In a season in which quite a few running backs angered fantasy owners, be it by season-ending injury (Jamaal Charles, Fred Jackson), alarming inconsistency (Chris Johnson) or sheer video game cover status (Peyton Hillis), there were plenty of good things, as well. Half of the top 10 running backs from draft day managed to finish the season among the top 10 scorers at the position. A pass-catching saint -- or is that Saint? -- started fast and kept on going. A veteran Seahawk flew to his greatest heights. A pair of Bushes powered their way to successful campaigns.
Of course, owners who didn't win their fantasy leagues will point to the negative, but overall it was pretty much status quo at running back. They fill the first round of drafts every season; we preach adding depth and, when applicable, handcuffing backups; and the wise owner who watches the waiver wire and reacts is often the one smiling in the end. Stuff happens, and, now that we're deep into January, it's time to keep wrapping it all up and look ahead. Last week, quarterbacks were covered. Next week, it's wide receivers. Today, it's the position we love and hate, running backs.
For Eric's running back awards and early 2012 rankings, you must be an ESPN Insider!
Eric Karabell | email
ESPN.com Senior Writer- ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
- Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
- Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Eric Karabell
Eric Karabell is an ESPN.com senior writer. He has worked at ESPN since 1997 and covered fantasy sports for ESPN since 2001, specializing in baseball and football. Eric appears several times per week on SportsCenter, NFL Live and other ESPN shows, contributes to ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine and is the host of the Baseball Today Podcast. He has been honored twice as fantasy sports writer of the year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, his blog was named best fantasy baseball series for 2007 and he was inducted into the inaugural FSWA Hall of Fame class in 2010.
Eric grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and accordingly, favors Philly teams first, his fantasy teams second. He previously served as ESPN.com's lead NBA editor, and is a former Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer. Eric is also the author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments," published by Source Books and available in bookstores and online.
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