NFC EAST: 
 

• Dallas Cowboys: In a world where a notorious debate rages on between Ginger and Mary Anne, a new debate is taking center stage: Julius Jones or Marion Barber III. Jones normally starts the game and gets the 70/30 majority of the reps and produces solid yardage numbers demonstrated by his 1,200 yards in total offense in 2006, but Barber seems to be the running back in 3^rd down situations as well as once the team enters the red-zone he begins to get the vast majority of the touches out of the backfield, demonstrated by his 16 total touchdowns in 2006. Whatever your preference, yardage producer or TD machine, you can find whatever it maybe that you are looking for in the Dallas Cowboy backfield. Tyson Thompson fills out the relevance that is the Dallas Cowboys running game, but he has little to no chance of being drafted in fantasy leagues in 2007.

Recommendation: This is one of the more tricky situations that exist in fantasy football. Both running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber III helped fantasy football owners in their own unique way, but now there is a new regime with Wade Phillips taking over the coaching duties for the Dallas Cowboys. Few know what to expect from the backfield in ’07. Will they employ the same philosophy in using both backs? Will Phillips prefer one or the other? As for your fantasy drafts I would not go overboard in either direction, I would not draft either one until at least the end of Round 2, in more likelihood I would only consider drafting either in Round 3 due to the fact that both backs productivity can be inconsistent at times and can drive fantasy owners crazy during the season.  
 

• New York Giants: Tiki Barber was a mainstay in fantasy football for the larger portion of a decade and now for the first time in what seems like forever you will have to consider drafting different running backs that play for the New York Giants. Brandon Jacobs is the incumbent at the position. Jacobs shared some carries with Barber, and got the goal-line carries. Jacobs must learn how to lower his pad level and become more of a receiving threat out of the backfield if he is ever going to grow into the featured role, for now he will remain the goal-line bulldozer and get a slight majority of the carries, splitting duties with recently acquired Reuben Droughns. Droughns had a couple solid seasons for the Browns, but 2006 was not his best showing and one must wonder if ’06 was just a bad year or if there is any mileage left on the tires?

Recommendation: Brandon Jacobs may not get the featured gig as once hoped for by fantasy football fans everywhere, but even with sharing duties, especially on 3^rd down, he should still produce around 800-900 total yards and 10-12 touchdowns, so draft accordingly. We may not know whole-heartedly what Reuben Droughns the fantasy world will be getting in 2007, but at best guest I would expect one that is a far cry away from the 2005 version, and I would look for 500-600 total yards and a few touchdowns here and there, but I wouldn’t advise drafting him until teen portion of the draft rounds and even later in keeper league formats. 
 

• Philadelphia Eagles: The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the more dynamic and versatile backs playing in the National Football League today in one, Brian Westbrook. Prior to 2006, Westbrook wasn’t viewed as much of a goal-line running back, but in 2006 B-West tallied 11 total touchdowns and elevated his status in the fantasy football community. Correll Buckhalter finally had an injury free season and showed glimpses of promise that once was on display a number of years ago, Buckhalter is relevant due to the fact that Westbrook is on the slight side and could go down due to injuries. If that was the case, then Buckhalter would take over the full-time duties in the offense. Fantasy owners may want to keep an eye on 3^rd round rookie RB Tony Hunt who may have some impact in fantasy in 2007 due to the fact that he could step in and be a good goal-line and short yardage back for a team who had difficulty at times converting such situations in 2006. Ryan Moats once showed promise in 2005, but now with 3 other running backs ahead of him on the depth chart, his fantasy future is now in jeopardy.

Recommendation: Select Brian Westbrook in the middle-late portion of Round 1 as he is the featured RB in one of the better offenses in the National Football League. Although he may not reach double digit touchdowns every season, his yardage totals are insane so it should counter the effect of a limited amount of touchdowns. Correll Buckhalter would be the guy I would suggest as the hand-cuff as he is a better fit in the West Coast offense on an every down basis, but if you are desperate for a ‘spot’ start during bye weeks take a look and see if Tony Hunt is getting any goal-line work. 
 

