Kolby Smith

Smith is in a race to be ready for training camp after suffering a ruptured patella tendon in his knee during Week 9 of the 2008 season. If he recovers in time, he’ll compete with Jamaal Charles to be the backup behind starter Larry Johnson, although the addition of rookie Javarris Williams also poses a threat to his playing time. Charles is the best handcuff for Johnson right now, and Smith should only come off the board in the late rounds of very deep leagues.

Larry Johnson has no clear-cut handcuff this season, leaving owners to choose between Smith and rookie Jamaal Charles. Smith was an adequate fill-in for an injured Johnson last year, but Charles’ breakaway speed and elusiveness may give him an edge. If your draft is later you’ll be able to wait and see how the carries shake out in training camp, but if you don’t have that luxury, you may want to go with the higher-upside play and take a stab at Charles.

Smith will be part of a three-man mix including Michael Bennett and Derrick Ross to be Larry Johnson's top backup. Bennett is the best option if you're looking for Johnson insurance, but he presents a health risk, and Smith would certainly be waiting in the wings if Bennett couldn't handle the load.