Fantasy Football Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Running Back Preseason Preview
Chris Johnson
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The hope in Tennessee is that the
passing game under Vince Young will improve and take the
pressure off of Chris Johnson and while that may mean less
yards, it could mean an up tick in TD's and receptions. |
1. Chris Johnson - Titans - 2010 Preview:
After an electrifying 2009 season that included over 2,500 yards
gained and 16 touchdowns, it is easy to pick Tennessee Titan Chris
Johnson as the number one running back (and therefore number one
overall player) in fantasy football.
Johnson is a rare back who
every time he touches the ball it looks as if he is going to score.
The good news is playing in Tennessee he touches the ball a lot.
Not only did he carry the ball a league-lead 350 times, but he also
caught 50 passes.
The good news in the offseason was that goal line back, LenDale
White, is gone and that should send more goal line carries coming
Johnson's way.
While Johnson would be hard-pressed to improve upon
his 2009 breakout season, you can be assured that he is the real
deal and is one of the few sure-thing studs in fantasy football.
2009 Statistics:
2,006 Yds - 14 TD's - 50 Rec - 503 Yds - 2 TD's
2010 Projection:
1,801 Yds - 15 TD's - 56 Rec - 531 Yds - 2 TD's
2. Adrian Peterson - Vikings - 2010 Preview:
There are no questions about Adrian Peterson's talent. He may be
the best pure-runner in the game today. There are questions about
his team, his ability to hold onto the football and his rash of
minor injuries. The latter two are likely not going to change much,
but the question of his team is big. Whether or not Brett Farve
returns (which we believe he will) will have a great effect on Peterson's
stats.
First he is likely to run more if Farve doesn't return, but
he would likely score less, but worse for fantasy managers, he would
likely get less receptions. This was the one area where Peterson
surprised in 2009. He managed more receptions and yards (43 catches
for 436 yards) than he did in his previous two seasons combined.
The other team question is its offensive line play. Going into 2009,
the Vikings were supposed to have one of the best O-lines in the
NFL. It was good, but it was also overrated, especially for run-blocking.
Left tackle Bryant McKinnie was a bust in 2009 and needs to take
a step back up in 2010. Steve Hutchinson, on the other hand, dominated
as expected. 2009 #2 pick Phil Loadholt played well and his growth
and McKinnie's play will determine how good this line really is.
Finally, the great backup/time-stealer, Chester Taylor, has moved
on to Chicago. The Vikings drafted running back Toby Gerhart with
their second pick to take Taylor's spot, nevertheless, this is small
advantage for Peterson in 2010.
2009 Statistics:
1,383 Yds - 18 TD's - 43 Rec - 436 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection:
1,442 Yds - 16 TD's - 38 Rec - 378 Yds - 1 TD
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3. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jaguars - 2010 Preview:
As many expected Jones-Drew had a breakout season in 2009 finishing
with over 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Jones-Drew is similar to
Chris Johnson in that he can score every time he touches the ball
and that is the type of back you want as a fantasy owner. The question
for Jones-Drew will be his supporting cast.
His offensive line is
below average, though it is full of potential. If 2009 #1 pick (8th
overall) Eugene Monroe and 2009 #2 pick Eben Britton take the step
up that is expected, the Jaguars offensive line can rise from the
lower-end of NFL O-lines to a above average O-line. Naturally Jones-Drew
would benefit as would the whole of the Jaguar offense.
If wide receiver's Mike Sims-Walker and 2009 rookie standout Mike
Thomas can stretch the defenses a bit, it will open more holes for
Jones-Drew. If not, in 2010 the opponents of the Jaguars will key
on Jones-Drew and make it very difficult on him. Thus, as the Jaguars
offense goes so will Jones-Drew to an extent.
2009 Statistics:
1,391 Yds - 15 TD's - 53 Rec - 374 Yds - 1 TD's
2010 Projection:
1,302 Yds - 14 TD's - 57 Rec - 485 Yds - 2 TD's
4. Steven Jackson - Rams - 2010 Preview:
Doubt playing for the worst team in the the NFL and running behind
a makeshift offensive line, Steven Jackson still managed over 1,700
total yards in 2009. This ranks among the best in fantasy football.
The drawback is Jackson only scored 4 touchdowns as a part of the
lowly Ram offense.
There is hope on the horizon for Jackson and the Rams, namely number
one overall pick, quarterback Sam Bradford. While nothing huge will
be expected in his first season, rookie quarterbacks in today's
NFL have been playing pretty well as of late and anything is better
than the quarterback play for the Rams of 2009.
Where the Rams need to improve the most to see Jackson succeed will
be the play of the offensive line. The Rams are banking on last
season's second-overall-pick tackle Rodger Saffold and the first-pick
of the 2010 second-round, tackle Jason Smith, to spearhead a new
offensive line for the young Rams.
With a young QB like Bradford
the Rams will lean on Jackson as much as possible, in both the running
game and the passing game and that should result in a big year for
Steven Jackson, though touchdowns may still be hard to come by.
2009 Statistics:
1,416 Yds - 4 TD's - 51 Rec - 322 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection:
1,563 Yds - 8 TD's - 59 Rec - 507 Yds - 1 TD
