atomdomb

I hate to do this but I think that Ronnie and Ricky if healthy pose the biggest threat. That being said Kevin Faulk is a wildcard that could put NE over the top.

Underoath

The only time Williams and Brown got any yardage was in the gimmick Wildcat, that teams are prepared for this year. And didn't Williams still only average like 3.6 ypc or something?

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Triggerfish

Hard to say, but I think the Jets running game could very well be nipping at your heels this year. Leon Washington really seemed to be hitting his stride later last season. From a "non-homer" persepctive, I'm definitely not sold on Taylor being TERRIFIC for you guys this year. He's got some miles on those legs and certainly didn't look fantastic last year with the Jags. I think he'll be ok in a RB by committee situation though. I'm not a huge Maroney fan, but I have a sneaky suspicion he could be in for a big year if he can stay healthy. You would think he would have something to prove, and NEEDS to do something to stay outta BB's doghouse.

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jmt57

Brown and Williams are the biggest 'names' but the Dolphins were just third in the division in rushing last year. I think the Pats running game tends to be overlooked, especially outside New England, because the team utilizes a running back by committee approach rather than relying on a 'feature back' who posts gaudy individual stats. Perhaps that's the downside of so much focus on fantasy football.

Rushing: Yards - Yds/Gm - Yds/Carry - TD - 1st Downs - (NFL Rank in 2008)
2278 (6) -- 142.4 (6) -- 4.44 (7) -- 21 (4) - 145 (1) --- Patriots
2004 (9) -- 125.2 (9) -- 4.75 (5) -- 20 (5) - 94 (21) --- Jets
1897 (12) - 118.6 (12) - 4.23 (15) - 18 (9) - 111 (7) --- Dolphins
1842 (14) - 115.1 (14) - 4.20 (16) - 16 (11) - 107 (10) -- Bills

With Laurence Maroney healthy, Fred Taylor replacing LaMont Jordan, and a healthy offensive line to go along with the return of Tom Brady, I would say that the Patriots will have the best running game in the division in 2009.

ctpatsfan77

Now that's impressive. (It may not be quite as impressive as it sounds, though, since the Pats did run more plays than anyone else.)

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Calciumee

I think Brown and Williams (when healthy) are very good players, but the players behind them aren't much.

I think that the best is ours. All five (inc. Morris and BJGE) can get yards. Yes, even Maroney. This was shown by last years rushing attack.

The other teams have two good running backs, but not the depth like us.

WhiZa

Surprised no one has mentioned Shonn Greene. If he is as good as the media hypes him, the Jets will have the best all round RB group.

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feldspar

It's hard to totally separate the running game from the passing game. By that I mean that if you don't have a good passing attack, defenses can stack eight men in the box to stop the run, making your run game worse than it would have been.

Having Brady, Moss, and Welker alone in the passing game will make for a better running game then if that wasn't the case, no matter who is the running backs.

I think the Jets running game will suffer because they don't have the QB or WRs that are respected right now.

The Bills will be better in the run than they were last year. Love him or hate him, T.O. is going to help spread out defenses and open up the run for the Bills quite a bit. Teams shut down the Bills' passing attack last year by double-covering Evans. Now the solution isn't so easy. Buffalo can now utilize their other receivers to their strengths as well. They are pretty stacked at the position. Also, believe it or not, the Bills' RBs were the most prolific catching the ball last year, I believe. Rhodes is pretty good and can catch the ball...we'll see how he translates into Buffalo. Fred Jackson is underrated IMO, too. If Buffalo's pretty much new o-line can get it together and Trent Edwards can be the guy he was at the beginning of last year, the Bills will be dangerous on offense this year. Of course, the Patriots won't see Lynch in the season opener...he'll be suspended for that game.

As far as the Dolphins, Pennington is a smart and accurate QB who, of course, doesn't have the strongest arm after all those surgeries. Also, their WRs don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of men. I don't think their Wildcat is going to be nearly as effective this year, but they do have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, who might be the best duo in the division if you look at them in a vacuum.

So I picked Brown and Williams with an asterisk.

farn

Stole my thunder. I think the numbers may very well favor NE, but they are playing with a potent passing attack. I think the Pats might rank last in the fact that they'll get many yards because of TFB, Moss, Welker, and friends.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Although I sound biased, the Pats have the best running backs as a group in the league. In fact, the stats don't lie as the Pats rushed for 142 yards per game. In addition, the Pats were without Maroney almost the entire season. Lastly, the addition of Fred Taylor with the return of Maroney makes this group very good.