2010 Fantasy Football Preview – Chris Johnson vs Adrian Peterson

A debate on the most valuable position in fantasy football has been raging since the beginning of time. As any fantasy player knows; your first few draft picks had better be good ones or having a successful season is nearly impossible.

We have always been of the opinion that fantasy success begins at the running back position. That’s not to say that lower draft picks are not equally important but you can often salvage a losing season with a strong team foundation built around a stud running back on Draft Day.

Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson Defends His Rushing Title

This year’s crop of fantasy running backs will produce a bountiful harvest of quality players deep into the fourth round on Draft Day 2010. As is the case every season, the RB position will dominate the first 12 draft positions. Though many fantasy football web sites are promoting RB Chris Johnson as the consensus first overall pick, we are not ready to jump on that bandwagon.

There is no doubt that CJ had a stellar fantasy year last season as he racked up 398 fantasy points and was the top non-quarterback point producer in 2009. The thing that scares us about CJ is the fact that NFL defenses adapt better than any defense in sports. Teams around the NFL have had the entire off season to watch tape on CJ and they will figure out how he was able to gain yards in huge chunks during the 2009 season. We expect a big year from CJ but a repeat of his record setting 2009 will be tall order.

The Rise Of Purple Jesus To The Fantasy Throne

This needs to be qualified by saying that yours truly has never predicted Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson would lead fantasy scoring along the lines of a Marshall Faulk or LaDainian Tomlinson. Last year at this time I wrote the following;

“We aren’t any higher on AP this year than we were last year at this time. This is especially true when you consider that AP is still giving way to Taylor on passing downs. AP also fumbled another nine times (lost four) in 2008. Select AP as a high end RB1 just keep your expectations in check“

So what’s changed? Lots! RB Chester Taylor jumped ship in Lake Michigan and is now a Chicago Bear. With Taylor out of the picture AP should be an every down back for the first time in his four year career. That also means more dump off passes from old man Favre and AP should be able to keep his head in the game somewhat better this season. With his mind on the field, not on the sidelines, AP will fumble less and hopefully he went to the Tiki Barber Fumbling Clinic in the offseason.

The battle for running back supremacy will be hotly contested all fantasy season long (and not just by these two). In the end, Purple Jesus will reign as the new King of the fantasy football mountain.