Highest Ranking: #4 by Dave Shick
Edgerrin James led the NFL in rushing during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. James rushed for 662 yards and three TDs on 151 carries this past season before sustaining a knee injury in the sixth game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a 100+ yards per game pace, again.

I completely understand why folks shy away from him. ACL injuries are a scary thing, but I have yet to see anything that worries me with regard to his rehabilitation. Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy said during the team's mini-camp last week at the Union Federal Football Center that he has spoken with James recently, and that his rehabilitation is progressing on or ahead of schedule.

If James is healthy, will Dominic Rhodes pirate carries away from him? I vote no. Preseason (exhibition?) football should tell us a lot with regard to James. His rankings will be all over the board until we actually see him in action again.

Lowest Ranking: #12 by Clayton Gray
Let's go over the reasons to like James this year:

1. Was a stud of studs in 1999 and 2000. Surely he'll return to form this year.
   Rebuttal: Give me a list of the RBs (or any other position for that matter) who had ACL surgery and (in the following season) returned to their previous level of performance. Captain Hook could count them. Don't bring the argument that James is a different kind of performer. Just a few short seasons ago, Terrell Davis was a different kind of performer returning from an ACL injury. This just in.....he's still returning. Players returning from ACL surgery really need a full season to be at their best.
2. He's on/ahead (depending upon the source) of schedule.
   Rebuttal: When was the last time a coach or agent referred to a star player being behind schedule? James can play all the flag football and pickup basketball he wants (and look healthy doing it), but on September 8th (side note: hello Ozzfest in Dallas) in Jacksonville it's full contact time. Like any other human, James will be conscience of that knee. It will affect his performance.
3. The Colts offense is too good for James to fail.
   Rebuttal: This offense is excellent. In fact, as Dominic Rhodes showed last season, it's almost a plug-and-play offense at RB. Rhodes can carry load. The Colts knows this and won't push James back too quickly. Don't be surprised when Rhodes gets every few series to himself (especially early in the season). If this approach works early, look for more of the same all season.

In closing, Edgerrin James is one guy that will not find his way on any of my rosters. Ranking him at #12 ensures that some other GM will take the risk.