Fantasy football managers tend to overvalue running backs in general, particularly when it comes to rookies.
We see these guys shine at the college level, and it's hard to not imagine them tearing it up in the NFL.
But the speed of the game and the complexity of the new playbacks often knock rookie runners down a peg or two, and it's difficult to know which ones will adjust the quickest and make the biggest immediate impact.
The NFL draft class of 2010 featured a handful of potential superstars at the running back position. But which of them will produce quickly enough to be worthy of a pick in your fantasy football draft this season?
Here's a look at five backs to consider for your fantasy football team this season:
Immediate Impact Players:
Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
Most fantasy experts have Mathews slated atop the rookie running back list for 2010, and for good reason. While I have a suspicion Jahvid Best will end up having the better NFL career, Mathews is in the best position to score a lot of fantasy football points this season. The Chargers anointed the 6-foot, 218-pound rookie out of Fresno State their starter from Day 1, with Darren Sproles returning to the backup/change-of-pace role in which he thrived behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Mathews rushed for 53 yards on 12 carries in Saturday's preseason loss to Dallas, and he appears to already be a big part of San Diego's plans this season.
Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions
As Kevin Smith continues to work his way back from a knee injury, Best is in position to work his way into the starting role in Detroit. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound back out of California has impressed the Lions early on, with eight carries for 49 yards and two catches for 10 yards in Saturday's preseason win over Denver. He has also been taking snaps at quarterback during practice, in the Lions' Wildcat formation. Even if he doesn't wrest away the starting job from Smith, expect Best to be a factor in Detroit's offensive game plan.
Potential Early Producers:
C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
The plan in Buffalo was to bring Spiller along slowly, but injuries to incumbent starter Fred Jackson and backup Marshawn Lynch during the team's first preseason game shoved Spiller into the spotlight. The 5-foot-11, 196-pound rookie out of Clemson carried the ball 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in the team's next preseason game, and with a solid preseason showing, he could make a case for more touches this season than originally planned. If either Jackson or Lynch is kept out of regular-season action by their recent injuries, Spiller is in prime position to step up.
Montario Hardesty, Cleveland Browns
Despite a knee injury that has limited his fall practice time, Hardesty still has a shot at knocking off Jerome Harrison for the Browns' starting running back gig. At the very least, the 6-foot, 225-pound former Tennessee back appears in line to share carries with Harrison this season.
Wild-Card Rookie:
Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh Steelers
An injured shoulder has kept the 5-foot-11, 229-pound back out of Georgia Tech from competing much in fall camp and preseason games, which isn't helping his chances of making an impact this season. Dwyer will have to heal up and catch up quickly if he wants to surpass Isaac Redman for those short-yardage and goal-line carries.
Adam Sparks - Adam Sparks has been a reporter, copy editor and designer during a 14-year newspaper career that has taken him from Oregon to Hawaii and ...
