Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Frank Lampard Vs Samir Nasri-Dependability Over Flash

I'm not a Chelsea fan, but Frank Lampard is one of my top five footballers. I own an England kit with his name on. I wear a SuperFrank shirt, for goodness sake. So just try to imagine my dismay when Lamps limped off during the match against West Ham. People close to me patted me on the head and assured me he'd be back after just a couple weeks. Those people lied. Carlo Ancelotti lied. He looks like a cuddly teddy bear but he flat out lied.
The weeks stretched on and on, with me no longer trusting any news story promising Lampard's return. The pitch seemed less green, the drizzle less grey. I needed to do something to shake myself out of my misery. I needed a focal point. Clearly my club, Aston Villa, weren't going to provide it, as watching them this season brings nothing but grief, and people find it slightly disturbing when a grown woman drools over a wee Scot. Napoli, and particularly Ezequiel Lavezzi, provide the perfect distraction, but alas I cover English footy as well, and need something for early Saturday morning when there are no crazy Italians. And so I found Samir Nasri, or SamiArse^TM as I like to call him.

Samir Nasri and Arsenal provide almost the perfect contrast for Frank Lampard and his Blues-except, of course, that they've both lost multiple matches that the clubs were expected to win. But while the injury of Lamps left a gaping midfield hole that no one on Chelsea has managed to step forward and fill, the multiple injuries to Cesc Fàbregas gave SamiArse^TM the opportunity to step out and shine. Nasri has proved himself well-suited to the central role, and while his finishing still leaves something to be expected, does anyone really believe that a 23-year-old can be perfect? The Frenchman is creative and stylish, making him quite fun to watch on the pitch, particularly since he has the best arse in all of football. Just don't look too closely at his teeth, ladies (and gentlemen):

But now Lampard is back. And in some ways, he just doesn't compare. While Lamps is steady and dependable, he doesn't have the same creative flair as Nasri. Nasri's career is moving onwards and upwards, while Lamps is likely looking back at his heyday. Yet Chelsea's recent struggles in midfield reveal that clubs shouldn't be so quick to overlook a player of quiet quality in return for a bit of flash. Lampard is a necessary anchor for the Blues, a much-needed rock that possesses the ability to accurately place a pass.
I know it's easy to favor looks over substance. We all chase lustily over that which we drool over. But now's not the time to drop Lampard and Chelsea to switch over to SamiArse^TM and the red side of town. Give a dependable relationship a try. You might think stability is boring and overrated, but it's not as though the rear view in this case is anything to sniff at:

Not so boring after all, right? Samir Nasri has a bit more work to do before he convinces me to abandon Lamps.

Soccer Stories Of The Year: Not Even Sepp Blatter Can Overshadow Landon Donovan, Lionel Messi, Spain In 2010

The World Cup always brings soccer to the forefront, and for those fans who only tune into the game every four years, soccer used it's 2010 stage to build icons. Thanks to Spain, Lionel Messi and Landon Donovan, record numbers of television viewers have reason to persist with the sport into 2011.

6 months ago: JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: A general view of the stadium as the teams line up for the national anthems prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11 2010 in Johannesburg South Africa. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

By Richard Farley - Soccer Editor

Top Ten Soccer Cities In The World

São Paulo

São Paulo has a ridiculous population ranging past 20 million in the urban area and all these people love one thing; their soccer.
The São Paulo state league is the oldest league in Brazil, having been founded in 1902, and is still in effect today.
The city has several historic clubs who are now in a lower tier but it still boasts some of the largest clubs in the world, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo and the largest team in São Paulo, Corinthians.
The four have combined to bring home the following titles, among others of course:
87 Campeonato Paulista
16 Rio-São Paulo titles
6 Copa do Brasil

Football rules on NBC, 'Undercover Boss' and 'Desperate Housewives' take hits in ratings

