What You Talkin’ Bout? Willis…
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert, Rosterwatch.com

What do Shonn Greene, Mark Ingram, and C.J. Spiller have in common? They all had fewer yards than Willis McGahee last season, and are currently being drafted higher than him in fantasy leagues this year.

Willis is currently the 89th player off  the board on average, a seventh or eight round pick depending on league size. Perhaps owners are forecasting more productive years for those players, but I’m not really sure why. Greene won’t play on third downs and will lose goal line carries to Tim Tebow, Ingram is in a three way split with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas, and Spiller is still second string to Fred “Action” Jackson in Buffalo.

McGahee has sole ownership of the backfield in an improved Denver offense, and barring injury, should hold onto it all season.

McGahee racked up 1,199 yards on the ground and five touchdowns in his 2011 campaign. The scores were lacking, but that had a lot to do with Tebow predominantly taking goal line duties. It’s true, the Broncos ran the ball more, percentage wise, than any other team last year but what McGahee may lose in yards, if anything, should be made up in the end zone. I also think he’ll get more yards per carry, as defenses won’t be so inclined to stack nine in the box with Peyton Manning behind center.

McGahee seems primed for his role as workhorse in Denver. He’s added ten pounds of pure muscle to his frame, and leaned down to 9% body fat. Most men his age, 31, are somewhere in the mid to high 20% range. Young Ronnie Hillman shouldn’t pose a threat as long as he stays healthy. Running back is the shallowest skill position of this year’s draft, so don’t sleep on Willis. He could put up RB1 numbers at an RB3 or 4 price.