Category Archives: Running Backs

Fantasy Playoffs League Rankings for Wild Card Weekend

Posted on by
Reply

The NFL Playoffs are here and like many, I am playing in a playoffs fantasy league.

 

Funny to think that 14 years ago I had to create one from my own imagination as no sites offered anything like it. I also had to reach into the way back machine and use pencils and paper to keep track of the team, their players, their stats, and add up the results by hand.

 

My, how technology has changed things since then!

 

But everyone is looking for players rankings, and depending on the type of league you play in, the rankings can vary. If you play in one where each round is a brand new slate, it makes life easier. If you’re in the type of league where you have to choose with an eye on who is likely to be in the Super Bowl, it changes the whole fantasy football draft dynamic.

 

For those in the latter types of league, the fantasy football draft analyzer software at FantasyFootballStarters.com has projected out each round of the playoffs thru the Super Bowl with the projected stats and rankings of each player at each position. Using its game prediction algorithm I have also written a commentary of the Power Analyzer Playoffs and Super Bowl predictions for each game. I was kind of surprised at the results the Analyzer had come to.

 

For those who prefer a little more human intuitiveness, I also have my own Super Bowl 46 and playoffs predictions posted at FFS as well. Even though they are my own predictions, I am a little surprised at who I picked, too. Usually Championships are won by playing great defense. But I see a matchup between two offensive juggernauts.

 

In my most recent fantasy football blogs post, I go over the Wild Card Weekend matchups and provide some extra commentary about each matchup. There’s a lot of uncertainty in the first round as every matchup finds itself having valid arguments to be made for either side winning each game.

 

As for fantasy playoffs player rankings for wild card weekend, here’s what our fantasy football lineup analyzer has players ranked based on a simple standard scoring system:

 

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees will also be a great playoffs league fantasy QB!

1) Drew Brees

2) Matt Ryan

3) Matt Stafford

4) Eli Manning

5) T.J. Yates

6) Ben Roethlisberger

7) Andy Dalton

8) Tim Tebow

 

No surprises here. The NFC teams are all stacked with great QB’s from a fantasy perspective while the AFC teams each have question marks. Kind of surprising Yates is the top AFC QB but he did have 300 yards and 2 TD’s in a week 14 matchup against the Bengals during the regular season.

 

Running Backs

1) Darren Sproles

2) Arian Foster

3) Ahmad Bradshaw

4) Isaac Redman

5) Kevin Smith

6) Michael Turner

7) Pierre Thomas

8) Willis McGahee

9) Brandon Jacobs

10) Cedric Benson

 

Sproles is a boom or bust #1 RB this week. Foster is a safer choice but he struggled for only 41 yards against the Bengals earlier in the year. Surprising Bradshaw is so high considering the Falcons run defense was top 10 this season. Redman’s a bit of a wild card but if Pittsburgh’s protecting a lead I can see it.

 

Wide Receivers

1) Marques Colston

2) Roddy White

3) Julio Jones

4) Calvin Johnson

5) Victor Cruz

6) Robert Meachem

7) Hakeem Nicks

8) Antonio Brown

9) Andre Johnson

10) Mike Wallace

 

Both Falcons WR’s making it in the top 3 isn’t surprising considering how poorly the Giants secondary has played and how hot both guys have been recently. Meachem at 6th is a boom or bust type of pick, but it helps him that Lance Moore isn’t expected to play. A little surprised A.J. Green didn’t crack the top 10 but his production since his shoulder injury has been down, Dalton’s play has cooled off, and the Texans are a top 5 pass defense.

 

Tight Ends

1) Jimmy Graham

2) Brandon Pettigrew

3) Tony Gonzalez

4) Jermaine Gresham

5) Jake Ballard

6) Joel Dreessen

7) Tony Scheffler

8) Owen Daniels

9) Travis Beckum

10) Heath Miller

 

No argument from me here at any spot. Dreessen over Daniels makes sense as Dreessen has been the preferred goal line target. No surprise at all no Denver TE’s are listed. Will Tebow complete more than 8 passes this week?

 

Kickers

1) Mike Nugent

2) John Kasay

3) Neil Rackers

4) Matt Bryant

5) Jason Hanson

6) Shaun Suisham

7) Lawrence Tynes

8) Matt Prater

 

Nugent as the top kicker but Cincinnati to lose the game? Guess the software program sees FG’s instead of TD’s in the Bengals immediate future.

 

Defenses/Special Teams

1) Cincinnati Bengals

2) Pittsburgh Steelers

3) Atlanta Falcons

4) New Orleans Saints

5) Houston Texans

6) Denver Broncos

7) Detroit Lions

8) New York Giants

 

Very surprised to see a team that gets sacks like the Giants do ranked 8th. Also surprised the Bengals place 1st overall despite not being predicted to win the game. To be fair, the Texans did have 4 fumbles in their regular season meeting so that accounts for something.

2011 Watch List #4

Posted on by
Reply

Wow, another week and yet more injuries. What is an owner to do? The wire continues to thin out in each passing week, but amazingly there is still talent making headlines each week. While this talent could be a “one week wonder” it won’t be surprising when some owner drops a bigger named player to pick this young, hot stud up.

This weekend we saw Mike Vick, Kenny Britt and Darren McFadden all injured to varying degrees. Unfortunately the most severe was that of Kenny Britt with a tear to the MCL and possibly ACL, which will end his season. Reports are Mike Vick could miss 3-4 weeks with a broken right hand and DMC claims he has no injury, but the groin had tightened up. We also add another member to the “Hammy Hoax” list that of Jeremy Maclin, don’t expect him to face the 49ers next weekend.

Thankfully waiver wires across fantasy leagues are open for business and ready for action, this was another big, but strange weekend in fantasy football. Why is it this year? Oh yeah it was the how negotiations the owners and players participated in that saw abbreviated training camps and a quick free agency period. I believe we are still feeling the fall out and from the looks of it, we could still feel it for a longer period.

Kendall Hunter, RB SFO
Sure the 49ers are 2-1 but Gore has not gotten off to a very impressive start this season. After 3 weeks he has only totaled 184 yards from scrimmage and 1 TD. Sunday tweaked an ankle, but played hurt until the final few series in which Hunter took over the duties. While not all that memorable 9-26-1 TD, Hunter is definitely becoming a stronger insurance policy for Gore now that the first injury has occurred. Gore owners should already have Hunter stashed, but he could be available in some leagues.