Sports definitely ruled in primetime on Sunday, leaving shows like Desperate Housewives and Undercover Boss to scurry after their scraps. The latter two series, in fact, posted record low-rated telecasts among adults18-49 opposite NBC’s Colts-Redskins football matchup and Fox’s baseball playoff game between the Giants and the Phillies.
NBC won the night among 18-49 (5.4 rating/14 share) and total viewers (14.1 million) but CBS still managed to tie Fox for second place among adults 18-49 (3.0/8). CBS came in second for the night in viewers (11.8 million) while ABC followed in third with 9.2 million. Fox finished the night in fourth place among viewers with 8.9 million. Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.3 million viewers.
The Amazing Race averaged 11.2 million viewers on CBS and came in second place in the adult demo (3.4/9) for the 8 p.m. hour, behind football. Undercover Boss built on its time slot lead-in and averaged a 3.5/9, but was still down 5% versus last week. It was the reality show’s lowest-rated telecast ever and averaged 12.1 million. CSI: Miami, however, was up 4% versus last week among adults 18-49 (2.8/7) and averaged 11.1 million pairs of eyeballs.
On ABC, Desperate Housewives posted a 3.8/9 in the demo — down 3% versus last week and its lowest-rated fall telecast ever. It averaged 12.4 million. And Brothers & Sisters tied last week’s lowest-rated fall telecast ever (2.7/7) and lured 8.9 million. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2.3/6) averaged 8.5 million.

Live updates from Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez's Monday press conference

Michigan senior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen looks to stop Iowa Adam Robinson in the second half Saturday. Michigan lost, 38-28. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Even though the Michigan football team doesn't have an opponent to prepare for this weekend, coach Rich Rodriguez has plenty of issues to address.
The Wolverines dropped their second straight Big Ten game at home, falling to No. 15 Iowa, 38-28. Michigan imploded as the defense couldn't get the Hawkeyes off the field while trailing by only a touchdown.
On Monday, Rodriguez sat down with his weekly chat with the media, breaking down what went wrong against Iowa and what he will try to accomplish over the next few days.
Rodriguez said the bye week comes at a perfect time after seven weeks of the play and four weeks of camp prior to that. The Wolverines won't practice Monday or Tuesday and will spend the rest of the week focusing on fundamentals as well as beginning to plan for Penn State.
The week will give some of Michigan's players time to heal. Quarterback Denard Robinson aggravated an injury to his throwing shoulder. Robinson injured his shoulder when he was driven into the ground in the second quarter when Tate Forcier came in and relieved Robinson.
Rodriguez characterized Robinson's injury as a sprain that likely happened when a defensive lineman fell on top of him. He said if Michigan had a game on Saturday, he likely would play.
Center David Molk (ankle) and nose guard Mike Martin (ankle) will also be 100 percent after tweaking injuries against Iowa.
Rodriguez said trainers have told him Fitz Toussaint (shoulder) could begin practicing this week. Surgery went well for receiver Martavious Odoms went well, but Rodriguez isn't certain whether Odoms will return this year.
"It's really unfortunate, because he was playing some pretty good football," Rodriguez said. "But if he is able to come back at the end of the year, we can certainly use him."
Off week
Rodriguez's staff will spend the first part of the week recruiting and will use an open Friday night to attend high school football games to get a first-hand look at recruits. Not accustomed to having a free weekend, Rodriguez said he will spend Saturday watching film with some assistants before taking in a Big Ten game on TV. He said he will try and get to his son's Pop Warner football game on Sunday.
Fixable problems?
Rodriguez said the Wolverine struggled against Iowa with turnovers and the defense continued to deal with lack of exection, both in coverages and with tackling. But the biggest issue defensively, Rodriguez said, has been with linemen getting off blocks.
Rodriguez said the bye week will allow Michigan coaches to spend time with younger players, helping with their development as they continue to learn schemes, especially defensively.
"I would hope we would get better fundamentally - especially with the younger guys," Rodriguez said. "When you understand the scheme completely, you can play faster and I think you recognize things better. I think as the season goes on, you should get better."
Rodriguez said for the most part, he thinks the defense is getting closer. He reiterated that some of the problems haunting the defense are fixable now, but that some are longer-term issues.
"I think we could bring in Vince Lombardi, and I don't know if he could fix some of the things with our defense," Rodriguez said.
Just for kicks
Special teams was also an issue against Iowa. In addition to having another field goal attempt blocked, Rodriguez said he is concerned with other issues in the return game.
On the field goal attempt, Seth Broekhuizen's kick was low to begin with, further adding to the woes the Wolverines have experienced all year.
Turning it over
With the struggles that Michigan has had with turnovers over the past two weeks, Rodriguez said some of the issues have been caused by players trying to do too much. Especially with the interceptions thrown by Robinson and Forcier, Rodriguez said it was a matter of them pressing, trying to give the Wolverines a spark.
"When it's third and long, you don't have to try and throw it 30 yards," Rodriguez said. "I think you can throw it 10 yards and you still get the yardage."
Timing issue
Rodriguez said the issues with left guard Taylor Lewan, who had three penalties against Iowa, including two false starts. Rodriguez said Lewan was a bit jumpy against the Hawkeyes, but it wasn't an issue he anticipated being a long-term issue.
"He was so jacked up because we've been challenging him with going against (Iowa All-American defensive end Adrian Clayborn. "So he was a little jumpy."
Evaluation time
Rodriguez was asked how he would evaluate his performance this season. Although the win total isn't where he would like it, he said he remains encouraged because some things he has seen behind the scenes.
"The first year (there) were extreme disappointments," he said. "The two losses this year have been disappointing. So I'm disappointed, but not discouraged just because some of the things I see going on with the program.
"If nothing more, I think we're fun to watch," he said. "There are times when I wished we weren't so fun to watch and that we could just execute the way we want to. The frustrating thing is that there are points where we're so close."

