Something Extra Penalty [video]

Pittsburgh Steelers DB Keenan Lewis gets flagged on a play during Sunday Nights Preseason game with the Denver Broncos. Whatever he did was not appreciated by the ref who simply stated to it as “something extra at the end of the play.”

Judging by the hand motion of the ref, I can guess what the ‘something extra’ might be.

Check out the video below and keep an eye out for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin who looks a bit confused by the call.

Now this call of course brings up some great memories of refs making odd calls. The king is “Giving Him The Business” as seen here in this ACC game years back. I think “Giving Him The Business” is a bit different in “something extra at the end of the play” in that the player uses both hands when giving the business.

Here’s a couple of examples of “Giving Him The Business.”

Third Time’s A Charm. Maurice Clarett joins Omaha of UFL

Ask and you may get what you want. The strange saga of former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett continues as ESPN indicates Clarett has inked a one-year contract with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. This will be his first football gig since his dismal year with the Denver Broncos that ended quickly with an arrest.

Clarett had spent 3½ years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a Columbus, Ohio, bar, in 2006.

His short stint in the NFL came after a steallar college career came to a halt when in 2003 he was suspended for taking gifts and lying to the NCAA. He tried to go the NFL after that but he was too young to enter the draft so he sued.

Clarett lost a court case challenging the NFL’s rule requiring a player to be out of high school three years before becoming eligible for the draft. He did finally end up with Denver but didn’t stay long.

Now after 3.5 years in jail Clarett is trying his hand at the UFL, a small league that plays in the fall. The trick came when a judge had to approve Clarett to leave the state, which a judge allowed for 30 days. The UFL and Clarett are appealing to have the leave granted for the entire UFL season.

Tuesday Hipster Pigskin Doctors Links

The 17 T-Shirts Every College Student Owns – BroBible
Pizza and T-shirts. The currency of college. And with every currency, there is a value placed on the T-shirts that any Bro/Brah obtains. This value scale goes all the way from the sad orientation shirts that everyone gets to the highly coveted vintage greek event shirt.

Hipster Dinosaurs – Fork Party
Who knew dinosaurs could be so darn hipster? Trendy and pretentious, here are some little tidbits of advice from our favorite hipster dinosaurs, drawn with crayons by Molly Lewis!

Is It Zooey Deschanel or Katy Perry? – Dave and Thomas
I’m always confused whenever I see Katy Perry or Zooey Deschanel. It’s really kinda crazy how much these doe-eyed ladies look alike and for awhile I thought they were the same person.

Jose Canpsycho Is At It Again On Twitter – Sharapova’s Thighs
If you’ve followed us much this year, you’ve likely seen our posts about Jose Canseco, and the crazy things he spews on his Twitter account. It’s extremely entertaining stuff, if you can handle the extreme vulgarity, and the ridiculousness of it all

Introducing the Sink/Urinal – The Noob Dad
Just don’t forget which end is which.

25 Photos That Prove Hipsters Suck – Manofest
Hipsters are the current scourge of American urban society. The’re a scary breed of moronic twenty-something douchebag posers who drink coffee in independently run cafes, only drink in dive bars, listen to “undiscovered” music that is undiscovered for a reason and only watch foreign films all while condemning anything popular.

Real Fun with Fake Weed – The Smoking Jacket
With that said, all bets are off when it comes to the legal stuff. So when the people at TopK2.com sent us a bunch of perfectly legal synthetic marijuana (legal in the state we’re writing this in, anyway) we did what any responsible comedy site would do. We blazed that shit up.

And now, some cheerleaders to cheer you up!

Troy Polamalu Hair Insured for $1 Million

It’s official. Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu now has the most expensive hair in the NFL. He’s long joked that his ability to be one of the best defensive players ever comes from his locks and now there’s an insurance policy to prove just that.

In an effort to help promote their Head and Shoulders line of shampoos, which Polamalu is an endorsed sponsor, the company has issued a $1 million policy for the legendary Polamalu locks with Lloyd’s of London.

No specifics were given as to what would have to happen for the insurance policy to kick in but when Larry Johnson played with the Chiefs he might have had the right idea.

Big Suh! Ndamukong Suh Brutal Tackle [video]

Welcome to the NFL, Ndamukong Suh. And welcome to Roger Goodell’s dog house.

