Who is the #1 overall pick in 2006?

In most leagues the fantasy football emphasis is on runnin backs, so it should come as no surprise that the top overall pick is one of a select number of STUD running backs. Last year the choice likely came down between two players, LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers and Shaun Alexander of the Seahawks. Both are coming off spectacular FF seasons, yet both have some question marks heading into this season opening the door for another RB to be worthy of consideration if you have the top overall pick - Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs. Lets take a quick look at all three and why you might or might not want to consider them.

LaDainian Tomlinson
San Diego Chargers
5-10, 221 lbs
Born: 6/23/1979
NFL Experience: 6 years

Comments: LT is the most exciting running back in the pro game. He is a duel, make that a triple threat, out of the backfield with his running, catching ability, in addition to his foray into the passing game. Last season LT racked up 1,462 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. He added another 370 yards receiving with two more scores. In addition, LT completed three of four passes, each resulting in a score. Has the perfect blend of age (27) and experience entering the 2006 season. The question mark for LT revolves around the loss of veteran quarterback Drew Brees who now makes his home in New Orleans. Enter the relatively inexperienced Phillip Rivers to take the Chargers snaps. If Rivers struggles, defenses will focus even more on LT which could result in a drop off in production.

Shaun Alexander
Seattle Seahawks
5-11, 225 lbs
Born: 8/30/1977
NFL Experience: 7 years

Comments: Alexander had a huge year, rushing for a career best 1,880 and breaking the NFL record with 27 touchdown runs in 16 starts. Alexander also helped propel his Seahawks team all the way to Super Bowl XL were they ended up losing to the Steelers in the Motor City. At 29 this season, Alexander is in his prime and has started every game the past two seasons, only missing one start in the span of the past four seasons. While his rushing totals have increased each of the past four years (1,175 in 02', 1,435 in 03', 1,696 in 04', and 1,880 in 05'), his receiving totals have gone the other way (460, 295, 170, and just 78 yards last season with just one receiving touchdown). Alexander has benefited from running behind the best OL in football, however that line took a hit this season with the free agent departure of pro bowl guard Steve Hutchinson.

Larry Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
6-1, 230 lbs
Born: 11/19/1979
NFL Experience: 4 years

Comments: It seems strange to put a guy with just a half of season of starts in the same catergory as Tomlinson and Alexander, but Johnson exploded onto the scene last year and his numbers warrant that kind of comparison. In just nine starts Johnson amassed 1,750 rushing yards while scoring 20 touchdowns on the ground, both figures better than those of LT. He also added 343 receiving yards and antother score. It is almost scary to think what kind of FF numbers Priest Holmes former backup can do in a full season as the featured back. Of the three RBs, only Johnson's team had a head coaching change with former Jets head coach Herman Edwards taking over for the retired Dick Vermeil.

Overall: Johnson's 5.2 rushing average was only slightly better than Alexander's 5.1, both well ahead of LT's 4.3 however. Alexander had more rushing attempts than LT (370 to 339), with Johnson right behind LT (336). We know Herman Edwards will use a veteran RB (does Curtis Martin ring a bell), how much will he use Priest Holmes in KC if he is healthy? "Right now, I’m anticipating that Priest Holmes is coming back,” Edwards said last month. "I’m hoping for good reports." Those concerns don't exist for either Tomlinson or Alexander when looking at their respective teams depth charts at RB. But even with a new head coach and potential competition at his position, don't be surprised to see Larry Johnson's name the first to come of many draft boards this year, followed qucikly by LaDaninian Tomslinson and Shaun Alexander. After that expect a few veterans (Clinton Portis, Tiki Barber, and Edgerrin James) to be taken followed by a few young players (Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Stephen Jackson).