 

BCS Rankings 2010: BCS Standings 2010 vs. College Football Rankings Week 8

---

BCS Rankings 2010: BCS Standings 2010 vs. College Football Rankings Week 8 - Alabama and South Carolina both slipped further into the rankings as the latest BCS Rankings and College Football Rankings Week 8 had been released. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings was just released October 17 after the final results of the Week 7 games. The new number 1 on the BCS Rankings 2010 was Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, for the NCAA College Football Rankings Week 8, Oregon remains at number 1 while the number 1 ranked Oklahoma at the BCS Standings 2010 is at number 3. As you can notice, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Boise State are the top three teams in both BCS Rankings 2010 and College Football Rankings Week 8. They just differ in rankings. However, quality wise and statistically wise, the BCS standings will hold the greater weight since this is the official ranking from BCS organizers.
Wihout further delay, here are the official BCS Rankings 2010 which includes the BCS Standings and College Football Rankings Week 8. Compare and contrast and see the difference:
BCS Rankings 2010 (released October 17, 2010)

RK	TEAM	RECORD
1	Oklahoma	6-0
2	Oregon	6-0
3	Boise State	6-0
4	Auburn	7-0
5	TCU	7-0
6	LSU	7-0
7	Michigan State	7-0
8	Alabama	6-1
9	Utah	6-0
10	Ohio State	6-1
11	Missouri	6-0
12	Stanford	5-1
13	Wisconsin	6-1
14	Oklahoma State	6-0
15	Iowa	5-1
16	Nebraska	5-1
17	Florida State	6-1
18	Arizona	5-1
19	Texas	4-2
20	West Virginia	5-1
21	South Carolina	4-2
22	Kansas State	5-1
23	Arkansas	4-2
24	Mississippi State	5-2
25	Virginia Tech	5-2

NCAA College Football Rankings Week 8

RK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS
1	Oregon (39)	6-0	1471
2	Boise State (15)	6-0	1433
3	Oklahoma (3)	6-0	1355
4	TCU (3)	7-0	1340
5	Auburn	7-0	1279
6	LSU	7-0	1132
7	Alabama	6-1	1121
8	Michigan State	7-0	1062
9	Utah	6-0	1019
10	Wisconsin	6-1	920
11	Ohio State	6-1	895
12	Stanford	5-1	828
13	Iowa	5-1	768
14	Nebraska	5-1	684
15	Arizona	5-1	619
16	Florida State	6-1	615
17	Oklahoma State	6-0	575
18	Missouri	6-0	552
19	South Carolina	4-2	372
20	West Virginia	5-1	346
21	Arkansas	4-2	343
22	Texas	4-2	267
23	Virginia Tech	5-2	122
24	Mississippi State	5-2	111
25	Miami (FL)	4-2	85

2010 College Football Predictions: Notre Dame Complete Team Preview

The 2010 football season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is going to be a very interesting one. Coming into the season, there are a lot of questions and storylines that fans can not wait to have answered.

How will Brian Kelly turn this program around? How successful will his spread offense be? What about the new defense? How well can Dayne Crist perform after his ACL tear?

There are obviously a lot of things going on right now in South Bend, but the one thing that is for sure is the talent on this year's team. Charlie Weis did have two straight top recruiting classes, and now those players are becoming juniors and seniors. It's time for the highly recruited players to finally make a name for themselves at Notre Dame.

That said, here is a complete low-down on Notre Dame's roster.

Quarterbacks

The starter this season will be a new face in Dayne Crist. Highly recruited out of high school, Crist was a long time friend of former quarterback Jimmy Clausen. And, after two years of studying under him, it's time for Crist to shine as the new "Golden Boy" of Notre Dame.

