RBBC is a nasty four-letter word. For those of you new to the fantasy game, it means Running Back By Committee, and it is a fantasy owner's worst nightmare.  We like feature backs who get the rock 25 times a games, including every carry at the goal line.  Unfortunately, feature backs are becoming harder to find these days.

As we head into August camps, there are a number of unsettled running back situations across the land.  Some situations will ultimately end up being RBBC, while others may produce fantasy stars.  Here is a look at some running back situations to follow this August.


Position Battles: Running Backs

ARKANSAS
The Participants: Ronnie Wingo, Broderick Green, Dennis Johnson, Knile Davis
The Skinny: Michael Smith moves on and leaves plenty of carries for this group of backs. Green played the most in 2009, but it was Wingo that walked out of the spring as the leader. Even when a starter is named, the odds are that Arkansas will once again roll with an RBBC approach again in 2010.
The Leader: Ronnie Wingo

AUBURN
The Participants: Mario Fannin, Onterio McCalebb, Michael Dyer
The Skinny: McCalebb had the most game action in 2009 while Fannin got most of his reps at WR. During the spring Fannin spent his time with the RBs and left the coaches raving about what he brings to the table. Freshman Dyer will show up for fall camp and could become a serious contender for reps.
The Leader: Mario Fannin

BUFFALO
The Participants: Ike Nduka, Brandon Thermilus, Jeffvon Gill, Branden Oliver
The Skinny: When star RB James Starks went down to injury just prior to the ’09 season, fantasy owners made a mad dash to quickly scoop his replacement from the waiver wire.  Nduka and Thermilus shared the load, but neither turned out to be a viable fantasy threat. 2010 brings more uncertainty with a new coaching staff in the mix.  This one has “wait and see” written all over it.
The Leader: Toss up

BYU
The Participants: JJ Di Luigi, Joshua Quezada, Bryan Kariya
The Skinny: Long-time starter Harvey Unga surprisingly withdrew from school this spring and is now in NFL training camp. Di Luigi came out of the spring with a slight lead, but Quezada turned some heads as well. This battle should linger well into fall camp, and maybe bleed into the season.
The Leader: JJ Di Luigi

CENTRAL FLORIDA
The Participants: Brynn Harvey, Jeff Brinson, Jonathan Davis, Brendan Kelly
The Skinny: Harvey was the Knights’ workhorse RB in 2009. During the offseason he blew out his knee leaving a huge void. Davis and Kelly split reps during the spring, and Iowa transfer Brinson enters fall camp as a serious contender. Harvey could make a return by September or October.
The Leader: No current leader

CLEMSON
The Participants: Andre Ellington, Jamie Harper, Roderick McDowell
The Skinny: Both Ellington and Harper had game experience in 2009, but Ellington seems to have had the edge in spring camp. He has a similar skill set to the departed CJ Spiller, while Harper is more of a north and south runner.  There’s no word if one back will be featured or if they will share the load.
The Leader: Andre Ellington

COLORADO STATE
The Participants: Raymond Carter, Leonard Mason, John Mosure
The Skinny:  Mason and Mosure shared the load a year ago, but neither set the world on fire.  Carter arrives from UCLA and may be more talented than both of them.  This has the makings of RBBC early in the season.  Can someone break free from the pack?
The Leader: Toss up right now, but look for Carter to emerge during season

EAST CAROLINA
The Participants: Jonathan Williams, Norman Whitley, Brandon Jackson
The Skinny: Williams enters 2010 with the most game tested experience but the new offensive system looks for a back with the talents that Whitley brings to the table (pass-catching ability). Whitley will need to impress during fall camp to overtake Williams for the starting job.
The Leader: Jonathan Williams

IDAHO
The Participants: Deonte Jackson, Princeton McCarty
The Skinny: DeMaundry Woolridge scored a whopping 18 TDs a year ago.  With his departure, the starting job is up for grabs.  McCarty averaged an impressive 5.9 yards per rush a year ago while finishing second on the team with 680 yards.  Jackson rushed for 387 yards playing the role of RB3.  Whoever wins the job will be running behind a woefully inexperience offensive line.
The Leader: Princeton McCarty

IOWA
The Participants: Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher, Jewel Hampton
The Skinny: With Hampton down to injury, Robinson and Wegher stepped up in 2009 and performed admirably. Now with a year under their belts they will battle Hampton for reps. Hampton brings the most to the table but it’s still yet to be seen if he has the same burst that he showcased back in 2008.
The Leader: Watch August camp closely

KANSAS
The Participants: Toben Opurum, Angus Quigley, Deshaun Sands
The Skinny: Opurum was one of the few bright spots in the 2009 Jayhawk offense. But by the time spring camp ended it was Quigley being listed as the starter, while Opurum was mysteriously left off. Sands might be the most explosive of the group.
The Leader: Angus Quigley

LOUISIANA TECH
The Participants: Lyle Fitte, Lennon Creer, Tyrone Duplessis
The Skinny: Sonny Dykes new offense will require the RBs to be able to catch out of the backfield.  Who does that benefit?  Fitte and Duplessis are smaller jitterbug types (both are 5’8, 185), while Creer is the bigger back (6’1, 205).  Creer , a Tennessee transfer, seemingly has the top pur RB pedigree of the bunch.  Watch the fall camp reports to see who is working with the 1’s.  If a feature back emerges, he will become a fantasy factor.
The Leader: Lennon Creer

