Prior Spotlights:

Shaun Alexander

Larry Johnson

Steven Jackson

L. Tomlinson

Steven Jackson, StL RB

2006 Stat Line: 1528 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 90 receptions, 806 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs

Take a second and ask yourself this question, "Which player led the NFL in total yardage last season?" LaDainian Tomlinson? Larry Johnson? Nope...it was Steven Jackson. With 2334 combined rushing and receiving yards, Jackson beat out LT by 11 yards as he exploded into fantasy football stardom. Now, as he enters his fourth year in the league, Steven Jackson has openly announced that this year he's going to be gunning for Marshall Faulk's all-time record (2529 total yards in 1999).

As the feature back in one of the most potent offenses in football, Jackson's goal may actually be more realistic than you would think. We know that he has already established himself as an integral part of the passing offense. In fact, during 2006 only Torry Holt (93) caught more balls than Jackson's 90 receptions. He also has the benefit of playing in one of the weakest defensive divisions in football, the NFC West. Last year, Arizona ranked 29th in total defense, San Francisco registered in at 26th overall, and Seattle topped the division at 19th in overall defense. Furthermore, Arizona had the best rush defense of St. Louis's divisional foes at 16th in the NFL. My point is that regardless of the rest of the schedule, it looks like Jackson will have at least 6 divisional matchups where he'll have an opportunity to rack up huge numbers.

Alright, so we know that Steven Jackson is a stud and one of the top players in all of fantasy football. So where should he be drafted? Well, we know that LT is going #1 overall, but after him there are three super elite backs to choose from in Jackson, Larry Johnson, and Shaun Alexander. If I'm sitting there in the number 2 draft slot, then I'm taking Steven Jackson all day, everyday baby! He's got tons of speed, great size, excellent hands, and the gift of youth. You can make great arguments for LJ and Alexander, but Jackson is only beginning to enter the prime of his career and you really don't know how high his ceiling is!

2007 Projected Stat Line: 1635 rushing yards, 18 rushing TDs, 82 receptions, 782 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs