The core of a fantasy football team is the running back. Eighty five percent of owners will go after a running back and build out in their drafts. Heading into week one here is a look at the running back rankings.

1. Ladainian Tomlinson
This is Tomlinson’s year to do what he has in the past with that extra boost in stats. His role has always been the key to the Chargers offense, and the Chargers want to continue to excel. Brees glorious year will come down a tad or more. That’ll mean any success comparable to last season will reside in Tomlinson. He should step up to the challenge, but the Chargers may fall just short of the playoffs.

2. Shaun Alexander
Alexander is a close second behind Tomlinson, and has been the stat filler since he entered the league. Thanks to Seattle’s offense, a solid offensive line, and Alexander’s great ability, that’ll continue. He’ll probably have more touchdowns than Tomlinson, but be behind in total yardage, running the football and catching out of the backfield.

3. Priest Holmes
It’s becoming dangerous territory for Holmes. He has been caught with the injury bug the past few years. Even though owners have become angry with his injury woes, they realize that Holmes has more than done enough before the injury to dispute that. Definitely, precede with caution on Holmes this season, as it is apparent that Kansas City is going to let Larry Johnson take some carries away. Accordingly, as long as Holmes stays healthy, his constant renditions of end zone visits will continue.

4. Edgerrin James
James has become the quiet fantasy monster back. Since he has arisen and fully recovered from injury problems, James has instantly become a stud fantasy back once again. He doesn’t offer the same speed that he once had, but he is a smarter runner. Running the football with patience is a virtue that many young running backs need to learn. Add the Colts offense to the mix, and you know there is going to be two things. Lots of scoring, and lots of yardage. James will probably be the most consistent fantasy football back in the league, just because of the offense he is in.

5. Deuce McAllister
He could be the best back in the league if he wants to be. All he has to do is demand more carries and control his tendency to fumble the football. Once he has the ball in his hands, he can be the most imposing back in the league. McAllister has Eddie George size, but with speed.

6. Julius Jones
The climb up is over for Jones, and it only took him under a year. Jones already showed what he could do without a quarterback, and now he has somewhat of one in Drew Bledsoe. Before the NFL season is said and done, Jones may very well be closer to the top of this list.

7. Clinton Portis
It was an unimaginable season for Portis, and very imaginable in foreseeing the Redskins season. There are a lot of jobs on the line in Washington, but Portis’s isn’t one of them. He finds and hits holes with the best of them, and makes his living off of big runs. That’s what you have to love if you’re a fantasy football owner. He may not have a great game, but then it can change suddenly with one play. Portis and Tomlinson are the best game changing break away backs in the league.

8. Domanick Davis
Keep an eye on his preseason injury. If he can overcome that and stay away from the bug, than Davis will continue on his rampage. Even without an offensive line he has been a force to reckon with. Will the days of having no offensive line come back to haunt him?

9. Mike Anderson
Anderson isn’t a top ten back, but in the fantasy world he is. The Mile High altitude wears every defense down, and Anderson is going to achieve what every prior Bronco back does. That is have a phenomenal year, and crush other opposing fantasy football teams with crazy games. Mike Shanahan will likely bump the rotation around a bit, but Anderson should still be the touchdown guy. If not, fantasy owners you know where to put Anderson after the first few weeks.

10. Jamal Lewis
Lewis shouldn’t be this low, but he has to go here because of his horrible quarterback. Lewis without a doubt is the best running back with the worst quarterback. Kyle Boller’s development has been worse than a baby trying to spit out its first word. A back can only take so much pounding, and unfortunately Lewis is going to be tested a lot. Hopefully the hits Lewis takes won’t jeopardize a long term contract or his health, because he should be a top three running back.

11. Corey Dillon
Dillon is approaching the territory of Curtis Martin, and that’s undeniable consistency. Dillon has been in the league for quite some time now, and has always been a producer. By finding a home in New England, that path of success will only brighten until his career hit’s the twilight stage. Give it another three years before questioning Dillon as a number one back enters minds.

12. Rudi Johnson
Good thing Johnson kept his work level production up, or Bengals fans would be throwing tantrums for letting Dillon go. The Bengals are going to have one of the league’s best offenses, and it won’t be because of Carson Palmer’s arm. That’s right, Mr. Johnson has allowed Palmer to settle in the pocket and throw the ball deep with confidence.

13. Tiki Barber
With the expected improvement of Eli Manning, Barber becomes the ultimate fantasy running back sleeper. He is likely going to be drafted as a second tier running back, but should easily put up number one back stats. He is an extremely hard worker that takes his job seriously. If anyone has seen or read about his training techniques, he is unbelievable. Yardage numbers have never been the question on Barber, and now it seems that getting in the end zone isn’t either. The Giants really don’t have anyone else that can run the football besides Barber, and that’s a rarity in today’s deep backfields.

14. Willis McGahee
I don’t understand why McGahee is so high on people’s draft boards and rankings. There are so many negatives to look at when analyzing McGahee’s position. First, he has questionable knees. Second, he was overworked last season and that led to injury problems to finish out the year. Third, he has to deal with a rookie quarterback. Fourth, you can judge one solid year that wasn’t even that great as basis for being a top five to ten back. Don’t get me wrong he’ll have a solid year, but be reasonable with where you select him.

15. Cutis Martin
Martin is a median back. He’ll get you the average’s you want, and that’s nothing far and beyond and nothing too little.

Best of the Rest

16. Steven Jackson
17. Carnell Williams
18. Ahman Green
19. Lamont Jordan
20. Kevin Jones

21. Brian Westbrook
22. Chris Brown
23. Warrick Dunn
24. Fred Taylor
25 Thomas Jones
26. Stephen Davis
27. Michael Bennett
28. Ronnie Brown
29. Reuben Droughns
30. Kevan Barlow
31. JJ Arrington
32. Willie Parker
33. TJ Duckett
34. Cedric Benson
35. Deshaun Foster
36. Anthony Thomas
37. Michael Pittman
38. Vernon Haynes
39. Mewelde Moore
40. William Green
41. Tatum Bell
42. Marshall Faulk
43. Najeh Davenport
44. Nick Goings
45. Sammy Morris