The Facts: According to ESPN.com's Brady Henderson, Carson will hold off first-round pick Rashaad Penny for the starting running back job.

Diehards Line: Henderson went on to explain that while the common assumption has been that Penny will overtake that role after Seattle drafted him 27th overall despite greater needs elsewhere, Carson has easily been the most impressive of Seattle's running backs. He's added about 10 pounds of lean weight and appears to be all the way back from the ankle/leg injury that cut short his promising rookie season. Penny will play as a rookie -- perhaps in a third-down or change-of-pace role -- but Carson looks like the favorite to enter the season as the starter.