It's been a wild ride for running backs the first six weeks of the NFL season. For starters, after his 224-yard, three-touchdown performance this past Sunday, Vikings' rookie Adrian Peterson is leading the NFL in rushing with 607 yards on the ground to go along with four touchdowns. What's more, he's averaging an astonishing 6.3 yards per rush. Aside from Peterson, here are some other interesting notes on running backs so far:
Before he busted out Sunday for 198 yards rushing and four touchdowns, San Diego's (and the consensus No. 1 fantasy back) LaDainian Tomlinson had only two rushing TDs and was averaging a paltry (for him) 65.8 yards rushing per game.
It's been a pass-happy season so far. LT is currently leading running backs with six rushing TDs, and he's followed by the Colts' Joseph Addai with five, and five players with four each (Peterson, Ronnie Brown, Edgerrin James, Marion Barber III, and DeShawn Wynn).
By contrast, Patriots' WR Randy Moss has eight TDs, three players have seven (Plaxico Burress, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Braylon Edwards) and one has six (Steve Smith). The Patriots are using a tandem of Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk while Laurence Maroney recovers from a groin injury, giving Tom Brady the excuse to use his talented arsenal of receivers to the tune of 21 touchdown passes. That's right — 21 touchdown passes through six games.
They have only scored one touchdown each, but the Ravens' Willis McGahee and the Steelers' Willie Parker are averaging 87.5 and 101.4 yards per game, respectively.
Denver's Travis Henry was rolling right along until he got caught smoking weed...stay tuned, he could be suspended for one year.
Even though he wrenched his back recently, the Raiders' Lamont Jordan has 466 yards rushing and two TDs to date. Last year (and it pains me to say I had him on one of my fantasy teams), Jordan had just 434 yards rushing and two TDs the entire season.
Speaking of comeback players, Miami's Ronnie Brown has four 100-yard games already; last season he had four 100-yard games all season. This is another stud in 2007 that I happened to have in 2006. Yes, I'm bitter.
Seattle's Shaun Alexander, Mr. All World in 2005, is averaging 68.8 rushing yards per game and has just two TDs. In 2005 this guy averaged 117.5 yards per game and had 27 rushing TDs.
The Giants' Derrick Ward is tenth in the NFL in rushing with 409 yards on the ground. Even with Brandon Jacobs returning from an injury, if you saw Ward run, you sure were reminded just a little of Tiki Barber — same cutback ability and everything.
There's a reason A.J. Smith held on to running back Michael Turner. LaDainian Tomlinson's backup has 32 rushes for 209 yards and a TD. That's a 6.5 yards per carry average. Some scouts have said this guy is even faster than LT. I just don't know how long his agent is going to let him be a backup somewhere.
The Bucs' Cadillac Williams is out for the season, with Ernest Graham as his replacement. Other disappointments have been Frank Gore (61.2 yards per game average, three TDs), Larry Johnson (65.7 yards per game, one TD) and Thomas Jones (70 yards per game, zero TDs).
Stay tuned, because things have a way of evening out. Yesterday's studs are tomorrow's duds and vice versa.
Before he busted out Sunday for 198 yards rushing and four touchdowns, San Diego's (and the consensus No. 1 fantasy back) LaDainian Tomlinson had only two rushing TDs and was averaging a paltry (for him) 65.8 yards rushing per game.
It's been a pass-happy season so far. LT is currently leading running backs with six rushing TDs, and he's followed by the Colts' Joseph Addai with five, and five players with four each (Peterson, Ronnie Brown, Edgerrin James, Marion Barber III, and DeShawn Wynn).
By contrast, Patriots' WR Randy Moss has eight TDs, three players have seven (Plaxico Burress, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Braylon Edwards) and one has six (Steve Smith). The Patriots are using a tandem of Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk while Laurence Maroney recovers from a groin injury, giving Tom Brady the excuse to use his talented arsenal of receivers to the tune of 21 touchdown passes. That's right — 21 touchdown passes through six games.
They have only scored one touchdown each, but the Ravens' Willis McGahee and the Steelers' Willie Parker are averaging 87.5 and 101.4 yards per game, respectively.
Denver's Travis Henry was rolling right along until he got caught smoking weed...stay tuned, he could be suspended for one year.
Even though he wrenched his back recently, the Raiders' Lamont Jordan has 466 yards rushing and two TDs to date. Last year (and it pains me to say I had him on one of my fantasy teams), Jordan had just 434 yards rushing and two TDs the entire season.
Speaking of comeback players, Miami's Ronnie Brown has four 100-yard games already; last season he had four 100-yard games all season. This is another stud in 2007 that I happened to have in 2006. Yes, I'm bitter.
Seattle's Shaun Alexander, Mr. All World in 2005, is averaging 68.8 rushing yards per game and has just two TDs. In 2005 this guy averaged 117.5 yards per game and had 27 rushing TDs.
The Giants' Derrick Ward is tenth in the NFL in rushing with 409 yards on the ground. Even with Brandon Jacobs returning from an injury, if you saw Ward run, you sure were reminded just a little of Tiki Barber — same cutback ability and everything.
There's a reason A.J. Smith held on to running back Michael Turner. LaDainian Tomlinson's backup has 32 rushes for 209 yards and a TD. That's a 6.5 yards per carry average. Some scouts have said this guy is even faster than LT. I just don't know how long his agent is going to let him be a backup somewhere.
The Bucs' Cadillac Williams is out for the season, with Ernest Graham as his replacement. Other disappointments have been Frank Gore (61.2 yards per game average, three TDs), Larry Johnson (65.7 yards per game, one TD) and Thomas Jones (70 yards per game, zero TDs).
Stay tuned, because things have a way of evening out. Yesterday's studs are tomorrow's duds and vice versa.
