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Cedric Benson VS Thomas Jones

Without a doubt, one of the biggest stories in the 2006 season will be Thomas Jones versus Cedric Benson. Many fantasy players expected Benson to be an immediate impact player last year due to the Bear’s weak QB and RB situation. Unfortunately, a lengthy holdout led the way for Jones to snatch the top spot. Benson barely played and was a huge disappointment, rushing for a meager 225 yards, 0 td’s and 1 fumble.

While Jones had his best year ever, recording 1,335 rushing yards and 9 td’s he skipped OTA’s to show his displeasure over his contract situation. All of this confusion surrounding who will start both has dropped in drafts. As of now, it appears that more people are expecting Chicago to give Benson the nod over Jones. Here they are both going in the fourth, Benson #37 and Jones #47, while in this draft Benson is goes in the third while Jones is not drafted until the sixth. Personally, I believe Benson has much more value than Jones, if only because the Bears do not want to have $35 million dollars sitting on the bench.

Who is number 1?

Last year, Tomlinson was the consensus number 1 pick, hell most of the dissenters were championing Peyton Manning. While anyone that picked Manning #1, likely missed the playoffs Tomlinson crapped out the last five weeks of the season. This year Tomlinson has good company, Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson. Johnson is the currently the hottest of the three but he is not without question marks.

Larry Johnson:
Strengths: 1,750 yards and 20 td’s despite being on the second team for the first half of the season.
Weaknesses: Losing Tony Richardson one of the best blocking backs in the NFL and the fact that he has never started an entire season.

Shaun Alexander:
Strengths: Resigned with Seattle, has scored at least 14 td’s for the last five seasons.
Weaknesses: After the monster year he had some drop-off is expected, lost Hutchinson arguably the best guard in the NFL, the Madden cover jinx

Ladanian Tomlinson:
Strengths: TD machine, proven and durable
Weaknesses: First year QB means that defenses will probably stack nine men in the box until Rivers makes them pay

Overall, the upside for Johnson is probably too good to pass up. More than 1,700 yards, 20 td’s in only nine starts and 5.2 yards per carry.