Bernard Scott, RB CIN
Cedric Benson will have a hearing on Tuesday and faces a 3-game suspension. This could open the door for Scott on a temporary basis.       While he has had no fantasy value to this point, Scott could face BUF, JAC and IND while Benson is suspended. If you are in dire help for a few weeks, you might add Scott to your team.

Daniel Thomas, RB MIA
Surprisingly Thomas makes the watch list for the first time (not sure why he wasn’t here last week) after a 23-95 yard, 3-27 yard 1 TD through the air performance in a losing cause. The important fact is he is now gets the bulk of the carries on the ground. Bush will still the “change of pace” back, but won’t be the feature back, I believe Thomas has already won the full time job. Thomas has 2 tough games coming up, but versus SDG and NYJ, but he is on his way to establishing himself as one of the top rushing rookie RBs.

Alfonso Smith, RB ARI
Chris Wells was a last minute scratch and did not play against a soft SEA defense. Smith put up a 17-54 yard performance. Not all too impressive, but he showed much more than what veteran Chester Taylor did. Wells had played well for 2 games, but now carrying an injury Smith might take some carries down the road with Stephens-Howling a bit dinged up as well. This might be a situation to watch if Wells begins to struggle.

DeMarco Murray/Tashard Choice, DAL
I have added these backs based on reports that Felix Jones aggravated  his separated shoulder near the end of the MNF game. With a bye in week 5 the possibility is there to give Jones a few weeks off to heal. We will have to wait see what transpires out of Dallas camp and Jimmy Jones mouth.

Victor Cruz, WR NYG
I will consider Cruz a “one week wonder” at this point after turning a 3-110-2 TD performance vs Philly, including a 74 yard TD. He did make the most of his opportunity because of Manningham being out due to a concussion. The way injuries are occurring this season it’s quite possible Cruz could see more playing time, especially with Hixon being lost to the ACL. Keep an eye on Cruz, I believe there might be other better WR to pick up at this point.

Torrey Smith, WR BAL
Who? Smith is another “one week wonder” in my opinion at this point. WR, Lee Evans was inactive for Week 3 vs STL, which gave Smith the start, one in which he capitalized on the soft Rams secondary as his first NFL catch went for a 74 yard TD. Smith would finish the 1st quarter with 3 TDs and the day with 5-152 yards, an amazing day, but leave in the 4th quarter with cramps in his hammy. No doubt he will be targeted on the waiver wire. “Buyer beware” though he might have some value with Evans status in question for Week 4.

Nate Washington, WR TEN
Washington shouldn’t be listed, but I will include him now that Britt is done for the year with a torn MCL/ACL in his knee. Washington will take over as the #1 and with the success Britt saw, Washington has some big shoes to fill. As long as Hasselbeck can stay upright, Washington should benefit. It might also be worthwhile to watch who steps up at the #2 WR spot, it should be Damian Wiliams. Jared Cook will also be asked to fill the void.

Donald Jones, WR BUF
(Thanks to Cody and Buffalo Blizzard for this player.) Jones led the Bills in receiving vs NEP with 5-101 (10 targets). His number have been improving each week and the way Fitzpatrick continues to show a steady increasing in the passing game Jones may continue to see a nice bump in his stats. In defense of his performance, the Bills were down 21-0 and Fitzpatrick had to throw so all WR benefitted from this.

Notables: James Casey, TE HOU

Week 3:
WR: Washington, Nelson, Decker
TE: Chandler, Moore, Davis
RB: Helu, Jones, T, McCluster
Notables: Preston Parker, WR TB, Antonio Brown, WR PIT, Titus Young, WR DET, Brandon LaFell, WR CAR

Week 2:
WR: Cobb, Doucet, Ginn, Decker
TE: Watson, Moore, Davis
RB: Sproles, Reece, Caddy,
Notables: Avant, Nelson, Ford, Hartline

Week 1:
WR: Decker, Brown, Robiskie
RB: Carter, Helu, Karim,
Notables: Hunter, Murray, Ridley, Harrison, Little, Simpson, Briscoe, Alexander

2011 Watch List #3

Posted on by
Reply

Now that week 2 of the NFL is almost in the book we can look forward to waiver wire activity. Probably the most notable injury of the weekend was the loss of KC Chiefs RB, Jamaal Charles who torn an ACL. He wasn’t the only one add to the list, Tony Romo, Mike Vick, Felix Jones, Miles Austin, Eddie Royal and Jordan Shipley. Unfortunately injuries are part of the game and I don’t believe all of these can really be attributed to a short camp, but just bad luck. Remember Russ Bliss is always talking about needing to be lucky in fantasy football. This could be one of those years.

We are starting to see a trend in the NFL with some regular names that are making the watch list. This is watch list #3 and we welcome back a few players at the TE position. This position is coming on very strong this year and while the elites have been somewhat quiet to start the season a few of the “other” tight ends have been putting up the yards and finding the end zone.

There does seem to be some new names out there that continue to put up some stats. They may not be the household names we are used to, but when injuries hit and you are looking to make a move you must look for the best available.

Many owners have asked a similar question, “What should I do with Peyton Manning?” Personally, I dropped him last week. I needed the slot and figured Eric Decker (WR, DEN) would be more worth in the short term than Manning would be. If he comes back to beat me in the playoffs, so be it, but holding on to him for the next 6 to 8 to 10 weeks isn’t going to do me a bit of good when it comes to providing me with options. If you can’t stick him on an IR, I would drop him.

Thomas Jones, RB/Dexter McCluster, RB/WR KC
Hard to say who will be the “go to guy” in Kansas City now that Jamaal Charles has been lost for the season due to the ACL. McCluster is more dynamic and could see more touches at the RB position. He did carry 8 times on Sunday for -2 yards. Thomas Jones is 33 years old and will probably see a bulk of the work load; he still has the ability, based on what we saw last year to make an impact. At best he would be a #3 RB or flex option. Considering the problems the Chiefs are facing neither of these players are too high on any of my want lists.

Roy Helu, RB WAS
The rookie had his best showing to date with a 10-74 yard performance on the ground and 3-38 yard receiving. He is still the clear cut back up to Hightower who continues to play very well in the starting role. While Helu is not worth starting at this point, he could be worth stashing on your bench for later in the year. I do expect Hightower to slow his role and the Redskins to hit a funk, which means Shanny could unexpectedly make a change at RB. He has done it before.

