Top 5 Goal Line Backs for 2006

[ElevensBoys]

My draft is coming up later this month. I'm in a keeper league and will not draft until Rnd 5. Need suggestions on the top 5 goal line backs you would choose. I am looking for TD's, not yardage.

 

Thoughts:

 

1. Greg Jones

2. Zack Crockett

3. Tyson Thompson

4. Ron Dayne

5. Thomas Jones

[peepinmofo]

Brandon Jacobs

Mike Anderson maybe?

Someone in Pitt.

[Down Goes Frazia]

brandon jacobs needs to be near the top. he had 8 last year.

 

thomas jones ??

[Savage Beatings]

I would also keep an eye on Tony Richardson in MN. The Midwest Coast Offense they are implementing uses the FB and TE a lot so far in those situations according to T.C. observers.

[PaulOttCarruth]

Ciatrick Fason could be good in Minny

Duckett, as well

[Vote Quimby2]

Lendale White

[Vote Quimby2]

who will it be in Pitt? Staley?

[MustOfBeenDrunk]

who will it be in Pitt? Staley?

 

 

 

Haynes

[broncosn05]

Haynes

 

Willie Parker

[Randall]

I would also keep an eye on Tony Richardson in MN. The Midwest Coast Offense they are implementing uses the FB and TE a lot so far in those situations according to T.C. observers.

 

 

 

Good point. Think Rathman and William Henderson.

 

Midwest Coast Offense?

 

Oh, and Deuce.

Edited August 10, 2006 by Randall

[AtomicCEO]

Kyle Johnson FB Denver.

 

He scored 6 TDs last season with no fumbles. He might get more this year without Anderson around.

[PantherDave]

We will have to wait for some PS action to tell, but Eric Shelton is up to 260lbs and the Panthers want him to be the short yardage/goal line RB-only time will tell on this one.

[irish]

If you get Greg Jones that would be great as he will most definitely be the Goalline guy and quite possibly could be the fulltime guy as well.

[piratesownninjas]

We will have to wait for some PS action to tell, but Eric Shelton is up to 260lbs and the Panthers want him to be the short yardage/goal line RB-only time will tell on this one.

 

wow...

So basically, stay far away from all panthers runningbacks...

[LooGie]

wow...

So basically, stay far away from all panthers runningbacks...

 

that's usually a given anyway.

[Savage Beatings]

Hopefully SJax will be the goalline guy in STL, but remember that newly acquired Moe Williams is quite handy in that capacity.

[nogohawk]

Brandon Jacobs

Mike Anderson maybe?

Someone in Pitt.

 

 

Agree on BJ and Greg Jones

[MikesVikes]

Those Steelers are going to score lots of tds if these predictions are correct.

 

So far we have about a dozen goalline backs. A dozen plus Willie Parker.

[NavinRJohnson]

Kyle Johnson FB Denver.

 

He scored 6 TDs last season with no fumbles. He might get more this year without Anderson around.

 

 

 

5 TDs via the pass. Wow. That's a deep er

[rcswildcat]

Tommy Vardell still around?

[RussMan]

10. Marion Barber (Julius Jones), Cowboys – Barber isn’t a typical bruising goal line back. Still, he had more carries inside the ten-yard line last season than Julius Jones; the 11th most attempts in the entire league. Barber is versatile and a good blocker and could continue to steal 5+ scores from Jones’ bottom line.

 

9. Mike Anderson (Jamal Lewis), Ravens – Anderson was No. 8 on this list last season in Denver, and then proceeded to dominate short-yardage situations. He had the fewest stuffs-per-carry (rushing plays with no gain or less) in 2005 and scored 12 times. So why isn’t he ranked higher now? Opportunity.

 

The Ravens don’t view Anderson as a great short-yardage player. The team has experimented with him as a fullback and Musa Smith is reportedly challenging for Anderson’s backup. Jamal Lewis is a solid short-yardage back. As poorly as he played last season, he was solid converting first downs when he was close to the marker.

