Ryan Torain

Drafted by the Broncos in 2008, Torain entered last season having appeared in just two NFL games due to his inability to stay healthy. He reunited with Mike Shanahan last year in Washington and finally proved his on-field worth, totaling 751 yards with five touchdowns over eight starts. While the injuries have taken a toll on Torain’s explosiveness and he struggles in pass protection, his one-cut-and-go style is perfect for Shanahan’s scheme, and his 32 total forced missed tackles on only 182 touches was impressive. Torain is still a major health risk, so the Redskins spent two draft picks on running backs, including Roy Helu, who’s a threat to start right away. Torain is not to be forgotten, but it may again take injuries (his own not included) for him to be a factor again.

Depth at running back. He is familiar with the offensive system but will be competing with more established veterans such as Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker.

Torain has been the definition of injury prone throughout his time in the NFL and at Arizona State. While he showed a brief flash of greatness in 2008, injuries ultimately finished his season after only 15 carries. While he was a favorite (at least talent-wise) of former head coach Mike Shanahan, it is unclear what new head coach Josh McDaniels thinks of him. Regardless of that, Torain figures to have plenty of competition for carries from Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan, which will most likely keep him from being a viable fantasy option. However, after last season's injury fiasco in Denver, a spot at the top of the depth chart is just a few hamstring tweaks away.

Torain has a nice combination of size, strength, and quickness, and he's also an effective receiver, but a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot ended his 2007 season at Arizona State prematurely. And it wasn't the first time a health issue derailed his season. The Broncos drafted Torrain in the fifth-round, but he was highly touted entering his senior year, so he likely would have been selected a lot higher if not for the injuries. Coach Mike Shanahan believes Torain has "first-round ability," and he fits Denver's one-cut system perfectly. The Broncos' ground game always produces, and the team added talented left tackle Ryan Clady in the draft as well, but it hasn't had a true workhorse since Clinton Portis left in 2003. Shanahan doesn't consider Selvin Young or Andre Hall every-down backs, and Travis Henry was cut. There will be safer picks than a relatively unknown rookie like Torain, but because he's in Denver with a legitimate path to extensive playing time, few will have his upside. He's expected to be fully healthy in time for the season.