However, after his ACL tear last season, there are questions if his health will allow him to play up to his full potential. He has the size to play the quarterback position, being 6'4'' and 235 pounds. His mobility, though, is a key asset in the new spread offense that Brian Kelly brings to Notre Dame.

If Crist cannot perform well, this season will be a disaster. He has talent around him, which we will get to in a few seconds, but a lot of the weight is put on him. He has to perform well if the Fighting Irish are going to be a competitive team this season.

Running Backs

Armando Allen led the team last season with 697 yards, and will be the top runner for the Irish this season as well. Allen is a talented running back who has the speed to run inside and outside, and can catch the ball out of the backfield as well.

After him on the depth chart is bruiser Robert Hughes. You can always tell when he carries the ball, as the fans all over the stadium are yelling his name. Last season, he was also able to catch 19 passes out of the backfield, and will be a great talent to have as the number two running back behind Armando Allen.

Also watch out for sophomore Cierre Wood. After he was heavily recruited out of high school, Wood has the talent to be a number one running back in years to come. And, while he wasn't in at all last season, he will get a number of looks in his second year at Notre Dame.

Receivers

Yes, Golden Tate is gone, but Michael Floyd, who was the most talented receiver on the roster last year in my opinion, returns after having a good sophomore year despite missing five games to an injury.

This off-season there is a lot of hype about what Floyd will do now that he is the number one receiver on the team. In the new spread offense, there's no doubt in my mind that he will be a target on a lot of plays and end up with well over 1,000 yards receiving at the end of the season.

Behind him, Duval Kamara will have to again step up to replace a star receiver. Kamara performed pretty well last season after Floyd went down by grabbing 23 passes for over 200 yards, but his performance will have to be even better this year after the loss of Golden Tate.

Also, another guy to watch out for is freshman Tai-ler Jones. Jones has amazing athletic ability to go with his quickness. In his first year, he will definitely be given a lot of looks as a receiver.

Finally, Kyle Rudolph at the tight end position will also be a key contributor. As the team's top NFL prospect, Rudolph has the size, speed, and hands to be a receiver in the spread offense. His 33 receptions landed him third on the team last year, but he will have an even bigger impact this season.

Offensive Line

The offensive line this season could have a new look with this new coaching staff, but they will be a key part of this team. If there's not good protection, then Crist will have a rough first season like Clausen did. So, it's obviously very important to have a good line to protect him.

First off, the line returns two starters from last season in Trevor Robinson and Chris Stewart. Those two guys are going to be the leaders after Sam Young's departure and for good reason. Both of them obviously have starting experience and are the most talented blockers on the roster.

Braxston Cave will be the starting center this year after an impressive spring. Zach Martin will start at left tackle despite not being very big. While he is young and inexperienced, he was a highly sought after recruit and is very talented. Finally, Taylor Dever will have to try to fill Sam Young's shoes which will be a difficult task. He is a senior, so he has experience at Notre Dame and can be a veteran leader on this line.

Defensive Line

Ian Williams will be the star of the line this season and will have a much bigger role because of the new 3-4 defense. While he has the NFL talent needed to be a great lineman, he has to start bringing more consistency to the field if this year's line is going be a good one.

Ethan Johnson will be on the outside of the three man line and will have to step up his game from last season. He showed some of his talent last year by grabbing four sacks, but he will have to be more involved in the running game this year as well.

Rounding out the line, junior Kapron Lewis-Moore has the potential to be a star player on defense and this is his time to shine. Last year, he managed to get 2.5 sacks as a 4-3 end but will take his new role this season with the 3-4. His performance in the running game needs to improve this year as well.

Linebackers

Manti Te'o will be the leader of the defense this season and perhaps the most talented player as well. After a decent freshman season, Te'o will only improve on that with a year of experience. He obviously has great potential and NFL talent that he will hopefully continue to show off as the season progresses.

Darius Fleming, the speedy linebacker, will start on the outside of the defense this season. Last season he had three sacks and that number will definitely improve this season with the new defensive scheme.

Brian Smith returns from a good 2009 campaign with 79 tackles and two interceptions. Smith comes back with a lot of expectations to be the veteran and experienced player of the linebackers. Expect a very good statistical season this year from him.

And, with four spots at linebacker this year, Anthony McDonald should be the one stepping into the new role. He is just another example of a highly recruited player who will have a chance to show that off this season.

