Top 40 NFL Running Backs Going into 2008

already given you the top 31 QB's, this list will cover the top 40 RB's, and soon we will rank the WR and TE. Here are the running backs:

1. LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
   1,474 yards, 15 TDs, 60 rec, 475 rec yards, 3 rec TDs
   

   LT is still the best in the game, even though his numbers were no where near his MVP season. He does it all, he gets the tough yards, he can break one all the way, and he is great catching passes out of the backfield. His offensive line is better than average, and the San Diego offense basically revolves around him. He's been saying that he probably has three years left before he starts thinking about retiring, so there's no reason to think that he won't be the best back in the NFL again in 2008.




2. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
   1,072 yards, 12 TDs, 41 rec, 364 rec yards, 3 rec TDs
   

   I'm using the term "man-crush" for my feelings about Addai. His stats don't jump up and slap you in the face to get your attention, but he is definitely one of the best. He is basically the only running back option that they have in Indy, so it isn't like he will lose 10 carries a game to his backup. He had a good statistical season even though the Colts basically rested him the last four weeks of the season to get him ready for the playoffs. He gets the goal line carries, he gets the short yardage carries, is better than average catching the ball out of the backfield, and I can easily see him rushing for 15 TDs this season.




3. Stephen Jackson, St. Louis Rams
   1,002 yards, 5 TDs, 38 rec, 271 rec yards, 1 rec TD (12 games)
   

   Before the start of the 2007 season Jackson was viewed as a guy who would rival Tomlinson for the top spot in fantasy. Well, between injuries to himself, his QB, and most of his offensive line, the season was a nightmare that rivaled Britney Spears' custody battle. Jackson still managed to run for 1,000 yards (just barely!), and remains the only show in town in the Rams' backfield. He is great as a pass receiver, as he caught 90 passes in 2006. Jackson is big, motivated, and will reestablish himself as one of the top options in fantasy football.




4. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
   1,341 yards, 12 TDs, 19 rec, 268 rec yards, 1 rec TD
   

   Ok, the guy had an amazing rookie season and was easily the best first year player in 2007. However, I think we might have been a little quick to anoint him as someone who could supplant LT as the best in football in just his second year. Peterson is explosive and can take any carry all the way, there's no doubt about that. But here's a few factors that have me ranking him behind Addai and Jackson. First, Chester Taylor is a very good backup and will get at least five to seven carries every game. Two, he has had some injury problems in the past. He broke his collarbone among other things when he was in college and missed two games due to a knee injury last year. It isn't a HUGE concern, but running backs are fragile due to the beating they take, and as the injuries mount up, it takes its toll. Three, his touchdown numbers were good, but ten of the twelve touchdowns he scored were in four games. That leaves 13 weeks of the fantasy season where he didn't score for you, and let's face it touchdowns are where you win and lose your matchups. Additionally, five different weeks he had 60 yards or less. The last thing that keeps him from the top for me is he doesn't catch the ball at all. 19 catches over a full season is terrible for a RB, and he doesn't get that added dynamic that the top few options get. All that being said, if you can grab "All Day" in the fourth spot, you should be quick to pick Peterson. This is not a knock on his talent, just the reasons he wasn't ranked higher.




5. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
   1,262 yards, 11 TDs, 47 rec, 389 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
   

   When the Redskins really needed him to step up as they made their playoff push, Portis responded in a big way. He rushed for 306 yards and 4 TDs in the last three weeks (read: fantasy playoff time), and had another successful campaign. When healthy, this guy is one of the more explosive backs in the league, and has never rushed for under 1,200 yards when he played the whole season, and he has had double digit touchdowns every year but one. Ladell Betts proved he could carry the load during 2006 when Portis missed half the year, but Betts was almost completely ignored last season while Clinton was healthy, proving who is the star of the show in DC. I am expecting even better stats in 2008, with 1,400+ yards and 14 TDs.




6. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
   975 yards, 10 TDs, 44 rec, 282 rec yards, 2 rec TDs
   

   This guy runs like he is pissed off at the world, and when he hits someone in the open field, he usually falls forward or just keeps right on going. Barber has been the Cowboy worth owning in the Texas Twosome of he and Julius Jones, as Barber had been getting all the red zone carries and the majority of the scores. Well, Jones left town for the Great Northwest, so now Barber is sharing the backfield with a rookie and figures to get 20+ carries every game. Barber is a very physical runner, which could lend itself to injury, but so far in his career he has been quite durable. He has shown some talent with receptions out of the backfield and is dangerous once he gets a head of steam rolling. This is the first time he will be "the man" in Dallas, and I completely expect him to thrive under that situation. I'm looking for him to run for 1,300+ yards and 13 scores.




7. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
   1,333 yards, 7 TDs, 90 rec, 771 yards, 5 rec TDs
   

   This is a guy that I have never been high on, but after last season you can't ignore the stats. Westbrook's small frame has made his susceptible to injury over the past few years, but he never seems to miss entire games too often. He is one of the best with the ball in the open field, and the Eagles offense gives him a lot of opportunity to showcase this with swing passes and screen plays. Especially with the recent injuries to Donovan McNabb, the entire offense in Philly has revolved around Westbrook. He isn't a huge touchdown scorer, which hurts his value, but he makes up for it with the pass receptions (if your league gives points for that). Assuming McNabb comes back healthy, I expect his numbers to take a step back to right around 1,000 yards rushing, 5 TDs, and about 60 catches. Good numbers, but not his 2007 season.




8. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
   559 yards, 3 TDs, 30 rec, 186 rec yards, 1 rec TDs (8 games)
   

   The second overall fantasy pick the past couple seasons, Larry Johnson came crashing back to earth after struggling the first few weeks, and then his season came to an end after a cracked bone in his foot. Johnson recovered from a rough beginning to rush for over 100 yards in three of his last five games, and scored in his last three. However, the offense surrounding him in Kansas City is going to make it tough for him to get back to those 1,700 yard, 18 TD seasons. His quarterback is horrible, meaning he will be facing eight men in the box on many occasions. Even worse, his offensive line is far from what it used to be, meaning those big gaping holes that Johnson used to run through are now going to look more like pinholes instead of craters. He still has plenty of talent, and not much in the way of a backup, but will need lots of help from those around him to achieve greatness, and I just don't have faith in his supporting cast.




9. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
   1,102 yards, 5 TDs, 53 rec, 436 rec yards, 1 rec TD
   

   With new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in the fold, there is excitement surrounding the 49ers offense for the first time since Steve Young retired. Gore has tremendous ability, but the supporting cast around him is questionable at best. His offensive line has some experience, but they have struggled as a unit. And speaking of struggling, Alex Smith looks like a bust in the mold of Heath Shuler. So, with not a lot of holes to run through and the defense focusing on stopping him, it is a wonder that Gore rushes for any yards. The Niners brought in DeShawn Foster in the offseason, who won't push for Gore's job, but will probably get his fair share of carries. Gore has never scored double digit TDs, but is pretty useful out of the backfield. Don't expect him to morph into Marshall Faulk under Martz, but Gore still should top 1,100 yards and 5-7 TDs.




10. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills
    1,115 yards, 7 TDs, 18 rec, 184 yards, 0 rec TDs (13 games)
    

    >Assuming that nasty hit and run incident that Lynch was involved him doesn't earn him any sort of suspension, Marshawn has the tools to really burst on the scene. He was the model of consistency as rookie runners go, as he ran for at least 60 yards in every game he played. He is also in a run-first offense in Buffalo, partly because that's the way the team has always been, and partly because the passing game stinks. His offensive line is a bunch of big boys, so he should have holes that are plenty big enough to run through. I expect Trent Edwards to make some sort of progress, so that should help Lynch out some. He did lose three weeks to an ankle injury, and he isn't very useful catching passes, but expect Lynch to top 1,300 yards and close in on ten scores.
    




11. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
    956 yards, 8 TDs, 30 rec, 147 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
    

    Not even on the fantasy radar at the start of the season, Grant took the starting job over after injuries and ineffectiveness caused him to be the best option, or at least the next option. But he quickly made it look like it was his job all along, as he almost ran for 1,000 yards in just ten weeks. He also was great at finding the endzone, and should go into 2008 as the unquestioned starter. Grant was also pretty effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield, and regardless of who the QB is in Green Bay I expect him to continue to run the ball effectively. He should continue to be a good fantasy back, but without a full season of running the ball there has to be at least a small bit of concern. Draft him with confidence at this ranking.
    




12. Lawrence Maroney, New England Patriots
    835 yards, 6 TDs, 4 rec, 116 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
    

    How did the Patriots throw so many passes and Maroney only caught four the entire season? That is shocking to me. Maroney definitely played second fiddle to the record breaking Pats passing attack in 2007, but showed flashes of brilliance down the stretch. Maroney has had trouble staying healthy in his two seasons, but at least they were minor, nagging injuries that only cost him a couple of weeks each season. He shares the backfield with Kevin Faulk, and doesn't carry the ball 20 times a game. He is a decent option as your second back, but if Maroney is leading your backfield I suspect you will be looking upwards at the leaders in your league all season long.
    




13. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
    602 yards, 4 TDs, 39 rec, 389 rec yards, 1 rec TD (7 games)
    

    Brown was enjoying a resurgence in 2007 as he was having a great season before tearing his ACL at the end of October. Unfortunately for Brown, the Dolphins have committed to 2008 being a complete rebuilding process, and the QB and WR position are incredibly young and inexperienced. His offensive line is a work in progress, and he will struggle to find open running lanes throughout the year. He is sure to lose some carries to Ricky Williams, but I don't see him losing the majority of carries to Williams.
    




14. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
    1,304 yards, 9 TDs, 30 rec, 248 rec yards, 2 rec TDs
    

    Picked up by the Cleveland Browns after being released by the Raves, Jamal Lewis had something to prove and did just that as he had his best season since he rushed for 2,000 yards in 2003. He was thought to be written off the fantasy map, but a guy with a chip on his shoulder can surprise you sometimes. Especially a guy who is 245 pounds and running at you with a head of steam. The whole Browns experience was a surprise last season, and I wouldn't be shocked to see these numbers come back to around 1,100 yards and 6 scores as Lewis is inching toward that tragic number for running backs, 30 years old (turns 29 in August)
    




15. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
    1,009 yards, 4 TDs, 23 rec, 174 rec yards, 2 rec TDs (11 games)
    

    Jacobs would rather go around you than through you, but when it comes to the goal line, he usually knows what to do. It seems sometimes he would rather be a finesse runner than the big bruiser that he was built to be, but he is pretty nimble for a guy his size. The Giants found a number of different options while Jacobs was hurt, so Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward should get carries as well. But like I said earlier, when it comes to punching the ball in, Jacobs is like a wolf to a piece of meat, hehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif sniffs it out and attacks. Expect the yards to stay similar, but the TDs to near double digits.
    

To get running backs 16-40 head on over to the complete article at Fighting Chance Fantasy.