The Baseball Chick

The 2009 NFL and Fantasy Football seasons are right around the corner, so The Baseball Chick is here with some position battles to keep an eye on this preseason:

1.  Chiefs No. 1 Running Back – Larry Johnson vs. Jamaal Charles

Coach Todd Haley has opened the Chiefs’ tailback job to competition, refusing to name a starter to open camp.  Even practice-squad back Jackie Battle is getting run with the first team.  Battle isn’t under serious consideration, but Charles is a threat to L.J. because of his receiving skills.  Haley often used a pass-heavy spread attack while coordinating in Arizona, and Charles played in a spread at the University of Texas.  If Johnson’s power and speed have returned as Haley has suggested, however, Kansas City will employ plenty of power running formations.  This is L.J.’s job to lose.

2. Cardinals No. 1 Running Back – Tim Hightower vs. Chris Wells

This battle is already beginning to take shape.  Wells is out with an ankle sprain and will likely miss the Arizona Cardinals’ exhibition opener.  Nagging, minor injuries are nothing new for the first-round pick from Ohio State, and Beanie needed these practices to convince coach Ken Whisenhunt that he could hold up as a feature back.  It’s still early and Wells’ remarkable talent (4.4 speed at 6′1/230) should take over eventually, but Hightower is the best bet to start Week 1 at this point.

3. Vikings No. 2 Wide Receiver – Sidney Rice vs. Percy Harvin vs. Bobby Wade

This is really a Rice-Harvin race.  Wade is a reliable slot guy and special teamer, but an exorbitant $2.95 million salary (and questionable mental toughness) could quietly have Mr. Excitement on the roster bubble, even after Aundrae Allison’s release.  A borderline dominant red-zone threat when healthy, Rice looks to be over his 2008 knee troubles but has been up and down early in camp.  Meanwhile, Harvin is the talk of Mankato.  Even if Rice wins the “starting” job, Harvin will be a better bet for receptions.

4. Raiders No. 1 Running Back – Justin Fargas vs. Darren McFadden

Michael Bush is involved here, but will likely end up as the No. 2 back by season’s end no matter who wins the first-team job.  Fargas is the incumbent and seeing most of the reps with Oakland’s starters early.  The staff likes his banging style and blitz-pickup skills, but McFadden is the back to own in fantasy.  If he overtakes Fargas by late August, he’ll be an even better bet for touches.

5. Buccaneers No. 1 Running Back – Earnest Graham vs. Derrick Ward

The Bucs say this will be an even rotation, but Graham and Ward’s skill sets are similar, so it isn’t like one would be an ideal “change of pace” for the other.  Tampa Bay may just wind up riding the hot hand, meaning preseason play will be key.  Ward has more experience running behind zone blocks, which the Giants often used when he was subbing for Brandon Jacobs over the last two seasons, and new Bucs coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is installing a full-blown zone system.  Graham is the first-team back right now, but my bet is on Ward finishing 2009 with more touches.

6. Broncos No. 1 Running Back – Knowshon Moreno vs. Correll Buckhalter vs. LaMont Jordan

Longer shots Ryan Torain and fullback Peyton Hillis have been sharp early in camp, but it probably won’t be enough once Moreno gets familiar with the offense.  Buckhalter, who is 31 and was injury prone earlier in his career, has been in and out of practice with minor injuries.  That’s led to a lot of first-team work for Jordan.  Coach Josh McDaniels isn’t afraid to use a heavy committee, so Moreno needs to learn quickly to be an early-season fantasy asset.  Fantasy players may want to try and avoid this mess altogether.

 7. Giants No. 1 Wide Receiver – Steve Smith vs. Domenick Hixon vs. Hakeem Nicks

Smith may never be a “No. 1″ because he doesn’t play big enough to be a high-scoring red-zone weapon or fast enough down the field to be a true deep threat, but he is the Giants’ lone receiver assured of a starting role.  With Mario Manningham and speedy underneath guy Sinorice Moss also competing, New York has the guns to go receiver-by-committee.  Nicks will really have to come on and bypass Hixon this preseason to be an every-down player in his first year.

8. Ravens No. 1 Running Back – Willis McGahee vs. Ray Rice vs. LeRon McClain

This one looks pretty clear already.  McGahee underwent two leg surgeries this spring and Rice has gotten all the first-team carries since OTAs.  The Baltimore Ravens appear to be headed away from last year’s matchup-based three-headed monster, giving Rice a shot to emerge as a true featured carrier.  Cam Cameron says McClain is the favorite for goal-line work, but that could change if reports of Rice’s improved lower-body strength translate to short-yardage drills.

9. Vikings No. 1 Quarterback – Sage Rosenfels vs. Tarvaris Jackson

With Brett Favre out of the picture for now, Jackson and Rosenfels entered training camp on equal footing.  That changed quickly when Jackson sprained his MCL and missed four days of practice.  Four days (eight practices) might not seem like a whole lot, but showing durability was essential in Jackson’s case.  He suffered a sprained MCL last season as well has battled multiple injuries as a pro.

10. 49ers No. 1 Wide Receiver – Isaac Bruce vs. Josh Morgan vs. Michael Crabtree

Crabtree’s agents aren’t messing around and his holdout appears capable of lasting deep into the preseason or perhaps even on into Week 1.  Morgan can play all three positions (flanker, split end, slot), but the San Francisco 49ers prefer him at split end where he can run deeper routes on the weak side of the field.  Bruce has been a flanker his entire career.  It’s probably going to be Morgan and Bruce lining up with the Niners’ first team on opening day.