fantasy football, numbers, rankings, NFL, sports“Touchdown” Tommy Vardell. Jerome Bettis. Mike Alstott.

Fantasy owners know these names all too well. They are not the guys toting the rock 20+ times a game. Nor do they regularly churn up 100+ yards of offense (Bettis did more so early in his career; Alstott certainly had his share of big games here and there as well).

Nope. These are the players stealing touchdowns from your fantasy running backs.

While your guy may do all the work to get his team into the redzone, nothing eats at a fantasy owner more than his guy not getting in for six. Even worse, he did not even get a chance after his team moved inside the 20.

With more and more NFL teams moving to a running-back-by-committee approach, there are more touchdown vultures than ever. Sure, it makes the running back pool a little deeper on draft day. But it also lowers the ceiling for some of the bigger names on fantasy cheat sheets.

In no particular order, although the first guy on this list may be the best current touchdown vulture of them all, here are the top 11 touchdown vultures for 2009.

LenDale White, Titans
Stealing touchdowns from: Chris Johnson

Perhaps the best example of everything a touchdown vulture should be, minus the offseason weight loss program.

White is a big boy with an identity crisis. He may feel threatened by the every-down, versatile capability of Chris Johnson, but his straight-ahead, plowing running style is perfectly suited for short-yardage and goal line work.

Much to the chagrin of Johnson’s fantasy owners, White is in line for another double-digit touchdown season.

Shonn Greene, Jets
Stealing touchdowns from: Thomas Jones, Leon Washington

A majority of fantasy experts expect to see Greene steal a fair number of touches from Thomas Jones and Leon Washington this year. Personally, I think Greene is the life-after-Jones plan.

Most rookie running backs do have an immediate impact in the NFL. Just look at last year’s class for a great example of that. If Greene does play a role this year, I doubt he gets the all-important goal line touches over the veteran Jones.

Then again, I could be wrong. Greene is a big back that runs north-south, perfect for goal line duty. Rarely will he lose yardage on a run. He could be a factor late in games when the Jets are trying to pound the rock for the win.

Le’Ron McClain, Ravens
Stealing touchdowns from: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee

McClain was one of the bigger surprises last year. Slated to play full back, he got extensive work in the three-headed monster of a backfield the Ravens employed in 2008.

While it appears the Ravens are grooming Ray Rice to become the team’s No. 1 running back, McClain earned the opportunity to receive more touches this season. Baltimore plans to transition him back to full back, but he could still see plenty of work near the goal line.

Earnest Graham, Buccaneers
Stealing touchdowns from: Derrick Ward, Cadillac Williams

Tampa Bay brought in Giants’ castoff Derrick Ward to become the team’s top running back. Sharing touches with Brandon Jacobs, Ward accumulated 1,409 yards of offense last year (1,025 rushing, 384 receiving) but only two touchdowns.

He may have to share the touchdowns again this year.

Graham, who has one double-digit touchdown season to his credit, is being transitioned to full back this season. But that does not mean he will not touch the football. He has proven to be a capable runner during his tenure with the Bucs and could become something similar to Mike Alstott — though not nearly as legendary — for Tampa Bay.

Tim Hightower, Cardinals
Stealing touchdowns from: Beanie Wells

The Cardinals gave Hightower the opportunity to become the team’s featured back last season, but he never distanced himself from veteran Edgerrin James. One area of the field he did excel, however, was near the goal line.

While James did most of the work between the 20s, Hightower punched the ball in the endzone 10 times. He only averaged 2.8 yards per carry, but that matters little when you only have a few yards to get.

Arizona drafted Beanie Wells to solve its featured back dilemma; However, Wells cannot even stay on the practice field this preseason. Hightower, meanwhile, appears in line to resume his role as the team’s short-yardage and goal line running back, if not more.

Ricky Williams, Dolphins
Stealing touchdowns from: Ronnie Brown

He Who Will Not Go Away, the elder Williams has carved out a niche in Miami — one that many a Ronnie Brown owner, myself included, despises.

Now two years removed from knee surgery with no setbacks, Brown should be able to handle a workhorse-esque role on his own. But the Dolphins continue to give Williams look and he does pretty well with those opportunities. Brown’s ceiling will continue to be limited by Williams’ presence, even if it appears irrational in the eyes of fantasy owners.

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
Stealing touchdowns from: DeAngelo Williams

Good news for DeAngelo Williams’ owners: This might not come to fruition.

Obviously that is bad news for Stewart, who cannot stay on the football field — heck, the practice football field — long enough to steal anything from Williams. JStew continues to battle a bum foot while Williams continues to cement his role as the team’s feature back.

As soon as Stewart gets healthy, he will play; He was drafted in the first round of last year’s draft for a reason. But the Panthers may ease him into a role on the offense and save him for the back half of the season, if necessary.

Sammy Morris, Patriots
Stealing touchdowns from: Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Your Mom

Good luck picking the right running back out of this fantasy quagmire.

The best bet is to grab the guy best near the goal line. Morris was the go-to red zone running back two years ago down the stretch when Tom Brady was throwing 50 touchdown passes. He had some more-than-serviceable fantasy performances that year and could resume his role as the touchdown vulture this year, if he can return to good health.

Michael Bush, Raiders
Stealing touchdowns from: Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas

If you were going to build a perfect goal line running back, Michael Bush might be the mold.

He is big and physical and not afraid to take on the bigger players. A good north-south runner with a knack for the endzone. Bush will be used this season to spell McFadden after Run DMc takes the Raiders down the field.

He definitely is worth a pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

Reggie Bush, Saints
Stealing touchdowns from: Pierre Thomas

I know, right? It does not make any sense. Why in the world do the Saints keep giving Reggie the ball at the goal line?

Well it happens, far too often sometimes for even this Bush fan. While Pierre Thomas is not your typical goal line running back, he certainly appears closer to the mold than Bush. Yet the Saints let Bush try to punch it in from inside the five a frustrating amount of times.

I expect that to change this season. In an effort to keep Bush healthy, look for Thomas, Mike Bell or even fullback Heath Evans to get the touches near the goal line. Thomas will get first crack at securing the all-important job.

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
Stealing touchdowns from: Willie Parker

This is a contract year for Willie Parker, which means two things: 1) Parker is playing for his job and 2) Mendenhall needs to prove that he was worth a 1st-round pick a year ago.

Talk about a battle.

When it comes to running styles, Parker is much better suited between the 20s. He has struggled at times in short yardage situations and that is where Mendenhall can hunker down in the battle for playing time this year and beyond.

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