John Kuhn, RB GBP
With all the talk about Ryan Grant being able to recover from his injury and make a comeback and James Starks being more explosive on the field when carrying the ball, it’s been John Kuhn with 2 TD to lead the rushing attack. Not that a 3-6-2 TD is overly impressive, but we have see it now 2 weeks in a row that McCarthy has turned to his big fullback to pound the ball in from short yardage. So forget the controversy, maybe Kuhn is the short yardage back who will get you 7-9 TDs this season from very short yardage. Unfortunately his very low number of touches could frustrate you as an owner.

Scott Chandler, TE BUF
While Chandler wasn’t as big a part of the offense Sunday vs the Raiders, he did manage 2 catches, one for a TD bringing his season total to 3 TD. He now has 8-87 yards as the Bills are 2-0. Not a household name, but Fitzpatrick has been doing a very good job spreading the ball around, yesterday Chandler only had 2 receptions, but as long as 6 points continue to go up on the board you might keep him in mind at a league that is becoming deep at the TE position this season.

Evan Moore, TE CLE
This is the second watch list for Evan Moore and 2 weeks in a row that McCoy has targeted Evan Moore in the red zone and connected for a TD. Not a big production day for him as the 16-yard strike was his only catch of the day. Still hard to ignore 2 in 2 weeks for Moore and Cleveland as McCoy is looking more comfortable running the West Coast offense.

Fred Davis, TE WAS
Cooley was active for WAS but once again it was Fred Davis who took top honors for the now 2-0 Redskins as he hauled in 6-86-1 TD in Week 2 vs Arizona. He continues to be targeted by Grossman, 7 times total on Sunday and now has 11-191-1 TD on the season. Currently he is the top receiving option in the capital. This is another TE starting off the season having a break out year.

Eric Decker, WR DEN
This is the third and most likely final week that Decker will be seen on the watch list, With injuries to Lloyd (inactive on Sunday), a groin injury to Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas still on the rack, Decker took advantage of the situation and probably should be the #1 waiver claim at the WR position this week. He had 5-113-2 TD. With a rash of injuries, he should be owned in all leagues and started in many formats.

David Nelson, WR BUF
I had Nelson listed as a “notable” after Week 1 and Sunday vs Oakland he ended up leading all Buffalo receivers with 10 catches, 83 yards, which included a clutch TD with :14 seconds in the game to beat the Raiders. On the season Nelson has 14 catches to Steve Johnson’s 12 catches. He could be another option at a very deep WR position to own or watch. With injuries piling up, chances are he should be grabbed off waivers as long as Fitzpatrick continues to play very smart football.

Nate Washington, WR TEN
When we think TEN, we think Chris Johnson, but with the holdout Hasselbeck has been more active in the passing game the first few weeks. That bodes well for guys like Britt and Washington. The big difference between the two players, Britt has 3 TD and Washington has none. Still Washington has 13 receptions and on Sunday was targeted 11 times (7-99 yards). Hasselbeck has been the difference maker bringing the passing game back to TEN with the rushing game suffering.

Other notables: Preston Parker, WR TB, Antonio Brown, WR PIT, Titus Young, WR DET, Brandon LaFell, WR CAR

Here are a list of the previous two watch lists and players who were listed.

Watch List #2
RB: Sproles, Reece, Caddy
WR: Cobb, Doucet, Ginn, Decker
TE: Watson, Moore, Davis
Notables: Avant, Nelson, Ford, Hartline

Watch List #1
RB: Carter, Helu, Karim
WR: Decker, Brown, Robiskie
Notables: Hunter, Murray, Ridley, Harrison, Little, Simpson, Briscoe, Alexander

2011 Watch List #2

Posted on by
Reply

I’ll admit it. Before I “found the light” and subscribed to Fantasy Football Starters I did not speculate on players very much. In 28 years of fantasy football the waiver wire is a relatively new concept for our league. We used 4 supplemental drafts during the year to replace injured players or to pick up “hot” talent for our roster.

Since the inception of the waiver wire and joining FFS, my views have started to change. While I make it a personal mission not to use the wire, many choose just the opposite path and love the flexibility the waiver wire offers. I fault no one who decides for or against the wire in their league. It’s a choice you make based on how you drafted. If you feel your roster is strong and competitive, then there is no need to move on additional talent.

Seven days ago I threw out a group of names before the start of the NFL season of players I thought could possibly put up some good numbers. While one week doesn’t make a season (Cam Newton!) we can look back on the weekend and add a few more names to that list that I feel deserve to be watched.

Marcel Reece RB OAK
Here is another fullback who seems to have a good set of hands and was used very well in the Raiders offensive scheme last night against DEN. Reece has outsstanding size, 6-3, 240 lbs. And did catch 25 balls last season. If last night was any indication on how Raider football was going to be played, then Reece could be a surprise running back in both the passing and short game (goal line). It should be noted McFadden was not in the game for some of the goal line plunges, it was Bush and Reece. One of the few to keep an eye on.

Carnell Williams RB STL
Caddy only makes this list because of the potential lingering injury to Steven Jackson. It’s also too hard to ignore the 19-91 yard performance on the ground, while grabbing 5-49 through the air. He was Steven Jackson “light” so to speak in his performance against Philly. I don’t expect this all season, but he did play very well against a notably stingy defense.

 

Darren Sproles RB NO
For those San Diego fans, Sproles 7-75-1 TD and 72-yard punt return TD does not come as a real big surprise. This is the type of player he was in his tenure with San Diego. He is that change of pace back that head coaches like. Sproles has the speed to make defenders miss, as well as the skills to be a game changer. Brees used him perfectly in the passing attack as the Saints attempted to comeback against the Packers. While I would not expect these types of numbers weekly, he is a running back that adds quality depth to your fantasy team.

Randall Cobb WR GB
Not sure it would be fair to leave him out, as he outscored all out Packer wide receiver in Week 1. His value was in the kick return game, as he took a kick off back 108 yards for a TD. Then late in the first quarter he caught a 32 yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers. I don’t believe he will be an integral part of the passing attack in Green Bay, but if you are looking for a kick return or get yards for kick returns, then Cobb might be your man. He is way down the pecking order in terms of starting, but his talent has him on the watch list.

