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RB Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

HT: 5-9, WT: 215, Born: 1-15-1980, College: Florida, Drafted: ---

2009 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 29th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: R Rice (99), R Mendenhall (100), Earnest Graham (101), D Mason (102), T Ginn (103)
Position: R Rice (99-RB38), R Mendenhall (100-RB39), Earnest Graham (101 - RB40), T Hightower (104-RB41), L McClain (107-RB42)
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Best Case

Earnest Graham was slowed by an ankle ligament injury last year, but all signs point to him being fully healed. Graham is only one year removed from being the 11th ranked fantasy RB and could find himself as a major contributor in the Buccaneers running game, teaming with Derrick Ward to give the Bucs a solid one-two punch.

Worst Case

Graham fell flat in his attempt to assure that his 10-touchdown season in 2007 was not a fluke. Last year, it was Warrick Dunn who took over the rushing duties for Tampa Bay, and this year it could be Derrick Ward filling that role. It's very possible that Graham could once again see his role diminished due to a quicker, more agile RB.

Outlook

On paper, the 2009 Buccaneers running game looks to be a RBBC approach. Both Graham and Ward are capable of being heavily involved in the passing game, but Ward appears to have more of an edge due to his 1000-yard rushing performance last year. Expect Graham to occupy a complementary role in the offense this year, but his presence could still garner significant touches.

Relevant Articles

2009 Schedule

2008 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Graham had success running the ball against the Saints, rushing ten times for 91 yards, but unfortunately for him and the Buccaneers, they turned to more of an aerial attack and couldn't translate that success into big yardage totals. At the same time, Graham split carries with Warrick Dunn nearly 50/50, with Dunn chipping in with nine rushes. Graham was targeted three times in the passing game, catching all three for a total of 27 yards.

Week 2 - For the second week in a row, Earnest Graham looked like the best offensive player on the Tampa Bay roster. Graham rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries and caught one pass for 12 yards in the passing game. While he split carries with Warrick Dunn, Graham is still the clear starter and the guy you want in the Buccaneers backfield. Graham put the game away for Tampa Bay on a 68 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter after Atlanta cut the deficit to eight points that put the Buccaneers up 24-9. Graham also had an eight yard touchdown run nullified for a holding penalty.

Week 3 - Earnest Graham looked like he didn't know what to do with the ball. He was stuffed on many plays with what looked like little effort and lack of vision. There were times that other spots opened up along the line but Graham could not get there. Warrick Dunn seemed to have no problem shifting and getting a few yards when nothing was there. However, that was not the case for Graham.

Week 4 - Held in check during the first half, Graham accumulated 103 of his 111 yards over the final two quarters of the game. His long run of 47 yards came as Tampa Bay was attempting to run out the clock late in the fourth quarter and he just missed a touchdown on the play after he was pushed out of bounds near the one yard line. On the very next play, Graham scored his second rushing touchdown of the year when he plunged into the end zone from one yard out.

Week 5 - Graham continued to have success running the ball for Tampa Bay, as he carried the ball ten times for 59 yards, a 5.9 ypc average, and added five receptions for 21 yards on six targets in the passing game. Unfortunately for Graham and his owners, he once again split time with Warrick Dunn, who finished with one more carry than Graham.

Week 6 - With Tampa Bay already missing starting FB B.J. Askew and an early injury to backup Byron Storer, Graham was forced to shift to full back for most of the game. As a result, he carried the ball just five times for 11 yards, but he was able to get in the end zone from one yard out in the fourth quarter. On the scoring play, Graham lined up at fullback with Dunn deep in the backfield and took the handoff up the middle for the score. Graham was also targeted three times in the passing game where he came down with two receptions for 47 yards.

Week 7 - Graham seemed to be the favored back in Tampa Bay. He was not always featured but he was utilized in different ways. He was in as a fullback, split back, single-back, etc. He slipped out of the backfield for a couple of short passes netting him 13 yards.

Week 8 - Graham was the workhorse of the Buccaneers offense. He played the majority of the game from the halfback position, but was moved to fullback when the offense was faced with short yardage situations. Rarely coming out of the game for a breather, he showed good stamina as he gained half of his total yardage during the final 20 minutes of the game. He showed quickness and toughness as he did not go down on first contact; it usually took a host of defenders to bring him down. Called upon five times when the Bucs needed to gain one yard for the first down, he was successful on three of the carries.

Week 9 - Graham led the Buccaneers with 19 rushes for 62 yards on the ground and added another five receptions for 29 yards in the passing game. He also lost two fumbles that cost Tampa Bay and was not on the field much in the overtime. Graham did throw a three yard touchdown pass on a trick play where he connected with TE Alex Smith.

Week 11 - Graham had just one rush for three yards before he left the game early in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He came into the game with a sore knee, but had his leg and ankle rolled on while being tackled on his only carry and did not return.