Ndamukong Suh tackles Cleveland quarterback Jake Delhomme with a wicked facemask followed by a totally unnecessary takedown which might make Dick Butkus blush.  Or Albert Haynesworth.

Suh grabbed the facemask to stop Delhomme but got a little carried away and then tried to rip the head off of the QB. That headhunting technique works well in the WWE but here that will get you a penalty and most likely a fine from the Commissioner.

Delhomme was not injured on the play and continued the game. Suh was only flagged with one penalty but should’ve gotten 2 and possibly the boot from the game.

2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

Receivers, like running backs, are in a state of flux this season. As the best offenses in the NFL continue to spread the ball around, finding consistent options at WR isn’t easy. Beyond the top 15 to 20 receivers, it’s a bit of a crapshoot. There’s a healthy mix of safe veterans and high-upside players who’ve played three seasons or less.

When drafting receivers, there are two concerns. One, if it’s a PPR league, get them early. Two, if it isn’t a PPR league, seek out value. Inevitably guys are going to be undervalued and slip in the draft. For example, Anquan Boldin of the Baltimore Ravens is slipping in drafts.

As a bit of strategy for 2010, tight ends start to fly off the board in round 5. As teams shift their focus away from receivers, one is bound to fall in your lap. Don’t follow the crowd here. Instead, grab a receiver like the 49ers WR Michael Crabtree or Jags WR Mike Sims-Walker. Both these guys are solid WR2s and even better flex options. Focus on how far a guy has slid and where you are in the draft rather than worrying about filling your roster positions.

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Quarterbacks, Running Backs)

Rankings

Tier 1 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 7)
2. Randy Moss – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)

I was tempted to have Johnson alone in this tier but if I were that critical, I’d end up with 20 tiers. Johnson is the best receiver in the game hands down. As evidenced by his average draft position ranging from No. 5 to No. 10. Johnson is a lock to finish amongst the top five receivers in fantasy football this season, barring injury. Moss belongs here because of his touchdown production. Since coming to New England, he’s averaged 16 touchdowns per season. Nobody else in the league can touch that number. Johnson and Moss can both win games for you single-handedly, that’s why they’re Tier 1.

Tier 2 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

3. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
4. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
5. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)

Tier 2 and Tier 3 are highly debatable. There are about ten guys that are all tightly packed together. It’s all personal preference.

Wayne is still the clear No. 1 WR on one of the best offenses in the NFL. Marshall, I feel, could be the No. 1 WR this season. The Dolphins have no one to throw to and Marshall has the ability to take over games. Fitzgerald was the No. 2 ranked fantasy receiver heading into the offseason, but with the realization that Matt Leinart was his QB and now Derek Anderson will be his QB, he’s been steadily slipping down draft boards.

Tier 3 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

6. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
7. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
8. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )
9. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
10. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )

If the Cowboys can get him more possession catches, rather than relying on him to make big plays only, Austin could explode.

Calvin Johnson is the most risky selection here simply because there’s no telling what the Lions will be able to do for him. Chemistry may improve between he and Stafford but we still need to see it.

White continues to be under the radar despite being eerily consistent the last three seasons (averaging 86 receptions, 1225 yards, 8 TDs). He’s coming into his prime and seems to improve every season.

Jennings has emerged in Green Bay as a stud despite an underachieving 2009 season. He can only improve upon those numbers, especially with Aaron Rodgers slinging 30+ touchdowns every year.

The unknown factor for Jackson is how well or how poorly Kevin Kolb ends up. Jackson is a game-breaker, but he had more than six receptions in only two games last year. I prefer guys who score 12 points per game every game rather than a guy who scores two one week and 30 the next.

Tier 4 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

11. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
12. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )
13. Steve Smith – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
14. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 10)
15. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)

If the Saints weren’t so good across the board, Colston could be a top 3 WR. He only had 106 targets in 2009, good for 25th in the league. Thankfully, he catches almost everything and is a red zone target.

Projecting Boldin this high assumes one thing. He’s the man in Baltimore. This isn’t a foregone conclusion because Derrick Mason has been getting it done in the NFL for a very long time. But Boldin is the No. 1 guy and I feel he’ll get 200+ targets.

