1.) LaDainian Tomlinson (RB) – San Diego Chargers
The 5-foot-10, 221-pound ball of fury is an easy choice here. How can’t you grab a man that has rushed for 1,200-plus yards in every single season of his seven-year career, which includes two seasons with 1,600-plus yards and one year with 1,800-plus yards? In addition, he has notched 360-plus receiving yards in every season as well. He is the ultimate fantasy player and has built a legend on his multi-faceted repertoire of disgustingly satisfying talent. He is clearly the No. 1 pick in all formats; you can’t screw this one up.

2.) Adrian Peterson (RB) – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie season with 1,341 rushing yards on 238 carries (5.6 yards per carry) with 12 touchdown scampers is enough to make a believer out of me. He also added 268 receiving yards on 19 receptions (14.1 yards per catch) with one touchdown grab. He only played in 14 games due to a knee injury, which likely resulted in him conceding the National Football League’s rushing title to Tomlinson. Although he notched a mere 144 combined rushing yards on 54 carries (2.7 yards per carry) over his last four contests, his potential for earth shattering bursts of speed and wrecking ball treks through the opposing defense is glaring. Expect to see Peterson go No. 2 overall in most drafts, he could be the next Tomlinson.

3.) Steven Jackson (RB) – St. Louis Rams
Many of you will denounce my selection of Jackson at the No. 3 spot, but wait and see, you’ll be commenting on this column once October rolls around with commendations of excellence. In 12 games last season, Jackson rushed for 1,002 yards on 237 carries (4.2 yards per carry) with five touchdowns. He also contributed 271 receiving yards on 38 receptions (7.1 yards per catch) with one touchdown. Don’t forget folks, in a healthy 2006, the Oregon State alum rushed for 1,528 yards on 346 carries (4.4 yards per carry) with 13 touchdowns and accumulated 806 receiving yards on 90 catches (9.0 yards per catch) with three touchdowns. He’s a punishing back that recently vowed to turn things around in a big way. You can safely take Jackson with the No. 3 overall pick, I know I will.

4.) Brian Westbrook (RB) – Philadelphia Eagles
I’m starting to think that Westbrook is the most versatile back in the game of football. But note that I said versatile, not durable. In six NFL seasons, he has not once played in all 16 games. Last year, he set career highs in rushing attempts (278) and yards via the ground (1,333). He added seven rushing scores and career highs in catches (90) and receiving yards (771); he also added five scores through the air. Although he’s as fragile as a twig in a hurricane, his grit and tenacity usually silence the constant screaming resonating from his aching body. He produces and plays hurt with great regularity, I just don’t want to be the owner stuck with him when he finally misses an entire season.

5.) Larry Johnson (RB) – Kansas City Chiefs
I mean, how do you just throw a guy that’s only 28 under the bus after rushing for 1,750 or more yards in two consecutive seasons prior to last year? The Chiefs are rebuilding, and I feel they are doing it completely right. They drafted tackle Branden Albert and also added running back Jamaal Charles. They now have two legitimate pass catchers in tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Johnson notched 284 yards on 74 carries (3.8 yards per carry) with three touchdowns over his last three contests before being shutdown, which indicates that when he’s somewhat healthy, he can be scary. He is a decent pass-catcher as noted by his average of 21.8 receiving yards per game over his five seasons of NFL rigor. I fully expect a lot of people to look past Johnson, meaning you might be able to snag him late. Keep a close eye on him as the second round of your draft approaches.

6.) Joseph Addai (RB) – Indianapolis Colts
Although Addai is a member of the overrated Colts, one must never look past the vast array of abilities that he encompasses. He has rushed for 1,000-plus yards with at least seven scores via the ground over his first two campaigns. Plus, he has caught 40 or more passes with 300-plus yards and at least one touchdown catch in each of his first two seasons. With quarterback Peyton Manning looking to be ready for the Colts’ season opener, expect Addai to once again be the beneficiary of a quarterback that is one of the best the NFL has ever seen. There is no doubt that the trust factor between Manning and Addai is now forged with iron, his role will undoubtedly increase this year.

