Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

LenDale White | Tennessee Titans | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 25.9

In 2008, no running back found the end zone at the rate White did. He scored a touchdown every 13.67 touches (15 TDs in 205 touches) and did an excellent job of finishing off drives started by Chris Johnson. In 2009, White stopped drinking tequila, entered training camp 30 pounds lighter and was expected to have a similar role in a run first Tennessee offense. This never materialized and White played second fiddle to Johnson all season long. He scored only two touchdowns on 67 touches and touched the ball just four times over the final six games of the 2009 season. Tennessee slapped a second-round pick as tender on White, however the fifth-year running back is adamant that he wants the Titans to play him or trade him. It should be interesting to see how things shake for White; however, we aren’t convinced that a team would lose a second round pick on a guy that has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry throughout his career and doesn’t seem to have what it takes to be an every down back.

Mike Bell | New Orleans Saints | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 27.6

In 2009, Bell did an excellent job of filling in for the injured Pierre Thomas and his production led to consistent playing time throughout the season. His 654 yards and five touchdowns were enough for the Saints to tender a cash amount for any team interestd in Bell’s services. Teams in need of a solid backup running back have already contacted Bell’s agent and we wouldn’t be surprised if he enters the 2010 season wearing a uniform other than the black and gold.

Ronnie Brown | Miami Dolphins | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 28.9

When he is healthy, Brown delivers instant offense and is considered one of the top running backs in the NFL. Over his last 25 games, he scored 18 touchdowns and compiled 1,916 yards from scrimmage. The only problem is Brown can’t stay on the field. He has missed 16 games since the start of the 2007 season, forcing Miami to monitor his workload and fans to wonder if he is worth the investment. However, despite Brown suffering season ending injuries in two of the last three years, the Miami Dolphins brass believe he is their franchise running back and committed to him in 2010. Miami placed a first-round tender on Brown that all but guarantees he’ll return to South Beach for his sixth season.

Jerome Harrison | Cleveland Browns | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 27.8

Harrison might not have been the most consistent running back in the NFL; however, over the final three weeks of the 2009 season he was certainly the best. After carrying the football just 88 times during the Browns first 13 games, head coach Eric Mangini decided to make Harrison his feature back from Weeks 15-17 and the shifty runner responded with 561 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His 106 carries during that span proved to management that he can handle a full workload and Harrison is expected to enter 2010 as the No.1 running back in Cleveland. If a team were to sign Harrison, it would cost them a second-round pick as compensation and that is a steep price to pay for a running back with such a small sample size.

Cadillac Williams | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 28.6

The wheels certainly didn’t fall off the Cadillac in 2009. For the first time in his career, Williams played a full season and showed the grit and determination of a running back who wanted to prove his doubters wrong.. Despite sharing touches with Derrick Ward, Caddy was Tampa Bay’s most effective running back and took control of the starting job over the last six weeks of the season. He finished the season with 1,040 total yards, seven touchdowns and 29 receptions. Entering 2010, the Buccaneers believe Caddy is the right man for the job and they assigned a first-round pick as compensation. While Caddy might have resurrected his career you can’t expect any team to give up a first-round selection on a running back that has suffered a torn patellar tendon in both knees and will be 28 at the beginning of the season.

Jason Snelling | Atlanta Falcons | FA Type: RFA | 2010 Age: 26.9

Filling in for an injured Michael Turner, Snelling ran admirably for the Falcons and put together a solid season. He finished the season with 466 rushing yards, 238 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His versatility out of the backfield was enough for Atlanta to assign a second-round pick as tender for any team looking to target the restricted free agent.  With this being the case, Snelling isn’t expected to attract much interest on the open market and is likely to again backup Turner in Atlanta.

ALREADY SIGNED FREE AGENTS

Thomas Jones | Kansas City Chiefs | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 32.2

After scoring 29 touchdowns over the last two seasons, the New York Jets decided they didn’t want to pony up a $3 million roster bonus to keep the aging running back and decided to cut ties with Jones. Just eight days after being released by New York, Jones signed a two-year deal worth $5 million with the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones is expected to see around 10-15 touches per game and should see plenty of touches around the end zone.

Chester Taylor | Chicago Bears | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 31.1

Just one year into Taylor’s four-year, $14.1 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings the team landed Adrian Peterson in the 2007 NFL Draft and that pushed Taylor to backup duty. Running behind one of the leagues best, Taylor spent the past three seasons playing a big role as a pass-catching option and averaged around 10 touches per game. Convinced he can contribute on a more regular basis, Taylor took advantage of being an unrestricted free agent and immediately shopped the open market. Within hours of the start of free agency the Chicago Bears inked Taylor to a four-year, $12.5 million contract. Matt Forte will be the primary ball carries in Chicago; however, Taylor should see a slight increase in his workload and be a pivotal part of an offense on the rise.

Kevin Faulk | New England Patriots | FA Type: UFA | 2010 Age: 34.4

He doesn’t post the statistics that attract the casual NFL fan but for over a decade Faulk has been a mainstay in New England. Being a unrestricted free agent, there was talk that Faulk would not resign with the Patriots; however, that came to an end on March 10 when the team signed their longest tenured player to a one-year deal. Faulk will once again be used on passing downs and around the end zone in an offense that loves to share the wealth at the running back position.

2010 Free Agent Breakdown:  QB  |  RB  | WR |  TE  |  K 

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