 

Early Doucet WR ARI
It might be “too early” (no pun intended) to tab Doucet as the legitimate #2 in Arizona opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Kolb only passed 18 times and Doucet and Fitzgerald both had 3 receptions, but it would be Early with the 105 yard performance and TD to outplay the $120 Larry Fitzgerald. Kolb only targeted Doucet 3 times, but he made the most of them. At best he is worth watching for now. I don’t believe I would make a move on this early on Doucet.

Ted Ginn Jr. WR SFO
Here is another player that might make some noise as a kick returner, but I hesitate to even include him. Ginn returned both a kick off and a punt for a TD in the Sunday victory over Seattle. As a wide receiver, he is #2 on the depth chart behind newly acquired Braylon Edwards, so I won’t expect much from him in the passing game. Like Randall Cobb if you are looking for a return guy and get points for return yards, then Ginn might be on your short list, but I don’t recommend watching him for depth at WR.

Eric Decker WR DEN
A very ugly 304 yards passing for Orton on Monday night in a somewhat unexciting game, but owners should take note of Eric Decker who returned a punt 90 yards for a TD in the 3rd quarter. He also caught 3-53 (5 targets). More importantly, if the injury to Brandon Lloyd is extensive, Decker gets a bump, more playing time and targets.

Ben Watson/Evan Moore TE CLE
Watson shouldn’t be a real surprise as he led the Browns in receiving last year with 68 receptions (763 yards 3 TD). Evan Moore has good size andimpressed during camp this season but is the #2 TE on the team. His lack of consistency has been a bit discouraging, but the new West Coast offense might see McCoy targeting both Watson and Moore in the red zone. Between the 2 players in week one they saw 13 targets, caught 6 for 80 yards and 2 TE. While not the most popular team or TE, they are two players to watch.

Fred Davis TE WAS
Washington has already planned to use a lot of 2 TE sets this season and Fred Davis is half of that set. In Sunday’s game he was targeted 6 times and had 5-105. Not bad considering it was Rex Grossman at QB. While I won’t tab Davis as a #1 TE, he is another player to watch. In a year where the league might be heavy at that position, Davis could potentially put up some good numbers if Grossman (or even Beck) stays healthy. He is another big, athletic player who can get underneath and become difficult to defend.

Other notables: Jason Avant, WR PHI, David Nelson, WR BUF, Jacoby Ford, WR OAK, Brian Hartline, WR MIA

2011 Watch List #1

Posted on by
Reply

We are inside a week away from the start of the 2011-2012 NFL season, which begins with a big showdown featuring the last two Super Bowl teams, the Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints. Hopefully this game will kick off a great fantasy season for all owners. Unfortunately many fantasy owners also understand that the best laid plans sometimes need to be reviewed and revised. I don’t doubt this year with the lock out and CBA coupled with the short free agency period and even shorter training camps injuries could play a major factor this season.

Many owners have already drafted their teams or will be the next few days. As owners often do, I know because I am always doing it (now), is trying to speculate on talent as we get deeper in the NFL season. Not a week goes by we don’t think about injuries. There are times we will need to review our team because we have players on our team who are not performing. I figured it’s never too early to put together a list of possible players that will be picked off the waiver wire.

Roy Helu RB WAS
The rookie out of Nebraska has big play ability, which was something the Redskins lacked much of the year. Last year Ryan Torain showed flashes at times, but Mike Shanahan was shuffling RBs at random. This year Tim Hightower is the starter but Helu has a chance to be the “change of pace” RB Washington needs. He needs to work on pass blocking and picking up the blitz. With Torain now healthy, Helu will compete for carries. The way Shanahan used RBs last year makes Helu look like a good prospect as the season goes on.

Delone Carter RB IND
The only thing certain in the Colts backfield is Joesph Addai will be the starting running back. There was rumor last year’s back up and replacement would be waived by Indy when teams cut rosters down to 53 players. Brown is still on the depth chart, but it’s Syracuse rookie, Delone Carter who has “impressed” during preseason. He is a strong and explosive back who should win the back up over Brown. Addai’s track record of staying healthy isn’t all that impressive, which means Carter could find himself handling he ball sooner than later.

Deji Karim RB JAX
I had some doubts even including Deji Karim on this list since Rashard Jennings has been lost for the season due to a knee injury being placed on IR. Karim now gets bumped to the back up role for Maurice Jones-Drew, who missed 2 games last year because of injury. With the lose of Jennings, MJD might be relied upon more with Karim as the back up. I suspect MJD will get nicked with minor injuries, which could put Karim in a time share with MJD or getting spot starts for the Jags.

Eric Decker WR DEN
This wide receiver seems to be sliding under the radar during preseason play. Some draw comparisons to Ed McCaffrey. With injuries to Eddie Royal (hip) and Demaryius Thomas (Achilles), Decker is working on starting opposite Brandon Lloyd. Coach Fox is high on Decker as well “expecting big things.” Receivers are usually plentiful, but with the thin air and Orton at QB, you might watch this kid.

Antonio Brown WR PIT
Brown has suddenly ended up on many fantasy lists as a deep sleeper because of his performance during preseason. Not to get caught up in the hype, Brown played well and the Steelers talk highly about his speed and confidence. As it stands now he is not going to be a star on your fantasy team unless injuries occur. He is a name to put away as the progresses.

Brian Robiskie WR CLE
Robiskie came on the final 3 games of the 2010 season recording 3 TDs and 152 yards, which indicates a rapport with Colt mcCoy. This year indications are he will hold off rookie, Greg Little and start opposite Mohamed Massaquoi. Colt McCoy will be running the West Coast offense this season, but with Hillis in the backfield you have to think they will still be a run dominated team. Add to that the ability of Evan Moore and the stalwart, Ben Watson at TE. I still believe Robiskie should be looked at in deeper leagues.

Other notables: Kendall Hunter, RB SF, DeMarco Murray, RB DAL, Stevan Ridley, RB NE, Jerome Harrison, RB DET, Greg Little, WR CLE, Jerome Simpson, WR CIN, Dezmon Briscoe, WR TB, Danario Alexander, WR STL.

It will be clearer as the the season gets underway who could potentially be the hot pick up, even after Week 1. For owners in keeper leagues, some of these players will be better suited for the long term than an immediate impact. Still if you are researching players, it’s never too early to start your watch list going. Fantasy football is dynamic and one injury or lack of output could have you looking to make a move to better your team.

