The 2010 Free Agency period is well underway. Players are signing on with new teams, some are dealt via trade, while others are just waiting for a team to call, to offer a contract, to let a player know their skills and services are still wanted…needed…valued. 

Some of Fantasy Football's most productive RBs (from 3-5 years ago) fall into the latter group of players who are waiting like an abandon puppy at the kennel for a new owner. The list includes Running Backs LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. These four players were dominant, perhaps solely responsible for your fantasy team's success in past years but for the time being are unemployed, dead in the water, useless to any fantasy owner.

LaDainian Tomlinson: LT recently met with the Minnesota Vikings and is rumored to meet with the New York Jets. The Vikings lost RB Chester Taylor to Free Agency and may be interested in Tomlinson to fill the void. Like Taylor, Tomlinson could be productive on 3^rd down and passing plays. But with an explosive back like Adrian Peterson, do the Vikings really want to sub in the much slower and declining LT? The Jets are another franchise that lost an RB to free agency with the departure of Thomas Jones. Shonn Greene was only a rookie last season, but proved he could handle a large load toward the end of the season, including their run through the playoffs. LT doesn't have the same power running style like Thomas Jones, but could still be a change of pace back. Both teams have great offensive lines that are very capable of opening huge holes, something LT now requires in his older-slower years. 

2010 Fantasy Expectations: In 2009 LT didn't have a single 100 yard game and failed to reach 1,000 yards rushing, both firsts in his career. Consider him a handcuff to whatever RB he gets teamed with and at best a 5^th-7^th rounder in fantasy drafts.

Brian Westbrook: His ankle and knee issues have prevented him from playing in the past, but it was a series of concussions in 2009 that kept him sidelined for most of the season. Some speculated he would retire because of the injuries to his brain, but Westbrook has denied all rumors. The Vikings may also be interested in Westbrook for the same reasons they like Tomlinson. Westbrook has also drawn interest from the Seahawks, Chargers, and Lions.
2010 Fantasy Expectations: Westbrook has never completed an entire season, a trend that is likely to continue with his lingering concussion symptoms. Don't be fooled by his 4.6 yards per carry in 2009, that average is based off his mediocre 257 yards on 56 carries. He'll likely sign with a team that is looking for a backup but with the highly publicized concussion hearings in Congress and the media's attention about this issue, I wouldn't be surprised if teams pass on the injury risk back all together.

Larry Johnson: After spending his up-and-down career with the Chiefs, Johnson went on a Twitter Tirade that cost him his job in Kansas City. A week after being released, the Bengals scooped up LJ for the remainder of the '09 season. But for the second time in less than six months, Johnson isn't on a team's roster. He's had plenty of second chances to prove he isn't a headache in the locker-room but has failed each time. Teams are cautious about signing the 30 year old back who has consistently declined in production since the start of 2007. That being said, LJ is reportedly visiting with both the Redskins and Raiders sometime within the next week.

The Redskins cleared their backfield this off-season, Clinton Portis is the only remaining back on the roster, so it makes sense for Washington to explore Free Agent options. 
2010 Fantasy Expectations: In the last three seasons, LJ has just nine touchdowns and finished with rushing yard totals of 559, 874, and 524. He'll most likely have the same role in 2010 that he had toward the end of '09 and have anywhere between 5-15 touches a game.

Willie Parker:  Yet another injury prone back that is approaching the dreadful age of 30; Parker failed to score a rushing touchdown and finished the season with less than 400 yards rushing. It was rumored that Tampa Bay was interested in signing Parker, but Bucs team officials denied those reports. A team that fails to address their RB needs via the draft will likely sign Parker. Unfortunately for Willie, that means he'll be waiting until late April.