2009 Sleepers & Busters: RB Edition

They run, they catch, sometimes they even pass.  They never take plays off on the field.  They pretty much get points for you any time they’re on the field.  In the galaxy of fantasy football positions, the running back would be the sun that all other positions revolve around…  Except, wait…no then there’d be two suns, and even three sometimes…  That’d be galactic chaos…  OK, they’re really, really important, so don’t screw this up!

Sleepers

Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos - (Avg. RB Rank - 22.90, Avg. ADP – 62.73) – Rookie RBs aren’t like rookies at any other position.  It’s rare that a rookie QB or WR comes in their first season and produces.  But, just last season we saw 3 rookie RBs burn their way into the Top 10 this season (Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, and Steve Slaton).  Denver has made even the shystiest RB into at least a temporary superstar.  They’re coming into 2009 with one of the tougher defensive schedules, but they’re also bringing the #1 offensive line with them.  Being able to grab him in the late 5th, early 6th round means you’ll have a great reserve back when you inevitably have to bench Steven Jackson AGAIN.

Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints – (Avg. RB Rank – 21.90, Avg. ADP – 36.98) – Even Kim Kardashian has given up on Reggie Bush, the Saints can’t be too far behind, can they?  Despite being named Pierre, the guy has it all.  He’s a powerhouse runner with speed and decent hands.  When they’re on the goal line, it’s going to Pierre.  And when Bush goes on the IR later on for a deviated ego, he’s got the goods to pick up ALL of the slack.  It appears people aren’t being fooled by his ridiculously low ranking and are grabbing him in the late 3rd, early 4th round, so don’t wait too long on this bargain pick.

Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers – (Avg. RB Rank – 42.20, Avg. ADP – 93.53) – This is it for LaDanian Tomlinson.  We saw it with Marshall Faulk and Priest Holmes.  Despite all the signs pointing to the end, people don’t want to believe it.  Does little ol’ Sproles have staying power in the NFL?  I’d say probably not.  But, the Chargers didn’t refuse to trade and then resign him for no reason.  Sproles can be gotten in garbage time, so rather than wasting a pick on a kicker at this point, why not do something that makes sense instead?

Busters

Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – (Avg. RB Rank – 1.19, Avg. ADP – 1.19) – I wrote an article that is the basis of this listing right here.  Yeah, he’s pretty amazing at his best, but he’s also pretty mediocre the rest of the time.  He’s a flukey as they come.  35 points one game, 6 the next.  Ownership of Peterson doesn’t guarantee a playoff birth like owning LaDanian or Priest or Faulk once did.  He’s not going to pull it off this season.

LaDanian Tomlinson – San Diego Chargers - (Avg. RB Rank – 8.10, Avg. ADP – 9.87) – I’ve already expressed this one earlier with the Sproles pick, but you’re gonna see LT go in the late 1st, early 2nd round.  By week 6, you’re gonna start hearing grumbling about “I can’t believe I wasted that pick”.  Let me be the first to say “I told you so.”

Clinton Portis – Washington Redskins – (Avg. RB Rank – 11.50, Avg. ADP – 19.02) – It really pains me to put his name here.  I’ve been a faithful selector of Portis for years on end.  I always throw my faith into him pulling it out year after year.  He’s yet to fully disappoint me, but years of Portis ownership are like watching your favorite shoes slowly disintegrate.  You keep wearing them because you love them.  Then for a while you keep the hole in the toe hidden behind under a table.  Then you have to start changing your walk so that people can’t hear the sound of the loose sole flapping against the bottom of your shoe with each step.  Then one day your wife tells you to get some new shoes.  Well, it might be a good idea to retire your old favorite to the closet for when you’re doing yard work.  I’m sorry…

Related posts:

1. 2009 Sleepers & Busters – QB Edition
2. Sleepers & Busters: 2007 Edition
3. Sleepers & Busters: 2008 RB Edition
4. Sleepers & Busters
5. Sleepers & Busters: 2008 QB Edition

Tags: Adrian Peterson, busts, clinton portis, darren sproles, fantasy football, knowshon moreno, ladanian tomlinson, NFL, pierre thomas, QB, reggie bush, sleepers