1. Adrian Peterson (Vikings) @ Cleveland – Peterson opens up with a favorable run starting with the Browns in week 1. Cleveland’s defense was brutal last year. Even if they got better, they will still be pretty brutal. All Day should light up the Browns All Day, HA!
2. LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers) @ Oakland – LT is not the same LT as years past, but he still a stud with a sweet matchup in week 1. The Raiders rush defense leaves plenty to be desired and LT has killed them in the past.
3. Michael Turner (Falcons) vs. Miami - The burner was the free agent signing of the decade for the Falcons. Atlanta brought in Tony Gonzalez and that will help open up lanes for Turner. Miami’s defense is ok against the run, but not good enough to hold MT down.
4. Steven Jackson (Rams) @ Seattle – Jackson might be on a terrible team, but he is far from a terrible back, and the Seahawks rush defense is far from good. So as far as I can tell, Jackson should in for a fine day, even though the game takes place in Seattle.
5. Matt Forte (Bears) @ Green Bay – Forte had a very solid rookie season in Chicago. He finished the year with over 1700 yards and 12 TDs. With Jay Cutler now on board he may lose some rushing yards, but will gain receiving yards. Look for Forte to solidify his studliness in 2009 and it all kicks off this week against a poor Green Bay Rush defense.
6. Maurice Jones Drew (Jaguars) @ Indianapolis – MJD finally gets his chance to show what he’s got. ANd what a way to start. He loves running up and down the field against the Colts. Last season in 2 games he averaged around 100 yards on the ground and over 60 yards in the air. Throw a TD in to the mix and you have a nice matchup in week 1 for baby hercules.
7. Ronnie Brown (Dolphins) @ Atlanta – Ronnie Brown bounced back from his 2007 injury, with a good campaign in 2008. He will pick up where he left off and excel back to Fantasy Stud. It’s never a bad thing to start the season off with a soft rush defense like the one Atlanta will be throwing on the field Sunday.
8. Brian Westbrook (Eagles) @ Carolina – Westy is coming off foot surgery after another superb season. He will keep running strong this year, especially with the Eagles adding some support on offense. He gets things started in Carolina, a team that he has averaged 2 TDs a game against.
9. Frank Gore (49ers) @ Arizona – Rookie Glen Coffee got plenty of work in the pre-season, but make no mistake, the 49ers offense runs through Frank Gore. And run he will. LAst year against the Cardinals defense, Gore averaged more than 125 yards a game.
10. Steve Slaton (Texans) vs. New York Jets – Slaton rookie season was nothing special. Just 1,700 total yards and 10 TDs. If you didn’t pick up the sarcasm, what can I tell you? The guy is a stud. He doesn’t have the greatest matchup against the Jets in week 1 but he will get his yards and probably score at home.
11. Brandon Jacobs (Giants) vs. Washington – It still isn’t exactly clear how the Giants will use the Running Backs with Derrick Ward heading to Tampa Bay. But Jacobs is still the man in New York, and will get a bulk of the carries, and chances are he will punch one in from the goal line.
12. Kevin Smith (Lions) @ New Orleans – Smith had an underrated rookie season. He faces a soft Saints rush defense this week and will get plenty of work as Detroit will try to keep Drew Brees on the sideline.
13. Fred Jackson (Bills) @ New England *SLEEPER ALERT* – Jackson will be filling in for the suspended Marshawn Lynch for the next few weeks. He has a nice matchup here in week 1 against New England. Buffalo will need to run the ball to keep Tom Brady off the field. But when he lights up the board, he eventually will, the Bills will revert to the passing attack. Jackson is as solid as you can get catching the ball out of the backfield and may be Trent Edwards safety valve more than once.
14. DeAngelo Williams (Panthers) vs. Philadelphia – Maybe it’s just me, but I ain’t buying the Williams is a top 5 back talk that I have seen, read, and heard. (Sorry cousin Eric) We certainly won’t be able to tell this week against a good Eagles defense. Williams should still give you solid RB 2 numbers.
15. Thomas Jones (Jets) @ Houston – Number 15 is a good rank for the defending AFC rushing leader. Leon Washington and Shonn Greene will clip some carries from him this year, but Jones is still the back to reckon with in New York for now.
16. Marion Barber (Cowboys) @ Tampa Bay
17. Julius Jones (Seahawks) vs. St. Louis Rams
18. Ray Rice (Ravens) vs. Chiefs
19. Darren McFadden (Raiders) vs. San Diego
20. Chris Johnson (Titans) @ Pittsburgh
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