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Andy Richardson

I've got a rookie draft coming up in my dynasty league in a couple of days, and I'm picking 9th overall. That's a bit of a concern, because I think there might be only eight rookie running backs I'm eager to own. Based on each player's talent and situation -- where they were drafted -- here are the eight:

1. Darren McFadden, Raiders. McFadden will be the top pick in virtually every rookie draft, and probably should be. He's got the most talent, he's going to be utilized in the most different ways, and nobody is seriously worried about him having to "wait his turn" to get work. Dominic Rhodes is gone, LaMont Jordan could soon be gone, and no one knows if Michael Bush can even play. Justin Fargas and McFadden should split the work right away, and the Raiders like to run a lot.

2. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers. Mendenhall will need another Willie Parker injury to put up big numbers in 2008, but three years from now I think he'll have proved to be one of the top two backs in this class. Plus he'll get the goal line work right away, in all likelihood, and he can catch, too.

3. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers. Will John Fox's frustrating loyalty to veterans now extend to DeAngelo Williams? I doubt it. Fox's job is on the line; he's got to feed the rock to Stewart. This will also be a committee, and Carolina's offense won't be as good as Pittsburgh's, but Stewart should be pretty good right away.

4. Kevin Smith, Lions. There's risk here; Matt Millen picked him. Still, Smith is a complete back playing on a team that wants to run the ball, and the only guy he has to beat out is Fantasy Index favorite Tatum Bell. In short, he'll be a very busy rookie.

5. Chris Johnson, Titans. Ran a 4.24 40 at the combine; the Titans took him in the first round. That's not enough to indicate he's going to be a solid pro -- and I have some doubts -- but it's enough that he's going to get the opportunity. Paired with LenDale White, Johnson will look even faster.

6. Matt Forte, Bears. Has to beat out Cedric Benson, of whom general manager Jerry Angelo just said "Maybe he's not the featured back we thought he'd be." At least Rex Grossman showed flashes of talent at one time, helping to explain why he's still starting. Benson doesn't have that excuse.

7. Felix Jones, Cowboys. Jones will be in a tandem with Marion Barber; he'll definitely play on passing downs and return kicks. As long as your league awards points for receptions, he should be pretty productive right away.

8. Ray Rice, Ravens. With a dozen other teams, Rice would be a lot higher on my board. As it is, the Rutgers workhorse should play on passing downs right away, and be ready to step in if Willis McGahee breaks down.

There are other rookie backs, of course, but these are the eight I like right now. And I'm drafting at 1.09.

Hope someone takes a quarterback, or maybe Jamaal Charles.

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