Two recent running backs in the free agent news are consummate pros who can help fantasy owners under the right set of circumstances this year.
Fred Taylor signing with the Patriots is no small thing. New England now has a history of acquiring older running backs (Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon) who are hungry for a ring and plugging them into the lineup for a golden year or two. Taylor has indeed had his shelf life extended past the normal expiration date because of Maurice Jones-Drew. And keep in mind that Laurence Maroney has been nothing but an injury concern for the Patriots for two years now. The only question for me is how much Sammy Morris gets in on the act. Morris does score fantasy points when he is healthy and the starter in the lineup. Still, you should be able to score Taylor more than a few rounds deep in fantasy drafts this year, where he will be a relative bargain.
Correll Buckhalter to the Broncos may seem like a minor blip on the fantasy radar, but in my opinion it's worthy of following. I have seen Buckhalter perform well when he is healthy throughout his career. The only problem, and it's been a big one, is that he's never been healthy. He was down the stretch for the Eagles last year and his ability to spell Westbrook was one reason the team got so far in the playoffs. In Denver he only has to compete against Selvin Young, Ryan Torain, and J.J. Arrington for the starting gig. Peyton Hillis could be a factor, but the team will probably get him back into his more natural fullback position. Torain was not hand-picked by the current administration, and will have to prove everything. Young is okay, but nothing special, and we've seen that Arrington can't carry the load. That leaves a nice opportunity for Buckhalter. Let's see if he can stay healthy long enough to pursue it.