The new Steve Smith (New York’s version) is a possession guy. He’s not a home-run threat. He probably won’t score more than a half dozen touchdowns. But he’ll get a ton of receptions and yards, book it. Ochocinco enjoyed a bounce-back year. I think this is a very kind ranking, perhaps too kind. Cincinnati has developed into a run-first team with Cedric Benson and Ochocinco doesn’t go deep like he used to.

Carolina’s Smith will finish in the top 20 WRs, you just have to hope new quarterback Matt Moore can continually feed him the ball. The Panthers run it and run it some more, so it remains to be seen how many passes will be left for Smith.

Tier 5 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

16. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 6)
17. Wes Welker – New England Patriots (Bye: 8 )
18. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: 5)
19. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 6)

San Francisco’s offense began to flourish once Alex Smith was named quarterback. Tight end Vernon Davis benefitted most greatly, but Crabtree is certainly a potential sophomore sleeper. Welker tore ligaments in his knee and it was believed he would not play the opening weeks of the 2010 season. After an incredible recovery, Welker will play in Week 1. Being one of two players in the NFL to have 100+ receptions in the last season seasons (Brandon Marshall being the other), Welker is a great PPR option.

MSW has injury concerns and plays for a lackluster offense but has high potential. When healthy, he played great but as the season wore on, he slowed down.

Ward isn’t a sexy pick, but he’s a safe one. He set some career highs last year and is the most reliable receiver on the roster. He won’t win you your fantasy league, but he’ll certainly won’t lose it for you either.

Tier 6 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

20. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 9)
21. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants (Bye: 7)
22. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
23. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 7)
24. Donald Driver – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
25. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 5)

At this point in the draft for receivers, we separate the men from the boys. Identifying potential and skipping the hype is the name of the game.

With Sidney Rice out the first two months of the season, Harvin should see a lot more playing time. People still may not be believers, but Harvin is more dangerous in open space than any other player in the NFL. Don’t believe me? You haven’t seen enough of him then.

What Steve Smith provides as a possession receiver, Nicks brings the same to the table after the catch. I would describe him as an angry runner who can break tackles and find daylight. Expect a breakout year from him. Bowe is a bit of a knucklehead but he’s slimmed down and I’d compare him to Brandon Marshall in talent. Can he put it all together this season? We’ll find out but the talent is there.

I’m higher on Floyd than most anyone but that’s because I have faith in Philip Rivers and the offensive system in place under Norv Turner. Floyd fits the mold of Chargers receivers in that he’s tall, a great jumper and a red-zone target. Unless you think Rivers is going to fall off the map, he’s got to get his production somewhere and Antonio Gates isn’t about to score 20 TDs, is he? Therefore, Floyd will pick up the slack, no problem.

Driver and Garcon are two guys on two opposite ends of their career in similar positions on their teams. Both are No. 2 receivers. Both are a part of great offenses with a lot of playmakers on offense. But would you rather have the aging veteran or the young upstart? There are no wrong answers in the preseason. But I’d say take Garcon. Driver had a career year while Garcon’s role is still improving in Indy.

Tier 7 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

26. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)
27. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
28. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles (Bye: 8 )
29. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)
30. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)
31. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
32. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
33. Bernard Berrian – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 7)

The mix of young players and veterans gets thicker.

Wallace has a ton of potential, but you’re putting a lot of faith into the Steelers’ passing offense. Sure, it seems odd that Pittsburgh would so easily walk away from Santonio Holmes, maybe they really like Wallace? He’s the future of the team at his position once Ward walks away, he’ll have to prove it to me before I draft him.

Moss peaked many years ago but it could be a final hurrah with Donovan McNabb in town. Moss is still the only established receiver on the Skins so it seems logical that McNabb could make him his No. 1 target.

Maclin is a DeSean Jackson clone and I think this works against the Eagles in some ways as both guys are good at the same sorts of things. Maclin does run better routes so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on more underneath routes, which could get him more receptions than Jackson but fewer yards.

Owens and Housh both need a big year to validate themselves late in their career. Owens has the better opportunity since he’s WR2 in Cincinnati which gives him the luxury of lining up against team’s No. 2 corner instead of No. 1. Housh was never fast and seems to have lost a step so I’m not sure what to expect. The Seahawks can’t possibly have a great offense, could they?

Edwards is a risky pick. The Jets aren’t much of a passing team and Edwards isn’t much of a catching guy. Struggles with drops, focus and consistency have dogged his career and made him a bit of a joke. Let someone else take this risk.

