Fantasy Football News

RATING THE ROOKIE RUNNING BACK'S

08/14/2005

Houston Harold

Rating the Rookie Running Backs

Howdy folks, I’m Houston Harold. You more astute fans of Scoop Chicos may have recalled that he pronounced me dead last year on the fflcommish.com message board. I believe he wrote a little ditty that went a little something like this, “Houston Harold, he’s dead now.” The truth of the matter is that I’m above snakes. I was in negotiations with fflcommish.com at the time so ol’ Scoop wrote that I was dead, his logic being that if he said I was dead, well, that I’d be dead. Well, pard, I’m the new deputy sheriff and I’m here to stay. Scoop chars my hide sometimes, but I tell you what, cowboy, Scoop and I have watched more football together than Summerall and Madden.

Now onto the business of football. Serious business.

THE ROOKS

Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins

Miami phan’s had to suffer through one of the worst backfields in NFL history last year. Quarterback, running backs, all Long John Silver type characters playing on a wooden leg, half in the bag, fresh off a planking festival. Those days are over. Ronnie Brown will have an immediate fantasy impact not only red zone touchdowns but also receiving stats and at least 8 100 yard games. Ricky Williams? He’s the unknown commodity in Miami, not Brown. Take the S.O.B. and don’t forget to put wasabi in your soy sauce.

Cedric Benson – Chicago Bears

This has the potential for a pretty potent cocktail. One part Chicago Defense, one part Cedric Benson, and poured over the ice of Soldier Field the second half of the season and you have a tasty drink my friend. Savor this one a bit though; dividends for drafting Benson probably won’t come until later in the season. For now, Thomas Jones is still the starter but Benson will be the stiff drink at the end of the night. If he isn't still holding out, don’t hesitate to draft this teary-eyed ball carrier and pass me the peanuts.

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coach Gruden made no secret of his love for Cadillac. I would be shocked if Caddy didn’t get his share of the carries in a full backfield. Watch the situation closely because that S.O.B. Michael Pittman was an occasional fantasy stud last year. We’ll see how long it takes the Bucs to pimp this ride.

J.J. Arrington – Arizona Cardinals

When Denny Green loves a rookie he knows how to show it. Denny has sent J.J flowers every day since he was drafted. The last RB Denny selected with such a high pick was Michael Bennett who amassed 926 yards 3 touchdowns his rookie year on the disastrous 2001 edition of the Minnesota Vikings. I expect bigger things out of Arrington; I hear the Cardinals are raving about their new farmhand already. This suicide blonde is a sleeper.

Some Free Agents You Might Pickup During the Season

Marion Barber III – Dallas Cowboys – Someone to watch out for during the season IF Julius Jones gets hurt again. Parcells will not be afraid to lean heavily on the talented, red zone maven who showed more toughness inside the twenty yard line than any back in college football last year.

Ciatric Fason – Minnesota Vikings - Mike Tice isn’t committed to any of his backs and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Fason end up starting at some point during the season. Onterrio Smith is done for the year and don’t forget Mewelde Moore’s stint as a starter when he amassed 530 total yards in three games.

Chris Shelton – Carolina Panthers – With the health of Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster in question, Shelton could make an impact at some point during the season.

Frank Gore – San Francisco 49er’s – Kevan Barlow was a huge bust last year. San Francisco is going to be bad but keep an eye on Gore.