Top Ten Sleeper Running Backs (RBs) in Fantasy Football 2009 for Week 1

The start of the 2009 season is upon us with the Pittsburgh Steelers playing the Tennessee Titans and thus beginning their defense of last year's Superbowl season. A few short days later the rest of the NFL will play their games and more importantly fantasy football gurus will start to see the fruits of their labor take place. Draft after draft you have agonized each pick, time and time again you built your team. Now comes the prize moment as the pigskin is moved up and down the field.

If you are anything like me then long ago you have abandoned rooting for one particular team. Sure I appreciate the Patriots efficiency or the Falcon's improvement but I care more about stats at this point in the season. So with the start of the season approaching here are BabyBlueMonkey.com's official week 1 picks for running backs for fantasy football.

1) Kevin Smith - I've watched K-Smith fall to a fourth and fifth round pick. Not sure why this happened but those of you who drafted him will begin to reap the rewards as the Detroit Lions play the high flying New Orleans Saints. Sure the Saints can pass but they have a porous defense that should allow K-Smith to get some great touches. Look for some spectacular goal-line carries and some nifty reception work as Detroit completely surprises New Orleans.

2) Julius Jones - Another name that pretty much fell off the draft board. He won't put up monster numbers every week but with Hassleback "back" (bad pun in so many ways) in charge look for Jones to grab some quality touches and eclipse a 100 yards. Did I mention the Hawks are playing the Rams, I know St. Louis has some upside but I expect them to struggle a little early on and finish out the season strong. So go ahead and pull anyone you think might struggle an insert JJ. For example I'd be fine pulling Larry Johnson or Jamal Lewis for Julius Jones.

3) Ryan Grant - Another guy like K-Smith falling to the third, fourth, and even fifth round. I know there is a big rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay and Jay Cutler is supposed to resurrect this team. Whatever. Cutler is a baby. Aside from that he should put up numbers slightly better than Kyle Orton did last year. Which means that Chicago will fall flat on its face as Aaron Rodgers torches them (however I do think Hester and Forte will put up some respectable numbers). By the second half Grant will be pushing 100 yards and have 2 touchdowns at the end of the game.

4) LaDainian Tomlinson - Guess who just played in two preseason games in the same season for the first time in his career? Guess who restructured his contract and took less money to stay in San Diego? If you guessed LT then pat yourself on the back. Now you can stop patting because you probably let him slip to the second round and tried to be slick and grab two quality wide receivers which has been hugely popular this year (especially if you had picks 6-10). Not a bad strategy but it will be games like this that you will be kicking yourself for not have one top 5 running back and one top five receiver. LT will officially light Oakland up.

5) Cedric Benson - This guy just got a huge raise and is all but guaranteed to see the ball a decent number of times. Oh and the Denver defense is still like orange Swiss cheese. One more thing, Benson has been going late in the double-digit rounds (think like 10-13), which is crazy for a RB1.

6) Brandon Jacobs - This first game will be the game that a lot of people will look back and wonder why they took Steve Slaton or Chris Johnson ahead of Jacobs. The man posted over a thousand yards and 15 touchdowns last year! With two other decent running backs breathing down his neck!

7) Matt Forte - I know, I know, how can I have both Matt Forte and Ryan Grant on the same top ten when they play each other? Easy Grant will get his yardage because Green Bay will be running down the clock. Forte will get his yardage because until Hester goes primetime (and he will) Forte is a top two receiver on that team as well as a heck of a running back. Make no mistake about it Forte will get his points. Plus he's not much of a sleeper BUT I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss the amazing season Forte will have.

8) Marshawn Lynch - HA Just kidding. Thomas Jones - True story, I picked up Jones in the tenth round of a FFOC draft. No one wanted him. Finally I grabbed him and figured he'd be a good bye week guy. Same thing for most of the other drafts, Jones is going exceptionally late. I hear a lot of grumbling about his age but let me remind you LT will be 30 too. Jones will put up some decent numbers against a pass heavy Houston team. I suspect the Jets will try and slow the game down a little, hence good numbers for Jones.

9) Ray Rice - Another three-headed monster rears its head in Baltimore (as opposed to Denver's 6 or 8 headed RB monster). Rice is strong and powerful and with Le'Ron McClain designated to fullback and battling some injury issues look for Rice to punish a shaky Kansas City team.

10) Joseph Addai - I looked long and hard for this tenth player and I wanted to pick a sleeper. Addai had a miserable season last year and it seems this year everyone has written him off in favor of rookie Donald Brown. Maybe but I say not yet. Indy is a championship team and Addai will produce this year. I snagged him as a bye week guy today in a draft during the ninth round. No respect. Carson Palmer and Joseph Addai. Both will bounce back this year.

Well, there are my ten picks for the best running backs during week one of the 2009 fantasy football season. Keep in mind that I play as well and will be making my picks for starters based on my sleeper predications. With all that being said visit BabyBlueMonkey.com to follow my season and my articles for picks. If you are bored feel free to read some of my other articles. Thanks for the click and GOOD LUCK!