Lock-Out, Hold-Out and Waiver Wire Gold.

Posted on by
Reply

As much as a player can be a distraction to a team, a group can be to an entity. For the moment it appears the over-night in Chicago was good to clear the air within the ranks which has allowed talks to resume with the players, a promising sign of progress which presents us with a renewed optimism of a sooner resolution as they may be feeling that same sense of urgency? I read that July 14, was the dead-line if there was going to be a full slate of Pre-Season games, this was the day before I began to read about the Titans running-back Chris Johnson breaking out the hold out talk, which then raised the ‘hold out jinx’ flag that questions CJ2K fantasy football draft rankings if he were to hold out through what might be a shortened training camp period. If the lock out were to end in time for a full training camp and CJ2K does not report to camp and misses pre-season games should he drop out of the top 5 running backs? It’s hard to imagine that happening but don’t discount the possibility. Speaking from experience and I am sure there are others that can empathize with getting tripped up by this phenomenon in the past and having to endure the consequences of burning that top pick on a stigmatized player that did indeed not meet expectation because of whatever reason. Personally I would avoid players in these types of situations in an effort to fend off the ‘I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT! Anxiety attack .Don’t let it become a distraction. Stay the course, I’m sitting at 1:05 and have both CJ2K and Aaron Rodgers on the board, I’m getting my QB out of the way and do the rest of my damage in the later rounds where I am confident I will pull a gem or two off in the later rounds if not from Free Agent pick-ups. Arian Foster is a prime example; drafting in the 6th and 7th rounds pretty much for depth, a default starter on a team with a stud WR and solid QB and he is still on the board, you can never have to many RB’s in good situations on your roster, Those are the types of player question marks I can deal with when making a draft decision.
I won’t worry so much about CJ, I agree with most that say the Titans will not let it come to that, though the sound of the potential asking price could be an issue?

 So in the event these talks break down again and the lock-out continues late into August and training camps are shorter and games are missed then you can certainly entertain the thought of a Hold-Out Jinx type occurrence across the board affecting all the skill position players that did not get their otherwise regular training reps which may lead to the higher probability rate of injuries making the waiver wire really active, perhaps making it the largest ‘Fantasy football Waiver Wire Gold Strike’ ever!
Now I am really looking forward to the 2011 NFL Season!

Maurice Jones-Drew: Not a Top 10 Fantasy RB in 2011

Posted on by
Reply

I recently posted an article on my 2011 top 10 fantasy football RB rankings and while the names of who was on it, and who I left off of it generated much discussion, one omission in particular seemed to be most noticed: Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew.

MJD is a poor bet to be a top 10 fantasy RB in 2011

Now I was a MJD supporter as a top 5 pick in fantasy football drafts in 2010. And while his final numbers were good, his season overall was a disappointment. While he finished 5th in rushing yards and 7th in total yards for RB’s, he only scored 7 TD’s total, and his 34 receptions were the fewest for an entire season of any in his career. MJD was hobbled in 2010 with a pre-season knee injury that was worse than any knew of. It finally got so bad at the end of the 2010 season that MJD was shut down and missed the last 2 games of the season. It is a testament to how tough MJD is that he played the first 14 games with this injury, but after the season was over MJD had knee surgery to repair a bone on bone condition. Usually such a condition is a sign that the end of a career is approaching.

Certainly plenty of reason for me to be concerned about MJD, and you should be too.

As a matter of fact, I would not be at all surprised to see the Jags go back to a RBBC using MJD and one of my top 2011 fantasy football super sleepers: Rashad Jennings. Jennings showed plenty of skills last season both as a power runner and also as a receiver (he caught 26 passes despite a very limited role until the last 2 weeks). With the uncertainty surrounding MJD’s knee, and the emergence of Jennings as a viable weapon that deserves playing time, there’s a good reason to expect the Jaguars to use a RBBC in 2011.

And that’s plenty of reason for me to keep MJD out of my top 10.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 10 RB’s (and a little rant)

Posted on by
1

If not for Fantasy Football the NFL would be losing a fan base all over again It’s a challenge to find a positive in what is a fiasco that is threatening the 2011 NFL season. With all the tragic events going in the world today it is no wonder I can’t even muster up an ounce of interest in who gets their fair share of our money. Still we are not oblivious to the issues that only amount to greed in the eyes of most. I have read poll questions asking our opinion on whose at fault in this mess, some are pointing at the owners whiles others point to the players. Yet it seems no one realizes that while we are pointing fingers at them there is always three fingers pointing back at us! That’s right; We fed the pig, the pig got fat, and you know what happens when that pig gets fat? You smell smoke, an aromatic mesquite to be exact!

I can understand the harbored animosity the fans held from the ’87 strike and how some walked away without another thought, but Fantasy Football was not as prevalent in 1987 as it is today so I anticipate a high volume of return once the season gets back to play. But right now it is straight up interfering with my game. With the amount of revenue at stake we would think there would be a quick resolution to get going ‘business as usual’ then once again it won’t much matter how many billions we generate as long as we get our game so we can resume our business as usual: exploitation of the league. 

Maurice Jones-Drew must prove his knee is healthy to claim a top 10 spot in 2011

If not for Fantasy football I would care less about the ‘billion dollar babies’ Foamin’ like a dog infected with rabies’ (thanks for that one Alice and congrats on your induction into the Rock n Roll Hall this past week). I would really enjoy talking about the upcoming NFL Draft and the prospective players that may make that immediate impact for their new teams but right now I can’t place any reasonable expectations on any team scenarios because I am really not feeling it. So until this is resolved and our money is no longer a distraction there are only two items I know for sure: Arian Foster would be my first pick in the 2011 Fantasy football drafts and Maurice Jones-Drew will not crack the top ten in my 2011 Fantasy football player rankings. I like Houston’s team composition everything is still intact with the coaches, system, pass catchers Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels a solid Quarterback in Matt Schaub and the guy’s up front in the trenches to get it done. Of course some may argue Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson as the #1, but I think they are number 2 and 3. I am rolling with the younger, healthier Foster because of the uncertainties at quarterback in Minnesota and Tennessee. Peterson and Johnson (not the Personal Injury Attorneys) will still get theirs though they will be a defenses primary objective. There are some good fantasy football sleepers at RB, but here are my top 10 RB’s for 2011 right now:

1. Arian Foster- Tate will still need some healing it’s Fosters job
2. Chris Johnson- flip a coin
3. Adrian Peterson- you can’t go wrong either way.
4. Jammal Charles- because I’m not trusting MJD’s knee
5. Ray Rice- because I’m still not trusting MJD’s knee- more so if McGahee leaves
6. Rashad Mendenhall-Pittsburgh football is pound the rock and Defense
7. Frank Gore- This is still generous if not for the NFC West deficiencies
8. LeSean McCoy – may still slide ahead to #7
9. Darren McFadden-great upside staying healthy is key to keep Bush on the side.
10. Michael Turner-fading away lets see what 2011 has in store.

