FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

The most coveted of all fantasy positions, running backs are the one position where size and age matter most.

Height - The only issue of height with running backs is that too short can make them harder to hit on pass routes and too tall just plain makes them too easy for the defense to hit. Most runners will tend to being between 5’10” and 6’0”, a rather small span to include so many of the runners. Priest Holmes is only 5’9” and yet has no problems getting passes. Proto-typical is about 5’11”.

Weight - This is a definite issue since it directly correlates to speed and power. There were no top 20 backs last season under 200 lbs. (though Tiki Barber and Brian Westbrook’s official weight comes with a wink). The most successful runners tend to fall between 210 and 230 pounds. Anything less, they better be fast (Portis). Kevan Barlow weighs in as the biggest back from the Top 20 last year, weighing almost as much as Eddie George with two inches less in height.

Age/ Experience - Youth be served. The top 11 runners last season all had less than 5 years of playing time (Holmes and Green having missed time early in their careers). The results suggest for most backs they hit their prime around 25-27 years of age.

The magic 30 years-old mark faces Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin and Priest Holmes. Notice not one back was more than 30 in last year’s Top 20. Holmes only played in 19 games during his first three seasons, so the wear and tear on him is more akin to a 27 year old. However, as with all 30+ players, the ability to avoid and heal from injuries naturally becomes more difficult with age. Domanick Davis was the only rookie that made the cut last season though typically there will be at least one Top 10 rookie and another one or two in the Top 20.  With 10 backs this season over 30 years old, we can expect more changes this season and a whole new crop in 2005.