Running Back Analysis: Targets, Carries & Red Zone Touches

The theme of this article is simple. Players cannot produce for fantasy owners if they are not touching the ball consistently, and they can't generate a hefty touchdown total if they aren't featured in the red zone. The featured players are listed in the order of total touches rushing and receiving in 2009.

The chart lists the top 35 running backs in each stat category.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans – Johnson had one of the greatest seasons in the history of the NFL last year with 2,509 total yards rushing and receiving, and it is no surprise that he led the league with 408 touches. He only had 43 red zone touches, but keep in mind that he also led the league with 25 plays of 20+ yards, and scored a total of 16 touchdowns. Barring injures, Johnson will be money in the bank for fantasy owners in 2010.

Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams – Jackson only scored four touchdowns last season due to limitations of the Rams' offense, but he was still a fantasy monster with 1,738 total yards rushing and receiving on 375 touches. That is even more impressive when you consider that he missed one game and battled through a painful back ailment. He is in his prime at 27 and we expect another big year from the workhorse in 2010, barring injuries of course.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars – “MJD” is just 5-7, 208 pounds, but his slight frame did not prevent him from excelling as a workhorse in his first year as a full-time starter with the Jaguars in 2009, as he registered 1,765 total yards rushing and receiving on 365 touches. Fantasy owners should also love the stat that he led all running backs with 74 touches in the red zone. Expect big numbers from the little guy again in 2010, assuming he doesn't break down.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – Peterson tallied 357 touches in 2009, while notably reaching a new personal high with 43 receptions and 18 touchdowns. He only topped 100 rushing yards three times, but ended the year favorably in that department with 1,383 yards. He finished second among running backs with 69 red zone touches, and is worthy of the No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts, even though we like Chris Johnson a tad more.  

Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs – Jones had one of the best campaigns of his career with the Jets in 2009, as he bruised his way to 1,402 rushing yards and 14 scores on 331 carries, while adding 10 catches for 58 receiving yards. Now the 31-year-old vet's fantasy stock is going to take a hit while slated to serve as the primary backup behind Jamaal Charles in Kansas City –- but he could still prove to be a nice late-round value pick, namely if he can etch out a role as a goal-line back after handling 55 red zone touches last year. Charles lacks ideal size at 5-11, 199 pounds as well, and is yet to show he can handle a full year of punishment as a featured back. 

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens made Rice the focal point of their offense last year, and he didn't disappoint with 2,041 total yards rushing and receiving on 332 touches. He notably led all running backs with 78 receptions, and did plenty of damage for fantasy owners even though he reached paydirt just eight times. Willis McGahee hoarded 12 red zone touchdowns on the ground, but Rice still had 55 touches in that area of the field, and we expect his touchdown total to improve in 2010.    

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals – Benson is a nonfactor in the passing game, but he carried his weight in the trenches last year with 1,251 rushing yards on 301 carries. He had 42 touches in the red zone, but only managed to score six touchdowns for the season, which really prevents him from being taken seriously as a No. 1 fantasy back for 2010. He will still be a rock-solid pick as a No. 2 option though, and currently holds an ADP of 3.07.

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears – Forte was not quite as effective last year while coming off a promising rookie campaign of 2008, but the Bears still continued to feed him the pigskin plenty, as he ranked fifth among running backs with 72 pass targets, and eighth in carries with 258. He should remain the focal point of Chicago's offense in 2010 and his receiving totals are bound to go up with Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator. With a current ADP of 4.10, Forte could prove to be a steal as a No. 2 fantasy back (especially for PPR leagues), as many owners will pass on him going by last year's dip in production. 

Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers – Grant only caught 25 passes with Green Bay last year, despite playing in one of the best aerial attacks in the NFL, but he took care of business on the ground with 1,253 rushing yards and 11 scores on 282 carries. Grant is not in the stud class among fantasy backs, but is still among the best picks for a No. 2 starter. He should continue to see plenty of scoring chances as well, after handling 46 red zone touches in 2009.

Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills – The Bills lacked many weapons last year, and leaned on Jackson heavily as he ranked 10^th among running backs with 60 pass targets, and 13^th with 237 carries. He was in turn a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners with 1,433 total yards rushing and receiving, but his value is bound to take a hit for 2010 following the addition of explosive rookie C.J. Spiller in the first round of April's draft. We still recommend stashing him as a backup though, as Spiller could hit the “rookie wall” at some point, again leaving the bulk of the workload to Jackson.

