NFL Future Betting - Most Regular Season Rushing Yards — BetUS Locker RoomWHICH RUNNING BACK WILL TRAVEL THE FARTHEST?
Here is the entire list, with my comments, and last year's yardage total in parentheses:
BetUS Sportsbook Odds
Most Regular Season Rushing Yards
ADRIAN PETERSON +225 (1760)
-- He is once again the guy the Vikings will count on to get it done, with or without Brett Favre. You may want to count on him too, because he is quite simply the best in the business. He may be running behind a rookie right tackle, though.
MICHAEL TURNER +450 (1699)
-- Last year we thought he had an excellent chance, and he almost went all the way. This year could be even better.
DEANGELO WILLIAMS +800 (1515)
-- Reaching last year's total could be tough. This is more of a two-headed situation (with Jonathan Stewart), and that takes carries away from a guy.
CLINTON PORTIS +1200 (1487)
-- Portis got tired in the second half of last season. Expect him to get more relief early on from Ladell Betts, which won't help him in this derby.
STEVE SLATON +1400 (1282)
-- He is definitely the Texans' go-to guy, and you have to know that coach Gary Kubiak comes from the Denver culture, where he feels he has to run the ball. Slaton had more yardage than any other rookie last year. He can get into the 1600-yard range, which gives him a chance that may make it worth playing at this price.
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON +1400 (1110)
-- Some people think he is poised for a big comeback year. I don't doubt that he can improve on last year's figure, but he's got a lot of mileage on him, and last year was not a good sign as he was coming off an injury.
STEVEN JACKSON +1600 (1042)
-- The Rams are very committed to building their new offense around Jackson, and he has the ability to pull it off, but will THEY be good enough? Remember also that Jackson, at his best, distributes his production pretty well between rushing and receiving.
CHRIS JOHNSON +1600 (1228)
-- A lot of people look at Tennessee's backfield as more of a two-headed monster, but I don't think they'd have any problem putting LenDale White into a more subordinate and/or short yardage role, and letting Johnson make huge plays more often. As a 16/1 shot, he may be well worth a pop, because he is one of the fee guys on this list who can take it coast-to-coast from anywhere. Possible snag - he may see some time at wide receiver.
RYAN GRANT +2000 (1203)
-- Grant showed in the latter stages of 2008 that his 2007 heroics were no fluke. However, I wonder whether the Packers will just be flooding the air with football too much to accommodate him in any quest for the rushing lead.
FRANK GORE +2000 (1036)
-- Gore has been in the position before where he has challenged for the league rushing lead. He also has a coach who is very committed to running the football. That's not a bad combination for a guy who still has the ability, and will go far if he can stay healthy. Put him down on your list of longshot possibilities.
BRANDON JACOBS +2000 (1089)
-- What we like is that the Giants don't have the same kind of faith in backup Ahmad Bradshaw as they did in Derrick Ward. That means Jacobs, who is big and strong and averaged five yards a carry last season, will get the ball more from a coach and offensive coordinator who insist on running the ball. That puts him in our top five and also makes him a value play at 20/1.