 

8. Antowain Smith (Domanick Davis), Texans – Domanick Davis isn’t an ideal short-yardage back because of his size and propensity to dance near the line of scrimmage. Smith never made defenders miss, but he rarely loses yardage, being stopped for no gain only nine times in 166 chances while on the Saints last year. Smith is a sneaky late fantasy pick because of Davis’ health.

 

7. Duce Staley (Willie Parker), Steelers – Bill Cowher says Verron Haynes could win the job of third-down/goal line running back, but Staley remains the favorite. He averaged over 100 yards in his first seven starts in Pittsburgh in 2004 before succumbing to injuries and Bettis nostalgia. Willie Parker is not a player who needs to be taken out in these situations, but Cowher prefers to use two backs extensively. If Staley stays healthy in training camp, he’s someone who has been undervalued in fantasy drafts. He’s a solid RB4/5 reserve pick.

 

6. LenDale White (Chris Brown), Titans – The Titans want White to be much more than a vulture, but they are worried about his toughness. White has barely practiced as a pro. Chris Brown has been the best overall back in training camp, but White should still be a better option in the red zone, where Brown has struggled in the past. White could steal 5-6 touchdowns even before he takes over as a starter.

 

5. Cedric Benson (Thomas Jones), Bears – Smaller running backs are often typecast as poor short-yardage options. The Bears would probably like to replace Thomas Jones with Cedric Benson on the stripe despite Jones scoring six times in seven attempts inside the three-yard line in 2005. Since Jones and Adrian Peterson are clearly better on passing downs, Chicago will want to use Benson in this role.

 

4. Deuce McAllister (Reggie Bush), Saints – Reggie Bush owners hope that the rookie scores long touchdowns, keeping McAllister off the field. The Saints seem likely to use Deuce in a short-yardage role even though he’s coming off ACL surgery and has struggled getting first downs throughout his career. As a wise man pointed out this week, Deuce actually came into the league as the “lightning” to Ricky Williams’ “thunder,” although now his role is reversed.

 

3. T.J. Duckett, Falcons – Duckett took a major step back in 2005 and could lose the primary backup role in Atlanta to rookie Jerious Norwood. That said, he’s still moves up three spots in our vulture rankings because he’s scored at least eight touchdowns for three straight years and is very successful in short-yardage situations. Duckett is a classic goal-line back. He’s too inconsistent to be valuable on his own in fantasy leagues, but he’ll hurt Warrick Dunn.

 

2. Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Jacobs should replace Duckett as the league’s prototypical vulture if he can avoid fumbling. Even if he wasn’t terribly efficient, Jacobs scored seven times as a rookie despite only 38 carries. Moving up one spot in our rankings, Jacobs will be a major fantasy drain to Tiki Barber’s value this season. He’s a sleeper in TD-only leagues.

 

1. Greg Jones, Jaguars – Of all the running backs listed here, Jones is the best value in fantasy leagues. He’s going, on average, in the eleventh round of fantasy drafts as the No. 43 running back. The Jaguars don’t trust Fred Taylor in short-yardage situations and the other Jacksonville running backs are third-down types. Jones has the clearest role on the team and should perform a Bettis-like function at worst. Jones has reportedly had a standout camp and says he’s only now fully recovered from ACL surgery he underwent in Florida State. At minimum, I expect 125-150 carries and 6-8 touchdowns, with the possibility of much more if Taylor is hurt.

 

rotowire

Edited August 11, 2006 by RussMan

[ElevensBoys]

Sweet input! Looks like I will have most of these fella's available when I draft at the 59th and 63rd picks.

10. Marion Barber (Julius Jones), Cowboys – Barber isn’t a typical bruising goal line back. Still, he had more carries inside the ten-yard line last season than Julius Jones; the 11th most attempts in the entire league. Barber is versatile and a good blocker and could continue to steal 5+ scores from Jones’ bottom line.

 

9. Mike Anderson (Jamal Lewis), Ravens – Anderson was No. 8 on this list last season in Denver, and then proceeded to dominate short-yardage situations. He had the fewest stuffs-per-carry (rushing plays with no gain or less) in 2005 and scored 12 times. So why isn’t he ranked higher now? Opportunity.

