Running Backs

Start 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Thomas Jones vs. NE
Thomas Jones leads the Jones brothers charge this week. I was wary of TJ headed in to this season considering his age, a rookie signal caller and the more explosive Leon Washington ready to take on a bigger role in the Jet offense. Week 1 served to quell those worries as Thomas Jones is still the undisputed starter in NY - and an effective one at that. Last year Jones averaged 87 yards and scored 1 TD in 2 games against the Pats. While ‘Kings of Leon’ will still be a factor, Jones will be a huge part of the Jets game plan this week and he should deliver.

Julius Jones @ SF
We now head out to the West Coast to recognize Thomas’ little brother, Julius. JJ got off to a great start this season, rushing 19 times for 117 yards (including an explosive 62-yard score) last week against the Rams. In Week 2 of 2008, Jones scampered for 127 yards and a TD against this week’s divisional opponent, the 49ers. While the Niners defense is improved, JJ should still find a way to be effective, especially with Matt Hasselbeck keeping them honest.

Jamal Lewis @ DEN
Last week, Jamal came thru with an impressive 5.2 yards per carry average against the stingy Vikings defense. Is this the same guy that was rumored to be a roster cut and supposed to lose his gig to James Davis? Well, Davis garnered a 1.25 yards per carry average and Jamal could have had a shot at 100 yards on the ground if Cleveland wasn’t forced to play catch up. Lewis and the Browns will have an easier time this week. Expect him to finish with about 80 yards and a TD.

Tim Hightower @ JAX
Hightower emerged as the Cardinals' top receiving threat last Sunday, grabbing 12 balls for 121 yards while carrying the ball 8 times for just 15 yards. The rushing totals are clearly not acceptable, but Hightower showed that he can be a valuable fantasy player, especially in PPR leagues. Until the Cardinals find their offensive rhythm, the dump off to Hightower will be a big part of the scheme going forward and he makes for a decent flex play this week.

Fred Jackson vs. TB
Jackson, filling in for the suspended Marshawn Lynch, rushed for 57 yards and led the team with 5 catches for 83 yards and a TD on Monday night against the Patriots. It remains to be seen how the carries will be divided (Jackson deserves at least an even split!) upon Lynch’s return, but right now Fred Jackson is the man. He is fast around the edge and runs with power, consistently moving the piles. I’ll be starting him at RB2 this week in my PPR league.

Bench 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Steve Slaton @ TEN
Rest assured that Steve Slaton and the Houston Texans are going to rebound from last week’s disappointing loss to the Jets - they have too much talent on offense. However, I am not confident that Slaton’s rebound will come this week against the Titans. Tennessee had no problem bottling up the Steelers running game and while you could take a chance on Slaton with a flex spot, I don’t he is a suitable RB2 until next week.

Cedric Benson @ GB
As predicted, Benson got the vast majority of touches for the Bengals last week and delivered a pretty solid game for his owners. While he did have 21 carries for 76 yards, 10 of the carries were for two yards or less, and things will get even tougher for Cedric this week on the road at Lambeau Field. You could do worse, simply because he is the only running option for Cincinnati, but I’d leave Benson on the bench this week.

Addai averaged 2.5 yards per carry last week.

Joseph Addai @ MIA
I’m still down on Addai despite the TD last week against the Jaguars. He gets the vast majority of touches in a dynamic offense, but he probably won’t continue to do so if he maintains an average of 2.5 yards per carry. The fact that he catches the ball out of the backfield certainly adds to his value in PPR leagues, but I’d temper expectations for this Monday’s battle with the Dolphins, who held Michael Turner to 65 yards on 22 carries (2.95 YPC).

Willie Parker @ CHI
Slow Willie Parker was dreadful last week – 13 carries for 19 yards – against Tennessee. He should not shoulder the entire blame for a lackluster running game, but he certainly is a part of the problem. It’s possible that Parker is dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, and he should not be deployed against a Bears defense who limited the Packers to 76 yards on 22 attempts in their season opener.

Steven Jackson @ WAS
There is no doubt that Jackson has the talent to be a fantasy stud, he is a beast when right, but the bigger problem lies within his team. The Rams figure to trail early and often and that will severely limit the impact Jackson can have on your fantasy team. If you drafted him with your first pick it is certainly hard to bench him, but the Rams can’t seem to get out of their own way and they will have trouble finding consistency against the Redskins.

Wide Receivers