• Washington Redskins: Entering the 2006 fantasy football season Clinton Portis was viewed as a stud RB who selected in the top 5-6 in most drafts and no one questioned such a high pick on a running back with such considerable talents. Portis never fulfilled this promise in 2006, and when he went down for good due to injury, his backup Ladell Betts stepped up and ran for over 1,000 yards in his absence and led many a fantasy team deep into their league playoffs. Head Coach Joe Gibbs has stated publicly that he is going to use both backs in the 2007 season, which would only add to the value of Betts, however, it would drastically reduce the value of Clinton Portis. Rock Cartwright would only figure into the mix if both Portis and Betts were to go down.

Recommendation: Once a lock to be a first round pick, Clinton Portis will have his name selected later in fantasy drafts then it has been since his rookie season. He will most likely slip out of Round 1, down to the middle portion of Round 2 and if he can return to form, then the team that selects him is going to get tremendous value. Ladell Betts will only give fantasy owners about half the production he did in 2006, so draft accordingly.  
 

NFC NORTH: 
 

• Chicago Bears: The Chicago Bears made it clear it the off-season that the time is now for their former 1^st round pick Cedric Benson. The Bears traded away Thomas Jones this past off-season and have officially given the vote of confidence in Benson that he can become the featured back that they envisioned when they selected him with the 4^th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. The “other” Adrian Peterson, the one who is much less heralded than the version that was selected in the ’07 draft, will now move into the back-up role behind Benson. While Peterson may not have the ‘upside’ appeal that many other NFL backups possess he should not be completely ignored due to the fact that he has had success in spurts, and Benson has never stayed healthy during an entire NFL season. Make sure if you are a Benson owner this fall in fantasy leagues, you draft Peterson as your handcuff. Garrett Wolfe has great success in the collegiate ranks, but he is not built for the National Football League. I would look for the Bears to use him only in occasional 3^rd down situations as a receiver out of the backfield, which gives him no value in fantasy leagues.

Recommendation: Cedric Benson is in line to get 90% of the carries for a very good football team, so his value is at an all-time high as far as fantasy leagues are concerned and he could end being a legit #1 back or at the very least a dynamic #2 back who will not disappoint as long as he can stay healthy. If you can select Benson with a overall selection in the late teens, you are getting excellent value. Draft Adrian Peterson in the middle of the pack when handcuff type running backs are coming off the board, wherever that may be in your fantasy draft. 
 

• Detroit Lions: With Kevin Jones going down at the end of the 2006 NFL season due to a severe foot injury leaving his future uncertain, the Lions felt it necessary to address the RB position in a big way. The Lions traded away one of their defensive cornerstones in CB Dre’ Bly in a deal to the Broncos to acquire among other things RB Tatum Bell. Bell has shown the breath-taking speed that made him the favorite last spring to win the Denver RB job, only to lose it to undrafted rookie free agent RB Mike Bell. The Lions brass did not stop there; they also went out and signed bruising RB TJ Duckett to continue the upgrade at the position. The Detroit Lions running back situation on the surface appears to be heading in the dreaded running back by committee (RBBC) approach, which is always a fan favorite of fantasy players.

Recommendation: The Detroit backfield situation is a difficult one to diagnose after their off-season additions. Tatum Bell appears to be the guy in line to start if Kevin Jones is not ready by opening day and his slashing running style could work to produce some big running games, however, he may lack the ideal skill set to succeed in Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz’s offense. As will TJ Duckett, who most pundits will automatically state that he will get the goal-line carries. However, those same pundits stated the same last year when while Duckett was in Washington when Clinton Portis went down due to injury, but he never materialized in the offense. Monitor the Detroit Lions situation all summer long, and see how Kevin Jones is rehabbing from his injury. If he is not ready to go, I would draft Bell somewhere in Rounds 4-5, but Jones is the best overall fit for this offense, so when healthy he will get the vast majority of the playing time. 
 

