RBBC Update
RB Willie Parker, ---
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Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall will each have major roles in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this coming season. Mendenhall was slated to have a major role in their offense last season before he was injured and placed on injured reserve. Parker will enter the 2009 season as the Steelers' starter and should receive about 70 percent of the carries to start the season. Parker cannot be counted on to hold onto that large amount of carries throughout the whole season as he has a history of picking up nagging injuries that could lead to a larger role in the offense for Mendenhall as the season progresses. Draft Willie Parker with caution this season.
RB Ray Rice, ---
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The Baltimore Ravens have one of the most cluttered backfields in the NFL entering the 2009 season. Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron recently said that the Ravens would once again go with a running back by committee approach this season, meaning that Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le'Ron McClain could all see significant action. Rice has reportedly had the best off-season of the bunch and could have a slight advantage going into training camp, but barring a significant injury or two he will be only a flex play option this coming season. My advice would be to stay away from all three runners early in fantasy drafts this season. If you are tempted to gamble on a Ravens running back this season, I would go with Ray Rice over McGahee and McClain.
RB Beanie Wells, ---
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The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2009 season with both Chris Wells and Tim Hightower fighting for carries out of the backfield. Wells should be considered the favorite to accumulate more carries over the course of the season based on his tremendous upside. Hightower has the advantage of having played in the Cardinals system for one year, but he played poorly (especially after taking over for Edgerrin James over the second half of the 2008 season). Hightower did find the endzone ten times; however, he only averaged 2.8 yards per carry over the course of the season. While Hightower may enter the season as the Cardinals' starter, the opening day carries should be split pretty evenly, with Wells' carries increasing as the season progresses. Unless something unexpected occurs in training camp, Wells should be drafted ahead of Hightower in all leagues.
RB DeAngelo Williams, ---
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Carolina Panthers DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart form one of the league's most feared backfields in the NFL. The Panthers will continue to use both running backs extensively, and both will have value in fantasy leagues this coming season. Williams should once again be a top ten running back, while Stewart could crack the top 25 despite taking a backseat to Williams. The 2009 carry split should be similar to the split used in 2008 unless one of the running backs were to suffer an injury during the season. Fantasy owners should not shy away from drafting DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart in fantasy leagues despite the fact that they will continue to share carries in 2009.
