Top 6-10 RBs

10. Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia Eagles
Experience: 6th Season
Bye Week: 5

3 Year Averages (2004-06):
Yards Rushing: 882 (4.6 YPC)
Yards Receiving: 672 (42 YPG)
Touchdowns: 9

The Eagles are a pass first offense, Westbrook has averaged only 191 carries per year over the past 3 seasons. He makes up for it as the best receiving RB in the league.

Concern: Not as much of a concern as a given, Westbrook WILL miss time. 2006 was his career high with 14 games started, in '05 and '04 he only started 12 games. He'd be higher on this list if he wasn't injury prone.

Upside: He proved last season that he can thrive given 20 carries per game, posting an impressive 5.1 YPC. Will Coach Reid give him that, or will it once again be the McNabb show? Reid has claimed that they will run more.

9. Rudi Johnson - Cincinnati Bengals
Experience: 7th Season
Bye Week: 5

3 Year Averages (2004-06):
Yards Rushing: 1407 (4.1 YPC)
Yards Receiving: 99 (6.2 YPG)
Touchdowns: 12

Another true workhorse. Will provide you with consistency (3 straight years of 12 TDs). Plays in another truly dynamic offense.

Concern: Mammoth workload for 3 straight seasons has lead him to miss 1 game in 2006 and two in 2005. Will he hold up well in another season of around 340 carries? His lack of receiving skills get him removed on 3rd and long.

Upside: He's been as consistent as they come for 3 straight years. The Bengals will continue to put up points in bushels. Kenny Irons is on IR and Chris Perry is always injured, so there aren't any concerns with his status as the feature back.

8. Reggie Bush - New Orleans Saints
Experience: 2nd Season
Bye Week: 4

1 Year Total (2006):
Yards Rushing: 565 (3.6 YPC)
Yards Receiving: 742 (46.4 YPG)
Touchdowns: 8 (Not including punt returns)

It took Bush some time to get rolling in 2006, but once he did, he immediately became one of the game's most exciting players. He's also a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Concern: Will split time with Deuce McAllister, and lose time in the red zone, which is why I have him rated this low. Will be streaky, with the occasional stinker as well as the occasional monster game.

Upside: Bush is basically the poster boy for the term "upside". Now that he has a complete tour of duty through a NFL season, he should only improve on his '06 numbers...especially his early season numbers. McAllister underwent another knee surgery in the offseason, so Bush may see his workload increase slightly.

7. Willie Parker - Pittsburgh Steelers
Experience: 4th Season
Bye Week: 6

2 Year Averages (2005-06):
Yards Rushing: 1348 (4.6 YPC)
Yards Receiving: 220 (6.9 YPG)
Touchdowns: 12

Faaaaast Willie.
Touchdowns are skewed low due to his losing TD's to Jerome Bettis in 2005. Parker is a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Concern: Limited vision, he had 6 games in 2006 with a sub-65 yard rushing output. Won't contribute much of anything in the passing game.

Upside: The Steelers are a run-first offense, it won't change under Coach Tomlin. He also doesn't have to worry about sharing carries with anybody. Showed last season that he can hold up for the duration of an NFL season as the #1 option.

6. Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts
Experience: 2nd Season
Bye Week: 6

1 Year Total (2006):
Yards Rushing: 1081 (4.8 YPC)
Yards Receiving: 325 (20.3 YPG)
Touchdowns: 8


No longer in a RBBC, it's time for Addai to prove himself, the Colts have no reasonable safety net behind him, so it's make or break time.
He's in the potent Colt offense, where there has been talk of getting him even more involved in the passing game.


Concern: Addai has never been outside of a RBBC...well, pehaps in high school, but not as a rookie, not at LSU. Can he hold up with around 100 extra carries and double the catches? Tends to struggle at the goal line.

Upside: He should rival Jackson, Westbrook and Bush for the league lead in receptions by a RB. He plays in one of the NFL's most dominant offenses and has nobody to steal touches from him. Certainly has the potential to be a Top 4 RB.