7.) Marion Barber (RB) – Dallas Cowboys
With running back Julius Jones now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Barber’s already ridiculous value is now at an all-time high. Last season, he rushed for 975 yards on 204 carries (4.8 yards per carry) with 10 explosive scores. He also notched 282 receiving yards on 44 catches (6.4 yards per catch) with two touchdowns. In 45 games with the Cowboys over three seasons, Barber has averaged 4.5 yards per carry and has recorded a cumulative total of 29 touchdowns. He is a fearless back with the knack to physically demoralize opposing tacklers. Keep in mind that he won’t be getting every carry due to the presence of rookie Felix Jones, but his kamikaze style will undoubtedly lead to him getting the bulk load.

8.) Brandon Jacobs (RB) – New York Giants
In 11 games last season, Jacobs rushed for 1,009 yards on 202 carries (5.0 yards per carry) with four scores. He also recorded 174 receiving yards on 23 catches (7.6 yards per catch) with two touchdowns. I’m basing my decision to put Jacobs here solely based on him playing in all 16 games, which is very possible this year due to the presence of running backs Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw. Jacobs’ running style contributes to his consistent propensity for injuries, which is a shame. His raw talent and locomotive running style foster memories of what the game should be, and when he’s healthy, his impact is devastating. If you want to taste a little bit of what he’s capable of, take a look at his performances in Week 15 and Week 16 of last year. Yeah, the two weeks where he recorded a combined total of 273 rushing yards on 50 carries (5.5 yards per carry) with two touchdowns. He is a potent elixir of power and speed, watch him explode.

9.) Marshawn Lynch (RB) – Buffalo Bills
In 13 games last season, Lynch rushed for 1,115 yards on 280 carries with seven touchdowns. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry and positioned himself 11th amongst NFL runners in ground yardage. Not much has changed in Buffalo, but as the season went on last year their gradual improvement was obvious. Lynch recorded three contests with 100-plus rushing yards, one of which was a 153-yard showing against the Cincinnati Bengals. With a year of experience under his belt, expect Lynch to improve significantly upon last year’s number and become a very relevant fantasy force.

10.) Clinton Portis (RB) – Washington Redskins
My love for this character will never wither. He is a beautiful mixture of on-field intelligence, speed, power and the tenacity of a Roman soldier. He finished sixth amongst NFL rushers last year with 1,262 yards via the ground. He added 11 rushing touchdowns and 389 receiving yards on 47 catches (8.3 yards per catch). In six years of NFL experience, he has recorded 1,250-plus rushing yards on five occasions, which includes three seasons with 1,500-plus yards. Not to mention, he ran for at least 11 touchdowns in four of those five seasons. He sports a career average of 4.5 yards per carry and appears to be healthy and ready to rock as the season approaches like a runaway train.

Home Cooking

Laurence Maroney (RB) – New England Patriots
I’m a huge fan of this kid, especially after he recorded 324 yards on 67 carries (4.8 yards per carry) with four scores over his last four games. Keep this in mind, a hardcore NFL running back like a Tomlinson or Portis usually net around 300-320 carries in a healthy season. In two campaigns with the Patriots, Maroney has run for 1,580 yards on 360 carries (4.4 yards per carry) with 12 scores. For your fantasy sake, don’t underestimate the numbers he might amass this season, you will be burned. I know that he’ll likely be sharing carries with running back Sammy Morris once the season commences, but it wouldn’t be out of line to expect Maroney to attain his first 1,000-yard campaign, you’ll see.

Rob McCarthy has played fantasy sports since the days of tediously transferring his daily points from the Boston Herald to a tattered notepad every morning. He has been featured on Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports and currently scribes for KFFL.com. In addition, Rob is an avid fan of all Boston sports.