Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

With the 2010 NFL Draft in the books it’s time for the Bruno Boys to take a look at the skill position players who were drafted and analyze their potential fantasy football impact during their rookie season. In the second installment of this series it’s time to take a look at the running back, a position that many of us consider the most important position on your fantasy team. Three running backs were drafted in the first round, but where do they fit in in the fantasy world and what potential value to the running backs drafted after the first round have?

1. Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers: Heading into the draft everyone figured that the San Diego Chargers would look to land a featured running back to replace LaDainian Tomlinson who was released in the offseason and signed with the New York Jets. After the Buffalo Bills drafted C.J. Spiller with the No. 9 overall pick the Chargers traded up sixteen spots in the draft to select Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews with the No. 12 pick in the first round.

Matthews is a big, physical runner who has explosive speed and quickness and should become the teams every down back. He will team with Darren Sproles and become a solid one-two punch that should help revive the teams running game that has struggled over the last two seasons. At 6’0” 218 pounds Matthews is a North/South runner who shows good burst through the hole and is surprisingly elusive in the open field. Like Spiller and Best look for Matthews to be a low-end RB2 or flex option in the upcoming fantasy football season. It is very possible that he gets 20-plus touches a game in his rookie season.

2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions: After selecting Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the No. 2 overall pick the Detroit Lions aggressively traded back into the first round to select Javid Best, the extremely-explosive running back from the University of California. The addition of Best gives Matthew Stafford another weapon in what appears to be an offense heading in the right direction. Best is a first round talent who nearly slipped into the second round due to injury concerns. He missed the final four games of the 2009 college season after suffering a concussion and a sore lower back on a highlight reel touchdown against Oregon State.

Best ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and if he can avoid injuries he has a chance to become the featured back in Detroit and become a very nice weapon to compliment Stafford, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and tight end Brandon Pettigrew. His speed and explosiveness have many comparing him to the Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson. Consider Best a low-end RB2 or a nice flex option in fantasy football leagues as a rookie and he will have increased value in point per reception leagues.

3. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills: It was not a surprise that Clemson’s C.J. Spiller was the first running back selected in April’s NFL Draft, especially after an impressive 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine this past winter. What was a surprise was who drafted him. The Buffalo Bills seemed to have bigger areas of concern, including offensive line and quarterback, but when it came down to it the team could not pass on this multi-dimensional runner who appears to be the perfect weapon in new Bills head coach Chan Gailey’s spread offense.

At 5’11” and 196 pounds Spiller doesn’t appear to be a back that is going to carry the ball 20 plus times a game, but he has big-play ability and is extremely tough to tackle when he gets into the open field. His versatility will make Spiller a valuable running back from a fantasy football standpoint and he should be drafted somewhere between rounds 7-9 as a RB3 or flex option in upcoming fantasy drafts this summer.

4. Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings: The Minnesota Vikings have arguably the best running back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson, but after losing versatile back Chester Taylor to the Chicago Bears via free agency they need to add some depth in the draft. They did so by using the 19th pick in the second round to draft Toby Gerhart, the bruising running back from Stanford. Gerhart is a big powerful back who can run between the tackles. He also has very good balance and does a good job bouncing off of defenders. He also has a knack for the end zone and he will always fight for additional yardage.

Gerhart is the type of runner that fits in just about any system. The only knock on him is his lack of speed, but he more then makes up for it with his very strong work ethic. He will be the No. 2 running back behind Adrian Peterson, but he could very well force the Vikings to use more of a rotational system than anyone expected. Gerhart should be used as a RB3 in fantasy league this upcoming season as he could near double digit touchdowns, even while playing behind Peterson.

5. Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Kansas City Chiefs: After releasing former All-Pro running back Larry Johnson during the middle of last season the Kansas City Chiefs appeared to have found their featured running back in Jamaal Charles, but even though Charles finished the season very strong for the Chiefs the team didn’t rest on their laurels. They added Thomas Jones as a free agent from the New York Jets and then they drafted Dexter McCluster in the fourth round of last month’s NFL Draft.

McCluster is small in size at 172 pounds, but he has big-play ability and break away speed. He is a true home run hitter, but his fantasy value will be limited this season as he will have a hard time stealing touches from both Charles and Jones. His initial fantasy value will be as a return specialist, but with great speed and very good hands McCluster is worth a flier in later rounds as a low-end RB3 or RB4.

6. Anthony Dixon, RB, San Francisco 49ers: The San Francisco 49ers made a concerted effort to get bigger and stronger in this year’s draft. They added size to the offensive line with their two first round picks when they selected tackle Anthony Davis and guard Mike Iupati. They continued to add size in the sixth round when they drafted 233 pound running back Anthony Dixon of Mississippi State.

Dixon is a bruising runner who could become an excellent compliment to finesse runners Frank Gore and Glen Coffey. Dixon’s value in fantasy leagues in 2010 will be very limited, but if you are in a deep keeper or dynasty league he could be a sleeper pick. In the 49ers new power offense he will have a chance score some touchdowns.

