Analysis: He puts fear in defenses every time he touches the ball. Imagine if he had real help from the passing game?
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings Comment: A.P. is back with an even better offensive line. He has the size, strength, and vision to do a lot of damage this season. He also proved that he is durable and can hold up for an entire season after missing games in every year going all the back to his freshmen year in college. All Day should prove to be the best back in the NFL again this season.
Analysis: He answered a lot of questions last season as to whether he could be a feature back. Now he has to show he can do it again.
2. Michael Turner, Falcons Comment: Turner looks to duplicate last year's success with the Falcons. The big back will be prime real estate in a declining backfield. Look for Turner to have another successful year as team's can't load the box with eight, because Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez will look to keep the defense honest with an improved passing attack.
Analysis: The injuries on the offensive line really hurt him last season, but that line will be better this season and so will Jackson.
3. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers Comment: Williams gained 1,515 yards and scored 18 TDs as the featured back in the Panthers' offense. And will only look to improve on those stats. Finally given the chance to carry the full load in Carolina, he more than proved that he was up to the task by doubling his career rushing totals to that point.
Analysis: He had his breakout season in 2008, but he will share more of the load with Jonathan Stewart in 2009.
4. Brian Westbrook, Eagles Comment: Westbrook is coming off surgery and doesn't have the rushing totals of some of the other RBs on this list, but he more than makes up with his playmaking skills and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin can get open and get more balls thrown their way Westbrook might get the rest he needs and be able to finish the season strong.
Analysis: He's an all-purpose threat who can be an inside runner. He does have some injury concerns.
5. Clinton Portis, Redskins Comment: Portis has become the workhorse of the Redskins' offense the past few years with over 300 carries. He did slow down at the end of last season but at only 27, he still has a lot left in the tank. If Jason Campbell can develop into a better QB, Portis can be just as product with a few less carries.
Analysis: This might seem high, but he only scratched the surface as a rookie. He has as much explosiveness as Peterson.
6. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers Comment: In what was considered a down year for L.T., most other backs would love those stats. He posted 1,100 yards and 11 TDs, which is nothing to sneeze at. He finished the last two years watching the Chargers end the seasons with losses while he sat on the bench. But if he can come back 100% healthy, he is still a top 10 running back in this league.
Analysis: Is he done? I don't think so. He's ready for a bounce-back season.
7. Steven Jackson, Rams Comment: Jackson was another elite back whom stumbled a lot last year with injuries but when healthy Jackson is one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. With a nice combination of speed and strength Jackson can run by you or over you, expect him to come back healthy and be a threat in both the run and passing game.
Analysis: If the 49ers get better in the passing game, he'll be better. He's a tough inside runner who has the speed to rip off long runs.
8. Matt Forte, Bears Comment: Forte is young and he's good. He performed well above average in his rookie season and is looking to build on it. With the addition of Jay Cutler, the Bears should really be able to spread the field, which will create running room for the young back. If Chicago can get the passing game going, Forte should have another monster year.
Analysis: He has an impressive rookie season and his numbers will be even better in 2009 if he stays healthy. He's a slashing runner.
9. Chris Johnson, Titans Comment: Johnson is young, cocky and fast, he recently nicknamed himself every coaches' dream and while those are big words he more than backed it up in his rookie season. The combination of Johnson and LenDale White keep defenses guessing as to what is coming at them and Johnson is ready to show them just what he has to offer.
Analysis: With Fred Taylor gone, his numbers will go up. Can he handle 20 carries a game?
10. Brandon Jacobs, Giants Comment: Jacobs is 260 pounds of pure power. Even though he split time with other backs, Jacobs was able to pile up 1,000 yards and 15 TDs. Since Derrick Ward moved to a sunnier location with the Bucs, at least a quarter of Ward's 182 carries should belong to Jacobs. This could result in an easy 150 yards and a lot of punishment for some defensive players out there.
Stop all the Andre Johnson love. I will give a REAL top 10 list at the end of this message. Andre Johnson is NOT the best WR in football. Not in real life, not in fantasy. Stop all the "potential" love with Andre Johnson. Randy Moss is the best WR in football and its not even close. The numbers say so...
1st of all, Randy Moss, just so happened, to be on the 2 of the TOP SCORI
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I'm not surprised Prisco put Andre Johnson first. In an article last year he wrote "I've been pumping Johnson for years"; he then wrote a homoerotic novella titled "Don't Touch My Johnson". I think Andre Johnson is awesome, don't get me wrong. I just think Prisco has a man-crush on him.
