Sleeper Running Backs

In continuing with the "sleeper" topic, let's venture over to everybody's favorite fantasy football hoarding position -- RB's.

As far as this sleeper designation goes, backs such as Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch do not qualify, in that we know they are talented, know they have big contracts, thus know they are going to get a helluva lot of touches each and every game. What we are looking more for here are those lesser known rookies and second year players. Let's have a looksy, shall we?

The first one to discuss on the docket today is Brandon Jackson of the Green Bay Packers. Let's be serious here...for exactly how long can Brett Favre hand the ball off to Vernand Morency? I'd say somewhere along the lines of four weeks or so. After that, Brandon Jackson and WR Greg Jennings will prove to be the talented foundation that the Packers' future is built around.

Jackson is a fairly dynamic back, not unlike longtime Cheesehead Ahman Green. Like Green, Jackson has no problems running routes and screens while catching the ball out of the backfield. While Jackson may not be as explosive a runner as Green was in his prime, the rookie is certainly an upgrade over the 2005-2007 versions of Green.

Look for Jackson to put up respectable numbers of 900 yards rushing, 35 receptions, 290 yards receiving and total times hit paydirt around 7. Nothing to scoff at for a late pick on draft day and definitely something to build upon if you are in Keeper / Dynasty league.

Our second RB on the list is Chris Henry. Believe it or not, but Henry might have just as much potential as Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson...I kid you not. But you know what they say about potential, right? Potential is what gets Coaches fired!

Henry has tremendous skills but has forever been one of those guys who just can't put it together once he hits the field. Nobody has ever truly been able to figure out why that is, thus nobody has succeeded in polishing off those skills. Coach Jeff Fisher thinks that he might be that guy. Henry is in a tremendously beneficial situation for his career, where he can continue to polish those skills while LenDale White polishes off the buffet table. For insurance measures, the Titans swallows their pride and brought back the oft-injured Chris Brown.

Assuming the Titans can find a pair of pants that can fit White's rapidly expanding ass, Henry will be in a three-way battle for touches in the backfield. You can rest assured that Fisher will split up the carries fairly equally throughout the season with the loss of his premier back, Travis Henry, during the offseason.

Look for Henry to put up less than eye opening stats of 700 yard rushing, 15 receptions for 120 yards and totalling 6 touchdowns. The main thing to watch for is not how many stats he puts up each week, but whether he is being efficient with his skills. If the Titans can get his inconsistencies under control, then they drafted themselves a steal!