens to help build Bradford’s confidence, and at only 26, it is hard to believe that Jackson won’t rush for his 6th consecutive 1,000 yard season.  Don’t look for a playoff run out of the Rams, but Jackson could help your team into and through the playoffs.

#6.  Maurice Jones-Drew / Jacksonville Jaguars- Minus Fred Taylor last year, Jones-Drew proved that he can be an every down back last year posting 1,391 yards rushing with 15 TD’s.  Maurice is also a receiving threat out of the backfield and is clearly the most vital part of the Jaguars offense.

As of today, the Jags have not made any key additions on the offensive side of the ball which would lead anyone to believe that Jones-Drew would not be capable of a similar showing of his 2009 NFL season.  His 09 stats were captured without any real threat of a passing game.  If the Jaguars can once again establish that they can hurt you through the air, this will only help Maurice by spreading defenses out versus facing a stacked box.

#5.  LeSean McCoy / Philadelphia Eagles- Out with the old Brian Westbrook, in with the new.  After seeing McCoy last year, he is clearly in the same league and chemical make-up as Westbrook was.  McCoy is a fast, shifty, hard runner who is equally as dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield.  McCoy only started 4 games last year and posted neary 1,000 yards gained from scrimmage.

LeSean also will benefit from the rest of the Eagles offensive firepower.  The Eagles offense on paper is a Top 5 fantasy football offense with all of the skill player position talent.  Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson have the ability to take it to the house every time they touch the ball.  Those two alone will stretch defenses, then factor in Brent Celek who will see a big jump in productivity this year with Kevin Kolb at QB, who played out of his mind in Donovan McNabb’s absence last year…  Oh yeah, don’t they still have that Michael Vick guy?  McCoy has an offensive blueprint for a Pro-Bowl season.

#4.  Frank Gore / San Fransisco 49ers- Gore is yet another victim running back suffering from a lack of passing game to support him.  Gore has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing the last four seasons, and in 14 games last year, Gore rushed for 1,120 yards, posted 10 TD’s, and showed that he too can get receiving yards as well as he racked up 406 receiving yards with 3 TD’s through the air.  Gore is a franchise back and when healthy is a fantasy beast!

#3.  Ray Rice / Baltimore Ravens- In 2009, Rice was NICE!  In a run, run, run, run, run, pass and run a hundred more times offense, Rice went for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and clearly emerged as the Ravens featured running back.

The Ravens added Anquan Boldin and Donte’ Stallworth which gives Baltimore a very respectable receiving corp, forcing defenses to have to play them more honestly, leaving them more vulnerable to Rice’s big play abilities.

#2.  Adrian Peterson / Minnesota Vikings- Peterson struggles with ball security.  There you have it, the only con to drafting Peterson.  Now for the pro’s.  Adrian has rushed for a minimum of 1,300 yards in all three of his NFL seasons.  Peterson can run by or through you.  Peterson is a goal line back and can take it 80 yards, and is a nightmare on screens.  Final stat, 41…  That is his touchdown total for his first 3 years!

I can make an argument for Adrian regardless of who is playing Quarterback for the Vikings.  If Brett Farve returns, defenses cannot stack the box on him.  If Farve does not return, AP will have to carry the offense, which his rookie season shows you all you need to see about those circumstances.  Just ask the San Diego Chargers how 296 yards on 30 carries tasted as he broke the single game NFL rushing record in his rookie season.  The QB for the Vikings, Brooks Bollinger posted a measly 95 yards passing.  I can easily make an argument for taking Peterson number 1, and would rather have the 2 pick versus 1, see Chris Johnson on this theory.

#1.  Chris Johnson / Tennessee Titans- I want to go on record and say that I would not want the number 1 pick in a fantasy draft this year.  Look through history and you will see that no player has ever come back from a fantasy year like Johnson had last year and repeats, or even statistically comes close.  Last year’s figures are nearly impossible to repeat, let alone beat.

With that said, Johnson destroyed NFL defenses all by himself.  This year he will not have LenDale White crying to the coaching staff and media over not getting any carries.  This will clearly be the Chris Johnson show.  Just off of the strength of throwing screen passes to Johnson, Vince Young is worth having as a #2 QB on your roster.

Johnson last year had over 2,500 yards from scrimmage and totaled 17 TD’s.  In leagues where you get a distance bonus on touchdown runs, Johnson is your guy as last year it seemed as if every other TD he had went for over 50 yards.

My final reason to doubt taking Johnson… He is set to make about 2.4 million this year and is more than upset with his current contract.  With the threat of a lock out in 2011, Johnson is looking to secure a deal now, versus the threat of never getting the payday he deserves.  Again, you can have the number 1 pick, I’m not interested.  If I did have it, and Johnson suits up, how could you possibly pass on him?

Running Back insight from ProFootballinsight

Not mentioned in my top 10 are the dynamic duo of DeAngelo Williams and Johathan Stewart.  If either one were not a Panther, they are both worthy of top 10 rankings.  As a duo, the Panthers feed whoever has the hot hand, which is usually Williams.  With that said, if he is your workhorse and Stewart is on fire, you’re screwed.  Both are great back-up running backs and are instant starters in the event of either going down with any type of injury.

Clinton Portis…  This is his first year out of my top 10.  He will clearly benefit from the arrival of bitter Donovan McNabb, but will most definitely lose carries to the other two very talented running backs on the roster (Larry Johnson and Willie Parker).  Portis is still worth carrying on your roster, but loses fantasy value with Johnson and Parker lurking in the background.

In Cleveland, Jerome Harrison is the fantasy Superman hiding in his Clark Kent suit.  Harrison had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last year with only 7 games started.  Harrison is currently working on a new contract himself, and with the drafting of Montario Hardesty, Harrison is the current front runner in a crowded backfield.  With that said, Harrison displayed flashes of brilliance last year, and could be the steal of the 2010 draft.

Below are other related 2010 NFL Fantasy Football articles;

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Questions and Support

2010 Fantasy Football Draft Day Sleepers and Steals

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Kicker Advise

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

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