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers – Gore missed two games due to a sprained ankle last year, but still ranked third among running backs with 75 pass targets. He also managed to rack up 1,120 rushing yards and a career best 10 touchdowns on 229 carries. He is bound to miss some time yet again this year going by his track record with durability, but he will perform like a stud in the games that he is in action for fantasy owners, and the 49ers shouldn't shy away from employing him as a workhorse.  

Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos – Moreno tallied 275 touches in 2009, despite spraining his MCL in the preseason and hitting the “rookie wall” down the stretch. He also led all rookie running backs with 947 rushing yards and nine touchdowns (two receiving), and ranked eighth among all runners with 54 red zone touches. His numbers should be on the rise for 2010, and could be a fantasy steal with a current ADP of 3.08.  

Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins – Ricky may be 33, but he had another good year in 2009 with 1,121 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 241 carries, while adding 35 catches for 264 receiving yards and two more scores. He also ranked 10^th among running backs with 51 red zone touches, but his numbers are bound to go down in 2010 if Ronnie Brown manages to stay intact while coming off foot surgery. We still prefer Williams over Brown in fantasy drafts though, namely as Williams has a better track record with durability and is less of a risk.  

Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts – Addai only had 219 rushing attempts last year, but was used plenty in the passing game, as he caught 51 of his 63 targets for 336 yards and three scores. He had a total of 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing and receiving, and ranked third among running backs with 60 red zone touches. Addai is clearly more valuable for PPR leagues, and should continue to get plenty of chances to reach paydirt while working with the high-scoring Colts –- even if Donald Brown is handed a larger role in their offense.

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers – Mendenhall only caught 25 passes in his first year as a full-time starter with the Steelers in 2009, but he was productive running the ball with 1,108 yards and seven scores on 242 carries. Pittsburgh would like to run more this year and get back to their roots of pounding the pigskin, and we like Mendenhall's fantasy potential, and expect him to see more action in the red zone after having just 39 touches in that area of the field last year.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions – Smith was having a fine year for fantasy owners in 2009 before tearing the ACL in his left knee in Week 14 at Baltimore, as he piled up 1,162 total yards rushing and receiving on 258 touches. He is a wait-and-see fantasy prospect for 2010 though, as he may not regain his edge until late in the season or possibly the year after, and will have to fight explosive rookie Jahvid Best for the starting role at running back with the Lions.

DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers – Williams missed three of the final five games of last season due to a pesky ankle injury, and had to share the workload at running back with Jonathan Stewart –- but Williams still had a solid campaign for fantasy owners with 1,369 total yards and seven scores on 245 touches. Williams also averaged 5.2 yards per carry, and we don't think he will disappoint as a No. 1 fantasy running back in 2010 if he stays intact. Stewart had more touches in the red zone than Williams (45 to 35), but both backs reached paydirt six times in that area of the field.

LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets – Tomlinson had a great career in San Diego, but he was forced to pack his bags for New York in the offseason after racking up just 730 rushing yards over 14 games in 2009, with a dismal 3.3 yards per carry average. He also only caught 20 passes, which marked a personal low. He did score 12 touchdowns though on 56 red zone touches, and he will be worth handcuffing as the primary backup to Shonn Greene, who will be working in his first year as a full-time starter with the Jets. He could end up hoarding some touchdowns at the goal-line too, like when Willis McGahee vultured 12 scores in the red zone with Baltimore last year –- potentially making him a steal with a current ADP of 11.05.   

Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants – Jacobs played through a torn meniscus in his left knee last year, but was still able to generate 1,019 total yards and six touchdowns on 242 touches (18 catches). He scored 15 touchdowns in 2008, and he could be a fantasy steal if fully healthy in 2010 with a current ADP of 6.07. He should remain the Giants' preferred back over Ahmad Bradshaw in scoring range as well, as Jacobs had 54 touches in the red zone last year, while Bradshaw received just 33.

Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Williams impressively handled 239 total touches in 2009, despite coming off two major knee surgeries. He still only averaged 3.9 yards per rushing attempt though, and only topped 100 yards once. He should remain the Buccaneers' featured back in 2010, but we cannot recommend him as anything more than a deep reserve for fantasy rosters, as his team is not very exciting and he will still be an injury risk.