• Green Bay Packers: The Packers let veteran RB Ahman Green leave via Free Agency to the Houston Texans in the off-season and decided to move in a different direction in their running back approach. Verand Morency was acquired via trade last season, as it was thought at the time by the Green Bay coaching staff that he would be a better fit in their West Coast offense then than back he was traded for, Samkon Gado. Morency may begin top on the Packer depth chart, but he will have to keep an eye over his shoulder as the Packers selected Brandon Jackson with their 2^nd round selection. Jackson appears to have the skills required to be a back in the West Coast scheme, and I don’t believe it was completely coincidental that Jackson attended the same university as did Ahman Green. Jackson was probably a bit reminiscent of Green when the coaching staff was reviewing game film of the prospect. Noah Herron was a name some fantasy players are familiar with following the 2006 season, but now that he is firmly 3^rd on the depth chart, he has no fantasy value.

Recommendation: This appears to be a situation where the veteran RB will begin the season #1 on the depth chart, but the rookie will eventually surpass him and depending on whether your league is a ‘keeper’ league or not probably has more value. (For clear examples of how situations like this play out see 2006—Carolina: DeShaun Foster/DeAngelo Williams and New England: Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney.) If I were drafting today, I would draft Brandon Jackson before Verand Morency, but I would have to mentally prepare myself for the poor showings the rookie will most likely produce early in the season. I would draft Jackson late in the 3^rd round or to start the 4^th. If you are just interested in getting off to a good start in the first month, than draft Morency in the 6^th, if you are playing for the long haul, drop him down to 8^th-9^th round value. 
 

• Minnesota Vikings: The Minnesota Vikings made it clear in 2006 that they were going to be a franchise that was committed to the running game, and with a rock solid left side of the Offensive Line anchored by Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson. Chester Taylor was signed prior to 2006 and had a career season where he total 1,500 total yards of offense for the Vikings, making fantasy owners who took the plunge on him in the 2^nd-3^rd round very pleased. The Vikings used the 7^th overall selection on Adrian Peterson out of Oklahoma in order to continue to bolster their running game. The talent is obvious when looking at Peterson, but the knock on him has been injuries. He has succumbed to injuries during the past two seasons and re-injured his collarbone in his last collegiate game. Many fantasy owners are salivating at the possibility of Peterson getting 20+ carries, but that won’t be the case in 2007, the Vikings are going to bring the rookie along slowly while they begin their rebuilding process.

Recommendation: Although it is difficult for me to argue against the appeal of one Adrian Peterson I must warn fantasy players—proceed with caution. Rookie running backs have shown moderate success recently, but not enough to carry your fantasy squad. I’m sure Peterson will have highlight games throughout the 2007 season, but I would wait until the middle portion of Round 3 to take the risk. Chester Taylor proved that he could be counted on consistently to produce points for fantasy owners, and he will still be used in the offense effectively. I think people will be scared to draft Taylor with Peterson looming over his shoulder, so if you can grab him in round 6, do so and you will be glad you did. 
 

NFC SOUTH: 
 

• Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons new Head Coach Bobby Petrino normally likes to implement a tough running attack that is more smash mouth than it is considered to be elusive. So entering the 2007 season the Falcons running attack is a bit of an enigma. The backs most likely to carry the load for the Falcons in 2007 are Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood, both of whom are on the smallish side and ran in the zone-blocking scheme last season, so the new switch in running philosophy could hinder the talents of both individuals and make for inconsistent performances. When considering the Falcons rushing attack one must also take into consideration the fact that their QB Michael Vick ran for over 1,000 yards last season so even though one of these two talented running backs may become the more featured back, they may not even perform at a higher level from a rushing standpoint in fantasy football than their own quarterback. There is rumor floating out of Atlanta that Bobby Petrino and Co. really like Jason Snelling the rookie fullback that they drafted in the 7^th round, enough in fact that they are considering using him to carry the ball occasionally.

