NFL player movement improves runners fantasy status

Filed in archive Fantasy Football on May 9, 2007

Courtesy ChicagoBears.com

My, what a difference a change of venue can make.

Four NFL running backs may be dramatically improved, in terms of fantasy football production this year, based on players switching NFL teams.

Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis, Willis McGahee and Cedric Benson are all poised to have improved fantasy numbers in 2007. They either changed teams or were affected by someone leaving.

Here's our analysis of each player's fantasy football potential, based on his new situation.

Cedric Benson (Chicago Bears) - Benson became Chicago's feature back, with the departure of Jones for New York. Splitting time last season, Benson ran for 647 yards and six touchdowns. Benson is not the game-breaker that Jones is, but the big, bulldozing Benson just might be a 1,400-yard runner, if given 300 to 350 carries. This should translate to 10 to 14 touchdowns.

Thomas Jones (New York Jets) - Jones is one of the most reliable and most underrated tailbacks in the NFL. Year after year, this guy falls in fantasy football drafts, and someone is overjoyed to get Jones's combined 1,500 rushing and receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Jones should again fall into the third or fourth round in most fantasy football drafts, where he'll be a steal.

Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens) - The Ravens traded a pickup truck for a Porsche, when they let Lewis leave and they acquired McGahee. A big, strong, fast runner, with homerun ability, McGahee gives the Ravens the breakaway threat they've lacked, since Lewis started slowing down over the past few seasons. Running behind a much better line, McGahee should be good for 1,300 yards on the ground, an additional 200 receiving and 10 to 12 touchdowns.

Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns) - Lewis may have slowed a bit, but he's still a huge improvement over Reuben Droughns. Plus, the Browns have a dramatically improved offensive line with the acquisition of free agent Eric Steinbach and first-round draftee Joe Thomas. Lewis will be just 28 when the year starts, and he rushed for 1,132 yards and nine touchdowns in 2006. A true short-yardage back, running behind a giant offensive line, Lewis quite possibly could be a 1,500-yard runner with nine to 12 touchdowns.