Widespread Belichick-ification devaluing No. 1 running backs

Bill Belichick has become the Darth Vader to my Han Solo. Yes, I consider myself the good guy, and, yes, I'm ashamed for making a "Star Wars" reference in a sports column.

The Belichick-ification of football has hit new heights this season, and I -- along with many like-minded fantasy football owners -- am paying the price.

Time was, a coach valued his No. 1 running back, cared about his ego and padded his stats. Maybe it's old-school philosophy, but until this year, there was such thing as a franchise back.

Sure, you've still got your LaDainian Tomlinsons and your Joseph Addais, but they are aberrations to an alarming new plague.

And it's spreading.

As a devoted Denver Broncos fan, I long for the days of Terrell Davis. In 1997 and 1998, he was my -- and John Elway's -- messiah. He was fast and quick, strong and elusive. And he was dependable. With the ball inside the 5-yard line, you knew the ball was going to him. First down, second down, third down -- it was TD's TD.

Same went for Emmitt Smith in '95, when he broke the record with 25 touchdowns, 1,773 yards and 84 percent of his teams carries. The rest of the Cowboys had three rushing scores. Same went for Edgerrin James in '99, when as a rookie he had 2,139 total yards and 17 scores, while Indianapolis' other running backs had 85 total yards and no scores.

Consider this season: Midway through, the top five in rushing touchdowns have combined for 28, the top five in receiving 43.

Last year, the top five running backs totaled 85 scores, the receivers 55.

What changed?

Now, thanks to Belichick, a top-tier running back is lucky to get a single goal-line carry. Instead, coaches league-wide are following Belichick's lead, handing the ball to the fullback on a dive or letting a quarterback run the bootleg and waltz into the end zone.

I miss the days of the old-school football minds. The Bill Walshs. The Chuck Nolls. The Mike Ditkas.

Wait.

Didn't Ditka let the "Fridge" score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX?

Sorry, Walter Payton, I guess nobody's immune.

On to the locks of the week:

MONEYMAKERS

Top-tier players who should perform to their value:

• Antonio Gates, San Diego tight end vs. Minnesota: The Vikings will do everything they can to stop Tomlinson, leaving plenty of passing lanes open for Philip Rivers to find Gates and new wideout Chris Chambers. Gates will feast on a secondary that's allowed almost 290 yards per game.

• Larry Johnson, Kansas City running back vs. Green Bay: LJ has had an up-and-down season -- mostly down -- but has picked it up lately. While the Packers have allowed almost 100 yards rushing per game, they've surrendered only two touchdowns on the ground. That ends this week. Expect Johnson to score twice.

• Steve Smith, Carolina wide receiver vs. Tennessee: Like Johnson, Smith has been extremely hot or cold (three monster games, one decent game, three awful games). But teams can't run on the Titans, who have allowed a league-best 64 yards per game on the ground, so the Panthers will have to pass, and Smith is the likely target.

WINGMEN

Midround picks who should feast on favorable matchups:

• Kevin Jones, Detroit running back vs. Denver: Jones appears healthy -- though it could be a mirage -- and lines up against an awful Denver rush defense (allowing a league-worst 166 yards). Oh, Mike Shanahan, so that's what happens when you overhaul an entire defensive line for the second time in three years. Gotcha.

• Lee Evans, Buffalo wide receiver vs. Cincinnati: Count on me choosing at least one guy from whoever the Bengals play every week. Evans gets the nod this week, with slingin' J.P. Losman back and his confidence renewed.

• Donald Driver, Green Bay wide receiver vs. Kansas City: Driver had a steady but not spectacular start, but his performance has faltered with the emergence of Greg Jennings. Driver gets some mojo back against the Chiefs.

BANK-BREAKERS

Top-tier guys who won't perform up to their value:

• Frank Gore, San Francisco running back vs. Atlanta: Gore had three touchdowns in the first two weeks but hasn't reached the end zone since then. Worse, his carries have dwindled. Last year, he averaged 19 rushes a game (and caught 61 passes). In seven games this season, the numbers have dipped to 15.7 attempts (12 last week) and 15 catches.

• Thomas Jones, New York running back vs. Washington: What's worse: That TJ can't find the end zone, or that he can't do it despite almost 20 carries per game?

• Willis McGahee, Baltimore running back vs. Pittsburgh: McGahee's yardage appears fine, but coach Brian Billick's nonuse of McGahee in short-yardage situations scares me. I'm running away from Willis.

QUICK PICK SIX

The best bets for the week, based on value:

Gates; QB Matt Hasselbeck (vs. Cleveland); Evans; RB LaMont Jordan (vs. Houston); WR Braylon Edwards (vs. Seattle); RB Selvin Young (vs. Detroit).

Jon Gold is a Review-Journal sportswriter with 10 fantasy football teams. His column is published Friday. He can be reached at jgold@reviewjournal.com.