Secondary

Senior Gary Gray has the experience and talent to be the leader of this secondary if he can finally break through. As one of the most sought after corners in his class, he really hasn't done enough to back up that hype. This will be his final chance if he plans to do something big in South Bend.

Like the rest of the defense, Darrin Walls has the talent and potential to be a star. I almost feel like a broken record right now because a lot of this is the same stuff. Walls was again a very talented player coming to Notre Dame, but just hasn't really shown it yet. As a senior, this will also be his last chance to do something big.

At strong safety will be Jamoris Slaughter who will try to replace a very good safety in Kyle McCarthy. Slaughter has the speed to be a player like McCarthy and cover a lot of ground to defend passes through the air and on the ground.

Harrison Smith, like Gray and like Walls is another talented high school prospect with a lot to prove. He will be the starting free safety this season and his physicality should make him a good one. He finished third on the team last year with 69 tackles, but expect that number to improve this season. He has great athletic ability and should have a good season this year.

Ranking the Running Backs

Just as we talked about when we rated quarterbacks, there are going to be a number of key factors to consider when entering your fantasy football draft. Obviously the schedule is important, as is the weather in games and health.

However, knowing how your league scores is ultimately a reason to pick one back over another. For example, Adrian Peterson didn't lead the league in rushing, but put up 18 touchdowns last year. If Ryan Grant is only going to get you six touchdowns, but Ray Rice might get you 11, and their rushing yards are equal, it's important to pay attention to those numbers.

It's also important to see if leagues count rush attempts and/or receptions. Some backs, like Chris Johnson and Rice, pick up a lot of receiving yards while others, like Peterson, do not. This is also key when considering a back in the draft.

With all that in mind, let's rank the running backs for 2010.

The Cream of the Crop

• Chris Johnson, Tennessee
• Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
• Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
• Ray Rice, Baltimore

All four of these guys could put up very similar numbers this year, rushing for somewhere between 1,300-1,500 yards and posting double-digit touchdowns. However, each has unique skills to bring to the table, and concerns, that are worthy of additional consideration.

Johnson: led the league in rushing last year. Teams will focus on him in 2010, forcing Vince Young to beat them. Don't expect 2,000 rushing yards again.

Peterson: coughs up the ball too much. He lost six fumbles last year, and the Vikings were forced to use Chester Taylor late in many games to preserve their lead. Being that Taylor is now in Chicago, and Brett Favre hasn't officially come back yet, Peterson could have a rough season.

Jones-Drew: he's the leader of a young offense and handled the ball a lot last year. His 14 touchdowns might not happen again this year, but the 1,300+ yards could.

Rice: he's in the best situation of this top group. He's a good receiver and has capable bodies with whom he can share carries. However, with the addition of Anquan Boldin the Ravens might be more pass-happy in the red zone, and Rice only rushed for seven touchdowns last year. Still a safe bet for over 1,700 all-purpose yards.

Second-Tier Starters: Worth Waiting, not Over Paying

• Steven Jackson, St. Louis
• Ryan Grant, Green Bay
• Frank Gore, San Francisco
• Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh
• Michael Turner, Atlanta
• Cedric Benson, Cincinnati
• Ryan Matthews, San Diego

These seven guys are trendy picks that might be worth considering in a second or third round, but aren't worth a gamble in the first.

The biggest argument on this list is Jackson being included in the second tier and not with the big boys as locks for big seasons. However, the Rams have been running him into the ground and history shows that backs averaging consistently 320-340 carries a season over an extended period of time don't last very long. With the Rams mediocre line and the money they've invested in Sam Bradford in mind, Jackson might have seen his last 1,400-yard season.

With Grant and Benson, the biggest issue is consistency. Both have outstanding weeks and miserable weeks in the same season, and are both a fantasy owner's best friend and worst enemy in the matchup format.

Both Gore and Mendenhall have dealt with injuries in their pasts, but should be good to go for around 1,200 yards and 8-10 touchdowns. Mendenhall might be the best pick of this group because of Pittsburgh's quarterback issues (Roethlisberger suspended, Holmes traded). Gore is a beast that should see better holes with an improved line in San Fran.

Turner lived up to his nickname by burning fantasy owners that picked him at the top last year. He came into camp out of shape and dealt with injuries all season. He reported to camp in shape and on time this year, and could return to dominant form for the Falcons.

Matthews was the Chargers' first round pick this year, and he'll be the man for them because LaDanian Tomlinson's now with the Jets. They like him a lot, and have had success in the last decade, so seeing him put up numbers similar to those Matt Forte did for the Bears in his rookie year could be expected.

