Breaking Down The Saints and Niners In The Playoffs

Last week the Saints made easy work of the Detroit Lions. In fact the game was far more lopsided than I imagined. I was sure the Lions front four would be tough for the Saints to handle. They had their

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The Five Best Running Backs In The NFL As Of October 24, 2011

The past few weeks I have gotten out the pen and the pad and decided that it was time to evaluate on my own that were the best running backs in the game. I am looking for a few things when I evaluate running backs:

1. Do they have the ability to turn water into wine…? Can they make a negative play into a positive?
2. Do they possess the ability to be an every down back…? This means they can run, catch, block, and are a threat in all three categories.
3. Are they homerun hitters… which mean they can take a two yard run and turn it into an 80 yard run.
4. What type of footwork do they have in and out of the cut… Can they go from 100 to 0, and then back to 100 without slipping and sliding all over the field?
5. Do defenders hesitate before they come up to take on the back…? This means they are a force and not every one wants a piece of them at their best.

As I evaluated the backs in the league I had to watch a lot of football. I recorded three games from each of the past four weeks and I spent some time watching guys go at their best. I have to say that the list didn’t shape out like I thought it would. I watched guys who are usually the one’s crowned when it comes to great backs because they have been doing it for so long. What I found is that there are a few guys who really don’t get the attention they deserve when it comes to their football ability.

Lets start with the 5^th back on the list.

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The Running Back Conundrum: Who Do You Take And Why

When we discuss the running back position, two names come to mind. Immediately everyone jumps on the Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson bandwagon. It makes perfect sense because both of these guys are the quintessential runners in the game. One is pure speed and the other is a combination of speed and power. So if you had to choose any runner in the game, who do you choose as your franchise running back in 2011?

I am going to argue that I wouldn’t take either of these two. If I had to choose who my runner would be for next season, I take Arian Foster. He is the perfect runner in a league today. He can run, catch, and block. He’s big enough for the goal line and fast enough to play on third down.

If it turns out that someone has already taken Foster, then I am in a conundrum. Johnson and Peterson look very inviting at this point. I have to weigh my options though because both of these guys need volume carries to be effective. Yeah both guys average a lot of yards per carry but it’s because they bore you with the 3 yard runs until finally that homerun 70 yard touchdown occurs on carry 18 or 20.

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2010 NFL Football: Week 3 Who Would Have Ever Thought

The NFL is and always will be a league of parity. In the NFL you can be 12 – 4 one year and then go 4 – 12 the next. Predicting who will win games is potluck at best. There is no way to know which team will show up when the first whistle blows. I have been watching games and I mean a lot of games so far in these first three weeks. The games seem to be closer than the score even shows most times.

The teams who are on the bottom are close to breaking through but they are a few players away for the most part. Several superstars are doing what they always do but some teams have far exceeded expectations that were set at the beginning of the year. For the first three weeks I have to say I have been impressed with a few teams and individuals in the league.

However, Who Would Have Thought???

The Kansas City Chiefs would be undefeated in the first 3 weeks of the season. Yeah you read that right the Chiefs are undefeated. The Kansas City Chiefs feature a two headed monster at running back. Thomas Jones is doing what he always does and Jamaal Charles has added another dimension to the equation. They are the modern day “Thunder and Lightning” backfield. The Chiefs do it with a running game and a defense stacked with first round draft picks. They also quietly assembled the best coaching staff in football. That staff was 90% of the reason the Patriots were so dominant in the earlier part of the decade.

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2010 BCSOM Fantasy Football Draft Guide - Running Backs

Now that you have gotten your quarterback situation under control today we are going to discuss the beasts of the fantasy draft. That’s right we are talking running backs. While you are looking for a running back there are three things to keep in mind. First of all do they score touchdowns? The reason is touchdowns are worth 6 points in most leagues. That is the most points you can get on any one play in fantasy on offense. Secondly do they gain a lot of yards per game? In fantasy football you get 1 point per 10 yards rushed for so you want to make sure that your runner gets close to a hundred yards per game.

The goal is to get a minimum of 10 points per game from your running back. Finally is your guy versatile. Versatility is key here because it gives you options. If your running back will be involved in the passing game, or even the return game, it is a plus. Touchdowns are touchdowns and any way your guy can score them you should take it.

Below I have compiled a list of the top 20 running backs to grab in the fantasy draft.

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