2007 RB Rankings

Here are my top 50 running backs, grouped into tiers. Each set of astersisks (***) represents a drop off in expected production:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego: 1,815 yards and 28 TDs rushing (5.2 yards per carry), 508 yards and 3 TDs receiving, 2 TD passes. We can’t honestly expect 28 TDs again this year. Right? With LT2, all things are possible.

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2. Steven Jackson, St. Louis: 1,528 yards and 13 TDs rushing (4.4 yards per carry), 806 yards and 3 TDs receiving. His personal goal is 2,500 total yards, which would break Marshall Faulk’s NFL record. Not out of the question for this dreadlocked dynamo.

3. Larry Johnson, Kansas City: 1,789 yards and 17 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 410 yards and 2 TDs receiving. Concerns include heavy workload, lack of talent around him and most importantly his holdout, but you have to figure Chiefs will do everything to get him on the field. They’re nothing without him.

4. Frank Gore, San Francisco: 1,695 yards and 8 TDs rushing (5.4 yards per carry), 485 yards and 1 TD receiving. Popular pick is an emerging star in an up-and-coming offense. Count on him entering the end zone more often this year.

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5. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis: 1,081 yards and 7 TDs rushing (4.8 yards per carry), 325 yards and 1 TD receiving. Steadily stole carries from Dominic Rhodes last year, and now has backfield all to himself.

6. Shaun Alexander, Seattle: 896 yards and 7 TDs rushing (3.6 yards per carry), 48 yards receiving. Foot injury crippled his ’06 campaign, but he says it’s all good now. Should be a TD machine again, but draft cautiously.

7. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh: 1,494 yards and 13 TDs rushing (4.4 yards per carry), 222 yards and 3 TDs receiving. Sore knee doesn’t seem serious, so his young legs should be ready to carry the load again. New coaching staff will get him the ball.

8. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia: 1,217 yards and 7 TDs rushing (5.1 yards per carry), 699 yards and 4 TDs receiving. Played 15 games last year, so maybe we can ditch the “oft-injured” tag. Receiving skills make him a No. 1 option.

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9. Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati: 1,309 yards and 12 TDs rushing (3.8 yards per carry), 124 yards receiving. May have lost a step, but Bengals aren’t afraid to keep feeding him the ball. Rookie Kenny Irons (torn ACL) won’t be around to steal carries, either.

10. Laurence Maroney, New England: 745 yards and 6 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 194 yards and 1 TD receiving. Corey Dillon is gone, and hopefully so are Maroney’s nagging injuries. He’ll be crossing the goal line often.

11. Travis Henry, Denver: 1,211 yards and 7 TDs rushing (4.5 yards per carry), 78 yards receiving. Ran for 1,200 yards with the Titans last year – just imagine what he can accomplish in Broncos’ star-making system.

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12. Ronnie Brown, Miami: 1,008 yards and 5 TDs rushing (4.2 yards per carry), 276 yards receiving. Was a letdown last year, but played in a clueless offense. New coach Cam Cameron – Tomlinson’s old coordinator – will find ways to give him touches.

13. Reggie Bush, New Orleans: 565 yards and 6 TDs rushing (3.6 yards per carry), 742 yards and 2 TDs receiving. He was electrifying last year – about half the time. Hopefully, with a year of experience comes some more consistency.

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14. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville: 941 yards and 13 TDs rushing (5.7 yards per carry), 436 yards and 2 TDs receiving. The secret’s out about the “human bowling ball.” Loads of potential, but he’s still not even a starter for the Jaguars, so have a trusted No. 1 in place if you take him.

15. Willis McGahee, Baltimore: 990 yards and 6 TDs rushing (3.8 yards per carry), 156 yards receiving. Should be rejuvenated as a Raven, or at least find the end zone a few more times.

16. Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets: 1,210 yards and 6 TDs rushing, 154 yards receiving. Jets see visions of Curtis Martin in their new workhorse. Monitor his recent leg injury, though.

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17. Edgerrin James, Arizona: 1,159 yards and 6 TDs rushing (3.4 yards per carry), 217 yards receiving. Edge ditched his gold grill in offseason and gained a new coaching staff that wants to establish running game. He’s still got a few carries left.

18. Cedric Benson, Chicago: 647 yards and 6 TDs rushing (4.1 yards per carry), 54 yards receiving. Finally gets his chance to be the starter, but jury’s out as to whether he’s ready, either physically or mentally. Seems like a good fit for Bears’ smashmouth style of offense, though.

19. Clinton Portis, Washington: 523 yards and 7 TDs rushing (4.1 yards per carry), 170 yards receiving. Dogged by injuries last year while backup Ladell Betts shined. If he’s healthy, he’s a star – and if he’s not, downgrade him.

