RB Situations (NFC)

People often ask me, "So, what's the situation in Seattle? Is Forsett the guy?" or "Why is Kevin Smith going so low? What's the situation in Detroit?" Our Top 200 Rankings reflect where one guy is a starter and the other is the handcuff (AP#2 and Toby Gerhart#154), or when two guys are in an even timeshare (Felix Jones#55 and Marion Barber#57). But it's still helpful to visualize the situations in each team's backfield.

We have compiled every team's official depth chart, and examined the local beat-writers who have an inside scoop on how the coach actually plans to use the RBs (sometimes in spite of the "official depth chart"). We came up with the chart below. Note how few "workhorses" there are any more - guys who start all 3 downs and get goal line carries. A "starter" is the first guy on the field who will get the clear majority of touches, but will often step out on 3rd down or at the goal line. And then you've got "committees" or timeshares. AFC is coming tomorrow. I will update the situations going forward, and throughout the season.

Team	Workhorse/ Starter/ Committee	3rd Down Back	Goal Line Back	Handcuff	Notes
ARZ	Chris "Beanie" Wells	Tim Hightower	Tim Hightower		I am a little worried about the entire Arizona offense because of their QB situation.
SF	Frank Gore	Frank Gore / Brian Westbrook	Frank Gore	Anthony Dixon	Westbrook will be used to relieve Gore on occasion, but if Gore misses time, Dixon will probably be the guy you want because Westbrook is too old and brittle to be an every-down back.
STL	Steven Jackson	Steven Jackson	Steven Jackson	Kenneth Darby / Chris Ogbonnaya	If Steven Jackson were on any other team, even a bad team, but not the worst team (St. Louis), he would be a consensus top-3 pick. Very scary back-up situation though.
SEA	Leon Washington / Julius Jones / Justin Forsett	Justin Forsett	Julius Jones		This is a mess of a committee. I definitely like Washington's value comparative to his ADP the most at this point.
TB	Carnell Williams	Kareem Huggins	Carnell Williams	Kareem Huggins	Derrick Ward has really fallen off the wagon. You know I like Huggins as a very late sleeper.
NO	Pierre Thomas	Reggie Bush	Pierre Thomas		Bush has looked very sharp in the preseason. I'm not ready to call this a committee yet, but Bush should get 10-13 touches per game, which makes him startable.
CAR	DeAngelo Williams / Jonathan Stewart	DeAngelo Williams	Jonatha Stewart		The only committee with both backs worth playing over most starters. I really like Stewart's value comparative to his ADP.
ATL	Michael Turner	Turner / Jerious Norwood	Michael Turner	Jason Snelling	Should Turner get injured again, Snelling is the handcuff, not Norwood. If you're a cautious owner, get Snelling if you get Turner.
NYG	Ahmad Bradshaw / Brandon Jacobs	Danny Ware	Brandon Jacobs		Bradshaw is actually listed as the #1. I don't know who will have more value in the end, but I prefer Jacobs in the 7th round over Bradshaw in the 5th or 6th. Danny Ware is technically the 3rd down back, but won't see much action unless there's an injury.
DAL	Felix Jones / Marion Barber	Felix Jones	Marion Barber	Tashard Choice	Jones is going a few spots before Barber, which seems about right given his explosiveness. Both haven't impressed in preseason.
WAS	Clinton Portis	Clinton Portis	Clinton Portis	Larry Johnson / Ryan Torain / Keiland Williams	Larry Johnson is the #2 guy and I can envision a scenario in which he is valuable. But I’m not excited about drafting LJ. Portis will be a steal at his ADP of #87 if he stays healthy all season. I think Williams will emerge at some point this season.
PHI	LeSean McCoy	LeSean McCoy	Mike Bell / Leonard Weaver	Mike Bell	McCoy will likely get less carries than most other starters because Bell, Weaver, and even Mike Vick will steal some carries, especially on the goal line.
GB	Ryan Grant	Ryan Grant / Brandon Jackson	Ryan Grant	Brandon Jackson	Jackson is a good pass-catcher, but Grant often stays in on 3rd downs. I like Grant to fly a little under the radar in a crazy strong offense.
MIN	Adrian Peterson	Adrian Peterson	Adrian Peterson	Toby Gerhart	AP will really run All Day now that prototypical 3rd down back, Chester Taylor, is gone. Toby Gerhart seems to have beaten Albert Young for the #2 job.
DET	Jahvid Best	Jahvid Best	Jerome Felton	Kevin Smith	Many will disagree with my labeling Smith a mere handcuff. Smith will have significant value as a handcuff should Best get injured, but Smith's 3.4 YPC last year isn't impressing me.
CHI	Matt Forte	Chester Taylor	Matt Forte		Taylor got paid a lot and will be more than a handcuff. But I don't see his role being much bigger than it was in Minnesota.

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