By Rob Shaw

SPORTSNET.CA

Call your friends and set a date; it's time to prepare for your fantasy football drafts. This season may prove to be a bit more difficult than most. Last year's running backs were a great disappointment as Larry Johnson, Steven Jackson and Joseph Addai battled injuries, Shaun Alexander and Frank Gore struggled and the injury-prone Brian Westbrook shined brightest. To help you sort out the running back rankings, here's your top 10 list:

1) LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, CHARGERS

He's the top of the class because of his ability to score touchdowns every which way. In addition, he has a Peyton Manning-like ability to avoid injuries. Even last season, it wasn't until the playoffs, after most fantasy leagues concluded, before he was sidelined with an injury. While some fretful fantasy managers might note that his seven seasons of sustained success may be too good to be true, particularly after all the injuries to his contemporaries last season, Tomlinson enters training camp healthy and easily as the first pick off the board in fantasy leagues. In addition, the Chargers clearly believe in Tomlinson, as they allowed solid back-up Michael Turner to sign elsewhere this off-season.

2) BRIAN WESTBROOK, EAGLES

He is not the most popular running back because of his quiet nature, but Brian Westbrook has evolved as the second best running back over the past two seasons. Despite having never played a full 16-game schedule in any of his six seasons in the NFL, Westbrook has proven to be the best receiving tailback in the NFL. Last season, Westbrook racked up seven touchdowns and 1,333 yards on the ground, while catching a career-high 90 passes for 771 yards and an additional five touchdowns. In points per reception fantasy leagues, Westbrook shines brightest. With a weak receiving corps, you can expect the Eagles to hit the ground hard once again this season.

3) JOSEPH ADDAI, COLTS

From Edgerrin James to Joseph Addai, Indianapolis has proven to be fertile ground for high-impact running backs. In his second season, Addai battled some injuries, yet still managed to contribute with greater than 1,400 total yards as well as 15 total touchdowns. At the age of 25, Addai is very much in his prime, and should surpass last season's impressive numbers if he can keep his health in tact.

4) STEVEN JACKSON, RAMS

One of the many star running backs to suffer an injury-plagued season, Jackson maintains most of his value as he did return for the second half of last season with 728 rushing yards and an additional 205 yards receiving. While the touchdowns were a bit too rare (he scored six all season), with a healthy offensive line back for the upcoming season, you can expect better numbers all around.

5) ADRIAN PETERSON, VIKINGS

Fresh off one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NFL history, Adrian Peterson is a popular second pick in most fantasy football drafts. I'd prefer to play this hand a little more conservative, considering Peterson's injury-prone past (he missed two games last season), as well as some issues with consistency. While Peterson attracted national attention with his two contests with greater than 200-yards rushing and his four multiple touchdown games, fantasy managers should also note that Peterson was sub-100 yards in eight contests and failed to find the end zone in seven games. While the big performances are nice, I'd prefer to see some consistency before drafting him ahead of Westbrook, Addai, and even Steven Jackson.

6) LARRY JOHNSON, CHIEFS

From a popular second pick overall, Larry Johnson falls out of the top five thanks to a poor off-season for the Chiefs, with many pundits picking them to finish dead last in their division. On that note, the protection may be a bit weak for Johnson, as the Chiefs don't have a passing game to divert any attention. In addition, Johnson has not played in an NFL game since November 4, and the numbers were not pretty. Johnson averaged a career low 3.5 rushing yards per carry last season, a full yard less than his career average. While the rewards may be high to draft Johnson, there is also plenty of risk involved. Ideally, fantasy managers want to minimize risk when they make their first-round selections.

7) MARION BARBER, COWBOYS

The backfield will belong to Marion Barber this season, after the Cowboys jettisoned Julius Jones during the off-season. Barber has been a fantasy stud over the past two years, though he has never been handed the full reigns of the running game. A touchdown magnet, Barber has 28 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. Ultimately, the former fourth-round pick out of Minnesota has also never approached as many as 1,000 rushing yards in a season, so this will be something new for the Cowboys this upcoming season. On a positive note, Barber has never lost a fumble in his NFL career.

8) FRANK GORE, 49ERS

A popular first-round pick, Frank Gore had a disappointing season in 2007. After establishing career highs in 2006, with a sensational 1,695 rushing yards and a solid 485 receiving yards, Gore managed just 1,102 rushing yards to complement 436 receiving yards last season. The cause for the optimism is the addition of Mike Martz for the passing attack. Though Kevin Jones' former fantasy managers remember Martz refusing to grant the running game many carries in Detroit, the 49ers offensive coordinator understands that the rush attack is the strength of this team. He simply hopes to have a pass attack to complement the running game and divert some attention from Gore. Don't forget Marshal Faulk did just fine under the play-calling of Martz in St. Louis.

9) CLINTON PORTIS, REDSKINS

Mr. Personalities, Clinton Portis, enjoyed a fine bounce back campaign in 2007. After missing eight games the previous season, Portis played every game last year, compiling 1,262 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. With a young quarterback at the helm, Portis has even improved his receiving game, bringing in a career-high 47 receptions for 389 yards. The one weakness in Portis' game is a bad case of butterfingers, having fumbled away five plays last season. Fortunately, Portis' strengths easily outweigh his weaknesses.

10) JAMAL LEWIS, BROWNS

While the majority of the attention went to the passing game for the Browns last season, Jamal Lewis enjoyed a sensational first season in Cleveland. The veteran running back ran for more than 1,300 yards for the first time since 2003. Lewis also received the ball for the majority of the team's goal-line opportunities, leading to 11 total touchdowns. At the age of 29, Lewis has accumulated at least 900 rushing yards in each of the past seven seasons, making him a safe pick in the early rounds.