Fantasy Football Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Running Back Preseason Preview
Ray Rice
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There is no doubt that Ray
Rice is fast becoming one of the best fantasy backs in the
2010 fantasy football draft, but how much will the expected
improved Raven passing game take away from his 2010 overall
fantasy potential? |
5. Ray Rice - Ravens - 2010 Preview:
The major break out of 2009 could be argued as the number one overall
player in 2009 fantasy football and thus preseason number one for
2010 for many reasons.
The biggest reason is the very good offense
that the Ravens are putting together. Joe Flacco is fast becoming
an excellent quarterback and with the addition of wide receivers
Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth, the Raven offense can fast become
one of the better offenses in the NFL.
The Raven offensive line is among the best in the league. 2009 #1
pick tackle Michael Oher is going to be a great player for years
to come.
The number that made Rice such a stud in 2009 was his incredible
78 receptions which put him into the Brian Westbrook category. This
will not happen again in 2010. This was more of a symptom of a problem
with the Raven offense than the desire to throw to Rice, and that
was the Ravens lack of receivers as well as Flacco's youth. Rice
is a great receiver out of the backfield, but his numbers will go
down in 2010.
A likely drawback to drafting Rice too high is his goal line ability.
At 5'8, 205 pounds he is not ideal at the goal line, but at 6'0,
260 pounds, fullback Le'Ron McClain is ideal and at 6'2, 232 pounds,
so is veteran Willis McGahee.
2009 Statistics:
1,339 Yds - 7 TD's - 78 Rec - 702 Yds - 1 TD
2010 Projection:
1,321 Yds - 8 TD's - 62 Rec - 581 Yds - 1 TD
6. Michael Turner - Falcons - 2010 Preview:
If not for an ankle injury that cost him the better part of six
games, Turner would have likely had a near repeat to his amazing
2008, 1,699 yard 17 touchdown season. He finished the season with
four 100 yards plus games and rolled in for ten touchdowns in the
ten full games he played.
The Falcons still have a very good, young offense and have a very
underrated offensive line. 2008 #1 Sam Baker is improving and can
still get better and the Falcons added third-round draft pick, guard
Mike Johnson, in the 2010 draft.
Turner has had a good offseason and is 100% healed from his injury
and the fact remains the is one of the best goal line backs in the
NFL. That's what a fantasy running back is all about. This should
add up to another big fantasy season for Turner.
2009 Statistics:
871 Yds - 10 TD's - 5 Rec - 35 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection:
1,499 Yds - 15 TD's - 8 Rec - 44 Yds - 0 TD's
7. Frank Gore - 49ers - 2010 Preview:
You can say that Gore has been a bit of a disappointment over the
last couple of seasons for fantasy owners because of his monster
2006 season when he rushed for nearly 1,700 yards and had 61 receptions.
When you consider his team's play over the last few years, you realize
it is not him.
Gore has been very consistent after his 2006 breakout, gaining about
1,100 yards with about 50 receptions over the last three seasons.
The fact remains that Gore still has the 2006 potential...again.
The rest of the 49er team will have to take a significant step up
for Gore to be a stud and there are two things that could do that.
First, getting consistent quarterback play would be huge. Alex Smith
showed he still just may yet be a good NFL quarterback. A full season
from receiver Michael Crabtree should help him succeed and that
will loosen up the defensive front a little.
Second the 49ers offensive line most imrove. In 2009 it was among
the worst in the league. The good news is the 49ers added two first-round
picks, Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati, to help the O-line. The question
will be how good are they and how soon they can mesh with the rest
of the line. This may determine whether Gore is a stud or just a
good fantasy back.
2009 Statistics:
1,120 Yds - 10 TD's - 56 Rec - 435 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection: 1,290
Yds - 11 TD's - 58 Rec - 498 Yds - 2 TD's
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8. Ryan Grant - Packers - 2009 Preview:
After Frank Gore, there is a drop off at the running back position.
Ryan Grant is not a stud but he remains one of the more underrated
fantasy backs. 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns is a pretty safe pick
for your number one running back.
The Packers are all about passing with Aaron Rodgers,
but that leads to lots of points and lots of goal line carries for
Grant. Not to mention when winter sets in, Grant gets more work
and thus makes a good playoff back. Yet another positive for Grant
is he is the man in Green Bay.
There is no second back. Brandon
Jackson is a classic third-down back with no chance of stealing
serious time from Grant.
The offensive line played well as run blockers, though lousy as
pass blocker. The Packers resigned veteran tackle Chad Clifton and
spent their #1 pick on tackle Bryan Bulaga and a fifth-round pick
on guard Marshall Newhouse so the line should improve notch in 2010
with the depth.
If you missed out on the studs and you like safe
picks, go with Ryan Grant.
2009 Statistics:
1,253 Yds - 11 TD's - 25 Rec - 197 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection: 1,322
Yds - 12 TD's - 24 Rec - 208 Yds - 0 TD's
9. DeAngelo Williams - Panthers - 2010 Preview:
The new trend over the last few years in the NFL is to have two
top-notch backs to pound defenses and this is no more prevalent
than in Carolina. And in no other situation is it more difficult
for fantasy owners to decide when to draft one of there two stud
running backs in Carolina, DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart.
DeAngelo Williams would be among the top-five if not for his teamate
Stewart, who too could be close to the top-five in talent.
The plus for Williams is that Stewart is coming off of toe surgery
so Williams should have the upper hand early on to get the starting
nod (Williams too had offseason surgery to clean up an ankle injury,
but it was less serious). In addition Williams is in a contract
year. With that said, Stewart played strong, even with the toe injury,
at the end of last season and may be one of the most talented back
in the NFL.
The bigger question for Williams may be he play of the Carolina
offense. First the offensive line is rather average, though it's
youth gives it some potential for improvement, but quarterback play
will be the big question. Matt Moore played well to end the season,
but is a huge question mark. The Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen
with their first pick (2nd round), but either way points may be
hard to come by in Carolina.
2009 Statistics:
1,117 Yds - 7 TD's - 29 Rec - 252 Yds - 0 TD's
2010 Projection: 1,301
Yds - 10 TD's - 36 Rec - 297 Yds - 1 TD
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