Recommendation: Warrick Dunn is a year older and once again skeptics will say that he is going to break down and will let him slide in the draft further he probably should, don’t let yourself be one of those unfortunate owners. Jerious Norwood isn’t ready to carry the burden of being a full-time running back quite yet, he will still boost a dynamic per carry average and will have several long runs throughout the season, but he will be one of the more inconsistent runners in the league in 2007. I would draft Warrick Dunn in the middle portion of Round 3, Norwood in Round 7-8 and I would only suggest drafting rookie Jason Snelling if you are in a league that has a very deep bench. 
 

• Carolina Panthers: Many fantasy football owners (myself included) expected DeAngelo Williams to take over for DeShaun Foster during the 2006 season sooner rather than later, however, Williams never could shake injuries and performed like a rookie much of the time, so tentatively DeShaun Foster still remains #1 on the Panthers depth chart. The Panthers are a team that I do expect to bounce back in a big way in 2007, so whoever can take the #1 duties will benefit greatly from this. Nick Goings and Eric Shelton remain on the roster, but they have no fantasy relevance at this time.

Recommendation: It is basically a coin-flip at this point wagering who will be the primary ball carrier in 2007 for the Carolina Panthers. DeAngelo Williams has the more dynamic skill set and overall game, but DeShaun Foster is slightly better at grinding it out and has more experience. My best guess is that Williams will overtake Foster this season at some point and will develop into the more featured back. I would consider selecting Williams with a late 3^rd round selection, but I would be more comfortable selecting him in the 4^th if I was participating in a fantasy draft today. I would select Foster, depending on how the draft seems to be going, somewhere around the 9^th round. I do not believe I will be a fantasy owner with Nick Goings or Eric Shelton on my roster. 
 

• New Orleans Saints: There hasn’t been a more dynamic backfield in recent memory than the New Orleans Saints duo of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. Talk about your thunder and lightning combination, with Bush having the ability to take every play to the house and with Sean Payton’s ability to utilize his unique abilities make him a fantasy megastar waiting to happen, and McAllister is the hammer of the offense. When times get tough, and the Saints need that tough yard or two they rely on McAllister, and in doing so he still remains a fantasy machine. In a surprising move the Saints selected Antonio Pittman with their 4^th round selection, which was a curious move for sure. Forecasting his role in this offense is difficult, but one must figure that the Saints could use him on 3^rd downs when they option Bush out to receiver, and if nothing else Pittman provides the Saints with a backup in case Reggie Bush or Deuce McAllister go down due to injury.

Recommendation: If you have a late first round, early second round selection you must consider taking Reggie Bush. He may not get all the touches, but what he does with the ones he gets is remarkable and it is always nice when you get that double digit play for your fantasy team.. Deuce McAllister may not receive all the fan fare like one Reggie Bush, but his fantasy impact is just about as grand. McAllister has 3^rd round value written all over him, and you will have to put up with those occasional games where Reggie Bush gets all the highlights and possibly the better fantasy numbers, but in the long run McAllister will produce very well for your fantasy team. Antonio Pittman is a pretty neat ‘sleeper’ prospect due to the fact that he plays for a team that knows how to get the ball to playmakers and if Reggie Bush goes down due to any ailments than Pittman could fill in for his fantasy numbers.
 

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Fantasy Football had a new running back darling at the beginning of the 2005 NFL season when rookie sensation Cadillac Williams broke onto the scene. The beginning of Cadillac Williams career was as spectacular a debut that the NFL has seen in some time, however, since that time the Cadillac hasn’t run as well and has been in the shop on several occasions. Cadillac did not break the 800 yard rushing mark, which was a significant decline in production from his rookie campaign, but the entire 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneer season was a lost cause, so I don’t place all the blame on Caddy. Michael Pittman remains the back-up and runs hard and catches the ball well out of the backfield, so he still has some value in fantasy leagues as a hand-cuff for Williams. Mike Alstott remains on the roster as well, but I wouldn’t draft him, unless you are the nostalgic type. The Buccaneers selected Ken Darby in the 7^th round of the 2007 draft, but he has zero fantasy value in your fantasy leagues this fall.

