RB Situations to Watch This Offseason

If you're a veteran fantasy football enthusiast, you know that it's not enough to draft talented guys. A guy can have all the talent in the world, but it won't do him any good if he doesn't get the opportunity to capitalize on it. Take Jamaal Charles while Larry Johnson was still with the Chiefs. Even though he was clearly the better back, the Chiefs took half the season to give Charles a lead role in the offense.

This article will look at the all-important opportunity factor involved with the running back position. We'll break down each of the 32 teams and see which scenarios cold present opportunities to a new crop of backs (the biggest question marks are in bold).

Buffalo -- Fred Jackson has flashed enough that Buffalo is likely ready to move forward with him in the lead role. That could land Marshawn Lynch, a player that's had troubles both on and off the field, on the trading block. If Lynch is traded, keep an eye on Buffalo's new No. 2, as Jackson is far from a proven commodity.

Miami -- Ronnie Brown will return from another season-ending injury, light up the fantasy scene for half the season .. and likely head back to the IR. Sorry, as a Brown owner in a dynasty league, I'm a little bitter. Ricky Williams had plenty left in the tank last year and is a must-draft for any Brown owners.

New England -- Five different backs rushed for at least 100 yards with New England in 2009. With Wes Welker hurt, the Patriots may look to run the ball more in 2010. Laurence Maroney has led the multi-back attack, but he's been unimpressive in his career. There should be plenty of running back talent in the second round of this year's draft, and New England has two picks in the first half of the second round (and three picks in the round total). I'd anticipate them using one of those second-rounders on a new feature back.

New York -- Thomas Jones is the incumbent, but he'll be 32 years old this season. Rookie Shonn Greene was great in limited action during the season. Greene then took over in the playoffs and will likely be given a shot at the starting role this season.

Baltimore -- Ray Rice is the number one and a top five pick, but the presence of Willis McGahee limits his fantasy ceiling. The team sounds committed to hanging on to McGahee in 2010, but Rice was awfully good last year in the same scenario. If anyone's production will be cut down, it'll be McGahee's should he stay in Baltimore

Cincinnati -- An absolute monster when healthy last year, Cedric Benson is locked into the starting role in Cincinnati.

Cleveland -- Jamal Lewis is out, meaning Jerome Harrison is in. Still, the Browns don't have much depth at the position and could definitely be in the market to add a complementary No. 2 back.

Pittsburgh -- Rashard Mendenhall blossomed as the lead dog last year, and he'll likely reach first-round status in 2010.

Houston -- This will likely be the biggest RB situation to watch this offseason. Steve Slaton was the lead back for much of last season, but a long recovery timetable post-surgery puts his status up in the air. Arian Foster impressed with fresh legs late in the season, but the team in understandably reluctant to rest the entire rushing game on his shoulders. If the Texans don't look for a free agent like LaDainian Tomlinson, taking a running back early in the draft should be a priority.

Indianapolis -- Several years ago, Joseph Addai was the young first-round pick that gradually took over the lead-back role from Edgerrin James. Now, Addai will try and avoid the same fate with Donald Brown nipping on his heels. Expect a time share next year.

Jacksonville -- Maurice Jones-Drew. Maurice Jones-Drew. Maurice Jones-Drew. Rashad Jennings was solid as a barely-used backup.

Tennessee -- Chris Johnson wowed the league in 2009, and odds are good for a repeat. Could LenDale White turn up in Seattle with old coach Pete Carroll?

Denver -- It was a fine rookie year for Knowshon Moreno, with 1,160 total yards and nine TDs to his credit. Correll carved out enough of a role that Moreno isn't a true RB1 ... yet. At 31 years old, it's likely 2009 will go down as the last gasp in Buckhalter's career.

Kansas City -- Jamaal Charles has arrived. There is still some speculation that the Chiefs could bring in a bigger back to complement Charles, and they could wind up being the first team in the second round to draft a RB. Otherwise, they may decide to bring Tomlinson or Lewis in for a year.

Oakland -- Three backs received between 100 and 130 carries for the Raiders last year, making this a stay-away situation in leagues. The Darren McFadden hype proved to be unfounded, as he rushed for just 357 yards and one TD in his 12 games played. Michael Bush performed the best at the position last year, but either he or McFadden could win the lead job. The most likely scenario has them splitting carries again.