Berrian could see the biggest jump of any receiver in the draft over the next week. With Rice out, as previously stated, Berrian is likely the new WR1 in Minnesota. He needs to step up big and he could potentially put up at top 15 performance.

Tier 8 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

34. Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
35. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
34. Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 7)
35. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
36. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
37. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
38. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 4)
39. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 7)

Jackson, Holmes, and Rice are all beasts but unfortunately, they’re all going to be out for at least a few games. Jackson is suspended for three games and could hold out longer. Holmes will miss four games and I expect him to still be the leading receiver on the Jets. Rice is out two months but he’s so good that he’ll be a huge pick-up once he is back.

Knox is the safest bet of all the receivers in Chicago. He’s quick, reliable and should be the guy in Mike Martz’s offense.

Britt is a burner and the only other big-play option in Tennessee. He showed flashes last year but needs to contribute more consistently. So for now, he’s a low WR3 or high WR4.

The Cowboys need Bryant to prove he can play this year but so far, it doesn’t sound too promising. I’d expect Bryant to get going in the second half of the season.

Breaston would a top-25 guy if Kurt Warner were still in town, but with Derek Anderson leading the way, I can’t trust him. As for Lee Evans, I feel bad for the guy. He’s so good but his team is just so bad.

Tier 9 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

40. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 10)
41. Devin Aromashodu – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
42. Chaz Schilens – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 7)
43. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
44. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )
45. Devery Henderson – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
46. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)

Mason deserves better than this ranking but he’s a player where you know exactly what you’re going to get (70 receptions, 1000 yards, 5 touchdowns). His stats won’t wow you at all and his numbers could drop due to the presence of Boldin.

Aromashodu’s stock as a sleeper this season hasn’t caught fire. The thing is, somebody on the Bears is going to blow up and from what I’ve seen, he’s the most dynamic receiver they’ve got. Now, does the Bears coaching staff agree? Will they feed him the ball? It hasn’t played that way yet but he has the talent if given the opportunity.

Schilens, Chambers and Massaquoi all have the potential to outperform this ranking. It boils down to how successful will they be on offense. Oakland, Kansas City and Cleveland are all underachieving the last few years and while these guys can succeed, it’s a big gamble.

Henderson is still competing for the WR2 role on the Saints, but Meachem is the favorite. Since the Saints are so successful on offense, they rarely need to go deep (Henderson’s specialty) and take big chances to ignite a spark on offense.

Edelman had more value when it appeared Welker could miss part of the season but for now, he’s a good possession guy and considering the age of Moss and Welker, he would be a great fill-in if either of those guys go down.

Tier 10 2010 Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers

47. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
48. Jacoby Jones – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
49. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
50. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 5)

Gaffney has been the No. 1 WR for Denver this offseason, but he’s done nothing in the preseason to validate that position. He’s an average receiver on a team with no established talent.

Jones has a ton of upside, but he’s competing for WR2 spot alongside Andre Johnson. Considering how much the Texans love to pass the ball, he could be a great deep sleeper and someone to keep your eye on this season.

Royal was a huge let-down in 2009 and a perfect of example of what can happen to a young player or a player under a new coaching staff. He’s good, he’s great in the open field but the Broncos don’t appear interested in using him to the best of his abilities.

Williams has surpassed his rookie teammate Arrelious Benn as the Bucs top receiver. But with quarterback Josh Freeman having a broken thumb, it doesn’t really matter. Williams has excellent raw talent, but until his offense improves, it won’t matter what he can do if he can’t produce consistently.

Buccaneers Cheerleader goal-line stand

The Buccaneers cheerleaders stonewall the Jaguars at the goalline and show the best defensive stand by the Tampa Bay Bucs this whole preseason.

During a timeout in a home game against the instate rivals Jacksonville Jaguars the cheerleaders show what a goaline stand looks like. The entire cheerleading squad takes to the endzone and doesn’t let the Jags get in position.

Now that’s how you play defense!

Hot Colts Fan Jumps Around in Short Shorts

We don’t really know her name but it’s safe to say at the moment ‘Hot Colts Fan In Short Shorts’ will suffice.  Or maybe Peyton’s #1 fan.

