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Fantasy News

by Ian Allan
Senior Writer

I'm not sure who'll wind up starting for them, but I think the Raiders' starting tailback in 2008 will be pretty good. Lane Kiffin won only four games in his first year and doesn't seem to get along that well with Al Davis, but he (Kiffin, not Davis) did a nice job with the team's offensive line and running game in his first year.

The Raiders, recall, were the league's worst offensive team in 2006. One of the worst ever. They couldn't run or pass. But as I'm playing around with the numbers -- doing prep work for the 2008 issue of FANTASY FOOTBALL INDEX -- I see that they did a very nice job of getting consistent production from their tailbacks. That guy was really the hub of the offense.

The Raiders used a lot of players at that position, of course. They started off with LaMont Jordan, then went to Justin Fargas after Jordan got hurt at Miami. Then Fargas injured his knee late in the season and Dominic Rhodes started the final two games. But if you look at those guys collectively, the numbers are pretty good. By my count, 1,431 rushing yards, 45 catches, 375 receiving yards and 7 TDs.

That's not the combined overall production, that's the production of whichever guy was in the starting lineup -- 16 games. Fargas, for example, came off the bench to run for 179 yards at Miami; those numbers aren't included in the 1,431. I'm looking more at the type of production a fantasy team might get ouf of the Raiders.

Anyway, total it up and compare it against all running backs who started at least half of the season, and Oakland's tailbacks were very good. I'm not sure which of those guys will start in 2008 -- probably either Fargas or somebody not yet on the roster -- but that guy might wind up being a top-10 back in 2008.

The 2007 per-game numbers, based on the scoring system of 1 point for every 10 run/rec yards and 6 points for TDs ...

FPG Player, team
18.9 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.
18.8 Brian Westbrook, Phil.
17.1 **Adrian Peterson, Min. (total)
15.7 Ryan Grant, G.B.
15.6 Joseph Addai, Ind.
14.7 Jamal Lewis, Clev.
14.6 Earnest Graham, T.B.
14.4 Clinton Portis, Wash.
13.9 Oakland (Jordan, Fargas, Rhodes)
13.8 Brandon Jacobs, NYG
13.6 Steven Jackson, St.L.
13.2 Marshawn Lynch, Buff.
12.8 Willis McGahee, Balt.
12.7 Frank Gore, S.F.
12.4 *Marion Barber, Dall. (RBBC)
12.3 Larry Johnson, K.C.
11.8 *Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. (backup)
11.5 Edgerrin James, Ariz.
11.3 *Reggie Bush, N.O. (RBBC)
11.0 **Chester Taylor, Min. (total)
10.7 Willie Parker, Pitt.
10.4 Ron Dayne, Hou.
10.4 Fred Taylor, Jac.
10.3 LenDale White, Tenn.
10.1 Kevin Jones, Det.
10.1 Laurence Maroney, N.E.
9.5 Selvin Young, Den.
9.4 Cedric Benson, Chi.
9.1 Thomas Jones, NYJ
8.4 Shaun Alexander, Sea.
8.4 Rudi Johnson, Cin.
8.1 DeShaun Foster, Car.
7.5 *Warrick Dunn, Atl. (RBBC)
5.7 *Julius Jones, Dall. (RBBC)

* -- player a backup or in RBBC situation

**-- mixture of full-time play and backup/RBBC

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