Recommendation: Head Coach Jon Gruden discussed the possibility of bringing in rookie RB Adrian Peterson to team up with starter Cadillac Williams in what would be an ultra-talented running back by committee (RBBC), but most of that talk was probably smoke blowing prior to the draft. If it means giving Williams 30+ touches in order for the Buccaneers to win football games, then Gruden will wear the tread right off the tires of Cadillac. Cadillac Williams is flying under the radar slightly in fantasy leagues according to his 2006 performance; however, this is a huge mistake. He has a ton of talent and will return to his 2005 self, and will be far removed from the player fantasy football fans saw in 2006. Most publications and articles will insist you stay away from Cadillac until round 4-5, I am here to tell you that he will produce 2^nd round type value in 2007 and if you can get him in the 3^rd round you select him without hesitation.  
 

NFC WEST: 
 

• Arizona Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals have a new coaching staff and a new offensive philosophy and have stated publicly that they will remain on developing a rushing attack, evidenced by the selection of OT Levi Brown with the 5^th overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, and staying committed to the running game is something Arizona has lacked for some time. This is good news for fantasy owners who have Edgerrin James. James brought the promise of a star running back to the Desert, but never became the significant upgrade that the Cardinals thought they had gotten when they invested a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal in the former Colt. Some owners feel that Edgerrin James may not be the same back he once was, due to age and injuries suffered during his illustrious NFL career, and although concern is apparent, James still has the skills to be a solid #2 fantasy back for your squad. Marcel Shipp is 2^nd on the depth chart and became a hot free agent pick-up last season when it appeared he had become the goal-line back. JJ Arrington is 3^rd on the depth chart, but it doesn’t appear that he is cut out to be a full-time NFL RB, and at best is a 3^rd down change of pace back.

Recommendation: In an offense that has two All-World Wide Receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin and the team’s Franchise QB Matt Leinart in place, the starting RB for the Arizona Cardinals is going to have fantasy legitimacy from this point going forward. In 2007 that RB will be Edgerrin James and if you have a mid-late 2^nd round pick and James is still on the board I would select him as he will be a cornerstone in one of the better offensive attacks in the National Football League. Marcel Shipp should be selected as a lower-tier backup RB and is the kind of back that is normally found on the waiver wire during the season, so whether he is worth a draft selection is debatable. Unless James goes down due to a serious injury or if desperation is setting in during the season, do not have JJ Arrington on your fantasy team. 
 

• St. Louis Rams: Prior to the 2006 Fantasy season the ‘Big 3’ at running back were considered to be Shaun Alexander, Larry Johnson, and LaDainian Tomlinson, and the same premise of the ‘Big 3’ exists heading into the 2007 Fantasy campaign however, one of the backs from the 2006 version (S.Alexander) has been replaced by new fantasy football favorite Steven Jackson. Jackson frustrated owners early in the 2006 season due to the fact that he had not accumulated the large TD numbers fantasy owners crave, but as the season progressed he delivered better fantasy numbers than any owner could have expected. In 2006 Steven Jackson churned up 2,300+ yards as well as 16 touchdowns, immediately jettisoning himself into the Fantasy Football elite. It was curious that the St. Louis Rams chose RB/FB Brian Leonard with their 2^nd round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, Leonard is a jack-of-all-trades type RB, who will only bring additional versatility to an already loaded St. Louis Rams offense. Travis Minor is 3^rd on the depth chart, and would be utilized as a 3^rd down RB on most teams, but since the Rams already have two backs ahead of him who are both excellent receivers out of the backfield, it is difficult to envision Minor having any impact with the St. Louis Rams in 2007.

