Updated- Off The Radar RB's Who Could Make Noise in 2009

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Every season someone surprises us that we wrote off as a fantasy has been. Last season after getting dumped by the Chicago Bears in favor of rookie Matt Forte, Cedric Benson was picked up by Cincinnati and helped many fantasy teams down the stretch. Here are five guys I think could surprise the league this year with unexpected production. One already has a job and you can bet at least one or two of the others will find work in 2009 due to injury or need.

Kevin Jones – Jones is an easier case to make than the others because he already has a gig as Matt Forte’s back up in Chicago. Jones has had a career mired in injury since his 2004 rookie season, but has soft hands and all the tools to be a number one running back. Here’s why he could make his mark this season. Forte in entering his sophomore year having carried the team on his back in 2008. The team will look to get Jones more touches and rest Forte more. On top of that Jones is finally healthy, and ironically it could be someone else’s injury that propels him into fantasy gold. He is not a definitive handcuff to Forte unless you’re in a very deep league or your gut tells you Forte is due for injury. But keep him on your watch list. He’s looked great so far this summer, and may surprise a lot of people.

Ahman Green, FA – Green, a former four time Pro Bowler went from stud RB in Green Bay to fumbling through a couple of injury-marred seasons for the Houston Texans. He was released back in February, when it became clear rookie Steve Slaton would be their permanent go to running back. Green found himself in St. Louis this week auditioning for a job to back up 2007 Pro Bowler, Steven Jackson who has had an injury-plagued career so far. The Rams back up options are Antonio Pittman, Samkon Gado and Kenneth Darby; none of which will strike fear into opposing defenses. This could be a good move both for the Rams and Green, if they take a flier on him.

Edgerrin James, FA – Edge swears he still has gas in the tank, and he’s just waiting for someone to let him show he’s still got the ability to go with the drive. According to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, his client is “in great shape” and “we expect his market to develop soon.” Soon being code for an injury somewhere. UPDATE: Well it happened, a set of old bones got a deal to step back into the limelight one more time. The Edge signed with Seattle (not Warrick Dunn as thought). This may mean T.J. Duckett is on his way out. I’m not sure how James helps the team much, but he’s got 7 more 1000+ rushing seasons under his belt than Julius Jones has.

Shaun Alexander, FA – Alexander was a quiet pick-up for the Washington Redskins last season, where he played sparingly in a few games to fill in for back-up RB, Ladell Betts. He had only 11 carries in four games before his release. When asked recently by Matt Crossman at Sporting News NFL if he were retired, Alexander responded, “I’m training like I’m going to come into some team and take over. I’m not retired. I feel like I’ve got a handful of good years left. I’m going to train like that. There have been some teams we’ve had talks with. This is the business nature of football. You always feel like it’s a young man’s game. … I’m really excited, because I think some team is going to get a really good football player.” Alexander is only 31 and still has a lot to prove after his dismissal by Seattle, who have yet to find a quality replacement for their former MVP. He merely needs an opportunity.

Warrick Dunn, FA – Speaking of the Seahawks, they are one of two teams (the other being the Philadelphia Eagles) who have reached out to Dunn. Julius Jones has not grasped his second opportunity to be the featured back since last season’s arrival in the Pacific Northwest, and back-up T.J. Duckett is nothing more than a move-the-pile, goal line back. A slot here could prove to be a fantasy windfall for opportune owners who grab him at the right time. I see Philly as less of an opportunity largely due to the presence of rookie LeSean McCoy. But at least teams are contacting Dunn and that means he could have a fantasy impact somewhere.

Of these five, Jones, Dunn and Green have the most viable chance to surprise in 2009, but keep all of them on your radar. At least one of them is likely to get a chance at fantasy value sometime, somewhere this season.

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