Running Through the Pac 10 Runningbacks

July 23rd, 2009 by John Huss

This is the sweet spot of the Pac 10 (logo courtesy Pac-10.org), with many bona fide fantasy choices to be found at this position. With the preference of many fantasy owners to draft RBs that don’t share carries, there are more than enough here to sort out. However, there are also some dynamic athletes who do share carries still worth consideration for your bench…

1. LeGarrette Blount, Oregon – In a word, he’s a tank. Last season, he had 1,002 yds with 17 TDs as the second option. He has an excellent nose for the goal line and can top 20 TDs this year. Select him, and you can expect a dominant pick as the primary back for the Ducks. Just realize that there will be games where frustration sets in as QB Jeremiah Masoli steals some scores.

2. Jahvid Best, Cal – He’s a stud and a legit Heisman candidate. From a fantasy perspective, he will generate a significant number of points as his 1,580 yards and 15 TDs last season showed (246 yards and a TD in the passing game). That’s with him missing the game against Arizona St. The only reason he is second on the list is that RB Shane Vereen is pretty darn good in his own right and will touch the ball about 40% of the time on the year.

3. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon St. – When you consider the Beavers for fantasy prospects, this is the guy you come to draft. He put up 1,253 yards and scored 11 TDs on the ground. He also offered some adequate numbers in the air with 247 yards and a score. Like some other potential fantasy draftees from this team, he went into the off season injured (basically missed last two games). He appears to be recovered but his size (5’7″ and 193 lbs) and workload (almost 26 carries per game not counting the 4 carries against Arizona when he got injured) are of some concern.

4. Toby Gerhart, Stanford – His 1,136 yards and 15 scores last year can be described as a safe estimate for this season. His 13 receptions can be described as nonexistent in the passing game. Stanford will look to pound the ball again this year, hopefully keeping defenses focused on Gerhart and allowing QB Andrew Luck to open up the offense. The irony in the reliance of Luck to generate offense does not escape me.

5. Nic Grigsby, Arizona – He had a strong showing last year with 1,153 yards and 13 TDs. Since he’s not much of receiver, everything depends on his production on the ground. One thing he must improve on is doing a better job holding onto the ball. Otherwise, RB Keola Antolin will be more than a fantasy handcuff.

Stafon Johnson during the Rose Bowl, USC vs. Penn State (thanks, ISM.com)

6. Stafon Johnson, USC – Now we start to get into players who will be sharing significant time. The USC backfield is a crowded (albeit talented) mess. It’s also the reason you want to avoid one of them as your starting guy unless news comes out there will be a workhorse amongst them. Of the names on the roster, Johnson is more than capable of filling that role and tops the depth chart.

7. Shane Vereen, Cal – A reminder….Jahvid Best is a stud. That being said, you need to grab Vereen if you feel a need to handcuff for a possible Best injury. Vereen is talented enough in his own right to put up fantastic numbers. He’s displayed those skills in the 40% of the carries he got last year.

8. Joe McKnight, USC – The comparisons to Reggie Bush surround McKnight, just not the stats. This spot could easily have gone to RB CJ Gable except that McKnight has the depth chart nudge.

9. Christian Ramirez, UCLA – There are more fantasy question marks here. UCLA has inexperienced but talented depth at RB. Ramirez is the top choice but will likely share carries with RB Derrick Coleman.

10. Chris Polk, Washington – With QB Jake Locker back at the helm, the team has some upside. Look for Polk to show some serviceable numbers and might be worthy as a waiver pick up once proven.

11. James Montgomery, Washington St. – He likely shares carries with RB Dwight Tardy, making neither viable for fantasy until one gets the lion’s share of work. Even then, fantasy consideration might be a stretch.

12. Ryan Bass, Arizona St. – The Sun Devils had one of the worst running games last year…Bass offers the most upside.

13. Keola Antolin, Arizona – More than adequate to step in as the 534 yards and 10 TDs last season show. If he wasn’t blocked, he’d rank much higher.

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