Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback for Green Bay many people look at the Packers as a passing offense and when you consider the fact that Rodgers has passed for more than 8,400 yards and 58 touchdowns over the past two seasons it’s hard to argue that point. Except as many teams have learned over the past three seasons this team has one heck of a running back for opposing defenses to worry about. Ryan Grant has been the team’s primary back since the 2007 season after he was picked up from the New York Giants.

Over his three seasons as the primary ball carrier in Green Bay, Grant has racked up 3,412 yards and 23 touchdowns in 37 starts. His best season came last year when he rushed the ball 282 times for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns. Grant finished the year strong as he scored six of his 11 touchdowns during the final four weeks of the season, which provided excellent production for fantasy football owners during a playoff run. In 2009 he set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns, while adding 25 receptions for 197 yards.

If Aaron Rodgers is the leader of this offense, then Ryan Grant is the workhorse. While many teams employ more than one regularly used running back option or even a running back committee, Grant is one of the true workhorses left in the NFL. His 282 carries not only led the team last season, no one else was even close. As a matter of fact, backup running backs Ahman Green and Brandon Jackson combined for just 78 carries, while Rodgers actually finished second on the team with 58 carries.

Grant was a reliable fantasy football option for owners last season, even though he only had three games with more than 100 yards rushing. He did have seven games with 90 or more rushing yards and in 12 games he had double digit fantasy points. He will continue to be the Packers go-to-guy toting the ball in 2010. Green Bay has not added a running back of significance thus far during the off-season that will steal carries from him. There are rumors that they could be interested in signing veteran free agent Brian Westbrook to help bolster the rushing attack and to spell Grant, but even if they add Westbrook or another running back Grant will continue to be the main ball carrier on this team.

He may not rank amongst the elite fantasy football running backs, but after back-to-back 1,200 plus yard rushing seasons he should be drafted as a low-end RB1 or a high-end RB2. He has had at least 280 carries in each of the last two seasons and that is a trend that should definitely continue in 2010. Grant may not be flashy, but he’s productive. He will not wow you with highlight reel runs and he might play second fiddle to Aaron Rodgers on his own teams offense, but if you spend a second round pick on Grant in fantasy drafts this summer he may just wow you with his consistent, albeit quiet, production.

 
Have an opinion on Ryan Grant’s prospects for 2010? If so, let us know!

To see more Crystal Balls predictions go here… 2010 Fantasy Football Crystal Balls

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