Updated Off-Season Running Back Landscape: AFC

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

[66] Laurence Maroney NE 23.5 - 1^st & 2^nd down / Goal-line?

[4] Sammy Morris NE 31.5 - RBBC / Short yardage / Goal-line?

[1] Kevin Faulk NE 32.3 - 3^rd down

[0] Heath Evans NE 29.6 - Short Yardage

Outlook: Unlikely to draft Darren McFadden with the 49ers’ first round pick, expect more of the same from the Pats backfield in ’08. Maroney performed just fine in goal-line work late in the season, so it will be interesting to see if he continues to lose important work to a healthy Sammy Morris.

BUFFALO BILLS

[84] Marshawn Lynch BUF 22.4 - Full-time

[4] Xavier Omon BUF 23.6®

[2] Fred Jackson BUF 27.6 - Change-up

[1] Dwayne Wright BUF 25.3 - Back-up

Outlook: All set here. New OC Schonert announces intention to use Lynch as an every-down back.

NEW YORK JETS

[26] Thomas Jones NYJ 30.0 - RBBC?

[5] Leon Washington NYJ 26.0 - Change of pace / Passing game

[2] Jesse Chatman NYJ 29.0- Back-up

Outlook: Will McFadden be too tempting to pass up? If they don't go RB in the draft, Jones could get a nice boost in value as the Jets have revamped their O-Line

MIAMI DOLPHINS

[69] #Ronnie Brown MIA 26.7 - Not 100%

[10] Ricky Williams MIA 31.3 - Brown insurance

[4] Jalen Parmele MIA 22.7®

Outlook: A lot of bodies with none of them a sure thing under the new regime. This could be somewhat of a Ricky / Booker tandem until Ronnie Brown is ready to go.

AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

[65] Rashard Mendenhall PIT 21.2® -

[25] Willie Parker PIT 27.8 - 1st & 2nd down / No goal-line, 3rd down work?

[2] Najeh Davenport PIT 29.6 - Short-yardage / 3rd down?

[2] Mewelde Moore PIT 26.1 - 3^rd down? / Return Game

[1] Gary Russell PIT 22.0 - Back-up

Outlook: Serious concerns about Parker's role in the passing game as well as short-yardage/red zone work. Moore is easily the best receiving back in this crew, though Davenport is an asset in the passing game as well.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

[53] Jamal Lewis CLE 29.0 - Full-time

[1] Jerome Harrison CLE 25.5 - 3^rd down?

[0] Jason Wright CLE 26.2 - Back-up

Outlook: Lewis re-signed to a very reasonable deal and likely to be a tremendous value again in '08 after hitting the juvenation machine last offseason. A true back-up could be on the draft shopping list

CINCINNATI BENGALS

[26] Rudi Johnson CIN 28.9 - RBBC?

[6] Chris Perry CIN 26.7 - Back-up? / Cut?

[6] #Kenny Irons CIN 25.0 - Back-up / 100%?

[3] Kenny Watson CIN 30.6 - RBBC? / Back-up?

[0] DeDe Dorsey CIN 24.1 - Back-up?

Outlook: Likely scenario is Rudi / Watson to open the season with Kenny Irons joining in as the season progresses. Rumors of Shaun Alexander suiting up in stripes if axed by Seattle, and you can't rule out another 2nd or 3rd round RB in the draft

BALTIMORE RAVENS

[68] Willis McGahee BAL 26.9 - Full-time

[36] Ray Rice BAL 21.7®

Outlook: McGahee has plenty of job security, but how poor will the offense be? Will Musa Smith be re-signed, or will the Ravens look for a back-up in the draft?

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

[88] Joseph Addai IND 25.3 - Full-time

[6] Mike Hart IND 22.4®

[3] Dominic Rhodes IND 29.6

[1] Kenton Keith IND 28.2 - Back-up? / Replaced in the draft?

Outlook: Colts likely to look to the draft to upgrade on Keith for a more reliable Addai crutch.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

[89] Maurice Jones-Drew JAX 23.4 - All short-yardage & passing game work, but larger role?

[7] Fred Taylor JAX 32.6 - RBBC

[2] Chauncy Washington JAX 23.4®

Outlook: Toefield is gone and Taylor will be 33-years-old, so a mid-to-late round draft pick makes sense. Will MJD see his role begin to increase?

TENNESSEE TITANS

[45] Chris Johnson TEN 22.9®

[24] LenDale White TEN 23.7 - 1^st & 2^nd down

[3] Chris Henry TEN 23.3 - Replaced as 3^rd down back? / Still in the team's plans?

Outlook: Henry is a huge question mark. BakeSale White likely showed enough to keep the Titans from shopping for a dominant starter, but RB help is continually being pursued.

HOUSTON TEXANS

[7] Ahman Green HOU 31.5 - RBBC / 1st & 2nd down until injured?

[6] Chris Brown HOU 27.4 - RBBC / 3rd down?

[4] Steve Slaton HOU 22.7®

[4] Chris Taylor HOU 24.8

Outlook: Green will be back likely in a committee role with newcomer Chris Brown. This situation screams high draft pick, and Jonathan Stewart would be a perfect fit . . . if he falls to the 2nd round after toe surgery.

AFC WEST

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

[98] LaDanian Tomlinson SD 29.2 - Full-time

[3] Darren Sproles SD 25.3 - Back-up

[2] Marcus Thomas SD 24.3®

[2] Jacob Hester SD 23.3®

Outlook: Turner is gone, leaving return-ace Sproles to man the back-up role. A mid-to-late round pick seems likely.

DENVER BRONCOS

[12] Selvin Young DEN 24.9 - RBBC

[12] Travis Henry DEN 29.8 - RBBC / Short-yardage

[9] Ryan Torain DEN 22.1®

[2] Andre Hall DEN 26.1 - Back-up

Outlook: A true RBBC. Henry takes a paycut to stay on as the power back / inside runner while Selvin Young will steal 10-15 touches per week on outside runs and passing game work. There's very little long-term value in Denver these days as the next big thing is clearly not on the current roster.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

[72] Larry Johnson KC 28.8 - Full-time

[6] Jamaal Charles KC 21.7®

[2] Kolby Smith KC 23.8 - Back-up

Outlook: LJ should be healthy with Kolby Smith set as his back-up. Major questions: who quarterbacks the Chiefs to open '08, and can they improve the O-line play?

OAKLAND RAIDERS

[75] Darren McFadden OAK 21.0®

[12] Michael Bush OAK 24.3 - Backup / RBBC?

[6] Justin Fargas OAK 28.6 - Starter . . . for now

[3] Lamont Jordan OAK ^[x] 29.8 - Cut?

[0] Adimchenobe Echemandu OAK 27.8 - Back-up

Outlook: Fargas re-signed, which helps both his and Michael Bush's dynasty value. Fargas' value is mostly tied up in the '08 season, while Bush's value is more speculative and long-term, especially now that Rhodes has restructured. Jordan still likely to be cut, but he's hanging around