Running Backs to Watch out for in '08

[H2o]

This is just my own list that I've compiled looking over the teams and their RB situations. Let's get started.

 

Johnathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) - I know, I know, starting off with a Rookie. I do expect big things out of this first year player though. At 5'10" and a solid 235lbs. this guy still has good straight line speed and enough agility to be able to put a juke on a defensive back. He's not as quick as some of the other backs in this league. But when the opposing defenses try to wrap him up, especially one on one, they will understand why the Panthers made him their #1 draft pick. He's very powerful in his running style. He'll be given every opportunity to succeed in Carolina and I don't have any doubt that he will. Do not be surprised if he is named OROY.

 

Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns) - Read an article the other day that said Jamal Lewis was in the best shape of his life. Well, since college anyway. They say he's under 240lbs. and looks alot quicker on the field than last season. He also says that he's had absolutely no problems with his ankle. You can here the resounding "Oh no" from all of the opponents on the Browns schedule. I think he could be ready to bust out again and by that I mean another season around 2,000 yards if he stays healthy. Cleveland has one of the 5 best O-Lines in the NFL and people aren't going to be able to key in on any one person because of all of the weapons they have. Alot of 6 and 7 man fronts for J-Lew = alot of yards in the ground game.

 

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) - We all feel this one. Only if Peters is throwing blocks from the LT position though. They are talking of him being more involved in the passing game also. Marshawn could very well end up leading the league in yards from scrimmage this season if he's utilized in the manner our team is talking about. He's got speed, power, agility, and good hands. He's the best back we've had since Thurman Thomas. If healthy for a full 16 game season, I see him ending up with atleast 1,600 yards and 15 TD's rushing along with about 400 yards receiving and 5 TD's from that. If we play as well as some are expecting, we could have a legitimate MVP canidate lining up in our backfield.

 

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) - We all saw the highlight reels this guy created last season and how he tore up the NFL as a rookie. When healthy, he's the best back in the NFL. Better than Ladanian or anybody else for that matter. He's the most explosive RB I've ever seen. He has a gear that he shifts into when he sees a crack of daylight through the line that could rival the acceleration of an Enzo Ferarri. He sees a hole, hits it, and the guy is off to the races. He puts moves on people on the football field that you would expect to see on a "And 1 Mixtape Tour" tv show. The Vikings too have one of the best O-Lines in the NFL with Hutchinson and McKennie anchoring their left side. This kid could break every rushing record their is IF he can stay healthy. In his second year at OU is when his injury problems started. Let's just hope the same trend didn't follow him to the NFL. Easily could break the single season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984 by Eric Dickerson.

 

Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) - This guy has turned into one of the premier all around backs in the NFL. It also helps when you have guys around you like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Marvin Harrison, and Anthony Gonzales. What this means is that people have to worry about alot more than just Addai which, in turn, opens up the field for the guy. He'll put up big #'s just like Edge did when he was in Indy. Count on it. 1,500 + yards rushing along with 400-500 yards receiving and a total TD mark between 16-20, if he stays healthy.

 

Overrated and over-hyped: #1 Stephen Jackson, #2 Larry Johnson, #3 Frank Gore, #4 Rudi Johnson (I think everyone else is beginning to notice too)

 

Also expect solid campaigns from Brian Westbrook, Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, and Clinton Portis. I think that LT's production drop off will begin this year because it has to start some time. Last year he started to battle some nagging injuries and we'll see if it carries over into this year. Could be the pounding starting to take it's toll.

[LongLiveRalph]

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) - We all feel this one. Only if Peters is throwing blocks from the LT position though. They are talking of him being more involved in the passing game also.

 

No question Lynch has a dynamic skill set, and with a young QB who has a propensity for the dump off, this could be the year for Lynch to rack up some receptions.

 

However, it seems like lately, it wouldn't be a Bills offseason if they weren't talking about how excited they are to get a RB and a TE more involved in the passing attack. I'm not holding my breath for the tight ends, so let's hope this is the year for Marshawn.

 

Also, if last year is any indication, Lynch will be pounded hard again in the run game...I love Freddy Jackson catching that swing pass too, if it saves Lynch a few hits per game.

 

Also-

 

I agree about Rudi too, he looks like he's aged 8 years in the last 3...

 

Westbrook is just awesome. Hate the Iggs but he's a joy to watch.

[Dante]

No LT?

[MartyBall4Buffalo]

Overrated and over-hyped: #1 Stephen Jackson, #2 Larry Johnson, #3 Frank Gore, #4 Rudi Johnson (I think everyone else is beginning to notice too)

 

Also expect solid campaigns from Brian Westbrook, Marion "The Barbarian" Barber, and Clinton Portis. I think that LT's production drop off will begin this year because it has to start some time. Last year he started to battle some nagging injuries and we'll see if it carries over into this year. Could be the pounding starting to take it's toll.

 

 

No real argument with the guys you listed so I cut that part out. As far as your overrated and overhyped list go. I disagree with it for the following reasons.

 

1. I don't follow the nba so I dont know if Stephen Jackson is overhyped or even part of the hype machine?

 

Jk but really Steven Jackson is a quality rb. You can't expect anyone to realistically get you 1500 yards and 90 catches every season. He's still very shifty for a guy his size, who can cut a lb or db out of his cleats, or run you over, or run bye you. He can be a quality receiver, and he's an everydown back. Hardly overrated.

 

2. I wouldn't say Larry Johnson is overrated either, so much as his running style, and the abuse he received at the hands of Herm Edwards in 06, has severely hampered him. I dont have the article infront of me, but Football Outsiders, awhile back did a nice article on the decline of rb's when they have 375+ carries in a season. They never end up the same. A little over a year ago I suggested the Chiefs should trade LJ, and move on. The team, with his age/running style/That offense. It just didn't make sense to keep him around long term. Other then wasting money. They could've exploited his great season for quality picks from another team. He might be overrated, from the standpoint of people still list him as a top 10 back, but look for further decline in his production.

 

3. I've heard so many people say this, at this point I'm gonna say he's underrated. He's on a team with no qb/no wr's, barely an offensive line, a bust of a premiere athletic te, and yet somehow he's managed 2 thousand+ yard seasons and 2 years with over 50 receptions hardly what I'd consider a bust. The guy is the definition of a workhorse. Don't ever ask him to spell workhorse, but he's a beast all the same.

 

4. I was never a fan of Rudi Johnson. I always thought the guy was simply a product of the offensive talent the bengals had, and quite possibly the most boring rb I've ever watched. Now I just think he's done. I'm gonna agree with overrated on this.

 

I guess my real beef comes with the "Expect quality years out of Brian Westbrook and Marion Barber and Clinton Portis" These 2 guys should never be grouped with Westbrook. Show me 1 rb in this league, sans LT who has showed the big play/game changing ability as a runner/receiver that Westbrook has. The guy is an amazing runner as well as a very natural receiver. Quite possibly the closest thing to Marshall Faulk since Faulk retired. By far the best player on the eagles, and a guy who can single handidly carry them, if Andy Reid ever realizes that the obvious that Westbrook is his best player, not McNabb. I expect him to again get over 1300 yards rushing and over 60 receptions. Maybe a 1000/1000 year out of him.

 

As far as Tomlinson declining. That's a wait and see. The carries could really catch up to him, but he still had over 1400 yards, which again led the league in yards, also again led the league in tds. Yeah the yards were down from 06, but cmon. How far of a decline are we talking about? It just doesn't add up yet. The guy may have a lot of carries, but he doesnt take the kind of shots other rb's take, and has kept himself very healthy. It's a rare breed these days.