The Colts traveled to the Buffalo’s 2nd home in Toronto to play a preseason game awhile back and prove that two countries don’t care about preseason games.  What a shock. A lot of fuss was made when thousands of tickets were left unsold to the preseason event in Toronto.

The game was uneventful for the most part (exclusive game footage here) but over the last few days a video has been circulating showing a rather pretty young lady in a Peyton Manning jersey and short shorts dancing during a break. Looks like the Colts brought their own Cheerleaders. Hat tip to Fanhouse for the video.

Edit: Correction. This is the Colts #1 fan. The Hot Chick in the Short Shorts is just a gorgeous #2

Snakes vs. Seahawks Prank Video

The Seattle coaching staff decided to play a little practical joke on the players. The Seahawks were pranked by a fake snake in a Gatorade cooler and their reactions are somewhat tame to how I would react.

Seattle players were typically lured into the office of director of player development Mo Kelly after being asked at some point, “Have you tried the new Gatorade?”

The results are pretty funny, and the Seahawks put together a video of the shenanigans.

“It scared the heck out of me,” QB Matt Hasselbeck said. [via]

The snake prank cooler contraption was given as a gift to the Seahawks equipment staffers from the Green Bay Packers equipment guys. They had used it to trick their players last week. The cooler was then handed off after last weekend’s game at Qwest Field between the two teams.

[caution: some NSFW language in the guys reactions]

photo courtesy of Seahawks blog

Top Fantasy Football Running Backs of 2010

If there’s any wisdom I can bestow upon you fantasy knuckleheads is that running backs are a dime a dozen outside the top 20. Once you start to get into your flex option backs and reserves, the name of the game is playing the matchup. The old saying, “on any given Sunday,” it’s absolutely true.

Last season, Jamaal Charles, Rashard Mendenhall, LeSean McCoy, Jerome Harrison, Justin Forsett, Arian Foster, and others all came out of left field and supplanted their team’s starting back. You’ve got to act swiftly on the waiver wire and pick guys up with reckless abandon. Loyalty has no place in fantasy football.

One final note, some owners like to use handcuffs. Handcuffing means say you’ve got Chris Johnson, you’d also select Javon Ringer (his backup) late in the draft. I disagree with this strategy. Your roster spots are like bullets. You need every one of them available to you in battle. If Johnson is healthy, Ringer has no place on your team unless you play in a very, very deep league where you’re just hoping Johnson gets hurt so you get lucky.

(Note: Catch up on previous Fantasy Football positions here: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers )

Rankings

Tier 1 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

1. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans (Bye: 9)
2. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings (Bye: 4)
3. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars (Bye: 9)
4. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens (Bye: 8 )

No surprises here. CJ and AP is a toss-up, the only argument against CJ is “can he do it again?” Even if he doesn’t, he will still have a huge year. The only argument against AP is that the Vikings have more weapons and Peterson has a fumbling problem. To put it simply, if you don’t draft AP because he has a fumbling problem, you don’t know fantasy football. CJ and AP are both beasts, you should happy to have either one. MJD and Rice, it’s the same issues. The Jaguars’ offense is Jones-Drew. Rice and the Ravens have more playmakers than the Jaguars. Either guy is great and a beast in PPR leagues. MJD gets the slight nod because he’s one of the best goal-line backs in the NFL while Rice doesn’t get many goal-line opportunities.

Tier 2 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

5. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 9)
6. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams (Bye: 9)
7. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons (Bye: 8 )
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye: 5)

It’s easy to like Gore. He’s a workhorse back, he’ll put up 30 to 40 receptions, he’s an every-down back. The problems come from a few things: He can disappear some games and he’s almost a lock to miss a couple weeks. That being said, I think he’s the best and safest pick of the bunch and that’s why he’s at No. 5. Jackson and Turner, pick your poison. Jackson is coming of off back surgery and only scored four touchdowns in 2009 while in the Rams’ putrid offense. Turner missed most of the second half last year, but when he played he was good. He gets a slight bump down in PPR leagues cause he’s not much of a receiver out of the backfield. I have Mendenhall in this tier because of his workload and lack of competition at his position. He’s the clear-cut guy in Pittsburgh although I will say, he could be this year’s Steve Slaton (late first round / early second round RB bust) if the Steelers’ line struggles.

