2006 was a special, special year in Fantasy Football. Any discussion started and ended with the performance of Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who broke the NFL record for most touchdowns in a season with 31, not including his two touchdown passes. But 2007 is a new year. With thousands of leagues starting to plan for their draft, does LT warrant the top pick again? Or will running backs like Larry Johnson and Frank Gore close the gap?

If you were picking in the top three of last year’s draft, you were damn near guaranteed to end up with either LT, Larry Johnson, or Shaun Alexander. This year, the top three may be entirely different. Certainly, Tomlinson will be there. But will his numbers go anywhere but down in ‘07? With Philip Rivers sure to make strides under new coach Norv Turner, Tomlinson won’t be asked to do as much this year, which wasn’t the case in 2006.

In Fantasy Football, running backs are king. It’s just a matter of finding the right guys to do the job. Our goal is to help you find the next Frank Gore or Maurice Jones-Drew, rather than the next Reuben Droughns. Without further ado, here’s my top five fantasy players for 2007.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson: I expect LT’s numbers to be lower this year than last. However, there’s little doubt who the best player in the league is. LT’s 31 touchdowns could fall to 20-25, which will still likely be tops in the league. He’s the best player on, in my opinion, the best team in football. If Philip Rivers improves under quarterback guru Norv Turner, LT will have even more room to run behind the best offensive line in football.

2. Larry Johnson: I’ll be honest, I’m a little worried about LJ in 2007. He’s currently holding out for a new contract on a team that looks like they’re on the decline. Who’s going to throw the ball in Kansas City? If Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle can’t get the job done, the pressure will be on Larry Johnson. Herm Edwards came close to killing LJ last year, giving him an NFL record 416 carries. LJ should put up his numbers. Let’s just hope he doesn’t burn out.

3. Steven Jackson: What a beast. With Mike Martz finally out of the picture last year, new coach Scott Linehan handed Jackson the keys to the Rams’ offense. He responded by setting career highs in carries, yards and touchdowns. He also led all running backs with 90 catches. Jackson should hold up well in a relatively weak NFC West. He’s still flying under the radar a little bit so you may be able to gnab him with the 5th or 6th overall pick.

4. Peyton Manning: What else can you say about the guy? For the first time in his career, Manning threw less than ten interceptions in a season. He also got the monkey off his back, beating the Bears and winning his first Super Bowl championship. The Colts’ defense lost several key contributers, meaning the Colts should find themselves in plenty of shootouts. The two-back system is no more, which should change the Colts offensive philosophy as well. You can never, ever go wrong with Peyton Manning. Just make sure you select P. Manning and not E. Manning.

5. Brian Westbrook: Maybe, just maybe, Andy Reid finally gets it. After Donovan McNabb was injured last year, Westbrook finally got the attention (and touches) he’s deserving of. He responded by compiling nearly 2,000 total yards and 12 touchdowns. Westbrook is one of the league’s most underrated talents, a do-it-all weapon in the backfield. If the Eagles want to be Super Bowl contenders, Westbrook needs more than the 240 carries he got last year.

Honorable Mentions
Frank Gore
Shaun Alexander
Willie Parker
Chad Johnson
Tom Brady
Michael Vick