7. Joe McKnight, RB, New York Jets: It has been an interesting offseason at the running back position for the New York Jets franchise. They released last season’s leading rusher Thomas Jones and signed maybe the best running back of the past decade LaDainian Tomlinson. Then on draft day they traded Leon Washington to Seattle and drafted USC running back Joe McKnight in the first round.

McKnight is a very quick elusive back who is hard to tackle in the open field. He gives the Jets another weapon in the backfield to go with Tomlinson and second-year player Shonn Greene. McKnight will likely be a third down change of pace back who will also be used in passing situation. It appears likely that he will fill the role that was supposed to be filled by Washington before his trade to Seattle on draft day. Playing behind Greene and L.T. it is unlikely he will get a lot of touches on a regular basis keeping his fantasy value limited, but he will likely become an important part of the Jets offense and return game.

8. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Just a few short months ago Jonathan Dwyer was projected as a possible first or second round draft pick, but he played most of last season as a 240 pound full back. He did drop to 229 pound before the NFL Combine, but he never really ran well. Another disadvantage for Dwyer was the fact that Georgia Tech ran a triple option, where he posted solid numbers, but it’s a system that is based on giving runners wide open lanes that will not always be open in a pro-style offense.

Dwyer has a good combination of power and speed, but there are concerns about him controlling his weight and whether he can perform well in a pro-style offense. The fact that he was drafted to the Steelers who run a ground control offense is a plus, but his fantasy value is limited at this time. Consider him a deep sleeper only worth a pick as a late round flyer if you have an open roster spot.

9. Deji Karim, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jacksonville Jaguars were a one-man show at running back last season. Maurice Jones-Drew had 312 carries while the next closest running back had just 39. Heading into the NFL Draft running back was a position of need, but the Jaguars waited until the sixth round before selecting a running back. They went with Southern Illinois’ Deji Karim who not many people had heard of, but a very good pro-day raised his stock and put him on Jacksonville’s radar. Karim has a chance to make the team, but it’s highly unlikely he will see any significant playing time and he remains nothing more than a player worth watching over the next few seasons.

10. James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers: James Starks missed his entire senior season for the University of Buffalo with a shoulder injury. Before the injury experts thought that Starks had a chance to have a very good season in the Mid-American Conference and could become a second or third round pick. The Green Bay Packers decided to take a chance on this talented running back with a sixth round pick. He is not expected to see much playing time at running back during his rookie season, but he could become a special team’s contributor. Starks may never have any fantasy football value, but it would be a great story to see him make the team and have a pro career, even if it’s as a special team’s player.

11. John Connor, RB, New York Jets: Kentucky product John Connor is listed as a running back, but at 5’11” 246 pounds he appears to be more suited as a full back. He is very strong with a low center of gravity and he is an ideal lead blocker. He will be able to develop behind Tony Richardson, but this young full back could be leading the way for Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight for years to come. Connor does not have any individual fantasy value at this time, but his importance to fantasy owners will be in what he can do for the more skilled Jets running backs like Greene, McKnight and LaDainian Tomlinson.

12. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tennessee Titans: LeGarrette Blount looked to be a surefire NFL draft pick heading into the 2009 College Football season, but he may of all but threw away his chances of playing at the Pro level when he was suspended most of the season after sucker punching an opponent in an early season game against Boise State. He went un-drafted but signed immediately after thr draft with the Titans. At 6’0”, 241 pounds he has the size and power that NFL teams marvel over. Blount will not have any value for fantasy football owners in 2010, but if he signs on with an NFL team he could be worth keeping an eye on in upcoming seasons.

Montario Hardesty, RB, Cleveland Browns: The Cleveland Browns had to be extremely happy with the production of running back Jerome Harrison in the second half of last season. Harrison came on strong after an injury forced Jamaal Lewis into retirement, but Harrison is a smaller back that the team is afraid can’t carry the full load. For this reason they moved up in the second round to grad Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty.

Hardesty is a big physical back with excellent speed and good cutback ability. At 225 pounds he is not a homerun hitter, but he is a hard worker who is patient behind his blockers and allows a play to open up in front of him. Hardesty will be a very good compliment to Harrison and he should see enough touches this season to make him a worth while pick as your third or fourth running back on your fantasy roster.  **HARDESTY SUFFERED A PRESEASON INJURY AND WILL MISS THE 2010 SEASON**

Ben Tate, RB, Houston Texans: Heading into the 2009 season the Houston Texans thought running back was going to be a position of strength for them, but instead inconsistencies and fumbling issues plagued second-year running back Steve Slaton and left the Texans without a feature back. They used a combination of running backs including journeyman Ryan Moats and rookie Arian Foster. In order to help shore up the position this season Houston drafted Ben Tate from the University of Auburn.

Tate is a hard-nosed skilled runner who fits in the team’s zone based running game. He is a strong runner between the tackles and is a strong finisher who is not afraid to barrel over defenders. With question marks in the running game Tate won’t likely become the feature back during his first NFL season, but he should see enough touches to make him worth drafting in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy football drafts as a low-end RB3 with upside.  **TATE SUFFERED A PRESEASON INJURY AND WILL MISS THE 2010 SEASON**

2010 Rookie Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE

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