|
10. |
Thomas Jones |
 |
His numbers were not much better than 2002
but Jones was a solid 3rd fantasy
back during the fantasy playoffs. I know
many people who were crushed in their
fantasy playoffs due to their opponent
having Thomas Jones. He only started three
games but Jones had a career high 4.6 yards
per carry after averaging 3.4 yards per
carry his first three seasons. Jones came
into the league with a lot of hype and last
year he showed that he might not be a bust
after all. Keep an eye on him this
off-season.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
627 |
3 |
24 |
180 |
0 |
37 |
|
2002 |
511 |
2 |
20 |
113 |
0 |
46 |
|
9. |
Fred Taylor |
 |
Fred Taylor has proved his critics wrong by
making it through two consecutive seasons
without missing a game. Fred has always had
the talent but not many trusted him enough
to use a high draft pick on him. Those who
did were rewarded with 1,942 yards from
scrimmage and 7 touchdowns.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
1572 |
6 |
48 |
370 |
1 |
8 |
|
2002 |
1314 |
8 |
49 |
408 |
0 |
11 |
|
8. |
Stephen Davis |
 |
Washington decided to let Stephen Davis go
because he didn’t fit Steve Spurrier’s
offense. Well, Davis let everyone know that
he can still run the football and that he
can run it well. The last three years in
Washington Davis averaged 4.0 yards per
carry but this season his average went up to
4.5 with the Panthers. The eight-year
veteran also set a career high rushing total
of 1,444 yards and he led his team to a
conference title.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
1444 |
8 |
14 |
159 |
0 |
11 |
|
2002 |
820 |
7 |
23 |
142 |
1 |
25 |
|
7. |
Edgerrin James |
 |
Edgerrin James and his surgically repaired
knee looked much better in 2003. His yards
per carry went up from 3.6 to 4.1 and he
scored 8 more touchdowns then in 2002. James
finished as the 12th ranked
fantasy back despite missing 3 games early
in the season. Edgerrin looks like he’s
back as one of the elite running backs in
fantasy football.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
1259 |
11 |
51 |
292 |
0 |
12 |
|
2002 |
989 |
2 |
61 |
354 |
1 |
24 |
|
6. |
Correll Buckhalter |
 |
Correll missed the 2002 season due to injury
but he was a part of the running back by
committee in Philadelphia. He had a
career-high 9 touchdowns and with Duce
Staley probably out the door that means even
more carries for Buckhalter this season.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
542 |
8 |
10 |
133 |
1 |
32 |
|
2002 |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
DNP |
|
5. |
Kevan Barlow |
 |
Kevan Barlow posted his first 1,000-yard
season and he had a career high 5.1 yards
per carry. He also had a career high in
rushing attempts, receptions, and
touchdowns. It took a Garrison Hearst
injury to help pad those stats late in the
year but the 49ers have just released Hearst
so Barlow should be high on everyone’s draft
board.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
1024 |
6 |
35 |
307 |
1 |
15 |
|
2002 |
675 |
4 |
14 |
136 |
1 |
35 |
|
4. |
T. J. Duckett |
 |
Duckett's stock rose when Warrick Dunn was
lost for the season. If you were in a
touchdown only league Duckett was
outstanding with the 11 touchdowns he
posted. T.J. scored a touchdown in 3 of the
4 games that Michael Vick started at the end
of the season. With a healthy Vick, Duckett
may score even more touchdowns in 2004.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
779 |
11 |
11 |
94 |
0 |
21 |
|
2002 |
507 |
4 |
9 |
61 |
0 |
43 |
|
3. |
Moe Williams |
 |
There was much talk about the rookie
Onterrio Smith being the number one back in
Minnesota but Moe Williams kept the rookie
on the bench for most of the season. Moe
was a solid back in the first half of the
season. Williams can do it all but the
Vikings like that running back by committee
approach that we fantasy owners hate so
much. Williams had double digit carries in
every game up until week 12. That’s when
Michael Bennett came back and he and
Onterrio Smith started eating into Moe’s
touches.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
745 |
5 |
65 |
644 |
3 |
14 |
|
2002 |
414 |
11 |
27 |
251 |
0 |
30 |
|
2. |
Brian Westbrook |
|
Westbrook made a strong statement in 2003
for a player who was selected late in
fantasy drafts. The second year back
increased his yards per carry from 4.2 to
5.2 which was the 4th best
average in the league. Westbrook’s
touchdown total went from 0 in 2002 to 11 in
2003! Keep an eye on this back for the 2004
season.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
613 |
7 |
37 |
322 |
4 |
20 |
|
2002 |
193 |
0 |
9 |
86 |
0 |
67 |
|
1. |
Rudi Johnson |
 |
Corey Dillon was a nightmare for many
fantasy owners but if you had Rudi Johnson
to back him up you were pleasantly
surprised. Johnson had career highs across
the board and he ran so well that Dillon
stayed on the bench more often then not.
Dillon has played his last game in
Cincinnati so Johnson is the man of the
future and you have to like what you’ve seen
out of him so far. Rudi had four 100-yard
rushing games (101, 165, 174, and 182) in
2003. Not bad for a player who played in
thirteen games but only started in five of
those games.
|
|
Rush Yards |
Rush TDs |
Receptions |
Rec Yards |
Rec TDs |
Fantasy Rank |
|
2003 |
957 |
9 |
21 |
146 |
0 |
18 |
|
2002 |
67 |
0 |
6 |
34 |
0 |
103 |
