Fantasy League Football Running Back Situation Gets A Little Murkier

The trade of former Bills RB Travis Henry (pending successful completion of his physical) to Tennessee helps to only further cloud the fantasy football owner's options at running back for the 2005 season.


After a few clear choices for #1 RB picks (Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander, etc), fantasy owners are increasingly faced with trying to figure out who to pick as a #2. Questions abound:

• Will Cedrick Benson put Thomas Jones on the bench in Chicago?
  
• Probably but not likely this year
  
• Is Steven Jackson going to continue to take more of Marshall Faulk's playing time?
  
• Yes
  
• Who will start (or for that matter play the most) in Cleveland, Reuben Droughns, William Green, or Lee Suggs?
• Look for Droughns to start but watch for Green to take over of Reuben doesn't produce
  

Now we get to add another question mark. Travis Henry or Chris Brown?

I've had both Henry and Brown on my fantasy teams over the past couple of years and they are great producers...when healthy. Henry has proven that he can gut it out when hurt, playing several games with a broken leg in '03. On the flip side, he has not made it through the past few seasons uninjured.

Brown has also had injury problems that have limited his value. Between hamstring problems and turf toe, Brown lost a fair amount of playing time and frequently left fantasy owners with a "game time decision"

Obviously, having both Brown and Henry gives Tennessee a great 1-2 punch. While this may be the optimal (that means "best" for our University of Miami readers) situation for the Titanics, it only serves to make our lives more difficult. Meanwhile, our thoughts:

• Expect Jeff Fisher to keep Brown as his starter. However, in a effort to keep Brown healthy and fresh, Fisher will use Henry frequently. Sooner or later, Brown will still suffer one of his famous "nagging" injuries giving Henry the starting job, at least for a little while.

Good Luck with this one.