Tier 3 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

9. DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)
10. Shonn Greene – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
11. Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers (Bye: 10)
12. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
13. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)

Williams is only one season removed from being the best back in fantasy football. He drops to No. 9 because of his backfield teammate Jonathan Stewart. Both guys are fantastic and they’re easily the best backfield tandem in the NFL. The next four guys are all interchangeable. The New York Jets ran the ball more than anybody last year and Greene will be productive because of that. Grant plays in a great offense and is solid. He’s not a SportsCenter play of the week kind of guy but he gets the job done.

Mathews’ potential is off the charts but he’s still a rookie. I rank him here out of respect of what he can do in San Diego but that’s not a lock that he’ll accomplish it. I’d much rather have Mathews in the second half the season, once he gets a grasp of the NFL game. Charles, as I see it, has the most upside out of all these guys. He led the NFL in yards per carry. He’s simply electric and almost as fast as Chris Johnson. If he can stay healthy and carry the ball 250+ times, he’ll be playing at a high Tier 2 level as a minimum.

Tier 4 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

14. Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)
15. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)
16. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals (Bye: 6)
17. LeSean McCoy – San Francisco 49ers (Bye: 8 )
18. Justin Forsett – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)

The frustrating thing about these guys is that their season can go either way. They could sneak into Tier 3 production or they could slide down. Thomas struggled to stay healthy, didn’t get many red-zone touches but is the Saints’ RB1 this year. No Saints back had more than 180 carries last year which is what deters me from being as high on Thomas as others. But the Saints’ offense is one of the best in the league so they’ll be on the field plenty to give him the ball. Wells suffers from a similar fate. Last season, Tim Hightower started almost every game, stole goal-line touchdowns from him and Wells struggled with injuries. If those situations are resolved, he is at worst the No. 15 RB.

Benson is probably better than this ranking, but he just has to continue to prove himself, especially in the second half where he flamed out a bit last year. Put all that aside, I still consider him a steal due to his big role in the Bengals’ offense. McCoy is a guy with a ton of potential but I get the feeling Leonard Weaver and Mike Bell are going to steal touches from him. McCoy will likely be the Eagles’ feature back, but it comes down to how often he’ll be subbed out.

I’m higher on Forsett than most but he’s without a doubt the best running back on Seattle. Forsett finished 2009 strong and head coach Pete Carroll has already admitted that he really likes him. He’s a sleeper who you can wait on and select with confidence.

Tier 5 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

19. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers (Bye: 6)
20. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
21. Arian Foster – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
22. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
23. Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
24. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)

Stewart could be a starter on more than half the teams in the league. With Williams dinged up last season, Stewart led the team in carries, yards and touchdowns. Since the team gives them a 50/50 split of the carries, it is possible Stewart could jump to tier 4. I loved Moreno coming into his rookie year, enough to draft him in multiple leagues. But with running backs, they either show up right away or they’re typically a bust. Moreno rode the fence, got hurt, disappeared some games and I had enough. I ended up trading him away with little reservation. Moreno is solid when healthy, but he’s already hurt. I don’t trust him.

Houston loves to pass the ball, but I expect them to be a little more balanced with Foster in the backfield. Jones has all the potential in the world; he just needs the Cowboys to feed him the ball. If they do that, he’s got sleeper written all over him. If not, he’s going to that “wait till next year” kind of player. I do not like Addai. He has value because the Colts score so much, he’s bound to get looks in the redzone. But he’s just an absolute burden when it comes to rushing yards. I expect Donald Brown to overtake him very soon. There was a time when Ronnie Brown was the man. I remember people taking him as a second round pick after his first two seasons. But injuries and inconsistency have limited his production. If he can stay healthy and the Dolphins are able to pass the ball a bit better, Brown can beat his ranking.

Tier 6 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

25. C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 5)
26. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
27. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants (Bye: 8 )
28. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )
29. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins (Bye: 5)
30. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
31. Jerome Harrison – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )

We’re now at the point where you can either make yourself look like a genius or an idiot depending upon who you select.

Spiller could be rookie of the year, or he could be a total non-factor. The Bills are atrocious on offense and that’s what concerns me about him. On any other quality team, he could be amazing but he was dealt a bad hand.

Between Jacobs and Bradshaw, the Giants’ running game is up for grabs. Right now, I like Bradshaw to emerge as the guy. Jacobs has hit a career wall and I don’t expect him to ever recover.

