Bury your fantasy football competition! Running Back Sleepers to watch in 2009

Every year in fantasy football circles, everyone has their own take on sleepers, and 2009 is no different. Sleeper picks can make or break your team, so consider all options during mock drafts. You never know when someone will have a breakout season. Here are some of my thoughts on RB sleepers that can make a significant impact in 2009.

2009 Fantasy Football Sleeper Predictions: Running Backs

Shonn Greene – New York Jets

While Thomas Jones is still the starting RB, he’s on the wrong side of the 30 and if he gets injured, all signs point to Shonn Greene being his replacement, with Leon Washington still being the third running back or RB being used. most often in passing situations. Shonn Greene makes a great “wife” if you recruit Thomas Jones in fantasy football. He would aim to draft Greene around the 13th round in typical fantasy drafts.

Matt McGuire, a writer for Walterfootball.com also puts Shonn Greene on his sleeper list. Per McGuire, “If Thomas Jones continues to hang on and gets cut, Greene could become a viable RB3. We know the Jets love Greene because they traded him in the third round. At the moment, Jones is still on the roster.” ready, so we need to see how this plays out before solidifying his fantasy projection in August.”

Andre Brown – New York Giants:

Now that Derrick Ward is leaving the Giants to play for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Brown is the prime candidate to replace Ward as the third RB in the Giants’ “three-headed monster” running game. Brown has the same build as Derrick Ward, so he could easily fill this role, so he’s worth keeping an eye on in the preseason. He claims him in fantasy football only if he gets the backup job from Brandon Jacobs or if he gets used a lot in the “three-headed” offense and succeeds in that role. If he has a great preseason, look to draft him around round 14 right before you take a defense or kicker.

Coffee Glen – San Francisco 49ers

Frank Gore’s injury history makes Coffee a must-pick for Gore owners. He would look to draft him around the 12th round in most fantasy drafts and keep a close eye on him during the preseason.

James Davis-Cleveland Browns

Jamal Lewis is getting older and if he were to get hurt, Davis is the favorite to replace him as Cleveland’s starting running back. Davis is a powerful running back who could return value to fantasy owners willing to take a chance on him around the 13th or 14th round in fantasy drafts. He will closely watch training camp and the preseason battle between Davis and Jerome Harrison to see who emerges victorious this year.

Derrick Ward – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ward has a chance to be this year’s Michael Turner. Fantasy Sports writer Patrick ONeill says in his article Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running Back Rankings in Fantasy Football 2009, “Derrick Ward has so many things going for him in Tampa Bay that it’s almost silly.” Ward has been used primarily as a backup RB in the past, but now he has a great opportunity to become the starting RB in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is a team that likes to run the ball and I think Ward has the skills to be successful in this system.

According to FFToolBox.com, Ward is an underrated sleeper. “Ward is the best bet to succeed as a star than Graham in the Tampa Bay backfield, and he’s an excellent choice in the middle rounds as a #3 option capable of producing 1,200 rushing yards as well as 40 receptions with 7 total.” TD in 2009,” states FFToolBox.com. Tampa’s defense is good enough to keep most games close, giving Ward a great opportunity to see lots of touches in every game. However, Earnest Graham he can steal some of his goal-line carries and this can lower Ward’s TD totals.

Felix Jones-Dallas Cowboys

It’s not football unless we talk a little bit about the Dallas Cowboys, so last but not least we have Felix Jones. Jones will get more carries per game, I think, than most people realize. He has the explosiveness to score almost every time he touches the ball and could generate big numbers for savvy fantasy owners willing to take a chance on him in the middle or late rounds of fantasy drafts.

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