LSU
The Participants: Michael Ford, Richard Murphy, Stevan Ridley, Spencer Ware
The Skinny: The spring showcased all of these backs. Ford and Ridley came out of spring camp as the top two candidates for the job and their battle will rage on into fall camp.
The Leader: Michael Ford

MIAMI, FL
The Participants: Graig Cooper, Damien Berry, Lamar Miller, Mike James, Storm Johnson
The Skinny: Cooper was the top RB in 2009, but a nasty knee injury will likely hold him back this fall.  Berry looks to be the cream of the (rest) of the crop. True freshman Storm Johnson could redshirt. Miller might be the best homerun threat.  With so much talent it is likely that we see RBBC in 2010.
The Leader: Damien Berry

MICHIGAN
The Participants: Vincent Smith, Michael Shaw, Fitzgerald Touissant
The Skinny: It’s shocking that RichRod hasn’t been able to produce a quality fantasy RB since arriving at Ann Arbor.  The 5’6 Smith would likely be the favorite for the lead role, but he’s coming off an ACL injury and may not be full speed.  Shaw saw some time last fall, while Touissant is new on the scene.  This situation will likely remain fluid into the first part of the season.
The Leader: Toss up

MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Participants: Robert Elliott, Montrell Connor, Vick Ballard
The Skinny: Miss State will be looking for a new feature back and the spring saw Elliott and Ballard as the front runners. Although a workhorse back is what the coaches desire, its not unheard of that more than one back might work through a rotation.
The Leader: Robert Elliott / Vick Ballard

OHIO STATE
The Participants: Brandon Saine, Daniel Herron, Jamaal Berry
The Skinny: Saine and Herron split duty in 2009 as the primary RBs. Now Berry enters the mix and brings enough talent to keep the coach’s eye on him. Fall camp will be used to see how the production gets divided between these three backs, but odds are that all three guys will contribute this fall.
The Leader: Brandon Saine

SOUTH CAROLINA
The Participants: Marcus Lattimore, Kenny Miles, Brian Maddox, Jarvis Giles
The Skinny: Last fall Miles, Maddox and Giles are shared the load.  Enter Lattimore, who arrives on campus as one of the more heralded recruits in the nation.  Early reports have Lattimore looking as advertised, and he will have a good shot to start the season at the top of the depth chart.
The Leader: Marcus Lattimore

SOUTHERN MISS
The Participants: VJ Floyd, Kendrick Hardy, Desmond Johnson, Tracey Lampley
The Skinny: All four backs entered spring camp in even standing. By the end of spring camp, it looked as those it might be down to Floyd and Hardy. This battle will wage well into fall camp, with Hardy holding a slight lead over Floyd.
The Leader: Kendrick Hardy

STANFORD
The Participants: Stepfan Taylor, Jeremy Stewart, Anthony Wilkerson
The Skinny: Stepfan Taylor was the top back-up in 2009 but was unable to separate himself over the spring. Jeremy Stewart started to make a name for himself and might hold a slight lead heading into fall camp.
The Leader: Jeremy Stewart

TCU
The Participants: Ed Wesley, Matthew Tucker, Aundre Dean, Waymon James
The Skinny: The Frogs had three rushers with more than 100 carries last fall.  Lead guy Joseph Turner departs, leaving his 141 totes up for grabs.  Tucker and Wesley figure to be 1 and 1a, but what order will they be on the depth chart?  And will a third RB emerge to steal some of those carries or will it be a two-dog show this fall?
The Leader: Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker

TEXAS
The Participants: Tre Newton, Fozzy Whittaker, Cody Johnson, Vondrell McGee, Chris Whaley
The Skinny: The coaches will be looking to lean on the running game to help take pressure off their young QB.  Newton is considered to be the top dog for the moment, but he certainly has not locked down the starting gig yet.
The Leader: Tre Newton

TEXAS TECH
The Participants: Baron Batch, Eric Stephens, Harrison Jeffers
The Skinny: Batch was the starter until he suffered a sports hernia during fall camp. While much has been expected of Jeffers, the coaching staff has been referring to the depth chart as Batch-Stephens. Motivational ploy or legit?  Batch will be able to compete once fall camp opens, but will he still be the same player he was before the sports hernia?
The Leader: Baron Batch

TROY
The Participants: DuJuan Harris, Shawn Southward
The Skinny: Harris came into 2009 fall camp as the clear cut starter. Then freshman Southward emerged out of fall camp and forced a split carry situation during the 2009 season. Harris has recovered from the nagging injuries he played through in 2009, and hopes to re-emerge as the starter when fall camp opens.
The Leader: DuJuan Harris

UNLV
The Participants: Channing Trotter, CJ Cox
The Skinny: The new coaching staff is hoping to place a strong emphasis on the running game. Trotter played in all of the 2009 games, but Cox showed great ability during spring camp, and has the slight edge.
The Leader: CJ Cox

USC
The Participants: Allen Bradford, CJ Gable, Curtis McNeal, Dillon Baxter
The Skinny: The spring showcased many of these backs working with the first team offense. Although Bradford had more reps with the 1’s, Gable has seen game action for the past two seasons, and freshman Baxter was a human highlight reel in spring camp.
The Leader: Allen Bradford

UTAH
The Participants : Eddie Wide, Matt Asiata, Sausan Shakerin
The Skinny : Asiata was the starter at the beginning of 2009 before suffering a season ending knee injury. Wide stepped in and became a fantasy stud. Asiata will make his first return to the field in fall camp, and the coaches are liking what they saw from Shakerin during the spring.
The Leader: Eddie Wide