by Mike Harmon

Updated: May 26, 2008, 4:33 PM EST 6 comments

add this RSS blog email print

When it comes to the running back position, we examine a coach's general philosophy, the tread on the primary back's legs (age) and the possibility of one or more players in the system leeching into their workload.

Last season, 17 tailbacks topped the hallowed 1,000-yard mark. An eye-popping 45 running backs rushed for at least 499 yards. How about another fun number? Ninety-one players plunged into the end zone. Don't worry. I'll narrow the focus on those numbers as we work toward draft season, but let's start with the larger pool and start to reel things in later this summer.

In this edition of my initial foray into the rankings world for 2008, I'm posting my running back ranks from 21-40. Let's begin in the desert, where a former hero runs unopposed. Remember, I'm talking football and not politics here, so here's a nod to "The Edge."

21. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals

The fact that James produced only three 100-yard games last year is a tad disconcerting, but two factors have me intrigued about him as a solid No. 2 RB option. First, he's missed only one game in the past four years. Yes, he's been slowed at times by a variety of ailments, but James has answered the bell. The second factor that raises an eyebrow for me is the fact that the Cardinals procured no serious challenge to James during the free agency period or the draft. As such, James remains the top man in the desert. I would like to see more of a push at the goal-line, but I'll honor the fact that he doesn't enter camp in a committee situation. James may rise a few notches before we hit camp in July.

22. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowoys

The Cowboys loved the way Jones complemented Darren McFadden at Arkansas, and he'll assume the same role here in "Big D" to Marion Barber. Remember, Julius Jones was a 1,000-yard rusher in this explosive offense in 2006. Jones will be a factor in the return game for sure, and he'll offer the speed element to offset the bulldozing efforts of Barber. He produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons alongside McFadden in Arkansas and has the speed to be a game-breaker immediately. I'll take any guy nicknamed "The Cat" for his quickness.

23. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

There was some concern about Stewart's toe coming into the draft, but reports of him jumping out of the gym during the combine made him a first-round selection for the Panthers. Stewart immediately assumes the lead role in a workload split with DeAngelo Williams. He possesses a great combination of power and speed and will be the goal-line option for John Fox. Jake Delhomme will be back to run this offense, and the additions at wide receiver should help to open running lanes for Stewart. Lest we forget, the team also added tackle Jeff Otah in the first round.

24. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints

Like a former USC teammate, Matt Leinart, Bush's private life has been front and center this off-season. I'll take any opportunity to talk about Bruce Jenner and Kim Kardashian, but we'll leave that for another time.

To call Bush's 2007 season a disappointment would be a gross understatement. He struggled to find his legs and teams defended him much more effectively, getting to the spot and refusing to fall for his head-fakes. Bush finished the season with 581 rushing yards and 417 receiving yards and six total touchdowns, missing the final four games with a knee injury. He averaged a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry, but the disturbing portion of his stat line is that he put the ball on the carpet seven times. Bush adds a ton of receptions for those in PPR leagues. He'll need a strong rebound effort from Deuce McAllister between the tackles to open things for him on the edge. Who wants to kick into the pot for some stick'em?

25. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He was buried on the depth chart for years, but Graham bided his time and finally received extensive playing time when injuries befell the lead options. Graham carried the ball 222 times for 898 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, seven of which came during a strong six-game scoring streak. He offered a solid four yards per carry and put himself in Jon Gruden's good graces by fumbling once in 271 touches (he caught 49 balls). Following Graham's strong 2007 season, this former fullback leads the pack into camp.

26. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans

LenDale White had some question marks after a rough rookie 2006 season, but he'll be Tennessee's featured back going into 2008. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images)

His conditioning and dedication had been questioned following a rough rookie season, but White showed that he belonged at this level once given the opportunity in 2007. White rushed for 1,110 yards (3.7-yard average) with seven touchdowns. He doesn't have the speed of rookie Chris Johnson, but who does? White did produce a run of at least 10 yards in 12 different contests. The former USC star earned five 100-yard games and will retain the lead role in this backfield, including the all-important goal-line touches. Those selecting White should circle back for Johnson as a handcuff. I'll be interested to see where Chris Henry fits into the mix.

27. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

Forte has been brought in to shake things up in Chicago, and I expect this 6-foot-1 powerhouse from Tulane to eclipse Cedric Benson for the lead in the Bears backfield. Forte rushed for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns last season for the Green Wave last season, eclipsing the 200-yard barrier five times. He hits the holes hard and carries defenders with him. The Bears are looking for that heart and a more consistent and explosive force in the ground game to open things for Rex Grossman in the passing game.

28. Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals

All good things come to an end. Johnson had rushed for 12 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons entering the 2007 season. His consistency and durability made him a popular top choice. Alas, Johnson saw his streak of top-tier seasons derailed because of a lingering hamstring injury. He didn't score a touchdown until Week 12 and topped 100 yards only once (Week 2). The backfield situation is muddy in Cincinnati, with Johnson leading a pack that includes Kenny Watson (who excelled last season in Johnson's absence), Chris Perry (they've stuck by him through his injuries) and Kenny Irons, who was injured early last preseason. Reportedly, former MVP Shaun Alexander is scheduled to meet with the team as well. As such, this situation could be shuffled often before camp breaks in August.

Johnson's value (and any of these other backs) is tied directly to the return of Chad Johnson and an accelerated learning curve by the new wide receivers in Cincinnati. Rudi enters the 2008 season as a lower-tier No. 2 with upside, depending on how the drama bears out.

29. Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars

MJD gets the touchdown love, but Taylor certainly represented himself well in 2007. Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards last season (his seventh 1,000-yard season), producing a tremendous streak of five consecutive 100-yard games from Week 12 to Week 16. He topped 80 rushing yards on eight occasions. Jack Del Rio will undoubtedly keep this successful workload split in motion for 2008, offering great support to second-year starter David Garrard. Taylor is a solid low-end No. 2, upper-end No. 3 back. He shouldn't score many touchdowns, but will offer a consistent yardage total.

30. Thomas Jones, New York Jets

Jones topped 300 carries for the second time in his career en route to his third straight 1,000-yard season. It should be noted that Jones didn't exactly set the field ablaze, as he rushed for fewer than 60 yards in seven games and scored only one touchdown all season. That's right. One touchdown. The Jets took steps to improve their offensive line this off-season, adding guard Alan Faneca from the Steelers, so Jones should find more holes to run through. He also comes to camp as the unquestioned starter, as Leon Washington and Jesse Chatman are backups in this system.

31. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions

Kevin Jones was cut following a series of injuries, leaving Central Florida rookie Smith to battle veteran Tatum Bell for the top spot in Rod Marinelli's backfield. My money is on the 6-foot-1, 235-pound rookie to win the job. Smith has the perfect combination of power and speed to make a big splash. He produced a 4.47-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine and will benefit from the team's return to a more balanced offensive approach.

32. Selvin Young, Denver Broncos

I tabbed Young as a possible sleeper option coming out of the NFL Draft last year when he signed with the vaunted Broncos running game. He took full advantage of his opportunities when Henry sputtered and subsequently missed time with injury. Young rushed for 729 yards on 140 carries (5.2 yards per carry) and exploded for a run of at least 10 yards in eight different games. Additionally, he amassed such a sizable yardage total while receiving double-digit carries in only six games. Young's explosiveness gives him the edge in this backfield, and the addition of Ryan Clady will help to blow open massive holes for this speedster to exploit.

33. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mendenhall fell into the Steelers' laps, and this explosive workhorse will immediately become the complement to "Speedy" Willie Parker in the Pittsburgh backfield. Parker will be fully recovered from his broken leg in time for training camp, but Mendenhall's addition gives Mike Tomlin a backfield similar in nature to that of Parker and Bettis a few years back. He racked up 1,681 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns for the Illini in 2007, adding 34 receptions for 318 yards. Mendenhall is a versatile back with a knack for the end zone and could be pressed into service as a goal-line option so as to not expose Parker's leg in such situations.

34. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks

Following a disappointing season as the decided No. 2 man in Dallas, Jones becomes the lead man in Seattle. He remains an explosive back but, like most backs, needs more than a few carries to get things rolling. Last season, Wade Phillips rode the powerful legs of Barber, and Jones rarely received a chance to get on track. Jones received double-digit carries only three times in the Cowboys' final 11 games. I like him in Holmgren's system. The spread offense and blocking schemes fit his running style and could make him a surprise candidate for 2008. Of course, T.J. Duckett is on the radar to steal goal-line chances.

35. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

The new speed option in the crowded Tennessee backfield alongside Henry has the breakaway speed to be an immediate impact player. He'll play the proverbial "lightning" role to White's plowing style in-between the tackles. Johnson posted a ridiculous 4.24-second time in the 40-yard dash, the fastest recorded by a running back. He's a home run hitter in the offing and a nice player to stash for his inevitable run as a the featured back.

36. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints

McAllister experienced a brilliant bounce-back season alongside rookie sensation Bush in 2006, claiming his fourth 1,000-yard season with 10 rushing touchdowns. I expected McAllister to follow that effort with another strong campaign, but he sputtered out of the gate before sustaining a season-ending injury in Week 3. The Saints expect this powerful tailback to be ready for a full workload come training camp. He'll be interesting to watch, as a fully healthy McAllister remains a goal-line monster.

37. Chester Taylor, MIinnesota Vikings

Don't look now, but the Vikings have retooled their squad and could make some noise in the NFC Central. Taylor is clearly the No. 2 back to Adrian Peterson, but he'll still amass a sizable workload as the Vikings tinker with play-calling to maximize Peterson's effectiveness. Taylor has averaged 4.48 yards per carry in two years in Minnesota, racking up 2,060 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He's also proven to be an effective receiver, hauling in 29 or more receptions in four straight years. As such, Taylor will retain a sizable role in this offense to aid the development of Tarvaris Jackson (or John David Booty?).

38. Shaun Alexander, Free Agent

Shaun Alexander has battled through injuries in recent years, but he'll surely catch on with another team and should have some fantasy value before 2008 kicks off. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)

Alexander will be visiting teams during the next several weeks as he works to find a new employer. Injuries and offensive line ineffectiveness conspired to make Alexander one of the game's top busts in 20007. Remember, the offensive line didn't quite click in the post-Steve Hutchinson era. Alexander finished the year with 716 receiving yards, averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per carry with four touchdowns. Nearly half of his rushing total came in the season's first four games, as Alexander's foot injury became a weekly debate subject. Alexander should be fully healthy for camp, wherever he calls home. I'll revisit his status once the ink dries.

39. Travis Henry, Denver Broncos

Henry joined the vaunted Denver run offense for 2007 and jumped out to a tremendous start. He raced to three 100-yard games in his first four starts, but didn't approach that mark for the remainder of the season. In fact, Henry's best effort following his 131-yard effort against the Colts was a paltry 65 yards. Henry remains on the radar in this potent attack, but he enters camp as the second back (at least, as best we can tell) behind Selvin Young, who rushed for 729 despite only recording 10 or more touches in six games. It's handcuff city for those drafting Young.

40. Cedric Benson, Chicago Bears

Benson was finally showing signs of life before breaking his fibula in 2007. He had scored in two of his final three games and was off to a decent start against Denver before getting hurt. Benson had rushed for fewer than 70 yards in seven of 10 games before getting hurt. Forte will push him hard for playing time in camp, and I expect the rookie to win out. With that said, Lovie Smith wants to run the ball and open things for Grossman, and that might mean 8-10 touches per game for Benson. Perhaps he'll excel as a No. 2. For now, he's merely a handcuff to Forte.

Next: Running back rankings Nos. 1-20