Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Rich Arleo
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::WEEK 1 RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2010::

The 2010 fantasy football season is finally upon us, and it’s time to look at the Week 1 Running Back Rankings. There haven’t been any games played yet, so there’s really not much to look at aside from last season’s stats as well as preseason developments. It’s not just a clean slate for the players, but it’s a clean slate for you as well. It’s always good to start off the season with a win and get your momentum going, so here are the guys you want for Week 1.

**RANKINGS BASED ON STANDARD SCORING - 1 POINT PER 10 YARDS RUSHING, 1 POINT PER 10 YARDS RECEIVING, 6 POINTS ALL TOUCHDOWNS, -2 POINTS ALL FUMBLES**

1. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) vs. Oakland

There are a lot of things to love about Chris Johnson in Week 1. He’s fresh off a ridiculous 2009 campaign and gets to face the Oakland Raiders defense at home to start off 2010. He’s being taken first overall in many drafts, and rightfully so. The additions of Kamerion Wimbley (who had four sacks in a game against the Chicago Bears this preseason) and first-round pick Rolando McClain will help Oakland’s defense, but it’ll take more than that to stop Johnson. If you were lucky enough to have a high enough pick to nab Johnson, you’ll reap the benefits early.
Point Projection: 24 points

2. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) @ New Orleans

The fact that many consider Peterson’s 2009 to be a bit disappointing says a lot about his skills. His 18 touchdowns are nothing to scoff at, and neither is 1,383 rushing yards. Peterson needs to control his one bugaboo and stop fumbling the ball so much, but as long as the ball is firmly in his hands, there aren’t many more threatening runners in the NFL. Peterson and the Vikings get a tough matchup having to travel to New Orleans to face the very same Saints team that ended their 2009 season. Peterson managed three touchdowns in that game, but also put the Vikings in trouble with two fumbles. As long as Peterson can keep the ball off the ground, he’ll have a great start to the season.
Point Projection: 22 points

3. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Denver

MJD finally got the full workload in Jacksonville in 2009, and he didn’t disappoint. He totaled 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground in 312 attempts, while also continuing to be a threat through the air (53 catches, 374 yards, 1 TD). MJD has been plagued by a knee injury that has kept him out of most of the preseason and even slightly dropped his draft position, but he says he’s ready to go for Week 1 barring any setbacks, and that’s enough to rank him third among running backs for Week 1. The Jaguars are at home, and only six teams allowed more rushing yards than the Denver Broncos in 2009. Start Jones-Drew with confidence.
Point Projection: 19 points

4. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) vs. Arizona

Health. Health. Health. That’s the key for Jackson, who when healthy is easily a top five running back in the NFL and in fantasy football. He managed to play in 15 games in 2009, but underwent back surgery in April. Jackson looks good to go to begin the season, and faces an average rushing defense at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Consider the fact that Jackson only managed four touchdowns last season a bit of a fluke, and expect him to pile up the points in Week 1.
Point Projection: 19 points

5. Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) @ Seattle

Gore had his best game of 2009 in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, totaling 207 rush yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. The Niners curiously ran Gore only nine times in their next match up against Seattle and lost, so it’s a safe bet they won’t make that mistake again. Gore is the 49ers workhorse and should get plenty of carries, despite San Francisco having two formidable backups Brian Westbrook  and Anthony Dixon. Conventional wisdom would have Gore over 100 yards with at least one touchdown, and if he gets rolling against a Seattle fantasy football owners can expect more.
Point Projection: 18 points

6. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) @ Pittsburgh

Turner struggled through the last few weeks of the season due to injury, but the burner looks ready to go for the start of 2010. He is one of the few backs in the league not splitting carries and he should get plenty of touches in the Falcons’ Week 1 match up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Historically, the Steelers have had a solid run defense, but a healthy Turner getting over 20 carries should be able to rack up the fantasy football points. Aside from Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, quarterback Matt Ryan doesn’t have too many options through the air, so Turner will be needed all season. As long as he stays healthy, he should be a top five running back back in 2010 and he’ll be on his way after Week 1.
Point Projection: 17 points

7. Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) @ Philadelphia

Grant is a guy that isn’t very flashy, but with no other legitimate option to take carries in Green Bay, the consistent Grant will be a solid RB1 week in and week out. Grant had 1253 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009, and he shouldn’t have any problem repeating those numbers this season. Backup Brandon Jackson has looked solid this season and will be a good backup to Grant, but he’s just that, a backup and nothing more. As long as Grant stays healthy and continues to produce, he’s the guy in Green Bay and will start producing in his Week 1 match up against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had a solid run defense in 2009, but Grant shouldn’t have a problem racking up a decent amount of points against them.
Point Projection: 16 points

8. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Atlanta

Mendenhall has the Steelers running back job all to himself for 2010, and with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missing the first four weeks, the Steelers will lean on a healthy Mendenhall early and often to begin the season. One worry is that defenses may stack the box against him since they only have to worry about Dennis Dixon throwing the passes, but if Dixon can at least prove himself in the least bit, then Mendy should be able to run free. The Atlanta Falcons run defense was middle of the pack in 2009, and with Mendenhall likely to get at least 20-plus touches a game, he’s a good option with a high ceiling early in the season.
Point Projection: 16 points

9. Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers) @. Kansas City

The rookie out of Fresno State will be thrust into the starting role right out of the gate in San Diego, and if his progress throughout the preseason is any indication, Mathews looks more than ready and willing to take that position and run with it, literally. It’s rare for a rookie runner to be drafted in the first or second round, but with the starting gig in San Diego’s offense locked up, Mathews is in a great position to succeed. Mathews totaled 1808 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry with Fresno State in 2009, so he obviously knows how to run the ball. How that will translate in the NFL is yet to be seen, but Mathews is fortunate enough to play in one of the NFL’s best offenses and should shine right away., Things couldn’t be easier for the rookie, as San Diego takes on a Kansas City Chiefs defense that allowed 156 rushing yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns a year ago.
Point Projection: 16 points

10. DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) @ New York Giants

Many strayed away from Williams and Jonathan Stewart in 2009 drafts after the news that they would be splitting carries surfaced. Those who took a chance on either back, however, were pleasantly surprised at the fact that despite splitting carries, they both produced over 1,000 yards on the ground. Williams missed three games and only managed seven touchdowns, but he was also able to rack up over 250 passing yards to total 1,369 all-purpose yards despite not being the unquestioned number one. Williams is 100 percent and ready to start the season, and if 2009 was any indication, Williams and Stewart should have no problem coexisting in the backfield for another year. With the unproven Matt Moore under center, the Panthers will look to their backs to torture defenses on the ground, and Williams will start that trend with the New York Giants in Week 1.
Point Projection: 16 points

11. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) @ Buffalo

Brown got off to a blistering start to 2009 and had 648 yards and eight touchdowns through the first nine weeks of the season before breaking his foot in mid-November, cutting short what was looking like a very promising year for Brown. The injury scares you because it’s not the first time he’s missed a significant portion of the season due to injury (Brown only appeared in seven games in 2007 before a knee injury cut his season short). When Brown is healthy, there’s a lot to like about him, and he seems to have a nose for the end zone. He will split carries with Ricky Williams again in 2010, but should get the bulk of carries. Both backs, however, should have no problem putting up big points in Week 1 against the sorry Buffalo Bills.
Point Projection: 15 points

12. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) vs. Detroit

Forte struggled to find the end zone in his sophomore season with the Bears in 2009, totaling just four touchdowns in 16 games. Touchdowns are such a sporadic stat that fantasy owners shouldn’t be surprised if Forte at the very least doubles that number in 2010. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz might love to throw the ball, but that didn’t stop Marshall Faulk in his days with the Rams did it? Forte has all the skills to be a big-play back, and after a solid preseason he looks ready to prove that this year. Some think that Chester Taylor may eat into his carries this year, but either way, Forte should put up big numbers in his Week 1 match up against the Detroit Lions, whom Forte had two 100-yard games against last season.
Point Projection: 15 points

13. Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. San Diego

After totaling 714 yards in the final five weeks of 2009, Charles was high on many draft boards before the Chiefs signed Thomas Jones, which seemed to hurt his value a bit. Charles, however, outshined Jones this preseason and looks to be the feature back in the Chiefs offense. In a Week 11 match up at San Diego last season, Charles had 93 yards and a touchdown, so look for Charles to get enough opportunity to put up some points against them again in Week 1.
Point Projection: 15 points

14. Jerome Harrison (Cleveland Browns) @ Tampa Bay

Rookie Montario Hardesty will not get a chance to hurt Harrison’s fantasy value since he is now out for the season, so Harrison is a safer bet now than he’s been all preseason. When he finally got the carries in 2009, Harrison exploded for 561 yards and five touchdowns in the final three weeks of the season. Head coach Eric Mangini recently said the Harrison will get a lot of work starting in Week 1, so expect him to rack up the yards and find the end zone at least once against a weak Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.
Point Projection: 15 points

15. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) @ Jacksonville

Moreno hasn’t played all preseason with a hamstring injury, but is expected to start Week 1 against the Jaguars, who had a very weak rush defense in 2009. The Jags added defensive end Aaron Kampman and rookie defensive end Tyson Alualu (10th overall), so their run defense and pass rush may be improved this season. Everyone knows Moreno has the skills, and as long as he can overcome his hammy concerns, he’ll produce right away.
Point Projection: 14 points