Tandems: Teams That Will Run-By-Committee

• Kansas City - Thomas Jones, Jamaal Charles
• New Orleans - Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas
• Carolina - DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart
• Chicago - Matt Forte, Chester Taylor
• Indianapolis - Joseph Addai, Donald Brown
• New York Jets - Shonn Greene, LaDanian Tomlinson
• Detroit - Kevin Smith, Jahvid Best
• Miami - Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown
• Oakland - Michael Bush, Darren McFadden

This is a longer group because more and more teams are moving two an offense that features more than one primary back. There are some intriguing names in strange places on this list, though, and these teams could give fantasy owners migraines all year.

Jones had one of his best seasons in the NFL last year, running for over 1,400 yards with the Jets. But they, as so many other teams have, decided to dump him after a great season. So he landed in Kansas City, which is puzzling because Charles had his own 1,000-yard season last year. It's hard to handicap which of these two will get more carries, especially in the red zone.

Similarly, Carolina has two backs that have had exceptional seasons in the last couple years. Both DeAngelo Williams and Stewart have seen their names in the top ten in the league in rushing, and in an offense that's going to be featured a new quarterback, both of these guys should see plenty of carries. DeAngelo Williams and Stewart might be the strongest individual plays of these players.

In New Orleans, Bush is a year past knee surgery and looks explosive. But Thomas is the better runner between the tackles and, while he might not put up as many all-purpose yards, could make up for it by seeing the end zone more often.

Forte and Taylor are intriguing in Chicago because it's hard to know what Mike Martz's system is going to look like with the Bears' personnel. The team has three tight ends on the roster, a questionable offensive line, and the same group of relatively young receivers. It's also hard to handicap which of these guys will see the end zone more often.

The Jets are an interesting situation because Greene showed the ability to be a top-tier back last year (which is why they let Jones walk), but the addition of future Hall of Famer Tomlinson clouds the situation. Clearly Tomlinson doesn't intend on being a full-time backup, and has a history of finding the end zone.

With Indianapolis, Detroit and Miami, there are injury concerns that make picking any of those four backs hard. Ricky Williams had a nice season last year, but Ronnie Brown is the more electrifying back. Both Smith and Best had their seasons end with injuries last year, so Detroit might be a wild card. In Indy, Addai has been solid when healthy, but Brown looked like he could be a dominant back last year when he got a chance. Which player Peyton Manning hands the ball to will be a question mark each week, and their touches in the red zone could be spread out as well.

Oakland is... well, Oakland. Jason Campbell should improve the offense, but knowing which guy is going to get the bulk of the carries is an annual crapshoot.

The MC Hammer Group - Don't Touch This

Dallas - they have three backs that all have histories of injuries and splitting carries. Marion Barber has never emerged a a prime-time back, but could get double-digit touchdowns.Tashard Choice and Felix Jones are sexy picks because they're home run hitters, but the three figure to see equal action in different situations. Good luck picking the most valuable of the three!

Denver - Knowshon Moreno's the most talented, Correll Buckhalter is the most consistent, and neither is healthy. Given their quarterback issues and the health concerns already popping up, it might be best to avoid the Broncos completely in the draft.

New York Giants - Brandon Jacobs is a beast, while Ahmad Bradshaw is a bowling ball. They combined for 387 carries and 12 touchdowns last year, but knowing which back gets the ball week-to-week is a health-based guessing game. Either could be a decent RB2 pick, but neither is a lead back.

Washington - they brought in Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan, which would lead a fantasy owner to think the Skins will probably throw the ball more often this year. Washington also quietly added two over-the-hill running backs, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to their backfield to compete with over-the-hill Clinton Portis for touches. It's easy to say avoid this situation on draft day.

Tampa Bay - Cadillac Williams has been more of a pinto the last few years, spending most of his time on the sidelines in a t-shirt. Derrick Ward had a nice season with the Giants before Tampa overpaid for him, and he didn't impress as much as they would have hoped last year. This could be an interesting backfield to watch in 2010 as they continue to develop their offense around young quarterback Josh Freeman.

Houston - the Texans had 13 rushing touchdowns last year from four running backs, and were only able to get 437 yards and three of those touchdowns from Steve Slaton. Because Slaton lost three fumbles last year, Ryan Moats looked like a stronger fantasy play until they selected Ben Tate from Auburn in the draft. Tate could easily emerge as the leading rusher in Houston, but gambling on any of these backs as more than a third or fourth backfield option would be a mistake.