Tiki Barber Coming Out of Retirement

Posted on by
Reply

With the announcement that Tiki Barber is coming out of retirement, we now have another name that will be thrown into the discussion of potential 2011 fantasy football sleeper running backs.

Leaving aside some of the personality issues that caused Barber to retire after the 2006 season (something I talked about in my fantasy football blog) the primary question pertinent to fantasy owners is what can we realistically expect from a 36 year old RB who hasn’t played the last 4 years?

Tiki Barber steps out of broadcasting and back into the NFL

You have to remember, Barber was at the tail end of the peak of his career when he retired. From 2002-2006 Barber never had fewer than 278 rushing attempts, never had fewer than 1,278 rushing yards, and never caught fewer than 52 passes in any of those seasons. He scored 45 total touchdowns in those 5 seasons and was especially one of the top fantasy RB’s in his last 3 seasons having over 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards in each year from 2004-2006, and scoring 31 TD’s in that span.

But you can’t expect those types of numbers from a 36 year old Barber in 2011. As you get older, injuries become harder to recover from. You’re not as fast as you were when you were in your early 31. So what is likely to happen for Barber?

As I talked about in my blog, the Atlanta Falcons are a good fit for Tiki Barber. He would be the change of pace and pass catching RB behind workhorse Michael Turner. A complementary role fits Barber best as this point and the Falcon also give him an excellent chance to get to a Super Bowl as they are a team with the pieces in place to compete every year. Jerious Norwood is too brittle and is a free agent. Jason Snelling is a restricted free agent under the terms of the expiring CBA, but may become unrestricted when a new deal gets done. There could be a need there.

Miami is an intriguing place as well. Both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are free agents and the Dolphins appear to be looking to add a RB thru the draft rather than brining back either of them. Miami owns the 15th pick of round 1 of April’s draft and may be the first team to take a RB. Getting a good set of young legs and complementing them with a guy like Barber may be a good move.

St. Louis is another potential spot. The Rams have been desperate to find someone they can reasonably rely on to carry the ball 5-10 times per game and take some of the load off Steven Jackson. A player like Barber would allow the Rams to draft a RB in the middle rounds and groom a future replacement without having to push him to much early.

Tampa Bay makes sense in that Tiki’s twin brother Ronde plays DB there. With LaGarrette Blount as the primary RB and free agent Cadillac Williams seemingly out, Tiki could be in the same role with the Bucs he would be in with the Falcons or Rams. The Bucs would like a reliable pass catching option out of the backfield since that is the weakness in Blount’s game.

There are a lot of possibilities for Tiki Barber. And while everything is speculation now, before I really begin to give him much consideration, I need to see him get thru some time in training camp. He’s going to have to practice, and that’s something he didn’t care much for at the end of his NFL career the first time.

Overrated Fantasy Football Running Backs

Posted on by
1

The third and final installment of the overrated fantasy player series featuring the running back position was probably the most challenging when it comes to listing six overrated fantasy players. As with the previous overrated articles, when looking at the QB and WR position the player had to play a majority of the games from 2005-2010. This alone thinned out the player pool. Also take into consideration that the running back position has shortest average career in the NFL at 2.81 years.

As with the other two positions (QB/WR), they are not bad players, but based on their fantasy ranking for the given year and their season ending statistics they were overrated. In some cases injury cut short the player’s season. Some of these players had a good (or a few good years), followed by very average performances based on their previous seasons.

Brown flashes glimpses of being a fantasy stud, but he's yet to put it all together

RONNIE BROWN (MIA)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: Brown (Auburn) entered the 2005 NFL Draft, where the Miami Dolphins took him with the second overall pick. Listed as a Tier 3 RB his rookie campaign would get off to a slow start due to a contract dispute. He would finish the season with 907 yards, 4 TD.

Entering 2006 he would be listed as Tier 2 running back and would have his best statistics rushing the ball breaking 1000 yards (1008). He would show slight improvement with 5 TDs as well. Improvement on the ground was partially due to Ricky Williams being suspended for the entire season. Unfortunately Brown was not very consistent as the Dolphins struggled.

Listed as a Tier 3 running back in 2007 Brown got off to a very good start. In 7 games he rushed for 602 yards, 4 TDs and had put up his best numbers with 39 receptions and 389 yards. He would be lost for the season due to a knee injury.

Coming off injury in 2007, Ricky Williams was named the starter, but Ronnie would go on to have a season career best 10 TDs and 916 yards rushing after taking over the starting role in week three of the 2008 season. He would be named to the Pro Bowl for the only time in his career. Due to his injury the previous season, he would slide in many fantasy drafts being listed as a Tier 4 RB.

His stock would not gain much value even after a Pro Bowl season in 2008; he would retain a Tier 4 ranking to start 2009. For the second time in 3 years, an injury (right foot) would cut his season short. He would play in only 9 games rushing for 648 yards and 8 TDs

By 2010 he was still listed as a Tier 4 running back as he resigned with the Dolphins. He would suffer some off field problems (arrest – DUI), but on the field he would play all 16 games as the starter. Brown would only rush for 734 yards, 5 TDs.

COMMENTS: His first two seasons would be his best rushing the ball as injuries would plague him over parts of the next 4 seasons. His lack of production could be placed on the ineffectiveness of the Dolphins offense. The two seasons he did get off to good starts were both cut short by injury. At 30 entering the 2011 season, his best seasons are now behind him and his value will continue to slide.

STEVEN JACKSON (STL)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: Jackson was drafted 1.24 in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Oregon State where he backed up Marshall Faulk in St. Louis, the following year Jackson was named the starting RB.

