Baltimore's Willis McGahee is not a reliable fantasy running back. (G.Newman Lowrance / NFL.com)

Ravens RB Willis McGahee has been one of the most frustrating fantasy options in recent memory, so forgive my trepidation when he told the Baltimore Sun that he’s completely healthy and ready to challenge Ray Rice for the No. 1 spot in Baltimore.

“I’m pretty sure Ray is going to be the guy when we start out, but it’s training camp,” said McGahee. “It’s a long season. No pressure. Like I say, it’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.”

He’s pretty sure that Ray is going to start? McGahee knows that his coach is John Harbaugh, right? The guy who rotated his running backs the same way that Paris Hilton rotates, uh, handbags. So even if McGahee didn’t have health isssues, there is still the matter of Harbaugh’s single-handed attempt to kill fantasy football with his befuddling running back rotation.

McGahee is No. 36 on NFL.com’s running back list (Rice is No. 41). Still, look for McGahee later in drafts, around the ninth or tenth round. Yeah, sometimes you should know better, but you cannot resist.

Some other running back news today:

• Jets coach Rex Ryan expects RBs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to be at the start of Jets’ training camp. Avoid any running back who sits out training camp. Remember what happened to Steven Jackson last year? Larry Johnson before that? If Jones or Washington miss camp, keep an eye on rookie RB Shonn Greene. Ah hell, keep an eye on Greene anyway.

• The Washington Times is reporting that Clinton Portis will get less carries in Washington this season. Portis could be a big risk this season and I would avoid him. But hey, I like RB LaDainian Tomlinson, so I’m one to talk. The one reason that really scares me is QB Jason Campbell. Don’t tell Michael Fabiano, but you have to play your gut in fantasy sometimes. Mine says avoid Portis.

• The Contra Costa Times reports that Darren McFadden will be the starter with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush battling it out for the No. 2 spot. Great news if McFadden can hang on to that top spot. But not if JaMarcus Russell is going to be the starting quarterback. Watch, Russell will start the season at quarterback, the team will go like 2-10 in the first 12 games. Jeff Garcia will become the stater and the team will finish 5-11. But I love McFadden is Garcia is selected as the starter in Oakland. That might be the real camp battle to watch in Oakland.

– Adam Rank

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