If the season opened today the Redskins starter would be: RB Clinton Portis, and this has never been in doubt. Coming off of a Pro Bowl season in which he finished fourth in the NFL with 1,487 yards rushing, Portis was the most valuable member of the offense -- especially in the first half of the year, when he fueled the Redskins' run to a 6-2 record.
But amid recent reports that he has had flare ups with Redskins Coach Jim Zorn, there are questions about whether that will affect the star back's role. Portis denied any friction, but he publicly criticized Zorn last season and it would not be surprising if this storyline reappeared at some point in 2009-10.