NFC North: RB Duo Rankings

Ranking the running backs of any team can be tough. The NFL has mostly evolved into a 2-back system for most teams. Looking at the teams in the NFC North, all four have a 2-back system they are working with whether the time split is 50-50, 60-40, or even 80-20. Here is a look at how I rank the running backs of the NFC North for the 2011 season.

'10 stats: 283 carries for 1,298 yards
12 TD

1. Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson is a beast and has been the face of the Vikings franchise for 4 seasons. He had a small bump in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, fumbling the ball 15 times. Peterson has had four consecutive seasons of 1,000+ yards rushing. What makes Peterson even better is he has been running behind a mediocre line most of his career. Toby Gerhart was added to the team last year and had minimal impact. When Peterson is in front of you, minimal impact is alright though. Gerhart had a 4.0 YPC average, but only saw the end zone one time last season. If Peterson were to go down with an injury, Vikings may as well call it quits. Adrian Peterson IS the Vikings.

Placed on IR in the 2010 season.

2. Green Bay Packers- The return of Ryan Grant puts the Packers at #2 and the post season performance by James Starks helps. In the '08 and '09 season, Grant was an exceptional back with 1,000+ yard seasons ('08- 1,203 yards & '09- 1,253 yards). He was also 44 yards shy of the 1,000 yard mark in '07, but with just 15 games played. Grant is a work horse for the team and should continue to make an impact post-injury. The Packers become a big 2-back duo with James Starks. Starks was able to make an impact during the regular season game against the 49ers and played exceptionally well in the post season for the Packers.

'10 stats- 237 carries for 1,069 yards
6 TD

3. Chicago Bears- Matt Forte is a big dual threat on his own. He can break the big run at any moment and he is a great receiving back. Forte has notched two 1,000 + yard seasons in '08 and '10 and was just shy of the 1,000 yard mark in '09. In each of his 3 seasons, he has had half of that in receiving yards as well. I expect big things from Forte in the 2011 season. It will be interesting to see how long he holds out for a new contract (if at all). Forte is followed by Chester Taylor and probably a good reason Forte is demanding more money. Taylor had a terrible 2.4 YPC average and didn't do much for the Bears last season. Taylor holds the Bears ranking down.

'10 stats: 171 carries for 555 yards
4 TD

4. Detroit Lions- Placed last for lack of production in 2010. Jahvid Best will most likely lead the backfield of the Lions in the 2011 season. Best didn't have a great season in 2010 and was followed by a few under-performing running backs in Morris, Smith, and Logan. The Lions drafted Mikel LeShoure (Illinois) in the 2011 NFL Draft and this makes the Lions backfield much better than the previous season. With a dual threat of Best and LeShoure, the Lions have a better running attack and fit the 2-back system the NFL has turned to. LeShoure may even become a starter for the Lions if Best has another average season.

NFC North: QB Rankings

Football is back and I couldn't be happier with all the news of free agency floating around the past couple of days. My eyes have been glued to Twitter when I am around the computer and NFL Network when I am around a tv. With the NFL season right around the corner and free agents being scooped up almost instantly (compared to the regular free agency period), it is time to rank the NFC North by positions. I try to be as fair as possible while ranking the positions, so the Green and Gold goggles are off.

On to the quarterbacks of the NFC North and once again, there are some new faces.

'10 stats: 3,922 yards, 28 TD/11 INT 

1. Green Bay Packers- The Packers can easily be named #1 in quarterbacks of the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers has put this team on his back since taking over and has improved every year. Last year, Rodgers was named Super Bowl XLV MVP and I believe he will have an even better season this year with the return of some key starters (Finley and Grant). If the Packers do re-sign James Jones, Rodgers has one of the best receiving cores in the entire NFL. That is dangerous.

'10 stats- 3,274 yards, 23 TD/16 INT

2. Chicago Bears- The Bears (as well as the Vikings and Lions) can be placed anywhere from 2-4 because I see them all as being pretty leveled out. However, Cutler is a pretty decent quarterback and he might enter the 2011 NFL season with a chip on his should (one that he placed there himself, in my opinion). Cutler is only a decent quarterback because he isn't surrounded by elite players. If he had time to throw the football and a true #1 receiver, you'd instantly see better results from him. With the addition of Gabe Carimi to left tackle, Cutler has backside protection now.

'10 stats: 3,377 yards, 14 TD/15 INT

3. Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings were going to be last, until yesterday's news. With the addition of veteran quarterback, Donovan McNabb, the Vikings become slightly better at the quarterback position. Though some think Donovan McNabb is washed up and done, I disagree. Not only does he add slight value on the field but he will be a sponge for the rookie quarterbacks that the Vikings have (Ponder, Bomar, and Webb). Hopefully McNabb still has some mobility left because the offensive line of the Vikings won't help him.

'10 stats: 535 yards, 6 TD/1 INT

4. Detroit Lions- The Lions can thank Matthew Stafford and his health for the last place standing. In two seasons, Stafford has only played 13 games. After Stafford, there isn't that great of a back-up in Shaun Hill and rookie, Zac Robinson. If Stafford stays healthy for an entire season, the Lions become an even scarier team.