Ranking the 2009 Fantasy Football Running Backs

Well it's about time to think about your 2009 fantasy football team. I have recently joined my first keeper league. This article is ranking the top fantasy football running backs for the 2009 season. With the advent of the two or even three back system in the NFL, ranking the fantasy running backs is even harder. Any stats used in this fantasy football article come from NFL.com. I hope you enjoy this article ranking the top 10 fantasy football running backs for 2009.

You don't know whether to go for a great back who shares carries or just a solid starter who gets most of the touches. I tend to just go for who I think will get the most touchdowns and let the yards pile up if they will. By the way feel free to check my profile for free agents moves on most teams and draft grades on some as well.

1 Adrian Peterson is the best fantasy football running back heading into the 2009 season. His sharing touches with Chester Taylor are declining and the Vikings made some moves to improve their offense. Granted losing center Matt Birk hurt the offensive line but adding Percy Harvin (if they keep him off the Rasta) helps the passing attack a great deal. If I get the first pick in any 2009 fantasy football draft, Peterson is my pick.

2 Michael Turner came out of nowhere to be a force in 2008, rushing for 17 touchdowns and almost 1,700 yards. With Matt Ryan having another training camp under his belt and the addition of Tony Gonzalez, look for Turner to improve in 2009.

3 Matt Forte is high on my ranking of 2009 fantasy football running backs. With the trade for Jay Cutler the Bears offense just got much better. But look for Forte to get lots of carries and make the most of them in the 2009 NFL season.

4 Thomas Jones now has coach Ryan who will want a ball control offense and to unleash a good Jets defense on opponents. Look for Jones to get lots of carries because a young quarterback will be playing no matter who is the starter.

5 DeAngelo Williams was a surprise last season with 18 rushing touchdowns and over 1,500 yards rushing. The Panthers did very little to improve their team due to the salary cap issues with the Julius Peppers hold out. Williams will not be sneaking up on people and will still share carries with Jonathon Stewart.

6 Steve Slaton should have another good season for an improving Houston Texan team. Slaton picked up 9 rushing touchdowns and over 1,200 yards rushing in 2008.

7 Brandon Jacobs is healthy and happy and should be a force for the Giants. Look for him to get all the goal line carries and to be a scoring force in 2009.

8 Steven Jackson makes my top 10 fantasy football running backs list and will have a good year for the Rams. Jackson is healthy again and the Rams made some steps to improve their offensive line in the draft.

9 Clinton Portis is about all the Redskins have but he is getting older and the injury bug has hit him of late. Still he can be productive and the defense looks improved which will help Portis.

10 Ronnie Brown had to deal with trade rumors in the offseason but look for him to have a great season in 2009. I really like the direction the Dolphins are headed in and Brown will get lots of touches.

Sources

NFL.com

Photo of Adrian Peterson comes from Wikimedia Commons and is public domain.