Dave B’s Running Backs By Committee Overview
The Running Back By Committee is a relatively new phenomenon in the NFL world – it is a pain in the rear but is something that we are going to have to get used to. With more than one prominent Back for some teams, how do you draft?
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Who do you pick?
And is there more than one rusher on a team that is worth looking at?
I’ve compiled a comprehensive look at all such committees in the NFL and which ones are your most intriguing versus the ones that are not worth your time.
Take a look and let me know what you think.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, Dexter McCluster)
Charles is a legitimate first rounder but the Thomas Jones factor looms. With Jones getting long in the tooth, the Chiefs coaching staff knows that Charles gives them the best chance to win. Although this is a committee on paper, my guess is that Charles will officially take over and garner a huge percentage of the carries in KC this season. As far as committees go however, KC will be the most productive.
2. Carolina Panthers (DeAngelo Williams. Jonathan Stewart, Mike Goodson)
Cam Newton under center means that the Panthers will definitely run the ball a ton this season. This has been arguably the best committee in the NFL for a few seasons and there is no reason to think that this season won’t be different. Williams is the lead for sure but Stewart should get his fair share of carries as well. If you take either, you are a braver soul than I – the situation is just too fluid and unpredictable for me. I, unlike others view Williams as a RB2 and Stewart as a RB3.
3. New York Giants (Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Danny Ware)
Bradshaw is back and so it the 1-2 punch in New York. This unit has a lot to prove this season, mostly that they are able to hang onto the ball. Tom Coughlin has vowed to get Jacobs more carries this season and I believe him. Both Bradshaw and Jacobs are solid backs but are either a legitimate RB1 for fantasy? My guess is “No” and that both will serve as terrific RB2s – just don’t count on them for 100 yards and a touchdown every week.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (Maurice Jones-Drew, Rashad Jennings, Deji Karim)
The health of Maurice Jones-Drew is the question here. The team needs him for 16 games as demonstrated by last year’s late season collapse out of the playoff picture. Rashad Jennings proved that he can handle a bigger role in the offense last season and figures to get a fairly substantial role in the offense this season. MJD is the unquestioned leader but Jennings is a valuable handcuff that could potentially act as a decent RB3 this season.
5. Washington Redskins (Tim Hightower, Ryan Torain, Roy Helu, Keiland Williams, Evan Royster, Andre Brown, James Davis)
So do ya wanna committee? How about this cluster. Look, I have no idea which way the Skins are going to go but I can tell that none of these prospects will win your Fantasy league. If it were me, I would wait and see – the Waiver Wire is always available to you!
6. San Diego Chargers (Ryan Matthews, Mike Tolbert)
Norv Turner has already come out and said that this will be a timeshare situation. Ryan Matthews is banged up again (I`m getting sick of it!!) which means that Mike Tolbert will be getting all of the work with the first team in camp. Consider this a 50/50 with the slight edge going to Tolbert because of his durability and goal line prowess.
7. Oakland Raiders (Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Rock Cartwright)
This job appeared to be McFadden`s all the way. That is until he broke his face! Still, by all accounts McFadden appears to be in the best form of his career. Although this may seem like a committee at first glance, this job belongs to McFadden with Bush coming in to spell his number 1 and in mop-up duty.
8. Dallas Cowboys (Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, DeMarco Murray)
See ya later Marion Barber! The Cowboys now have a youthful backfield that could become a committee before too long. Felix Jones is the #1 guy but I don’t have to tell you about his injury history. Choice and rookie DeMarco Murray figure to get some carries as well. Just be advised that Jones has looked superb and if healthy he will get the lion’s share of the work for Dallas.
9. New Orleans Saints (Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Chris Ivory)
This looked like Pierre Thomas’s job all the way but Ingram has come on VERY strong in camp to emerge as possibly the #1 guy going into Week 1. At absolute worst, this is a time share on an elite offensive team going into the regular season. You will have to monitor the situation here but if I were to draft one of these backs, I may take Ingram over the injury plagued Thomas
10. New England Patriots (Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Kevin Faulk)
A true committee – what else would you expect from Bill Belichek? This is a pass heavy offense especially with Ochocinco on the scene and is way too unpredictable for me to even consider drafting. The return on Kevin Faulk makes a cloudy situation even murkier.