In his first year as a starter, playing 15 games he rushed for 1046 yards, 8 TDs. He also had 43 receptions for 320 yards, 2 TDs. He would be listed as a Tier 3 RB before the 2005 fantasy draft. His stock would rise and he would jump up to a Tier 2 RB before the 2006 fantasy draft, where he would experience his best season as a professional.

Unfortunately 2006 would set the bar very high for S Jax. He rushed for 1528 yards, 13 TDs, had 90 receptions for 806 yards and 3 TDs. His 2334 yards from scrimmage would lead the NFL and he would make the Pro Bowl for the first time and voted NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

By virtue of his 2006 performance it would be no surprise he would be a top tier running back going into the 2007 fantasy draft.

2007 would be a poor follow up to his 2006 season. He suffered groin, back and hip injuries, as well as issues with the Rams fans and choice of music that was played. He would play 12 games still rushing for 1002 yards, but only 5 TD. As a receiver his numbers suffered, 38-271, 1 TD. At the end of the season, he would hold out desiring a new contract before the start of 2008.

Upon the end of his holdout he would sign a new 6-year contract, but would be listed as a Tier 2 RB because of the question marks prior to the fantasy draft, but he would be the highest paid RB in the NFL.

A quad injury reported as “minor” and “uncomfortable” saw Jackson miss time during the season (4 games, Oct.-Nov.). Even playing 12 games (for the second season in a row) he would put up 1042 yards, improve to 7 rushing TDs. There would be slight improvement with 40 receptions, 379 yards and 1 TD.

In 2009 he would retain his Tier 2 ranking but would vastly improve on the ground. He would play 15 games, rush for 1416 yards as well as catch 51 balls for 322 yards. The downside to 2009, 4 total TDs. He would be rewarded with his second trip to the Pro Bowl.

2010 would be only the second time in his career he would start all 16 games. While he would slide a bit prior to the draft, he was still a (low) Tier 2 running back. Jackson would have the most carries since his 2006 season with 330 for 1241 yards, off his 2009 pace, but rush for 6 TDs. His role as a receiver was unimpressive 46-383 yards, no TDs. With that said, he made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career.

COMMENTS: I’ll consider myself lucky that S Jax was my RB in 2006, when he had his best NFL season. He has been a very durable RB, but I find it very hard to draft him because of his lack of TD production. He IS a #1 RB for STL, yet his TDs have only hit double digits in 2005 and 2006 (combined). Jackson is a workhorse based on 300+ carries the last 2 years and 6 consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons. He will usually end up going in the first two rounds, but based on his performance he has been overrated since 2006. I can’t consider him a #1 fantasy back until he could get start scoring more.

WILLIS MCGAHEE (BUF/BAL)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: McGahee was drafted in 2004 by Buffalo after he slipped in the draft due to a knee injury. During the season he would win the starting job from Travis Henry, who rushed for 1300+ yards in 2003. Willis would go on to arguably his best season as a professional; 1128 yards, 13 TDs.

He would start the 2005 season listed as a Tier 2 running back, starting 15 games. His 325 carries would be good for 1247 yards, but his YPC would struggle at 3.8, to go with only 5 TD. He would retain a Tier 2 ranking (low) prior to the 2006 season.

Injuries and concerns got the best of Willis in 2006, after back to back 1000+ season, he would struggle in 14 games. He would fall short of 1000 yards (990) to go with 6 TDs. As a team, the Bills rushing attack struggled, which led to McGahee’s career lows.

Prior to the 2007 season, McGahee was traded to Baltimore and replaced Jamal Lewis as the starter. After a poor 2006 season his stock slipped and he would start the season listed as a Tier 3 RB, but fantasy owners would get some good numbers out of McGahee. He would go on to make the Pro Bowl playing in 15 games, rushing for 1207 yards and 7 TDs (also 1 TD receiving). Unfortunately a cracked rib would see him struggle late in the year.

McGahee was expected to be the starter in 2008 but due to various injuries, fullback LeRon McClain would end up with the majority of the work. Despite this fact, McGahee did play in 13 games and rush for 671 yards, 7 TD.

In 2009 McGahee came back “stronger and faster” but second year RB, Ray Rice would be named the Baltimore starter. McGahee would see limited carries during the season, but would score 12 TDs (2 TD receiving), the most since his rookie season in 2004. As a result he would rush for 544 yards on the season with a 5.0 YPC. He would be seen as a “steal” as a Tier 4 RB prior to the start of the year.

He opted to stay with Baltimore in 2010 and his workload was further reduced, with Ray Rice as the starting running back, it would be McGahee as the goal line player. He would only see 100 carries for 380 yards and 5 TDs on the season. He would retain a Tier 4 value.

COMMENTS: His career started strong with back to back 1000 yard season, but an off season in 2006 and a drastic decrease in TD performance the next two years saw his value slide. After his 2007 Pro Bowl season and his move to Baltimore his role changed and workload decreased. I think 2009 was the “exception” and not the norm for McGahee. After last season Baltimore have him looking elsewhere for work since they won’t pay his $6 million salary. At 29, he has one final shot at being an impact type running back. Wherever he lands he will need to see an increase workload in order to make him a more viable fantasy player to finish his career.

CLINTON PORTIS (DEN/WAS)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: Drafted by Denver in the 2002 NFL Draft in round two, Portis made an immediate impact on the Broncos running game. His 1508 yards and 15 TDs were great numbers, but were not good enough to lead the conference or the NFL. The following year he duplicated his 1500 yards rushing effort (1591) with 14 TDs and a NFL leading 5.5 YPC (for the second year in a row).

Before the 2004 season Shanahan traded Portis to Washington for Champ Bailey. There was also a change of running philosophy with Joe Gibbs, it was all about a power running game. Portis had an “off year” as he started 15 games and exceeded 300 carries (343) and rushed for 1315 yards, but only 5 TDs.

Heading into the 2005 season, Portis would be a (low) Tier 2 RB, but would go on to have a very good year. For the third time in his career he rushed for over 1500 yards (1516) and scored 11 TD. He would retain his Tier 2 status prior to the start of the 2006 NFL season.

The 2006 season got off to a rocky start, as Portis dislocated his should in the first pre-season game. He would return to start the season against the Vikings, but his problems would get worse. During week 9 Portis would leave the game with a hand injury and later be diagnosed with a broken hand, which ended his season. After 8 games played he would finish the season on 523 yards with 7 TDs.

