Cedric Benson, RB2 the rest of the way.

[Sex Panther]

As an avid Bears fan, I really have a hard time typing this...

But Cedric Benson is going to put up quality RB2 numbers from here or out.

Largely forgotten and labeled a bust after his disastorus Bears career, Benson has become a load back in Cincy.

Dating back to last year, in his last 5 games, Cedric has carried the ball 129 times for 575 yards (4.5 YPC) and 3 TD's, he's even managed 7 catches over that time span for another 56 yards (8 YPC) - that's per game average of 126.2 total YPG, an amazing 27.2 touches per game, and .6 TD per game - 5 game strecth average of 16.2 FFPPG - those are RB1, boderline stud numbers.

In that span, he's gashed Cleveland for 171 on the ground, KC for 111 on the ground (a score and 19 on 2 catches), and GB for 141 on the ground.

This past week he ran hard against the vaunted Steeler D (sans Troy P.) leading the Bengals to a suprising come from behind win vs a divisional rival.

The rest of his schedule looks mighty juicy most weeks:

WK 4 @ CLE - cake walk
WK 5 @ BALT - tough
WK 6 vs HOU - cake walk
WK 7 vs CHI - mediocre (I think he gashes his former team personally)
WK 8 BYE
WK 9 vs BALT - tough
WK 10 @ PIT - tough
WK 11 @ OAK - cake walk
WK 12 vs CLE - cake walk
WK 13 vs DET - cake walk
WK 14 @ MIN - tough
WK 15 @ SD - TBD, looking like this is leaning more to cake walk than tough
WK 16 vs KC - cake walk

WIth Palmer and the passing game rounding into form, and what appears to be a very good defense keeping games close, Cedric is going to get his, I wouldn't be suprised if he finishes w/ 350+ carries in 09. 1200 yards & 10 TD is definately not out of the question.

[2ksports]

Yeah, it's so wierd I've yet to see him be played in any of my leagues, but he's been the best back on the fantasy teams he's on.

[Niner Memories]

I said somewhere on this site that I would start him every week if he had a good game against PIT.

I sat him against GB and PIT and it has cost me points both times.

[Kensat30]

RB2?

Looks more like a RB1 to me.

[SameSongNDance]

His drunk sailing exploits seem to be a thing of the past...good man.

[kickureface]

my strat is to hope he tanks wk 6 and target him his wk7 bye. one of the owners in a league is a baltimore fan and i have rice . hopefully rice or rice+GB can get it done. if not, i hope he tanks wk 8 or 9 too so i can try again.

[Sex Panther]

my strat is to hope he tanks wk 6 and target him his wk7 bye. one of the owners in a league is a baltimore fan and i have rice . hopefully rice or rice+GB can get it done. if not, i hope he tanks wk 8 or 9 too so i can try again.

You're a couple weeks off - Week 6 he's got Houston, Week 7 the Bears - I think he put's up top 5 RB numbers each week.

Week 8 is his BYE.

Week 5 he's got Baltimore - so that's a pretty decent chance of tanking.

Weeks 9 & 10 he's got Baltimore & Pittsburgh back to back - so there's an oppurtunity for some tankage.

Week 9 is Nov. 8th, week 10 is Nov. 15 - make sure to check the trade deadlines in your league.

Personally, I'm working on acquiring him this week - RB heavy owner (Jacobs, Portis, FWP, Buckhalter, Benson, R. Williams, and S. Greene on his roster) in dire need of WR help (Housh, Royal, Breaston are the only WR on his roster), I'm hoping S. Smith (NYG) is enough to pry him away...

[SameSongNDance]

and he didn't practice today becuase of a "knee" injury. Some people are saying he just took the day off to go drunk sailing...

[scottaa1]

In a league where I had Forte and Portis as starters, I've already benched Portis for McGahee - hey he's getting points - and I've been seriously considering benching Forte for Benson until Forte either steps it up or the bottom falls out on Benson.

[CBMGreatOne]

RB2?

Looks more like a RB1 to me.

I second that. This post was meant to be bullish and complimentary, but it does seem a bit like backhanded praise. Considering he has been a top 5 back in his last 6 regular season games played, I'd say there's a more than decent chance he is for real. I won't overdraft him next year, but I wouldn't even be shocked if his numbers finished up looking a lot like 2008 Michael Turner. That might be a little optimistic, but it is absolutely his upside for this season.