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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
In the early days of fantasy football, there was no such thing as a two-running back system. In those days, you didn't have to worry about running backs carrying the ball inside the 20-yard lines and get spelled for a larger back who can bull rush the last two or three yards for the touchdown. But in today's world, the two-back system gives those starting running backs time to rest, to keep their legs fresh for the entire game and the entire season. So as fantasy football owners, we have to adjust and learn to find which backs are still reliable to own on our teams, despite the time they split with another running back. So for the 2007-08 season, Lansing will tell you who is worth having and who is worth leaving alone.
Julius Jones and Marion Barber:
At the start of the 2006 season, Jones was the outright starter and looked for a breakout season in his third year as a Cowboy. However, rookie Barber came in and stole Jones' glory by scoring 16 touchdowns. The pattern seemed to be that Jones ran the offense into the Red Zone, but Barber was the man who crossed the goal line for the touchdowns. In most 2006 drafts, Jones was picked in the first three rounds and Barber was drafted in the last rounds for handcuffing purposes only. I myself took Barber in the second to last round and reaped the benefits of oft-injured Jones and actually won a fantasy championship with Mr. Barber as a starter. The 2007-08 season will bring little to no difference as Jones, who did run for more than 1,000 yards, will move the Cowboys up and down the field and Barber will take over within 20 yards and put the points on the scoreboard. If you're a yardage league, take Jones, but as most fantasy leagues, touchdowns are the moneymaker, so draft Barber first as he will score 10-15 touchdowns for his/her respective owner.
Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush:
The Saints had Bush fall into their laps in the 2006 draft and use his playmaking ability while still allowing McAllister to run wild on opposing defenses. This two-back duo put up monster stats for the Saints and ran them all the way to the NFC Championship game. McAllister ran for 1,057 yards and scored 10 touchdowns while grabbing 30 receptions. Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, burst onto the NFL scene to rush for 565 yards while scoring six touchdowns, but excelled as a receiver grabbing 88 catches for 742 yards and eight touchdowns. So you may ask Lansing, who do I draft? Well, both are starter capable to help any fantasy team, but it really depends on your scoring system. Point-per-reception leagues are going to draft Bush as their stud, while yardage leagues may opt for McAllister. One thing to keep an eye on is McAllister who has a history of injuries. But Bush has the most upside for fantasy points, so grab him with a late first round or second round pick.
Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew:
I am not too shy to boast about my 2007 fantasy football championship and Jones-Drew was one of those players who carried me to that trophy. Jacksonville's offense is one that revolves around the running game and will use up to three running backs if necessary. Taylor is known for hitting the bench with injuries, so take that into consideration on draft day. In 2006-07, however, Taylor did start 15 games and ran for 1,146 yards, but only ran across the end zone four times.
Jones-Drew was the 5-foot-7-inch quick back who hit pay dirt by scoring 13 rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and one kickoff return for a score. Jones-Drew did average 5.7 yards per carry and is one Taylor injury away from entering elite status. Draft Jones-Drew before Taylor as he will still get the bulk of the touchdowns and is an above average receiver out of the backfield (46 catches in 2006-07).
Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood:
If you have the option, don't put too much stock in either of these running backs as the Michael Vick fiasco is going to hurt this team more than it will help them. Dunn, who is a 10-year vet, is getting on in years, but is still quick and can find the holes.
Norwood produced well coming off the bench for Dunn and averaged 6.4 yard per carry in 99 attempts. But with Vick gone and Joey Harrington starting for an offense with no passing game, defenses are going to bring eight to nine men to the line of scrimmage to force Harrington to beat them through the air, which will limit the production for both backs. If you have to choose, go with Norwood who is young and has huge upside for a starting fantasy back.
Tatum Bell and Kevin Jones:
Now you might be saying, "Lansing, Jones probably won't even see the field in the first few weeks of the season and Bell will be the lone man in the backfield for a while, so is this even a debate." It absolutely is as the fantasy football season is 17 weeks long, so before you go out and draft Bell just because he is playing in Week One, check out these facts first. Although Bell ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2006-07, he only scored two touchdowns, and under the Mike Shanahan running scheme, underachieved and fumbled the rock on too many occasions.
But Jones, before his season ended after a foot surgery, produced monster stats by rushing the ball and catching balls from the pass-first Detroit Lions offense. If you are in desperate need of a running back now, draft Bell.
But in my 2007 fantasy draft, I selected Jones in the later rounds in hopes that in case one of my top tier running backs goes down with an injury, Jones will already be producing and will make me, and hopefully you, look like a fantasy genius.
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