Forte was one of the biggest disappointments in 2009 and now that he’s got Mike Martz as his offensive coordinator, I find it hard to believe he’s suddenly going to be great again in a pass-heavy offense. Ricky Williams had a great year because Ronnie Brown was nowhere to be found. If you’re expecting another big year, you should only do so if Williams is your fourth-best running back.

Best and Harrison both play in really bad offenses but have similar styles. Both are shifty and dynamic with the ball in their hands. They need their teammates to make it easier on them. Trouble here is, the Lions still have Kevin Smith who’s not exactly terrible. And the Browns don’t appear to have much confidence in Harrison. They drafted Montario Hardesty who will be making an appearance in the next tier.

Tier 7 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

32. Carnell Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bye: 4)
33. Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys (Bye: 4)
34. Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
35. Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders (Bye: 10)
36. Montario Hardesty – Cleveland Browns (Bye: 8 )
37. Clinton Portis – Washington Redskins (Bye: 9)
38. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs (Bye: 4)
39. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts (Bye: 7)
40. Reggie Bush – New Orleans Saints (Bye: 10)

It gets ugly fast here in Tier 7. If you’re drafting your third running back here, I feel you’re in trouble.

Williams is only good because he’s the starter. Barber needs a bounce-back year and fortunately, reports out of training camp are that he looks good. Michael Bush and McFadden need to separate themselves, because somebody has to want it more. McFadden has more talent but Bush might be the better back. Hardesty is an insurance policy but since he was a third round pick, it seems likely he’ll get a shot on the field.

Portis was awful last year and I wouldn’t waste a roster spot on him. Let someone else pray to be lucky when they take him. Jones is pushing Charles for a starting spot, but that’s only in the newspapers. Charles has more athleticism in his pinky toe than Jones has in his whole body. Jones is a backup, nothing more. Brown could replace Addai but considering he already hasn’t worries me. Reggie Bush is a bust, I put him here because people take him so early despite being so insanely inconsistent.

Tier 8 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

41. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals (Bye: 6)
42. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills (Bye: 6)
43. Laurence Maroney – New England Patriots (Bye: 5)
44. LaDainian Tomlinson – New York Jets (Bye: 7)
45. Chester Taylor – Chicago Bears (Bye: 8 )

Hightower could definitely blow this ranking out of the water, but I expect him to play second fiddle to Beanie Wells. If he starts games and gets more than 15 carries per game, he easily jumps about 20 spots.

Jackson would be higher if he were healthy, but he isn’t. He had a very respectable 2009, despite all the Bills’ troubles on offense. When he returns from injury, keep an eye on his production because I viewed him as a bit of a sleeper.

Maroney and Chester Taylor are a bit frustrating. I feel Taylor will replace Forte as Chicago’s starter by midseason. He’s a solid, consistent runner. Maroney on the other hand needs more touches as New England’s RB1. They’ve got five guys who can all be considered specialists. That’s the problem for the Patriots though. There’s no single player who can do it all like they need.

Tomlinson is going to surprise some people this year. Especially at the goal-line. Expect him to rush for only 800 yards, but at least 8 touchdowns.

Tier 9 Top Fantasy Football Running Backs

46. Kevin Smith – Detroit Lions (Bye: 7)
47. Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers (Bye: 10)
48. Correll Buckhalter – Denver Broncos (Bye: 9)
49. Steve Slaton – Houston Texans (Bye: 7)
50. Leon Washington – Seattle Seahawks (Bye: 5)

Smith isn’t as bad as some may think. He’s played for some awful Lions’ teams and missed most of last season. If he’s healthy, I think he can be a better every-down back than Jahvid Best.

On the other hand, Sproles is definitely San Diego’s RB2. He’ll get his return yardage and some third down receptions, but beyond that, there’s not a lot to be excited about.

Head to head, I think Buckhalter is the better football player than Moreno. But with both players injured, the position is a mess. Slaton has the same issue. The starter, Ben Tate, is injured which gives Slaton a shot at redemption. But realistically, Slaton has already proved himself unreliable.

Washington is here because he’s a fun, high-energy player. He’s not the best, but he wants it and it’s possible he could steal some carries away from Forsett.

These five guys will play very limited stats so make sure they only stay on your team in emergency situations.

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