Keene Equinox

Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tom Olmscheid / Associated Press Adrian Peterson's record day resulted in monster numbers for fantasy owners. In ESPN leagues, Peterson put up 46 points by scorching the Chargers' defense for 296 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Running backs generally make up the first round of most fantasy football drafts.

Often times, not all of them work out. It is important to draft your stud running back's back-up, what we call a "handcuff" in fantasy football.

Your stud running back usually has a great passing game and/or offensive line that will make him productive in case your star tailback goes down.

Every year there are several situations in which carries will be split between two backs. Here's a look at some of those situations currently going on.



Running back carousel:



On the Selvin Young watch, Young started in place of Travis Henry in week eight, and rushed for 71 yards on 18 carries against Green Bay. Young looked good despite not reaching the end zone.

Week nine may have been Henry's last week of eligibility as his year-long suspension for a failed drug test is getting closer and closer.

Young was still available in many ESPN leagues before week eight and should be owned in every league now.

Keep Young on your roster and begin to start him once Henry's season goes "up in smoke."

The Packers haven't had a great running game this season, and will have to rely on another starter after DeShawn Wynn was lost for the season. Ryan Grant came in after Wynn was injured in week eight and rushed for 131 yards against Denver. Grant has already been named the starter and Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency have been battling injuries all season, opening the door for Grant.

Grant is a must add in all leagues he's available in and makes a decent play as the Packers have tried to run the ball more as the season's gone along.

Adrian Peterson's owners have been screaming about Brad Childress' insistence on Peterson splitting carries with Chester Taylor. Believe it or not he's doing the smart thing.

Despite Taylor officially being the starter and splitting Minnesota's carries, Peterson was the number one fantasy running back for the first half of the season.

Peterson was a star at Oklahoma but has never felt the grind of a 16 game schedule.

Rookie running backs can wear down toward the end of their rookie season.

One of the only bright spots of Miami's dreadful season was the breakout season of Ronnie Brown, who was taken second overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

Injury was added to insult in week seven when the Dolphins lost Brown for the season during their 49-28 loss to New England. In came Jesse Chatman, who has averaged over six yards per carry in the two games since Brown's injury.

Chatman makes a decent second or third running back and can ease the blow of losing Brown if you had him.

Chatman has a fairly tough schedule for the remainder of the season and is running behind a mediocre offensive line at best, so it may be wise to expect a drop from his six yards per carry clip.

Rudi Johnson has been one of the biggest fantasy busts of this season.

Johnson has four carries since week three and has not scored a rushing touchdown this season.

Inexcusable for a first round pick in most fantasy leagues. The good news is the Bengals haven't responded by having Carson Palmer throw 60 times per game.

Kenny Watson has filled in very admirably for Johnson and Johnson owners who handcuffed Watson haven't suffered too badly.

Johnson is now supposedly approaching full health and it's unclear whether Johnson is really healthy and will return to being the feature back. This situation demands careful attention and constantly checking your player's news page as game time approaches.



Week 10 favorable matchups:



Drew Brees, Reggie Bush vs. St. Louis:



Brees and the Saints have flown under the radar a bit, improving greatly after their awful start to the season. Brees, Bush and others are more than capable of scoring points against the Rams' bad defense and bad team all together.



Willie Parker vs. Cleveland:



Parker's had a very good season, but only scored two touchdowns through week eight. Parker could post that big game that gets him some media attention in week 10 as he faces a Cleveland team that allowed over 139 yards per game on the ground through the first half of the season.



Mark Peterson is a senior majoring in communications and journalism. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Equinox.