I've got the #4 overall pick - now what?

The best first-round value in this years fantasy football draft is the #3 pick. It is there that you get the leftover scraps, but that is sure to be either LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, or Larry Johnson - how is that for scraps? Once those three are off the board you are down to the second tier of running backs or you can look to go with Peyton Manning. Fantasy Football is a game of stud running backs, first and foremost, so lets forget Manning. Plus, without Edge the defenses the Colts face will be able to key on the passing game more than ever. The #4 pick is simply to high for this gun slinger. So which running backs should you consider with the fourth pick? There is Tiki Barber of the Giants, Clinton Portis of the Redskins, Steven Jackson of the Rams, and the Edge himself who is now with the Cardinals. I'd throw out Edge who is with a new team that doesn't have the same firepower as the Colts and with his injury history. So lets take a peek into the first three.


Tiki Barber
New York Giants
5-10, 200 lbs
Born: 4/7/1975
NFL Experience: 10 years

Comments: Tiki did hit the dreaded 30 this April – usually a very bad thing for a RB. He did run for 1,860 yards (averaging 5.2 yards-per-carry) last year and caught over 500 yards receiving – very impressive. He also had 11 total touchdowns. Eli should be one year better which helps the whole offense and Tiki is very durable missing only 3 games the past four seasons. The big question with Tiki is certainly his age so lets take a closer look. Barber has rushed for 1,200+ yards the past four seasons, with 2006 his best year ever and 2005 his second best. There has been no drop off in production. Tiki also didn't get the wear and tear on his legs early in his career like most running backs, going for over 200 carries just once in his first five seasons in the league (213 in 2000). He certainly was fresh last season carrying a career high 357 times, tying his career high for ypc, and ripping off a career best 95-yard touchdown run. Tiki should be well set up for another great year running the ball and is fantastic as a receiver out of the backfield as well.

Clinton Portis
Washington Redskins
5-11, 212 lbs
Born: 9/1/1981
NFL Experience: 5 years

Comments: Portis is 6 years younger than Tiki and a little bigger as well. He ran for 1,516 yards (4.3 ypc) and had fewer reception yards (just over 200) than Tiki .He also had 11 touchdowns, matching Barber. He has been durable the past two years as well missing just one game after being traded to Washington from Denver for cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis has rushed for over 1,500 yard in three of his four NFL seasons, missing in his first year with the Redskins with 1,315 in 2004. Despite the age advantage, I'd give the edge to Tiki who had a better 2005 in both rushing and receiving yards. I also like Tiki's supporting cast much better with Eli leading the charge at QB rather than the aging Brunell who could be replaced by the likes of 2005 first-round draft pick Jason Campbell if Brunell falters. Cambell has yet to throw a pass in the NFL, just imagine how much defenses would be able to focus on Portis if this became a reality.

Steven Jackson
Washington Redskins
6-2, 231 lbs
Born: 7/22/1983
NFL Experience: 3 years

Comments: Jackson has both youth and size on his side. He also no longer has to worry about sharing the workload with Marshall Faulk which has always been a major concern. Jackson had his first 1,000 yard campain in 2005 with 1,046 yards (4.1 ypc). He scored eight rushing touchdowns while starting 15 games. Jackson has good hands out the backfield, adding 320 more yard and another score. Jackson is a rising star in the league and could leapfrog both Barber and Portis, but not in the FF draft until 2007. His lack of putting up the numbers of the previous two players still knocks him below them and in a battle with Edge for the next tier of running backs. He has a solid supporting cast on offense, but did lose offensive guru Mike Martz who is now serving as the OC for the Lions.

Go with Tiki if you have the fourth pick, Portis with the fifth.