I love to play fantasy football dont get me wrong but having drafts and leauges starting up even before training camp. Thats crazy. Last year pre-season players were suspend (Steve Smith, Panthers), and injured (Osi Umenyiora, Giants) before you can even play a single game of fantasy football. I think it is to big of a risk to have a darft and leauge started before players even start training
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I can agree with Willis being at the top of the list and even Ray Lewis on the other side. I am confused about these lists in a lot of ways, because I am not sure if they are taking the guys on merit or on name recognition. I am looking all the back to the Seymour pick as the #1 on one of the lists as one example...come on!
The lists are just opinions, and sometimes some of your favorit
How is there any doubt? He played with 6 QBs no help on the other side and no OLine to block for his QB or RB and he still had over 1300 yards and 12 TDs. Imagine if he had Peyton Manning throwing him the ball with Dallas Clark pullin over the safety and a good OLine to protect. The real list should be:
Alright calvin had better stats than other recievers (like wayne and marshall) and with with less catches and he plays for detroit. And tj lead the leaugue in cathces and he played for the bengals. i think wrs are hard to rank because so many guys have up and down yrs and a nobody can have a good year because he is not paid attention to. Take chad "ochocinco" jonson for example he was good for yea
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Come on guys, Andre Johnson caught 115 balls with two different QBs, and neither one of them are great passers. The Texans offense is not a pass happy one like the Cardinals, and if you look at the receiver on the opposite side of Larry Fitzgerald, it's easy to see why he is great. Doyo honestly think he would catch that many balls if Anquan Boldin wasn't on the other side??? Plus, Fitz has Kurt W
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It's almost like people get tired of Randy Moss being the best WR in the NFL year after year after year so guys like Prisco like to talk themselves into things like Johnson is the #1 receiver in the league, simply for the sake of being different.
Randy Moss is the best receiver in football and it's really quite silly to suggest that he's not.
For the 1,265 time, u are wrong AGAIN. Andre Johnson is NOT the best WR in the nfl. That right now, would be Larry Fitzgerald. This is not my opinion. He is a dominating player that directly changes the games he plays in. And NOBODY right now is more reliable at the possition whent he ball leaves the qb's hands. Sorry, u are stupid. I hate the steelers, but any list on top 1
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Come on now. #9. WHo bumped their head? He is a top 5 WR right now. And that is with bad QB's. If the QB's from Det. could stay off their ass long enough he would have posted better stats. I blame that on the O-Line. But in favor of Prisco(i cant believe i said that) Det was always playing from behind. All they would do was throw the deep ball after the 2nd half. THey were blown out by the en
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Without question, this is the easiest Top 10 poll to compile. Andre Johnson is a freak of nature, sage rosenfels and matt shaub combine to get this guy 115 catches And before that, he was playing David Carr, and he still racked up 103 catches. David Carr may be one of the worst QB's in the game. Prisco is right on with this list, Greg Jennings isnt consistant enough to make the Top 10, and Wes Wel
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Boldin in 12 games last year 89 Receptions, 1038 Rec Yards, 11 TDs
Fitzgerald in 16 games last year 96 Receptions, 1431 Rec Yards, 12 TDs
I'm not saying that Boldin is better than Fitzgerald. I think last years playoff run proved that Fitzgerald is the best WR in the league. But I feel that Boldin does not get enough respect in discussions of t
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I think Andre Johnson is an elite wide receiver, but the guy's never scored more than 8 TDs in a season. And no, it doesn't matter that his QB keeps getting hurt (or that his QB was David carr in the early years)... Calvin Johnson scored 12 times with a traveling freak show chucking passes to him last year. Heck, come to think of it, I'd rate Calvin Johnson over Andre. It's a
The cbssports member's list was a lot more accurate. Calvin Johnson put up over 160 more yards on 33 less catches with 9 more touchdowns than Welker. Oh and he PLAYED FOR THE 0-16 LIONS. Wes Welker plays for a passing happy juggernaut in New England who, lets face it, stats wise, didn't miss a beat. Johnson is a beast. I think the two Johnson's and Fitz a
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I'm not complaining but I could have predicted E.J. Henderson wouldn't be mentioned at all among the top 10 ILB's... He's always been overlooked and underappreciated. I'm not saying he's the top ILB or even Top 5 but I think he should be mentioned as a top 10 candidate... He's as big a part to our defen
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