Running Backs

Start’em

Chris Johnson, Titans

You’re obviously starting Chris Johnson if you drafted him, but for those of you trying to get cute with your lineups, one word of advice: don’t! I traded him on week 5 the year he went crazy and emerged onto the fantasy scene.  Let’s just say I regretted every second. Just give CJ2K some time, because his schedule after the bye week is quite favorable. Plus, few players have the ability to break open a big run like Johnson does, and that alone is worth the wait.

Ryan Matthews, Chargers

The guy has finally arrived, and he just might be here to stay as long as Mike Tolbert doesn’t sneak in to vulture any goal line carries. This week against the Dolphins is going to be Matthews’ make-or-break game in my opinion.  If he is able to come through with a solid outing, then he should get the bulk of the carries the rest of the season.

Read the rest of my fantasy picks after the jump …

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Nothing but street clothes so far this off-season for Chris Johnson. (Photo by atlnightspots.com)

The Tennessee Titans and their star running back, Chris Johnson continue to squabble over his contract, and that has now apparently cost him a year in terms of free agency eligibility.  According to ESPN, Johnson failed to report to Titans camp on Tuesday, which means that he missed the chance to accrue a year of service time toward becoming a free agent.   This is a sticky situation that doesn’t have a clear black-and-white solution as far as I can see.

On one hand, Johnson is under contract and would have become a free agent after two more seasons.   Generally, athletes look pretty childish when they hold out and often find their performance suffering as a result.  Certainly, Johnson wasn’t as productive last year after holding out in camp and receiving a small salary increase, but who knows for sure if the late start contributed to his reduced numbers?   One line of thinking is  that players should just honor their contracts, do their best and reap the rewards later on the open market.

On the other hand, though, running backs don’t have very many prime years, and one hit can pretty much end a career.   Johnson is at his best right now, or he may have even peaked in 2009.   He routinely carries the ball more than 300 times per season, and that kind of pounding will diminish even the best-conditioned athlete after a while.   In that light, it’s hard to blame him for trying to turn his most productive seasons into his most lucrative seasons, too.  Add in the fact that players can be cut, without pay, at any time, and Johnson’s case becomes even stronger.

In the end, I think the Titans really need to redo Johnson’s contract right now, try to get him locked up through his prime years and get him in camp yesterday.  The team already set a precedent by giving him a bonus last year in order to entice him into camp, so there is no reason for him to expect to be playing for his 900K salary this time around.  If I were a Titans fan, I’d be pretty nervous about this team without Johnson, and I might be camping out on Bud Adams’ doorstep with my picket sign.

Of course, as a Colts fan, the longer Johnson holds out, the better it is for my team.   Go Bud!

If the Indianapolis Colts were to lose this game, they would have to win the rest of their regular season games and hope that the Jacksonville Jaguars would lose one or two of their remaining games. But now, there is no need to worry about that. After a three-game slump, Peyton Manning’s two touchdowns (and zero interceptions!) helped lead the team to a 30-28 thriller over the Tennessee Titans. It was about time the Colts started playing Colts’ football. Manning completed 25-of-35 for 319 yards and a 118.6 rating.

Indianapolis now improves to 7-6 after a three-game losing-streak to the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, and the Dallas Cowboys, all of those games in which Manning “choked” in. But now, the Colts have a chance to win the AFC South again. If the Jacksonville Jaguars lose, both teams would be tied for the division lead. But if the Jags do in fact beat the Oakland Raiders, there is still no need to worry. The Colts got a lot of confidence and a lot of rest for their injured players like Joseph Addai and Austin Collie. And the rest is much-needed as Indy has one-week-and-a-half to rest. If they beat the Jags at home next week, they have the division lead. Thank God they won this one. It’s about time they finally one and Manning is playing like the best ever he is.

“Nobody likes losing three in a row,” Manning said. “That’s new for us. Somebody asked me if we were in a slump. I said, ‘I’ve been on an 8½-year hitting streak.’ ”

Manning got his 63rd 300-yard game, which ties Dan Marino on the all-time list for first place. One more and Manning claims the record, with a bunch more to break. Reggie Wayne played great again, having four catches for 106 yards. The big play the ensured the Colts were back was a huge fade to Wayne as he got down at the ten-yard-line earlier in the first half. Manning almost had a third touchdown in the game, but Blair White got in the way of a potential score to Reggie in the end zone. Along with that, Manning made his trip back to Tennessee, as he was one of the greatest for the Volunteers in his college career. But he never could have gotten that bowl win. But it’s good to be back for Manning, and he is making run.

“I was throwing to Reggie. I can assure you I was throwing to Reggie,” Manning said of the broken-up touchdown. “But like I said, that’s part of the learning process.”

The Colts are back on track to win the AFC South, as they have only lost it twice this past decade but still made the playoffs. They have missed the playoffs only once this past decade when they went 6-10 in 2001. Indianapolis was on pace for a 2001-like season, but now, that is behind. Now they got their minds set on Jacksonville as they have another AFC South showdown.

“I think we’re in a four-game playoffs, and this was a playoff game tonight,” Manning said.

Tennessee started out the year leading the division with a 5-2 record. Since then, they are in last place with a six-game losing-streak. This has been followed by Vince Young and Jeff Fisher tirades along with many other things. This game was the first time they had the same starting quarterback for two straight weeks since October with Young. Since the Young misconception, the Titans were desperate at quarterback, flipping and flopping around with Rusty Smith and Kerry Collins. The Colts played solid, having another big play on special teams as the snap went high over the punter’s head. Taj Smith recovered to the Colts’ red zone. Smith made a big play in the Cowboys game, returning a blocked punt made by him for a touchdown. He made another big play again. You can ensure he will be having a permanent spot on special teams for the year, and maybe even next year as well. Next Kassim Osgood? Probably.

“Every time we play the Colts, it’s been the same thing,” safety Chris Hope said. “By the time we figure out we can play with them and compete with them, we run out of time. It’s been the same story the last few times we’ve played them.

Collins went 28-of-39 for 244 yards with three touchdowns and a 113.6 rating. Collins also had his 200th career touchdown. Chris Johnson had 111 rushing yards on 22 carries with a touchdown. But it wasn’t enough for a win for Tennessee. Tennessee would cut the lead to 21-7 with a Johnson touchdown. Later in the game, the Colts would enlarge their lead to 30-21 off a field goal. The Titans would score to cut the lead to 30-28 later, but with few time remaining, Indianapolis would have a guaranteed victory.

Javarris James is showing that he is one of the best rookie running backs in the league, as he led the Colts with 49 rushing yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. He now has six touchdowns for the year, leading all rookie running backs. Donald Brown had 38 yards on 15 carries. Pierre Garcon played very good, showing that he is one of the premier receivers of Indianapolis, having six catches for 93 yards with two touchdowns in the game.

The Colts are now finally back on track. They look to claim the division with a win over Jacksonville now. It needs to be done.

This is Colts football.