Fantasy Football Projections, Week 1: Running Backs to Watch (2010)

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It’s September and the 2010 fantasy football season is here! I hope you have at least scheduled your yahoo fantasy football or ESPN fantasy football drafts by now, and that you’re already thinking about your starting line ups and your “start him, sit him” analysis. But once your draft is set and the fantasy football rankings don’t matter anymore, I am going to need you to focus your attentions on players that aren’t on your favorite team.

Why?

Well, I’ll tell you why as a part of our Week1 Fantasy Football Projections series. Here are the NFL running backs to watch in Week 1.

Fantasy Running Back to Watch: Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Opponent: New England Patriots
What to watch for: Cedric Benson had one heck of a year for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, and everyone expects him to be nearly that good in 2010. There’s a chance Benson can be that guy again, but in 2010, he may not get the chance. With the addition of wide receivers Terrell Owens, Matt Jones and Jordan Shipley, the Bengals might pass the ball more, especially if Carson Palmer is a little healthier this time around. Not to mention, tight end Jermaine Gresham already looks like a beast, and his targets could still carries away from Benson. We’ll find out a lot about the Bengals offensive plans for 2010 when they face the Patriots, a team that might have a lot of problems (again) in the secondary. Who knows, if the Patriots lack of pass defense reminds the Bengals of the good old 4,000+ passing days, they might get cocky and go with that for the rest of the season. That wouldn’t completely diminish Benson’s value, if at all, but you certainly would have to view the former Texas running back in a different light.

Fantasy Running Back to Watch: Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
What to watch for: Who knows who the heck will be the Washington Redskins starting running back by the end of the 2010 fantasy football season? Hell, Mike Shanahan has no idea himself. But I will say this, Portis knows the system, and once upon a time, he thrived in it. Now Portis isn’t that same running back he used to be, but he dropped the weight in an attempt to be that, and we might see things pan out. If Portis looks fresh, no matter the production, I’d be willing to place a huge bet that he will wind up being the guy most likely to benefit from Shanahan’s positive track record with yardage-producing running backs.

Fantasy Running Back to Watch: Steve Slaton, Houston Texans

Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
What to watch for: After a wonderful 2008, Slaton fooled us all in 2009. He did nothing, absolutely nothing—this after we projected him among the top 10 running backs for 2009. In 2010, our optimism has faded but is not gone. We think Slaton still has the ability to be a young Clinton Portis, especially in the Houston Texans system, which is what Shanahan ran in Denver. Of course, Fantasy Football Week 1 will tell us a lot about where Slaton’s head is at and whether the coach has faith in him. Disappointing signs in either of those categories, and this will be the last time you see us making any fantasy football projections about Steve Slaton that don’t involve the word “dud” in the near proximity.

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