Injury report: RB preview

Rams running back Steven Jackson is only one season removed from rushing for 1,528 yards and catching 90 passes. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

By Will Carroll, Special to SI.com

The summer months mean big movies. How many times do you hear Don LaFontaine (what, you didn't know he had a name?) insist that if "You're only going to see one movie this year, it's has to be this one?" Well let's take that and apply it to this column. There is no more important position in fantasy football than running back. Losing your quarterback or a top wide receiver to injury is never fun, but those positions are often replaceable with Week 1.

When it comes to running backs, it's all about mitigating injury risk. Know who you're drafting, what the injury risks are, why those risks may or may not exist, and who the appropriate handcuffs are. Sprinkle in a little luck (everyone needs it in fantasy football), and you've got the recipe for fantasy success.

Unlike the quarterbacks we discussed last week (link to QB article), just about all of this year's top running backs dealt with injuries a season ago. In fact, of the perceived "Big 5" backs this year, none come worry free. It's the toll of being a 350-plus touch workhorse in the NFL, but it's also the workload that makes a player a fantasy superstar. We'll go over some of the risks for this year's fantasy studs below as well as injuries to other primary backs around the league. Learn the risks and plan accordingly. And if you're only going to read one fantasy football column this summer ..

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers: Consistency has defined Tomlinson's career. In seven years he's missed just one game. Perhaps that's why it was so strange, and worrisome, to see Tomlinson sidelined by a torn MCL in the playoffs. The injury did not require surgery, but Tomlinson will be 29 heading into this season and he's averaged over 400 touches per year in his seven season in the league. Running backs typically come back fine from torn MCLs, and we know Tomlinson won't be taxed (if he even plays) in the preseason. His lateral movement has been fine in offseason workouts and now in camp. Tomlinson is likely motivated to silence critics that questioned his toughness and commitment in the playoffs. If I have the No. 1 pick, I'm going with consistency. I'm going with Tomlinson, despite this gut feeling I have that this is the year he's not going to be Mr. Consistent.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: He started just nine games, missed two completely, and still finished second in the league in rushing last season. As a rookie. Peterson could easily be the top running back in football this season, but it's too hard to ignore the injury issues that have plagued him since college. The two games Peterson missed were due to a torn LCL in his right knee, and his production noticeably slipped in his final four games after coming back from the injury. Ask yourself: Did an amazing rookie year do enough answer all the injury questions Peterson had coming into the NFL? If you say yes, then grab AP and run with him. If you remain unconvinced, you're not alone. The silver lining is that Chester Taylor is the clear handcuff and can be relied on as a steady performer should the need arise. He is a must for any Peterson owner.

Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams: There is a ton to like about Jackson in '08. He's in a contract year in a weak defensive division and has a new offensive coordinator in Al Saunders who wants to get him even more involved in the team's passing game. Jackson might be the prototypical running back, but even he comes with some risks. He missed four games last year with back spasms, although the treatment he underwent is generally associated with something more. The Rams didn't report any disc issues, but we always try to tread carefully when it comes to back problems. They have a tendency to linger. Given his production over the second half (728 yards in 8 games) and an extended offseason of rest (thanks to his contract holdout), Jackson appears to be worth a top 3 or 4 pick.

Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts: Questions remain about Addai's durability over the course of an entire season. A look at last year's stats reveal a major dip in Addai's production after the Colts' Week 9 loss to the Patriots. From Week 10-17, Addai ran for more than 50 yards just three times with a high of 72. Granted, the Colts rested him in the season's final weeks, but Addai sorely needed the time off. Neck, back, shoulder and chest injuries slowed Addai at different times throughout the season, although none of the injuries were or are considered serious. He missed just one game (against Tampa when Kenton Keith ran for 120 yards and 2 scores -- this system works, folks), but Addai has never been a workhorse throughout his college or NFL career. He may one day be a 330-carry guy, but there's a reason the Colts brought Dominic Rhodes back. Addai will get some rest here and there. However, he's also turning into a goal-line beast and is very productive in the passing game. There's always the risk that he gets a lot of rest late in the season, but Addai's injury concerns are not big enough to knock him out of the top five at the position.

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles: There may not be a running back in football that's more important to his team than Westbrook. Last year Westbrook led the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2,104 and also established a career high in carries with 278 and receptions with 90. The best news is that Westbrook seems to be getting better and healthier with age. The Eagles and Westbrook have finally found the right formula to keeping him healthy by knowing how much to work him and when to just let him take time off during the week. Plus, Westbrook's role as a receiver keeps him from taking the same pounding as other running backs against opposing defenses. There are still risks with Westbrook, who has never played a full 16 game season, but the 15 he's played each of the last two years are good enough to make him a top five back.

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: Gore played much of last season through a high ankle sprain that limited his workload and his productivity. While he only missed one game, Gore could never shake the injury as it clearly derailed what many expected would be a huge season. In fact, Gore carried the ball 16 or fewer times on nine different occasions. The good news is that for a guy who has a somewhat lengthy injury history, the ankle was the only thing that slowed Gore in '07. Add Mike Martz to the equation, and Gore could be the league's most productive pass catcher out of the backfield not named Brian Westbrook. That should also help protect Gore from harder hits. Thanks to Martz, he'll also be protected from a huge workload of carries. (You really think Martz will start giving a back 20 plus carries on a regular basis?) That's good from an injury standpoint, but bad on the production side.