Fantasy Football Player Rankings & Projections
2008 Running Back Preseason Preview
Marion Barber
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Marion "The Barbarian"
doing what he does best...finding the end zone. A new fat
contract means Barber will carry a bigger load in 2008,
but with #1 pick RB Felix Jones the question is, how much
bigger? |
8. Marion Barber - Cowboys - 2008 Preview:
Exit Julius Jones, enter running back Felix Jones, the Cowboys #1
draft pick. Just when it looked like Barber would be primed for
a fantasy top ten season, new fat contract and all, the Cowboys
draft a another running back and seem to be set on continuing the
one-two punch they have used over the last couple years. With that
said, Barber is being paid as an every-down-back and will at least
now be the starter. This should improve his stats enough to crack
the top ten and if Felix Jones fails Barber could easily become
a top 5 back.
2007 Statistics:
978 Yds - 10 TD's - 44 Rec - 282 Yds - 2 TD's.
2008 Projection:
1,219 Yds - 12 TD's - 40 Rec - 285 Yds - 2 TD's.
9. Larry Johnson - Chiefs - 2008 Preview:
The loss of key offensive lineman turned Superman back into
Clark Kent. Will Larry Johnson rebound and return to his 2005 and
2006 form? No. The Chiefs simply do not have the same team to provide
the opportunity for L.J. to return to dominance. Johnson will return
to human form, but he will still be a top running back and be worthy
of a low first-round or high second-round selection. The Chiefs
did add guard Branden Albert with their second #1 pick, but Johnson's
success will also depend on the quarterback play and current Chief
quarterback Brodie Croyle, even with his potential, will not have
competing defenses forgetting the Johnson is the man to stop to
beat the Chiefs
2007 Statistics:
559 Yds - 3 TD's - 30 Rec - 186 Yds - 1 TD.
2008 Projection:
1,359 Yds - 13 TD's - 41 Rec - 355 Yds - 2 TD's.
10. Marshawn Lynch - Bills - 2008 Preview:
He had some off season legal issues that cast some worry over his
2008 draft position, but it seems as if that has been cleared up.
Lynch came up big as a rookie topping the 1,100 yard mark in just
13 starts. If the Bills passing game can move up a notch with the
young Trent Edwards, the Bills will get in the end zone more and
Lynch will have a shot at becoming a top-flight fantasy running
back.
2007 Statistics:
1,115 Yds - 7 TD's - 18 Rec - 184 Yds - 0 TD's.
2008 Projection:
1,305 Yds - 9 TD's - 28 Rec - 205 Yds - 1 TD.
11. Ryan Grant - Packers - 2008 Preview:
The free agent find of 2007 comes into 2008 with big expectations.
Grant rushed for a league-lead 929 yards in the second half of the
season. A undrafted player coming out of nowhere should concern
fantasy owners, but Ryan Grant could have been the #1 player in
fantasy football if he had played a full season. That is a big if
and based on projection only. Nevertheless, he did it and he is
worth the risk. Brett Farve retiring does put some cloud over the
Packers offense, but not enough to stay away from Grant. He is projected
to finish higher than Gore and Addai and could finish as high as
#3 overall, but he is ranked lower because of his lack of a proven
record.
2007 Statistics:
956 Yds - 8 TD's - 30 Rec - 145 Yds - 0 TD's.
2008 Projection:
1,501 Yds - 13 TD's - 41 Rec - 286 Yds - 1 TD.
12. Thomas Jones - Jets - 2008 Preview:
Jones has always been a solid back, but never much of a fantasy
back. Enter Brett Favre and things change. Favre will not only open
the run game up a bit, it should give Jones some much needed goal
line carries. In addition, the Jets' offensive line is coming together
and should take it up a notch in 2008.
2007 Statistics:
1,119 Yds - 1 TD - 28 Rec - 217 Yds - 1 TD.
2008 Projection:
1,209 Yds - 7 TD's - 33 Rec - 240 Yds - 1 TD.
13. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jaguars - 2008 Preview:
There is a lot of hype about Jones-Drew in fantasy circles, but
why? Yes he has the talent to be a fantasy stud and yes his explosiveness
makes him a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The
problem? Well, Jack Del Rio and Fred Taylor. This is a true two-back
system, therefore Drew's fantasy value is much lower than his talent.
Let's not forget his stats went down across the board from his rookie
2006 season. One bright spot is he can add points with his return
yardage and TD's. Unless there is a change in Jacksonville's offensive
philosophy, Jones-Drew is just another solid fantasy back.
2006 Statistics:
768 Yds - 9 TD's - 40 Rec - 407 Yds - 0 TD's.
2008 Projection:
1,170 Yds - 8 TD's - 33 Rec - 283 Yds - 1 TD.
14. Michael Turner - Falcons - 2008 Preview:
There is a lot of excitement from fantasy owners over finally seeing
Turner in a starting role. It seems when ever Turner has been giving
a chance backing-up LaDainian Tomlinson, he has come through, averaging
5.5 yards everytime he ran the ball. The problem is he is not running
in San Diego anymore. The Atlanta Falcons do not have a offensive
line like the Chargers, let alone a offense with other distractions.
Unless Chris Redman's late season performances are for real, rookie
Matt Ryan will be starting and throwing to an average core of receivers.
The Falcons did add OT Sam Baker in the late first round of the
2008 draft, but unless there is a major improvement in the Falcon's
offense, Turner will struggle to put up big fantasy numbers.
2007 Statistics:
316 Yds - 1 TD - 4 Rec - 16 Yds - 0 TD's.
2008 Projection:
1,305 Yds - 8 TD's - 16 Rec - 126 Yds - 0 TD's.
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15. Darren McFadden - Raiders - 2008 Preview:
The Raiders #1 pick (5th overall) will start from day one. The Raiders
have a good offensive line and a solid, young offense that should
provide McFadden with an excellent opportunity to shine. He has
the potential to be close to this years Adrian Peterson, but it
will be impossible to say that until at least preseason. Keep up
on the raiders preseason games and see how McFadden performs. This
is where Peterson showed he was a big-time back and if McFadden
does the same, he is a top ten fantasy pick.
2007 Statistics:
DID NOT PLAY.
2008 Projection:
1,180 Yds - 9 TD's - 26 Rec - 265 Yds - 1 TD.
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