Below is a list of positional battles that will have significant fantasy consequences this season, thus making them extremely important to monitor in training camp.
Jonathan Stewart/DeAngelo Williams
Both backs are extremely talented and averaged more than 5 YPC last season, but they still both have to split carries, as Stewart had 221 last year and Williams had 216. Stewart is younger so this may be the year he gets a more significant chunk of the carries.
Jamaal Charles/Thomas Jones
Jamaal Charles had an amazing 2nd half last year with 1417 all purpose yards, despite not receiving double digit carries until week 10. He would be a lock to be a top 5 pick this year, however, the Chiefs decided to added Thomas Jones in the offseason. Jones ranked 3rd in the league in rushing yards last year, but turns 32 before next season and may have just been the product of New York’s amazing line last year. There’s a good chance that Jones cuts into Charles’ carries in a way that’s fantasy significant, even if it only means Jones gets the bulk of the carries inside the 20.
Joseph Addai/Donald Brown
Brown was drafted in the first round in 2009 as the apparent successor to Joseph Addai, a serviceable, but mediocre running back. However, Brown got hurt and was unable to put together a strong enough campaign to take Addai’s job at any point last year. Brown is healthy this year and Addai is still serviceable, but mediocre. He hasn’t averaged more than 4.1 yards per carry in any season since his rookie year and his longest run in that time frame is a mere 23 yards.
Ben Tate/Arian Foster
Arian Foster took over the Texans starting running back job late last season, after Gary Kubiak changed starting running backs for the 10257th time last season. However, Kubiak further proved he wasn’t satisfied with his backs by drafting the talented Ben Tate in the 2nd round.
Michael Bush/Darren McFadden
McFadden had all the promise in the world when he was drafted 4th overall in 2008. However, injuries and a 3.9 YPC in his career have destroyed a lot of that promise and now he appears to be on the verge of losing his starting job full time to the up and coming Michael Bush.
Felix Jones/Marion Barber
Marion Barber has been the starter in Dallas for several years and now it appears 2008 1st round pick Felix Jones could take the lead back role. He has always been explosive in bursts, but hasn’t been the lead back on any level since high school.
Montario Hardesty/Jerome Harrison
Harrison was amazing in the last 3 weeks last season, with 593 total yards and 5 touchdowns, but issues about his size and durability caused the Browns to draft Hardesty in the 2nd round in 2010. Hardesty has been getting most of the first team reps in OTAs and camp.
Justin Forsett/Julius Jones
Julius Jones was a favorite of Jim Mora last year, but after Mora was fired, and new coach Pete Carroll’s project LenDale White was cut, Forsett began taking all of the first team reps, though Jones is still in the mix.
Fred Jackson/Marshawn Lynch/CJ Spiller
Spiller was drafted with the 9th overall pick this past April, in a complete surprise pick. It has been said by people inside the Bills organization that Spiller will receiver about 12 carries per game and line up in the slot at times. That will leave Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch to fight out for the rest of the Bills’ carries. Jackson was a great surprise story in 2009 with 1433 total yards, but Lynch is a 2007 first round pick who had two straight 1000 yard seasons to start his career, back in 2007 and 2008.
Matt Forte/Chester Taylor
Forte was the definition of fantasy bust last year. After going for 1715 total yards and 12 scores in 2008, he was a top 5 pick in almost every league, but dropped down to 1400 total yards and 4 scores in 2009, as he was fairly out of shape. The Bears brought veteran Chester Taylor in from Minnesota to compete with him. Taylor had a 1000 total yard season as recently as 2007, but dropped down to 3.6 YPC last year and 727 total yards last season as a clear backup to Adrian Peterson.
Larry Johnson/Clinton Portis
Portis has been the main man in Washington, with 1250 or more rushing yards in every year from 2004-2008, with the exception of 2006, but that all came to a crashing halt last year as, at age 28, Portis suffered numerous injuries and was held to just 494 yards last year. Johnson was brought in during the offseason and appears to be the back most likely to challenge Portis for his job.
Hakeem Nicks/Mario Manningham
Manningham had a great start to last year, but his inconsistencies and drops flared up late last year and he lost a lot of reps to 2009 1st round pick Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is expected to take Manningham’s starting job from him this year.
Roy Williams/Dez Bryant
Williams really struggled last year, especially late when he had a combined 2 catches for 18 yards in the last 3 weeks, prompting the Cowboys to draft Dez Bryant in the first round back in April. It is believed to be only a matter of time before Bryant takes Williams’ job, but a Bryant ankle injury during training camp may buy Williams a bit more time.
Devin Aromashodu/Devin Hester/Johnny Knox
Knox had 45 catches for 527 yards and 5 scores last year as a rookie and figures to be a good fit for Mike Martz’ new scheme in Chicago. Hester is an explosive former kick returner who improved last year in his 2nd year as a receiver and could break out in his 3rd year at the position. He also is a good fit for Martz’ downfield scheme. Aromashodu really stepped up late last season with 24 catches for 282 yards and 4 scores in his final 4 games last year and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler went on record in saying that Aromashodu was the most likely receiver to step up and have a breakout year this season.
Jacoby Jones/Kevin Walter
Kevin Walter has been the Texans #2 receiver for the past few years, but Jones is expected to give him a run for his money this season and possibly take his job.
Devin Thomas/Malcolm Kelly/Joey Galloway
Kelly and Thomas were both 2nd round picks in 2008 and were expected to compete to take the starting wide receiver this year, but offseason acquisition Joey Galloway, an experienced veteran, has been taking the first team reps in camp.
Jabar Gaffney/Demaryius Thomas/Eddie Royal
Eddie Royal had an amazing rookie year in 2008 as the Broncos slot receiver with 91 catches for 980 yards and 5 touchdowns, but when new coach Josh McDaniels came in, he made Royal their deep threat and his stats suffered as he only caught 37 passes for 345 yards and 0 scores. McDaniels has recently said that he sees Royal as a slot receiver so he may move him back, making him worthy of a late round pick again as he catches Kyle Orton’s girly armed short throws as a slot receiver. We’ll have to see where he lines up in the preseason. Gaffney had an amazing statistical week last week 17, albeit it was against the Chiefs, with 14 catches for 213 yards in a loss, with Brandon Marshall suspended. Gaffney is expected to compete with rookie Demaryius Thomas, a raw, but athletic receiver, for Marshall’s old #1 role.
Fred Davis/Chris Cooley
Cooley had 277 catches for 3143 yards and 22 touchdowns from 2005-2008, but got hurt week 7 last year and 2008 2nd round pick Fred Davis really stepped up big time in his absence with 48 catches for 509 yards and 6 scores last year. The two will compete for a starting job this offseason and one or the other could be traded.
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