The following year (2007) he would be listed as a Tier 3 RB and fantasy owners would be rewarded with a solid comeback year by Portis. He would go on to lead the NFL in attempts (325), 1262 yards and 11 TD. This performance would push him back to Tier 2 prior to the start of the 2008 season.

Portis got off to a good start in 2008 with 5 consecutive games in which he rushed for over 120 yards. Unfortunately nagging injuries slowed him down near the end of the season and he fell short of 1500 yards (1487) for the season to go with 9 TD.

In 2009 Portis would only play in 8 games and while leading the team (494) in rushing and 1 TD, but harsh criticism of his new head coach prevented him from putting up better fantasy numbers. As a Tier 2 RB in 2009, owners would be frustrated with him all season long.

Things went from bad to worse for Portis who would drop to a Tier 4 RB prior to 2010, he would sustain a concussion in Week 9, requiring him to leave the game. He would then miss the next 4 games. He would finish the season on the IR after 5 games and 227 yards, 2 TD.

COMMENTS: Portis might not seem like a worthwhile candidate, especially being very effective in his early years (2002-2005), but injuries in 2006, 2009 and 2010 have had some negative effect on his value over the years. When he was healthy, he was a very dominate running back, but injuries, even those he played through to finish a season would impact his fantasy ranking. At 30 heading into the 2011 season, Portis may struggle to find a team to pick up his contract, which will pay him $8.254 this season.

BRIAN WESTBROOK (PHI/SF)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: Prior to the 202 draft teams were hesitant to draft Westbrook because of his size, injury history and fact he did not play college football at a NCAA Division I school. The Eagles took Westbrook in round 3 (pick 91), where he would back up Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter his first two years.

In 2004 he would be named the Eagles starting RB and while he would rush for 812 yards, 3 TD, he would carry some good value as a receiver with 73 receptions for 703 yards, 6 TDs. He would make the Pro Bowl.

Prior to the 2005 fantasy draft he would be a Tier 3 running back. After 12 games, Westbrook has combined for 1200 yards, 7 TDs. In a 42-0 loss to the Seahawks, Westbrook would be lost for the season due to a foot injury.

Westbrook would continue being a productive running back. Prior to the 2006 draft he would be a high Tier 3 running back and would finish the season playing 14 games. He would go on to put up career best numbers rushing for 1333 yards, 7 TDs, while catching 77 balls for 699 yards, 4 TDs. He would finish the season with 1916 yards from scrimmage.

Westbrook would break into Tier 2 based off his 2006 performance. Because of his versatility as a RB he would continue to be very production, building off a strong campaign the season before. He would go on to rush for a new career high, 1333 yards and 7 TDs. He would also have 90 receptions for 771 yards, 5 TDs and go on to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2104. His performance was rewarded with his second trip to the Pro Bowl.

Coming off back to back 1000+ seasons rushing Westy would retain his Tier 2 ranking, but would miss 2 games and be well off his 2007 and 2008 seasons. He would miss out on 1000 yards (936), but increase his rushing TDs to 9. He also scored 5 TDs on 54 receptions (402), but would end up well short of his 2007 season.

2009 would be his final season in Philadelphia and at age 30 the Eagles would draft LeSean McCoy. Fully recovered from his injuries, Westbrook would suffer a concussion in week 7, which would see him miss playing time. A second concussion in week 10 would see him used sparingly. He would play in 8 games and have his worst numbers since his rookie year, 274 yards rushing, 1 TD. During the off season he would be traded to San Francisco.

In 2010 Westbrook signed a 1 year contract with the 49ers and became the starting RB after a hip fracture to Frank Gore finish his season. He played in 14 games, starting 5 of those games. His numbers would be well off previous years, 340 yards rushing, 4 TDs.

COMMENTS: At 32 and entering his 9th year, Westbrook is not the same player he was in Philadelphia. As a RB in San Francisco, he will play a back up roll to Frank Gore. His only value is that as a handcuff on draft day.

CARNELL WILLIAMS (TB)

CAREER SYNOPSIS: Another overrated RB to come out of Auburn in 2005 (same year as Ronnie Brown) was Carnell “Cadillac” Williams (listed as a Tier 3). Drafted 5th overall by the Tampa Bays Bucs, the rookie showed good promise in 2005. His first few games in the NFL were outstanding putting up very good numbers, but he was beset with injuries that caused him to miss a few games and upon returning to the field was not putting up the sort of numbers he did early on.  he would go on to rush for 1178 yards, 6 TD and won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Unfortunately that would be as good as it got for “Cadillac” to date. Listed as a Tier 2 running back in 2006 Williams never could really get going, scoring 1 TD in the first month of the season, but failing to find the end zone the remainder of the year. Nagging injuries caused him to miss a few games and a ineffective offense saw Williams finish the season well off his 2006 pace (798 yards).

Based on his lack of production in 2006 he would drop to a Tier 4 running back. Only 4 games into his 3rd season with the Bucs, Williams would tear his patellar tendon in his right knee and be lost for the season. His performance to that point had improved from the previous year, scoring 3 TD and rushing for 208 yards.

After 14 months of rehabilitating, Williams came off the PUP list and took the field against Detroit. He would go on to score in the next 2 of 3 games before suffering another blow, this time it was the patellar tendon in his left knee after scoring 2 TDs against the Raiders and would finish the season with 233 yards, 4 TD.

He would make a strong case for Comeback Player of the Year in 2009 (listed Tier 4) after rushing for 823 yards and 4 TDs in 15 games. He would split time and carries with Earnest Graham, but still put up his best numbers since his rookie year in 2005.

His long road back only got longer in 2010, he would continue to be listed as a Tier 4 RB but Tampa Bay would sign undrafted rookie, LaGarrette Blount. Used as the primary back in the early part of the season, Williams was not able to get in stride. With the emergence of Blount, Cadillac was relegated to third down back duties during the second half of the season. He was unable to build upon his 2009 campaign and would finish 2010 with 436, 2 TD (and 1 TD receiving).

COMMENTS: One of the requirements to make the overrated list is the play a majority of the games, his injuries put him as a borderline candidate on this list. Owners who drafted Cadillac the last few years have been very frustrated with his performance. His unfortunate knee issues are what are what eventually led to his fall from grace. Based on his collegiate career and rookie campaign, he had the talent to be an NFL superstar, but after spending 2 years rehabilitating the knee. While the Bucs will look to resign him for 2011, the ball will be in the hands of Blount now.