Fantasy Football

This is kind of an odd category to define, but for the sake of consistency we are going to use the same definition we did for receivers: Someone who could exceed the expectations of the masses and produce a pro bowl season. So ere goes…

1) Julius Jones
Just like everyone else we thought Marion Barber was the better of the two in Dallas. But with him going to Seattle and there tendency to throw to the running back, and him being their sole playmaking running back (with all due respect to Mack Strong), in addition to them dumping a bunch of money into Jones, we like his chances to produce some decent numbers this season.

2) LenDale White
For all the discussion about his weight coming into the NFL, he put up some fairly impressive numbers last year. If Tennessee can move the ball downfield a little more efficiently this season (which I think they will with Crumpler), giving White more short yardage touchdown opportunities, we might see a pro bowl season for the USC alum. Just keep him away from the barbeque or whatever it is they eat in Memphis.

3) Jonathan Stewart
We are not sure how much of a sleeper Stewart can really be considered. DeAngelo Williams will split carries with from the start, but Williams will prove to be unable to compensate for his size. Stewart is the perfect combination of size and speed, and we imagine he will be getting the majority of the carries by week five. Hopefully he can develop some sort of pop culture persona or write a book or something, so he can go on Daily Show and the world as we know it will cease to exist.

Can you even tell the two Jon Stewart's apart?

4) Rashard Mendenhall
We were going to do a separate post for rookies, but as evidenced by Jonathan Stewart, today is going to be virtually impossible without including them. We have serious concern about Willie Parker’s ability to rebound. With the Steelers drafting a running back in the first round, it would appear I’m not alone. That first round pick absolutely decimated the Big Ten last year, and he is an absolute hass that they need for short yardage. They should split carries fairly evenly in the first place, if Parker goes down with some sort of injury, a 1,000+ yard season isn’t out of the question.

5) Michael Turner
He would have made top ten if it wasn’t for the fact that he plays for the Falcons. For years, everyone has drafted him prematurely in hopes that Tomlinson would get injured and they could capitalize on it with another top-tier running back. Now in Atlanta, no one seems to optimistic about his chances to succeed to the point we contemplated putting him on the value picks list.. We expect Atlanta to improve this season in every aspect of the game, and a part of that is the running game.

Rest of the ten sleepers:

6) Ronnie Brown: A lot of uncertainty about Brown, but with the season he was in the midst of producing last year, we like him in the third or fourth (where we got him in both our drafts).
7) Reggie Bush: Most of his production might come from receiving, but he still lines up at running back.
Earnest Graham: Can someone who broke 200 fantasy points be regarded as a sleeper? In a draft this deep with running backs: absolutely.
9) Chris Brown/Steve Slaton: Whoever starts for Houston should put up some numbers.
10) Almost any backup for a starter who is sidelined early (there are about twenty of them).