11. New York Jets (Shonn Greene, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight)
Rex Ryan vows to use Shonn Greene more this season but LaDainian still looms. I believe Rex and think that this is a committee my name only.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, Jonathan Dwyer)
Like the Jets, the Steelers have a young workhorse that should get the bulk of the carries. But as we saw last season, Moore is a terrific third down weapon. However, Mendenhall has apparently really improved his blitz pickup and what was once considered a committee could be a committee no Moore! [ad-8469823]
13. Indianapolis Colts (Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Mike Hart, Javarris James)
I am not sure why the Colts didn’t try to improve their running game this offseason and signed Joseph Addai to an extension. All it means is that a below average running game will be a time share between below average runners. They were 31st in 2008, 32nd in 2009 and 29th in 2010 – avoid if humanly possible!
14. Buffalo Bills (Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller)
This is one of the more interesting committees going into 2011. CJ Spiller has one year under his belt and should see an uptick in both carries and production in Buffalo this season. This will be a tandem almost guaranteed. You will be rolling the dice with either of these backs. The O-line is bad and the prospect of the Bills being able to run the ball is slim at best.
15. Green Bay Packers (Ryan Grant, James Starks, Alex Green, John Kuhn)
This will definitely be one of the most difficult committees to figure out. Ryan Grant is 100% healthy but figures to lose some carries to James Starks who burst on the scene when Grant was injured. John Kuhn was resigned and did a great job on third downs last season. It is a crap shoot for sure – no one back has stood out so far in camp.
16. Cincinnati Bengals (Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard)
Cedric Benson was resigned and he will be guaranteed to get a lot of touches this season – especially with a rookie quarterback likely to start. Off field issues continue to plague Benson but he is a true workhorse on the field. Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard will also see some time but bet on Benson seeing the majority of the action.
17. Miami Dolphins (Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas, Patrick Cobbs, Kory Sheets)
Bush looks like a sexy pick in Fantasy but I think that the Miami running game is going to see a heavy dose of rookie Daniel Thomas. Look for Bush to be used a lot like he was in New Orleans – 10-12 touches per game. That leaves 20+ carries that Thomas could suck up.
18. Seattle Seahawks (Marshawn Lynch, Justin Forsett, Leon Washington)
With the talent they have, it is hard to believe that Seattle ranked 31st in rushing yards per game last season. Lynch and Forsett can look great at times but disappear at others. Pete Carroll seems to go with the hot guy every game = they cancel each other out. Leon Washington may snake some touches as well. Lesson – better to stay away from the Seattle running game for the time being.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LeGarrette Blount, Kregg Lumpkin, Earnest Graham)
This is not really a committee – Blount is going to carry the load. He should definitely be on the Fantasy radar.
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20. Tennessee Titans (Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer, Staffon Johnson, Dominique Lindsay)
This is only a committee until Chris Johnson signs!
Committees that Are Not Committees at All!
Minnesota Vikings (Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart)
Houston Texans (Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Steve Slaton)
Atlanta Falcons (Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, Jacquizz Rodgers)
Baltimore Ravens (Ray Rice, Ricky Williams)
Philadelphia Eagles (LeSean McCoy, Ronnie Brown)
San Francisco 49ers (Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon, Kendall Hunter)
Denver Broncos (Knowshon Moreno, Lendale White, Correl Buckhalter, Laurence Maroney)
Detroit Lions (Jahvid Best, Kevin Smith, Maurice Morris, Ian Johnson)
Chicago Bears (Matt Forte, Harvey Unga, Chester Taylor)
Arizona Cardinals (Ryan Williams, Chris “Beanie” Wells)
Cleveland Browns (Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty)
St. Louis Rams (Cadillac Williams, Jurious Norwood)
After all of the weekly games are finished be sure to check our cheatsheets, a who’s hot, and who’s not report plus more in our fantasy football guide.
