| Fantasy Football Leagues require that you start 2 | | | | catch the ball as well. Look for 48 catches, 1500 |
| RBs, and in those leagues with a flex position, you | | | | total yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs. These |
| may even find yourself needing a third RB starter. | | | | kinds of numbers will put him at the bottom of |
| Since we are usually talking 12 man leagues, that | | | | the second tier of backs, and you can expect to |
| means 24 to 36 RBs will be starting every week, | | | | pick him up in the 6th or 7th round, not bad for |
| and you will need backups, since the injury bug | | | | 3rd or 4th round numbers. |
| and underperformers always bite you. How do | | | | Sleeper #2 |
| you avoid the pain of over-spending on RBs, and | | | | Donald Brown is a speedy UConn Rookie tailback |
| where are those el-cheapo value picks? We are | | | | that impressed Indy bigwigs with his hands as |
| off and running with RB sleepers for 2009. | | | | much as his feet. If you recall how Joseph Addai |
| There are basically 3 levels of RB Fantasy | | | | did three seasons ago in a running back by |
| production for you to consider. The top tier is 250 | | | | committee effort, and factor in Addai's less than |
| to 300 Fantasy points in a standard scoring | | | | impressive 2008, I think you can look for 150 |
| format, with about 4 or 5 RB candidates. The | | | | fantasy points from Brown. Addai has not played |
| second tier is 200 to 250 points, with around 10 | | | | a full season for 2 years now, and Brown will |
| or 11 RBs. Then you have maybe 15 guys who | | | | probably go around round 12 - 14. Getting 6th |
| will give you 150 to 200 points. This only accounts | | | | round production in round 12 is what the draft is |
| for 29 or 30 really productive runners. You can | | | | all about, and I do not think you can go wrong |
| see how important it is to get a couple of | | | | here. |
| sleepers, and get them at a discount. | | | | Anyone can pick Matt Forte with the 5th overall |
| Sleeper #1 | | | | pick, but knowing who to pick in the mid to late |
| Derrick Ward has so many things going right for | | | | rounds, without paying too much, is where |
| him in Tampa Bay it is almost silly. Earnest | | | | Fantasy Titles are won. Look for things like |
| Graham will be sharing carries with him, but after | | | | backups, people splitting carries with injury-plagued |
| an ankle sprain for Graham last year, and a huge | | | | guys, and team-jumpers going into favorable |
| contract signed by Ward in the off-season, it is | | | | situations. If you keep these things in mind, you |
| obvious where TB will be handing the ball most of | | | | will be sure to get good value from the RB |
| the time. Ward averaged 5.3 yards a carry at | | | | position, and nab a sleeper or two. |
| New York the last two years, and is a threat to | | | | |