20. Brandon Jacobs, N.Y. Giants: 423 yards and 9 TDs rushing (4.4 yards per carry), 149 yards receiving. Big boy gets first feature role with Tiki Barber now on TV. Reuben Droughns will get some action too, but Jacobs has a nose for the end zone.

21. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans: 1,057 yards and 10 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 198 yards receiving. More than a year removed from his knee injury and still only 28. Will get goal-line carries and deliver, but Bush might take a bigger role.

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22. Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay: 798 yards and 1 TD rushing (3.5 yards per carry), 196 yards receiving. Huge ’06 drop from his rookie season, but offensive line and QB play should be a little better. No Mike Alstott to steal TD plunges either.

23. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo: Rookie. Fresher legs and more advanced receiving skills should make him a better fit for Bills’ offense, but he’s got to prove it on the field. Nice upside though.

24. Marion Barber, Dallas: 654 yards and 14 TDs rushing (4.8 yards per carry), 196 yards and 2 TDs receiving. A little uncertainty about how Wade Phillips’ staff will use him and Julius Jones, but he’s proven himself as a short-yardage specialist. Still, hard to expect 14 TDs again.

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25. Ahman Green, Houston: 1,059 yards and 5 TDs rushing (4.0 yards per carry), 373 yards and 1 TD receiving. Doesn’t have as much mileage on him as you’d expect for an old dude, so last year’s numbers are approachable.

26. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta: 633 yards and 2 TDs rushing (6.4 yards per carry), 102 yards receiving. The buzz is youngster will get more touches than vet Warrick Dunn, which would boost his value big-time.

27. Ladell Betts, Washington: 1,154 yards and 4 TDs rushing (4.7 yards per carry), 445 yards and 1 TD receiving. Re-signed with Redskins in the offseason, so you know they plan to use him in a platoon at the very least. A clear handcuff to Portis with big upside.

28. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota: Rookie. Oklahoma product is the next big thing but has to split time with Chester Taylor for now. His day will come though – perhaps as soon as, say, Week 8 or so.

29. Chester Taylor, Minnesota: 1,216 yards and 6 TDs rushing (4.0 yards per carry) and 288 yards receiving. Dependable as a first-time starter in ’06 but took a beating. Probably begins year as the starter but is really just a caretaker for Peterson in long run.

30. Julius Jones, Dallas: 1,084 yards and 4 TDs rushing (4.1 yards per carry), 142 yards receiving. Has a lot to prove if he wants a new contract, especially with Barber hogging the short-yardage work.

31. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville: 1,146 yards and 5 TDs rushing (5.0 yards per carry), 242 yards and 1 TD receiving.

32. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland: 1,132 yards and 9 TDs rushing (3.6 yards per carry), 115 yards receiving.

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33. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: 501 yards and 1 TD rushing (4.1 yards per carry), 313 yards and 1 TD receiving.

34. Tatum Bell, Detroit: 1,025 yards and 2 TDs rushing (4.4 yards per carry), 115 yards receiving.

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35. DeShaun Foster, Carolina: 897 yards and 3 TDs rushing (4.0 yards per carry), 159 yards receiving.

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36. Kevin Jones, Detroit: 689 yards and 6 TDs rushing (3.8 yards per carry), 520 yards and 2 TDs receiving.

37. Warrick Dunn, Atlanta: 1,140 yards and 4 TDs rushing (4.0 yards per carry), 170 yards and 1 TD receiving.

38. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay: Rookie.

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39. LaMont Jordan, Oakland: 434 yards and 2 TDs rushing (3.8 yards per carry), 74 yards receiving.

40. Vernand Morency, Green Bay: 434 yards and 2 TDs rushing (4.5 yards per carry), 118 yards receiving.

41. Chris Henry, Tennessee: Rookie.

42. Michael Turner, San Diego: 502 yards and 2 TDs rushing (6.3 yards per carry), 47 yards receiving.

43. Reuben Droughns, N.Y. Giants: 758 yards and 4 TDs rushing (3.4 yards per carry), 169 yards receiving.

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44. Mike Bell, Denver: 677 yards and 8 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 158 yards receiving.

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45. Dominic Rhodes, Oakland: 641 yards and 5 TDs rushing (3.4 yards per carry), 251 yards receiving.

46. Adrian Peterson, Chicago: 41 yards and 2 TDs rushing (4.7 yards per carry), 88 yards receiving

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47. Maurice Morris, Seattle: 604 yards and 0 TDs rushing (3.8 yards per carry), 46 yards receiving.

48. Leon Washington, N.Y. Jets: 650 yards and 4 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 270 yards receiving.

49. Lendale White, Tennessee: 244 yards, 0 TDs (4.0 yards per carry).

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50. Anthony Thomas, Buffalo: 378 yards and 2 TDs rushing (3.5 yards per carry).