CURTIS MARTIN & CEDRIC HOUSTON : #31 & 55 ? ?

[kelly]

Harmon's RB rankings: Brown's No. 8

Michael Harmon / FOXSports.com

Posted: 13 hours ago

Rankings: Running back

Rk Player TM Comment

1 Larry Johnson KC O-Line healthy & Edwards' top option. Priest status still questionable

2 Shaun Alexander SEA 16 or more TDs in 5 straight years. Do they miss Hutch?

3 L. Tomlinson SD Has excelled w/ 8 in a box against him before

4 Tiki Barber NYG Producers as runner & receiver. Eli growth & Jacobs role are keys

5 Clinton Portis WAS 1,500 yards and double-digit TDs in 3 of 4 seasons

6 Edgerrin James ARI Skill position players are all stellar, but will O-Line perform?

7 Rudi Johnson CIN 1,400 & 12 TD in 2 straight, but what happens if Palmer isn't ready?

8 LaMont Jordan OAK Durability a concern, but will handle the ball a ton under Shell

9 Steven Jackson STL Faulk injury means less sideline time. Linehan wants to boost touches

10 Carnell Williams TB OL upgrades & Gruden's power game portend to huge year. Overuse?

11 Domanick Davis HOU Kubiak will keep him moving & utilize receiving prowess. Injury risk

12 Ronnie Brown MIA Expect heavier '06 load w/o Ricky & bigger numbers w/ Daunte

13 Julius Jones DAL Big '06 w/ extra attention afforded T.O.? Handcuff Marion Barber

14 Willis McGahee BUF QB situation still a question, as is the role of Jauron fave Thomas

15 Reuben Droughns CLE Had the yardage, showed great heart. This year, he'll add the TDs

16 Kevin Jones DET Disappointing '05, but potential bargain if DET offense clicks

17 Willie Parker PIT Always a threat to break one, but won't get many GL scores

18 Deuce McAllister NO Will be ready for Sep. Potential Bush holdout actually hurts

19 Tatum Bell DEN Likelt to challenge Dayne for GL work. Nearly 1,000 yards as backup

20 Brian Westbrook PHI More carries on tap for '06 w/ big role in passing game

21 Corey Dillon NE 13 total TDs despite injury issues. Durability & Maroney are concerns

22 Chester Taylor MIN Hutchinson upgrades OL, but possible timeshare w/ stacked backfield

23 Jamal Lewis BAL Disappointing '05 performance. Addition of Anderson slips his stock

24 Warrick Dunn ATL Huge yardage, but Duckett, Norwood & Vick to swipe TDs

25 DeShaun Foster CAR Abilities as receiver help, but durability casts huge shadow

26 Reggie Bush NO Can break a long one every touch. Will holdout come to fruition?

27 Thomas Jones CHI Benson challenge looms. Offense more efficient without Orton

28 Fred Taylor JAC Slimmed down and hoping to avoid injuries. 6 total TDs in last 2 yrs

29 Ahman Green GB Fewer than 60 rush yds in 5G played. OL & health are huge concerns

30 Dominic Rhodes IND 1,000 yds as a rookie. Battle w/ rookie Addai in the offing for camp

~ ~ ~ 31 Curtis Martin NYJ Will reclaim starting gig, but Houston figures to eat into carries