San Diego -- The best fantasy back of the 2000s is likely on his way out of San Diego, leaving a gaping hole in his wake. Darren Sproles is great but likely incapable of a 250-carry season. Monitor this situation closely, as the Chargers look likely to draft a running back with their first pick this season. Will they try to move up and nab C.J. Spiller?

Dallas -- Marion Barber is the incumbent, but Felix Jones was the better back in 2009. When both are hurt, Tashard Choice has proven capable of being a solid NFL running back. A Choice-for-Antonio Cromartie rumor was floated about, but the Cowboys preferred Choice. Still, they could wind up moving him to a team like Houston or San Diego in the right deal.

New York -- Even though Brandon Jacobs is the starter, Ahmad Bradshaw did more with less last year. Bradshaw had a total of nearly 1,000 yards despite the Giants' new emphasis on the passing game. Various injuries could hold Bradshaw out for much of the offseason and give Jacobs another shot at rebuilding his value.

Philadelphia -- Brian Westbrook may have played his last down for the Eagles, leaving LeSean McCoy as the unquestioned starter. Still, the Eagles would be more comfortable adding a veteran to complement McCoy's skills. While they won't pry Choice away from Dallas, they could try and work a move for Lynch or McGahee.

Washington -- Can Clinton Portis co-exist with Mike Shanahan? With so little behind Portis on the Redskins' depth chart, he may have to. If Daniel Snyder can add a younger back through trade, he'd probably jettison Portis, leaving Portis to try and latch on with the Texans, Chargers, or other RB-starved team.

Chicago -- Matt Forte disappointed fantasy owners last season, but he's still the man in Chicago. If Mike Martz can make the passing attack a threat, Forte will start to have room to run. Khalil Bell had his moments in 2009, but the Bears could definitely be in the market for a reliable backup.

Detroit -- Here's one to keep an eye on. Kevin Smith suffered an ACL tear, and his future with the Lions is in serious jeopardy. He likely won't be ready for Week 1, so Detroit could be a prime landing spot for a free-agent veteran. The Lions have so many needs that they probably can't afford to spend a high pick on addressing the RB position.

Green Bay -- Ryan Grant is the starter and has been the only Green Bay back worth mentioning in recent years -- quarterback Aaron Rodgers was actually second on the team in rushing yards. It could be time for the Packers to draft a back and give Grant a little bit of a break.

Minnesota -- It's all Adrian Peterson here. Chester Taylor could wind up in a new home, especially if he sees the potential for a large role somewhere. He was a 1,000-yard rusher before Peterson took over, and he could still have something left.

Atlanta -- Michael Turner caught the injury bug and ended his season early, but he'll be back as the lead dog in 2010. Jerious Norwood is a nice complementary back that could be worked into the offense a little more, if he can handle it. Jason Snelling should fade back into obscurity.

Carolina -- DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will continue to battle each other for the distinction of being number one. It's possible the Panthers put Williams on the market to see what they can get. If Williams is in fact traded, look for the Panthers to add a conventional backup and give Stewart well over 300 carries.

New Orleans -- With a Super Bowl title in hand, this will be a much easier offseason for the front office to stomach. A decision has to be made on Reggie Bush, and you know Carroll would love to have him in Seattle. Expect the Saints to keep the winning formula in place though, making Pierre Thomas the lead again and Bush the change-of-pace.

Tampa Bay -- Here's another big situation to watch, as the Buccaneers have three potential starters. Derrick Ward was paid like a starter, but Cadillac Williams earned the No. 1 role last year. Are two years of good health too much to ask for in regards to Williams? Probably. Earnest Graham still floats around in the background.

Arizona -- Chris Wells took over in the second half of last season and should enter next season as the lead back. With Matt Leinart under center, the Cardinals could become more of a rushing team, leaving both Wells and Tim Hightower with value.

San Francisco -- Glen Coffee wasn't much to write home about, and the 49ers could go back to the well and try again at grabbing a back to complement Frank Gore. If that doesn't happen, Gore should be a fine first-round pick again.

Seattle -- Julius Jones? Justin Forsett? Or a rookie back? Pete Carroll has plenty of decisions to make with his roster in Seattle, and it will be critical for the fantasy community to keep an eye on the team's movement. Jones is the tentative starter, but I could definitely see the Seahawks taking Spiller at No. 14 or another back in the second round.

St. Louis -- Steven Jackson still remains the only worthwhile member of the offense. Even surrounded by mediocre talent, Jackson perseveres. The Rams have so many holes to fix that they likely won't bother bringing in a decent backup, leaving Jackson to get another 300-plus carries in 2010.