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I only really view Jamal Charles and Leon Washington as traditional "backups" with the rest seeing more action in a "committee" approach.

If FWP stays healthy Mendenhall could be viewed as more of a backup but their is huge potential there nonetheless.

I would give the nod to Felix Jones (I think unbiasedly, but I cannot help it if not) with Rice, Jackson, and Brown all grouped together as a close second.

I feel those 4 will have solid seasons and control their own destiny, although more of a Flex value than RB2. Whereas, the rest I see as dependent on an injury to see any significant value.

That said, a possible injury to FWP gives Mendenhall the highest ceiling by far. But if not you could be looking at 300 yards.

If you're looking for this year's Deangelo Williams, I think you might be looking at it incorrectly.
Williams was going into last year with the threat of being replaced as the #1 RB by a rookie, J Stewart.
So, the real comparison maybe:

Can Addai hold off Brown
Can Parker hold off Mendenhall
Can McGahee hold off Rice
Can Lynch stay out of trouble
Can Barber stay healthy
Can LJ pull his head out of his a$$

Out of those, Barber is the only player going early. This year's D Will may be amongst the rest.

Originally posted by RiFF:
If you're looking for this year's Deangelo Williams, I think you might be looking at it incorrectly.
Williams was going into last year with the threat of being replaced as the #1 RB by a rookie, J Stewart.
So, the real comparison maybe:

Can Addai hold off Brown
Can Parker hold off Mendenhall
Can McGahee hold off Rice
Can Lynch stay out of trouble
Can Barber stay healthy
Can LJ pull his head out of his a$$

Out of those, Barber is the only player going early. This year's D Will may be amongst the rest. Excellent comparisons, Riff!

I don't think he's this year's DeAngelo, but I think people are really sleeping on Willie Parker. He's in a contract year and when healthy he's a talented RB on a great team. Mendenhall and Moore (3rd down) lower his value but right now you can get him as a RB3 and that's terrific value given how the Steelers want to run the ball and given how Parker has proven he can perform at a high level when healthy.

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
I don't think he's this year's DeAngelo, but I think people are really sleeping on Willie Parker. He's in a contract year and when healthy he's a talented RB on a great team. Mendenhall and Moore (3rd down) lower his value but right now you can get him as a RB3 and that's terrific value given how the Steelers want to run the ball and given how Parker has proven he can perform at a high level when healthy. I kind of agree with Tom here, but the injury history and the fact that he is totally non-existent in the passing game is the reason he's not in the Top 25 among RBs. But who remembers his start last year before he suffered a knee injury?
Week 1: 138 yards rushing, 3 TDs
Week 2: 105 yards rushing

I still find it hard to believe that he had only three receptions for 13 yards last year. C'mon, he caught 31 passes in 2006 for 222 yards and had three TD receptions. There's no reason that he can't at least do that again.

There's upside here, but there's also a one-dimensional, injury-prone back here, too.

The beauty, though, is his value is in the toilet right now so you don't have to chase him as a RB2. You can get him as a RB3 and get someone who's going to produce when healthy. The lack of receptions is a concern (that makes Mewelde Moore a great End Game pick and his value is non-existent right now), but the Steelers will run it a lot and if Parker can stay healthy, he'll be productive.

I thought Parker was over-valued last year and that proved to be the case. I think he's flying under the radar so far this year.

greg/tom
what about ryan grant this year? can we expect better times?

bill

Originally posted by kentuckyreign:
greg/tom
what about ryan grant this year? can we expect better times?

bill Yup, he's healthier and will be better. Like Parker, he's no option in the passing game but unlike Parker, his backup(s) aren't very good. So as long as Grant is healthy, he'll be the primary RB. I like him a lot this year as a RB2 with Top 10 potential.