32 Ron Dayne DEN Everyone thrives in DEN backfield, but can he replicate Anderson?

33 Cedric Benson CHI Should see 8-10 touches despite battle w/ Jones

34 Mike Anderson BAL 2-time 1,000-yd rusher will see work alongside Lewis. Good insurance

35 Frank Gore SF Strong audition for top spot in final 3G of '05. Barlow still in the mix

36 Joseph Addai IND Power back w/ good hands will compete for the starting role

37 DeAngelo Williams CAR Breakaway speed & big-play potential. Handcuff to Foster pick

38 Chris Brown TEN 6 games under 40 rush yd. Now looking for a trade. Backup to LJ?

39 Laurence Maroney NE Topped 1,400 rushing yds in rugged Big 10. Good patience and ability

40 Kevan Barlow SF Missed last four games. Mike Nolan will have a decision to make

41 Duce Staley PIT Possibility that he slides into vulture role vacated by The Bus

42 Marion Barber DAL Jones has injury issues, Barber can produce if given opportunity

43 Chris Perry CIN 4.6 yards per carry w/ 51 receptions. Good insurance behind Rudi

44 Ryan Moats PHI Good burst and breakaway speed. He'll split reps with Westbrook

45 Brandon Jacobs NYG Same role as last year; Goal-line vulture had 7 TDs in '05

46 Greg Jones JAC Taylor health always a concern. Jones had two 100-yard games in '05

47 Najeh Davenport GB Solid option if Green goes down, but still running behind rebuilt OL

48 Anthony Thomas BUF Little-used in 2 straight yrs. Jauron's top rusher 3 times in Chicago

49 T.J. Duckett ATL May be odd man out w/ Norwood addition. Possible he gets dealt

50 Mewelde Moore MIN Turned in two 100-yards games in '05 but will need to win PT

51 Michael Turner SD L.T.'s backup, and as he showed at Indy, hard to catch at top speed

52 Priest Holmes KC Hard to know where to place him as his return is still such a mystery

53 LenDale White TEN GL carries in '06 & possibly a larger role if Brown gets dealt

54 Samkon Gado GB Electrified fantasy game in '05 w/ three 100-yard games before injury

~ ~ ~ 55 Cedric Houston NYJ 3 solid efforts in final 4G puts him in backup role for new Jets scheme

56 Michael Bennett NO Good speed in mini-camp. Solid No. 2 option if Bush has long holdout

57 Maurice Morris SEA Schedule among league's weakest. Could shine if pressed into action

58 Michael Pittman TB Solid backup option if the Cadillac needs to go into the shop

59 Verron Haynes PIT May be a candidate for role vacated by Bettis. Staley has first shot

60 Travis Henry TEN Might be on the move depending on Brown talks & White progess

61 Jarious Norwood ATL Possible replacement for Duckett in short yardage & GL situations

62 Maurice Drew JAC Taylor ready to run, but the speedy rookie will bid for touches

63 Antowain Smith HOU Moves into backup role behind Davis. Offers HOU good power option

64 Maurice Hicks SF 5.2 AVG and three TDs in '05, but still behind Barlow & Gore

65 J.J. Arrington ARI 2nd-yr man will try to win backup role. 3.3 AVG not good enough

66 Adrian Peterson CHI Ran well in place of injured starters mid-year. Starts camp at No. 3

67 Ladell Betts WAS Has been a steady backup and will excel if needed. 4.7 career AVG

68 Mike Alstott TB Has a decreasing workload, but did score on 6 of 34 carries in '05

69 Eric Shelton CAR Shuffled back w/ Williams addition. CAR backfield crowded

70 Lee Suggs CLE Hasn't stayed healthy in first 2 years. Crennel may look to W. Green

FOXSports.com fantasy contributor Mike Harmon would welcome your comments and feedback. You can also learn more about him by reading "Welcome to my world."

> http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/5495694

[Scott Dierking]

Is this a Fantasy or NFL ranking of backs?

[Maxman]

Is this a Fantasy or NFL ranking of backs?

Hard to tell. All I can say is that if it is a fantasy ranking, I can't remember the last time a Denver RB was the 19th selected. Gotta have a Denver back on your fantasy team.

[faba]

No love for Gado who came out of nowhere last year for Green Bay

[DHJF]

Ya know, I really hope Martin doesn't get the starting nod. As much as I like him and want him to succeed, I don't see him being effective anymore. Give Houston the nod, for crissake.

