2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Willis McGahee, RB, Denver Broncos

2010 Stats	380 rush yds.	5 rush TDs	14 rec. / 55 yds.	1 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	555 rush yds.	6 rush TDs	19 rec. / 115 yds.	0 rec. TDs



McGahee has a good opportunity in Denver to score 5 or 6 touchdowns this season, maybe more. McGahee proved last season he can still be a servicable fantasy football running back, scoring six touchdowns (5 rushing, 1 receiving) on just 100 carries and 14 catches in 2010. McGahee doesn't have the ability to be a featured back anymore, but he does still have value as a goalline running back. While Knowshon Moreno will be the featured back in Denver, McGahee will likely be their goalline back.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers

2010 Stats	452 rush yds.	3 rush TDs	40 rec. / 310 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	350 rush yds.	1 rush TDs	29 rec. / 215 yds.	0 rec. TDs



With injuries to running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, Carolina turned to Goodson in 2010 and he filled in nicely during a five-game stretch. Goodson produced back-to-back 100 yard games and then three straight games with a touchdown. Despite last year's strong finish, Goodson likely won't have an impact with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart on the roster.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts

2010 Stats	497 rush yds.	2 rush TDs	20 rec. / 205 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	575 rush yds.	4 rush TDs	25 rec. / 245 yds.	1 rec. TDs

Brown missed an opportunity to shine last season when Joseph Addai missed part of last season with an injury. Brown never became the featured back the Colts were looking for and finished the season with just over 700 total yards and two touchdowns. Brown's durability is an issue as well after he missed four games in 2010 and five games in 2009. Brown should be considered a back-up fantasy football running back, especially for owners who have Jospeh Addai on their roster.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers

2010 Stats	101 rush yds.	0 rush TDs	5 rec. / 74 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	595 rush yds.	5 rush TDs	10 rec. / 90 yds.	0 rec. TDs

After missing most his rookie season with a hamstring injury, Starks became the Packers most relevant running back late in the season. Starks finished the regular season with just 29 carries for 101 yards, but nearly tripled those numbers in the playoffs - carrying the ball 81 times for 315 yards and a touchdown. Despite is increased role late last year, Starks is not a lock to play a significant role for the Packers in 2011. With the return of Ryan Grant from injury and the arrival of Alex Green, whom the Packers drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Starks may be the odd man out.   

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

2010 Stats	397 rush yds.	2 rush TDs	5 rec. / 74 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	655 rush yds.	5 rush TDs	8 rec. / 125 yds.	0 rec. TDs

Wells underperformed last season, so much so the Cardinals used the #38 pick in the 2011 NFL draft to take running back Ryan Williams from Virginia Tech. Wells' 2010 campaign was plagued by injury and inconsistency. Wells finished the season with nearly 400 fewer rushing yards (397 yards in 2010) than he had his rookie season (793 yards in 2009) and his touchdown totals went from seven in 2009 to two in 2010. Also, during the final nine games of 2010, Wells had more than ten carries just once (he had 11 carries in week 16 vs. Dallas) during that stretch. Wells is currently atop the Cardinals depths chart, but that might not last. 

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

2011 Projected

485 rush yds.

3 rush TDs

19 rec. / 115 yds.

0 rec. TDs

The rookie Murray joins a full backfield in Dallas that includes Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Murray comes to the Cowboys after a solid career at Oklahoma where he rushed for 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns. While Murray's role is not defined with the Cowboys, look for him to eventually take over Marion Barber's old role as short yardage and goalline running back.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers

2010 Stats	45 rush yds.	0 rush TDs	0 rec. / 0 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	1,010 rush yds.	6 rush TDs	23 rec. / 195 yds.	1 rec. TDs

Grant is entering a contract year and after missing all of last season, he needs re-establish himself as a dependable running back again. The Packers showed last year they don't need him to win and with the emergence of James Starks late in the season, there are questions about whether Grant will be the feature back in Green Bay this year. One positive for Grant is that the Packers never found a replacement for him who could consistently move the ball on the ground. Grant should be 100% for the start of the season and with the growing skepticism about his role with the Packers, he might be a mid-round steal for the fantasy football owners who drafts him.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins

2011 Projected

705 rush yds.

4 rush TDs

14 rec. / 105 yds.

