Fantasy Football Halfbacks
Written by Marc Jenkins
Top 5 NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs for 2009
NFL training camps are open which only means that soon it’ll be time for the useless yet promising preseason to begin. Once that happens many fans across the world begin to truly feel excited about the real season starting and drafting their fantasy teams to attempt to win bragging rights amongst friends or maybe even prizes. Running back is the single most important position when it comes to fantasy football, what they do could mean the difference in a winning week or a losing one and ultimately the same with the entire season. A top fantasy running back gains yards in bunches, scores plenty of touchdowns and doesn’t lose many fumbles. Here are the top five NFL fantasy football running backs for 2009.
1. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson is both the best running back in the National Football League and the top overall running back for fantasy football this season. In 2008 Peterson amazed fans and shamed defenses to a tune of 1, 760 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 363 rushing attempts. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 110 yards per game and also hauled in 21 receptions for 125 yards. Peterson’s total of 1, 885 yards from scrimmage lead the NFL last season and in fantasy football that gets you a lot of points, especially when you combine it with double-digit trips to the end zone. In 2009 Peterson will have similar numbers if not better and if you are thinking about drafting him you’d better have the first or if you’re really lucky the second pick in your draft.
2. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons
After spending four years in San Diego as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup, Michael Turner received his opportunity to prove that he was also one of the top running backs in the league. In 2008 Turner actually had a better year than L.T. and most other running backs in the league; 1, 699 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 376 rushing attempts. He also averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 106.2 yards per game along with receiving six passes for a total of 41 yards. Any fantasy football owner would love to have a back giving them 1, 700 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns and you should expect that and more with the Falcons addition of Tony Gonzalez. He will go early so if you have a top pick take him and watch him rack up points for your team every week.
3. DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers
DeAngelo Williams had an extraordinary breakout a season in 2008 which is why he is now one of the top fantasy football running backs this year. In his previous two NFL seasons before ’08 (2006 and 2007) Williams only recorded a combined 1218 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 265 attempts, but last year he better that rushing for 1, 515 yards and a league leading 18 touchdowns on 273 attempts. Williams also caught 22 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per rush and 94.7 rushing yards per game. With a total of 1, 636 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns, how could any fantasy owner pass on DeAngelo Williams if given the opportunity to select him? 2009 will be another big year for Williams as now he will have a year of success under his belt and be ready for anything this year.
4. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans
Chris Johnson is another running back who had a huge year in 2008 which propelled him into the conversation of him being amongst the best in the league. His blazing speed (4.3 40-yard dash time at the ’08 rookie scouting combine), shifty moves and surprising power make him a rising star in this league. Johnson rushed for 1, 228 yards and nine touchdowns on just 251 attempts while catching 43 passes for 260 yards and a score. That’s a total of 1, 488 yards from scrimmage with 10 touchdowns in 15 games in the guy’s rookie season. Johnson will get the majority of the carries next season as well as more passes thrown in his direction so much that the possibility of a 2, 000 yard from scrimmage season isn’t that farfetched to believe.
5. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants
Brandon Jacobs is by far the largest running back at 6’4” 264 lbs in the National Football League; however that doesn’t make him one of the best backs in the league. The fact the he is that large and moves as fast as he does makes him one of the best. In 2008 Jacobs rushed for 1, 089 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 219 attempts in only 13 games. He also averaged 5.0 yards per carry and 83.8 yards per game and caught six passes for 36 yards. Over 1, 100 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in only 13 games should mean about 1, 500 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in 16 games. Expect Jacobs to have a huge year especially with now that Derrick Ward is in Tampa Bay.
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