 

The Ravens don’t view Anderson as a great short-yardage player. The team has experimented with him as a fullback and Musa Smith is reportedly challenging for Anderson’s backup. Jamal Lewis is a solid short-yardage back. As poorly as he played last season, he was solid converting first downs when he was close to the marker.

 

8. Antowain Smith (Domanick Davis), Texans – Domanick Davis isn’t an ideal short-yardage back because of his size and propensity to dance near the line of scrimmage. Smith never made defenders miss, but he rarely loses yardage, being stopped for no gain only nine times in 166 chances while on the Saints last year. Smith is a sneaky late fantasy pick because of Davis’ health.

 

7. Duce Staley (Willie Parker), Steelers – Bill Cowher says Verron Haynes could win the job of third-down/goal line running back, but Staley remains the favorite. He averaged over 100 yards in his first seven starts in Pittsburgh in 2004 before succumbing to injuries and Bettis nostalgia. Willie Parker is not a player who needs to be taken out in these situations, but Cowher prefers to use two backs extensively. If Staley stays healthy in training camp, he’s someone who has been undervalued in fantasy drafts. He’s a solid RB4/5 reserve pick.

 

6. LenDale White (Chris Brown), Titans – The Titans want White to be much more than a vulture, but they are worried about his toughness. White has barely practiced as a pro. Chris Brown has been the best overall back in training camp, but White should still be a better option in the red zone, where Brown has struggled in the past. White could steal 5-6 touchdowns even before he takes over as a starter.

 

5. Cedric Benson (Thomas Jones), Bears – Smaller running backs are often typecast as poor short-yardage options. The Bears would probably like to replace Thomas Jones with Cedric Benson on the stripe despite Jones scoring six times in seven attempts inside the three-yard line in 2005. Since Jones and Adrian Peterson are clearly better on passing downs, Chicago will want to use Benson in this role.

 

4. Deuce McAllister (Reggie Bush), Saints – Reggie Bush owners hope that the rookie scores long touchdowns, keeping McAllister off the field. The Saints seem likely to use Deuce in a short-yardage role even though he’s coming off ACL surgery and has struggled getting first downs throughout his career. As a wise man pointed out this week, Deuce actually came into the league as the “lightning” to Ricky Williams’ “thunder,” although now his role is reversed.

 

3. T.J. Duckett, Falcons – Duckett took a major step back in 2005 and could lose the primary backup role in Atlanta to rookie Jerious Norwood. That said, he’s still moves up three spots in our vulture rankings because he’s scored at least eight touchdowns for three straight years and is very successful in short-yardage situations. Duckett is a classic goal-line back. He’s too inconsistent to be valuable on his own in fantasy leagues, but he’ll hurt Warrick Dunn.

 

2. Brandon Jacobs, Giants – Jacobs should replace Duckett as the league’s prototypical vulture if he can avoid fumbling. Even if he wasn’t terribly efficient, Jacobs scored seven times as a rookie despite only 38 carries. Moving up one spot in our rankings, Jacobs will be a major fantasy drain to Tiki Barber’s value this season. He’s a sleeper in TD-only leagues.

 

1. Greg Jones, Jaguars – Of all the running backs listed here, Jones is the best value in fantasy leagues. He’s going, on average, in the eleventh round of fantasy drafts as the No. 43 running back. The Jaguars don’t trust Fred Taylor in short-yardage situations and the other Jacksonville running backs are third-down types. Jones has the clearest role on the team and should perform a Bettis-like function at worst. Jones has reportedly had a standout camp and says he’s only now fully recovered from ACL surgery he underwent in Florida State. At minimum, I expect 125-150 carries and 6-8 touchdowns, with the possibility of much more if Taylor is hurt.

 

rotowire

 

[NAUgrad]

Kyle Johnson FB Denver.

 

He scored 6 TDs last season with no fumbles. He might get more this year without Anderson around.

 

 

Assuming he wins the starting job which he hasn't so far in Denver.

[Furd]

who will it be in Pitt? Staley?

 

 

You obviously didn't own Staley the couple years that he actually did something. It went something like this:

 

1st and goal on the 3: Staley up the middle

2nd and goal on the 2: Staley off-tackle

3rd and goal on the 3: Staley up the middle

4th and goal from the 2 . . .