Recommendation: As stated above the raging debate currently in Fantasy Football circles is: “Who should be taken with the 2^nd overall selection—Larry Johnson or Steven Jackson?” I surmise that Steven Jackson would be my choice due to his offensive overall progression and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, evidenced by 90 catches in 2006. Brian Leonard may cut in to Jackson’s receiving totals slightly, but I do not believe he will have a negative impact on Jackson’s overall fantasy numbers in 2007. I would select Jackson with the 2^nd or 3^rd overall selection in virtually any draft format, especially those that garner points per reception, and I would select Leonard somewhere around Round 10, as he could be utilized during bye weeks as a plug n’ play RB due to the fact that offensive minded Head Coach Scott Linehan would not have selected him if they weren’t going to give him a touch here and there. I don’t recommend drafting Travis Minor. 
 

• San Fransisco 49ers: Frank Gore broke on to the Fantasy Football world in 2006 in a huge way, and considering that he was drafted on an average in round 4 or later, he led the way for many fantasy teams to win their league championship. Gore produced close to 2,200 total yards of offense for a 49ers team that quickly realized that Gore was the featured attraction for their up and coming offense. Injury concerns persist when considering Frank Gore, due to the fact that he was injured on several occasions while at the University of Miami (FL) so owners of Gore should most assuredly select his “hand-cuff” who in 2007 will be either Maurice Hicks or Michael Robinson. Hicks and Robinson are on complete opposite sides of the RB spectrum, Hicks is a shifty, quick back and Robinson is a powerful, hammering goal-line type of RB. Monitoring the 49ers pre-season games would give Fantasy Football team owners the best way to predict who will win the #2 job.

Recommendation: Frank Gore has elevated his Fantasy Football status in just one full season as an NFL starter, so owners can’t wait for an encore performance. With excellent vision and the ability to take the ball the distance Gore is the best ‘home-run’ threat outside of one LDT. I would expect his yardage total to dip slightly, but for Gore’s TD totals to increase, essentially there is no reason Frank Gore should get out of the top 5 selection in any Fantasy Football League Draft. I would recommend that Michael Robinson be chosen as the back-up for Frank Gore. If there is one element of his game that he must improve on, Frank Gore must become a more consistent short yardage back, if he cannot, then Robinson could be utilized in that role specifically. Robinson deserves a look in the middle rounds and Maurice Hicks deserves consideration in the later portion of your Fantasy Football draft. 
 

• Seattle Seahawks: Shaun Alexander has been one of the top fantasy running backs for the better portion of this decade, and not even he could avoid being snake-bitten by the Madden Curse in 2006. That being said, despite missing 6 entire football games in 2006, Alexander still produced over 900 total yards of offense, so even though he is escalating in age, there still appears to be gas left in the tank heading into the 2007 NFL season. The Seahawks are still a pretty solid group on offense, I wouldn’t expect the 2005 version of Alexander nor would I expect the 2006 version, I would project conservatively and estimate approximately 1,400 total yards and 10 touchdowns, and expect even better totals if it appears as if he is back to 100% in the preseason. Maurice Morris remains the back-up for Alexander, but as evidenced when he took over for Alexander in 2006, Morris cannot handle the featured role in the National Football League. There does not appear to be another RB on the Seattle Seahawks roster who has any Fantasy Football relevance, so the Seahawks better hope for an injury-free season in 2007 from starter Shaun Alexander.

Recommendation: Shaun Alexander will be bypassed by some fantasy owners who are overly concerned with the injury he fell victim to last season. The likes of Ronnie Brown, Rudi Johnson, Cedric Benson could all see their names selected prior to Alexander’s, just don’t let yourself be that owner who makes such a blunder. Alexander has the ability to bounce back in a big way in 2007 and considering that the Seahawks will face the Cardinals defense, 49ers defense, and Rams defense each twice in 2007, Alexander has a higher projected rate of success than do the other backs listed above. If you’re a fantasy owner who has a pick in the bottom half of the first round, Shaun Alexander should be the first name on the top of your wish list. Maurice Morris should once again be the RB counter on as the handcuff in case Alexander endures another injury, but in case this occurs, don’t expect eye-popping numbers from Morris and explore trade options in this event.