Fantasy Football RB's: Which Ones Should You Upgrade to for the 2007 Season?

Why should you listen to my fantasy football advice? In 9 years of playing fantasy football I have won 5 fantasy football Super Bowl Championships.

These are the RB's you should be upgrading this year in your fantasy football drafts. Experienced fantasy football owners already know who the best RB's in fantasy are. Even novices should know that if you have the first pick you should take LaDainian Tomlinson. But what about after the top RB's are gone?

I'm not saying you should draft the RB's on this list but that you should upgrade them and consider drafting them earlier than you would have last season. The great thing about fantasy football is that each owner is the GM of their own team. As owners we have the final say on roster spots and how you evaluate talent will play the lions share role in determining how you do this year in your fantasy football league(s).

Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) - had a fine rookie year for the Super Bowl champs rushing for 1,081 yards with a 4.8 yard average and 7 TD's, while also catching 40 passes out of the back field with another TD. With Dominic Rhodes gone he's likely going to be the full time RB for a great offense. Tony Dungy says he wants to have a two back system but the Colts don't have another RB with anything close to Addai's ability and that should translate into him getting the vast majority of the workload. Peyton Manning will always look for his RB in the passing game which means Addai could have a huge year.

Laurence Maroney (New England Patriots) - like Addai he too had a fine rookie year rushing for 745 yards with a 4.3 yard average and 7 TD's. Also caught 22 passes out of the backfield. With Corey Dillon gone Maroney figures to be the main RB for the Pats this year and that should translate into a big year if he can stay healthy.

Cedric Benson (Chicago Bears) - rushed for 647 yards last year with a 4.1 yard average and 6 TD's for the Super Bowl runner-up Bears. With Thomas Jones gone to the Jets via trade, Benson will be the number one RB in the Windy City. That should translate into big time production for the former first round draft pick.

Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) - rushed for 423 yards with a 4.4 yard average and 9 TD's as Tiki Barber's back-up last year. With Barber moving to a television career, Jacobs looks to be the main RB for the Giants. Reuben Droughns has been signed by the Giants but I'd be surprised if Jacobs can't beat him out for the top spot. The number one RB on a decent offense should be moving up your draft boards.

Thomas Jones (New York Jets) - acquired from the Chicago Bears via trade, Jones rushed for 1,210 yards last season with a 4.1 yard average and 6 TD's and also caught 36 passes out of the backfield. He won't have to split carries with Cedric Benson in New York and his production should increase this year. The presence of Leon Washington hurts Jones value some but not as much as Benson did in Chicago.

Tatum Bell (Detroit Lions) - rushed for 1,025 yards last year with a 4.4 yard average and 2 TD scores for the Denver Broncos. What did Mike Shanahan have against him? All Bell did in 3 years in the Mile High City was to rush for 2,342 yards with a gaudy 4.9 yard average and 13 TD's. I've seen enough of him to know he's got real talent. Shanahan keeps proving every year he can't win the Super Bowl without "Super" John Elway. In Detroit, Bell should beat out Kevin Jones for the top spot and have a productive fantasy year.

Cadillac Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - after a fine rookie year he really regressed last year and rushed for just 798 yards with a lousy 3.5 yard average and just one TD score. A lot of that was due to the lousy QB play and offense of the Bucs. Look for the Bucs offense and Cadillac's production to bounce back this year.

Jerious Norwood (Atlanta Falcons) - drafted him in a deep keeper league last year and glad I did. He's got talent as he rushed for 633 yards last year with a great 6.4 yard average and 2 TD scores. Some of that high average is due to defenses having to contain Michael Vick but Norwood is elusive and fast. Have great respect for Warrick Dunn both on and off the field but he is getting older and Norwood could take over this year as the main RB in Atlanta. Former Louisville Cardinal coach Bobby Petrino takes over as head coach in Atlanta and Petrino is a great offensive coach which bodes well for Norwood if he's the main RB for the Falcons.

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) - first round draft pick is likely to get lots of playing time this year for the Bills. After rushing for 3,230 yards with a 6.6 yard average and 29 TD's plus 68 catches with a 8.8 yard average and 6 more TD scores in 3 years at California, Lynch looks ready to step right in and be productive. Will probably be at least as productive a back as Willis McGhee ever was for the Bills.

Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) - first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings rushed for 4,045 yards with a 5.4 yard average and 41 TD's over 3 years with the Oklahoma Sooners. Chester Taylor is not a bad back but Peterson has more talent and could get significant playing time and production this year for the Vikings.

LenDale White (Tennessee Titans) - rushed for 244 yards last year as a rookie with a 4.0 yard average and 0 TD's. With Travis Henry gone he could emerge as the number one RB in Tennessee and should be upgraded in drafts. Still a risky pick and should not be upgraded too much even if he lands the job but well worth a flyer in the mid to late rounds.

Vernand Morency (Green Bay Packers) - rushed for 434 yards with a 4.5 yard average and 2 TD scores last season. With Ahman Green's departure he is the most likely starter for the Packers and should be a decent and productive back this year if he gets the job.