0 rec. TDs

Helu may turn out to be the Redskins best option at running back by season's end. As the Redskins fourth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Helu will compete with Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams for carries. Helu is a straight ahead runner who doesn't waste time getting back to the line of scrimmage. He's runs a lot like Clinton Portis, who has a very good career (when healthy) under Mike Shanahan. Helu may take a couple of weeks to get going, but he's worth keeping on your roster until he gets his chance.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers

2010 Stats	361 rush yds.	1 rush TDs	11 rec. / 61 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	1,005 rush yds.	7 rush TDs	29 rec. / 225 yds.	1 rec. TDs

Williams never got going in 2010, and eventually landed on injured reserve (foot) after six games. Before last year, Williams had been a solid fantasy football running back - including a 20 touchdown (18 rushing, 2 receiving) season in 2008. Since than, Williams has missed 13 games in two seasons and as become less durable. Still, the Panthers invested a lot of money in Williams this offseason and when healthy, he can be a dynamic player. He'll split carries with Jonathan Stewart in Carolina this season.  

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints

2010 Stats	269 rush yds.	2 rush TDs	29 rec. / 201 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	575 rush yds.	3 rush TDs	33 rec. / 250 yds.	1 rec. TDs

Thomas' future in New Orleans was dealt a big blow when the Saints drafted Mark Ingram in the first of the 2011 NFL Draft. Thomas was plagued by an ankle injury in 2010 that forced him to miss ten games (he also faced scrutiny for taking too long to get back from injury). Thomas' role with Saints will likely include spliting carries with Ingram, including being relieved of his goalline duties by Ingram. Even when he's healthy, Thomas appears destined for a back-up role in New Orleans.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Jospeh Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts

2010 Stats	495 rush yds.	4 rush TDs	19 rec. / 124 yds.	0 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	750 rush yds.	6 rush TDs	38 rec. / 275 yds.	1 rec. TDs

Addai missed out on an opportunity to cash in this offseason by missing half of last season (his contract year). A neck injury limited Addai in 2010, but he still managed to average more than four yards per carry in his eight games, and he scored four touchdowns. Addai's best years are behind him and the days of 200+ carries per season and 40 catches are gone, but when he's healthy he still has the ability to be a relevant fantasy football running back.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills

2010 Stats	283 rush yds.	0 rush TDs	24 rec. / 157 yds.	1 rec. TDs
2011 Projected	455 rush yds.	3 rush TDs	29 rec. / 225 yds.	2 rec. TDs



When Spiller scored three touchdowns last preseason, the rookie's fantasy football draft stock soared. Unfortunately for the fantasy football owners who drafted Spiller, who was the ninth pick overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, he turned out to be a bust. Spiller finished 2010 with just over 400 total yards and two touchdowns (1 receiving, 1 kick-off return). Despite his dismal rookie campaign, Spiller still has some upside. He's a pass-catching, change-of-pace running back who will serve as a nice compliment to starting running back Fred Jackson -- and Spiller might get 200 touches (150 carries, 50 catches) in 2011.

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Ryan Williams, RB, Arizona Cardinals

2011 Projected

885 rush yds.

4 rush TDs

19 rec. / 185 yds.

0 rec. TDs

With Beanie Wells currently atop the depth chart at running back, it's not clear how Williams will be used. Williams played just two years of college football at Virgina Tech and missed part of his sophomore year due a hamstring injury. While his durability is a question mark, he did show during his college career that he has the ability to make people miss and out run defenders. He also showed toughness and solid instincts inside the redzone that could make him the Cardinals goalline running back from day one.      

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions

OUT FOR THE SEASON: Torn Achilles tendon

2011 Fantasy Football Scouting Report: Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints

2011 Projected

925 rush yds.

7 rush TDs

15 rec. / 135 yds.

0 rec. TDs

Getting drafted by the Saints was the best thing that could happened to Ingram. He enters a situation where he can be very effective immediately, on a team that has exceptional pieces already in place. Ingram should bring stability to a Saints running game that was decimated by injuries last year. Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory both missed time last year and there's a chance one of those guys won't be in New Orleans this year. Ingram is a north-south runner who isn't afraid to work between the tackles. Ingram has the ability to be valuable around the goalline and he has enough talent - even as a rookie - to take some pressure off of Drew Brees and the Saints passing game.