[Maxman]

Ya know, I really hope Martin doesn't get the starting nod. As much as I like him and want him to succeed, I don't see him being effective anymore. Give Houston the nod, for crissake.

It is not going to matter much either way. The next starting caliber RB for the Jets isn't currently on the roster.

[Maxman]

Ya know, I really hope Martin doesn't get the starting nod. As much as I like him and want him to succeed, I don't see him being effective anymore. Give Houston the nod, for crissake.

It is not going to matter much either way. The next starting caliber RB for the Jets isn't currently on the roster. I hope Curtis can go out on a decent note.

[DHJF]

It is not going to matter much either way. The next starting caliber RB for the Jets isn't currently on the roster. I hope Curtis can go out on a decent note.

I hope so too, just not as our go-to guy.

I disagree that Houston's not starting caliber. Give him his shot now while he's young and not-so green. See what we have in him.

I'm also excited about Washington.

Not a bad 1-2-3 punch out of the backfield, if you ask me. Not great, but not bad.

[PeterNorth09]

I hope so too, just not as our go-to guy.

I disagree that Houston's not starting caliber. Give him his shot now while he's young and not-so green. See what we have in him.

I'm also excited about Washington.

Not a bad 1-2-3 punch out of the backfield, if you ask me. Not great, but not bad.

No it's pretty bad. Houston is a decent back-up at best. Any team that has Cedric Houston as it's starting RB is asking to be bottom 5 in the league in rushing. Same goes for Leon Washington who couldn't stay healthy in college.

[DHJF]

No it's pretty bad. Houston is a decent back-up at best. Any team that has Cedric Houston as it's starting RB is asking to be bottom 5 in the league in rushing. Same goes for Leon Washington who couldn't stay healthy in college.

We'll agree to disagree.

[raffyD]

No it's pretty bad. Houston is a decent back-up at best. Any team that has Cedric Houston as it's starting RB is asking to be bottom 5 in the league in rushing. Same goes for Leon Washington who couldn't stay healthy in college.

That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. Cedric is a tough runner, give him, or any other RB, running lanes and you have a good rushing attack. Just ask Ron Dayne.

[PeterNorth09]

That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. Cedric is a tough runner, give him, or any other RB, running lanes and you have a good rushing attack. Just ask Ron Dayne.

A tough runner? He was tough enough to look very mediocre last year. But hey, most of you guys on this site live in fantasy world where scrubs like Houston and Jolley are going to magically transform into studs because the Jets used 2 first round picks on offensive linemen. Let the overrating begin, oh wait, you guys have been overrating these clowns for months now.

[The Troll]

31?!

You mean this moron thinks there is a starting running back that is worse than Curtis Martin?

[Maxman]

A tough runner? He was tough enough to look very mediocre last year. But hey, most of you guys on this site live in fantasy world where scrubs like Houston and Jolley are going to magically transform into studs because the Jets used 2 first round picks on offensive linemen. Let the overrating begin, oh wait, you guys have been overrating these clowns for months now.

I have to agree with Peter. I have always said that the backup qb is the biggest star in the town.

Herm always got blasted for sticking with the Vets. Where are the pro bowlers that he was sitting on the bench?

Houston is not a starting caliber back. Lamont left and barely cracked 1,000 yards. Yet when Curtis had 1,600 yards we were all told that Lamont could have done better.

Sometimes these guys don't crack the starting lineup for a reason!

[PeterNorth09]

I have to agree with Peter. I have always said that the backup qb is the biggest star in the town.

Herm always got blasted for sticking with the Vets. Where are the pro bowlers that he was sitting on the bench?

Houston is not a starting caliber back. Lamont left and barely cracked 1,000 yards. Yet when Curtis had 1,600 yards we were all told that Lamont could have done better.

Sometimes these guys don't crack the starting lineup for a reason!

Lamont Jordan is simply a better player than Cedric Houston. No offense to Houston, I actually like the guy and think he can be a decent back-up, but he is not a starting RB.