For your reading pleasure, here’s a funny post from Deadspin.com about the death of the workhorse running back. I’ve been thinking about this a lot this season, as we get more and more Ask the Geek questions regarding running backs. The answer to many of these questions has become less and less clear, because you never even know which running back on a single team is going to score more points, never mind across the entire league!
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Mal 12:05 am on 10/23/2009 Permalink |
In light of that, I am just going to have to keep starting Jacobs with fingers crossed each week and keep Hightower and Bradshaw on my bench correct? I have now also acquired the services of Eli Manning to compliment a solid Roethlisberger. The PIT v MIN game has predicted to aerial ping pong, does this make Big Ben my starter? Or do I try offset the potential bad game of jacbos seeing no carries and yards by feeding in Eli as my QB? confused.
Brandon 2:27 pm on 10/23/2009 Permalink |
Hah, actually with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, lately it seems you need to go with Bradshaw. Ahmad has been running better and getting more carries around the goal-line, so stick with him until the team starts using Jacobs more in the red zone. As for your quarterback, I’d stick with Roethlisberger, who has 7 touchdowns over the past three games. Both guys make excellent starts though.
Squish 7:37 pm on 10/23/2009 Permalink
Jacobs will come around eventually. However, Hightower maybe the safest play if you have to choose between the 3. The Giants RBs are facing the best rush defense in the league. Expect NYG to air it out. Arizona is the opposite. NYG has the best pass defense in the league so they will run more than normal and likely make use of screens to beat the speedy front seven which all around bodes well for Hightower who’d I’d expect to have 20+ carries and 5+ receptions on the day. What he does with them is TBD but I like his chances.
I wouldn’t invest too much in the aerial prowess of the PIT vs MIN game. With Mendenthal making his first official start with Parker healthy, look for PIT to lean on the run as a test and expect a lot of outside runs as the Williams brothers will clog up the center but couldn’t get outside without a twinkie on a stick. And though MIN may be impressed with Favre, don’t expect them to forget he’s an old man. They’ll keep it on the gorund if they can. They may rest the ailing AP a bit but and y carries he loses will go to Chester Taylor who quite honestly is just as good a playmaker and a much better blocker and receiver out of the backfield.
For what it’s worth, fantasyfootballnerd.com’s combined rankings agree on the RBs with Hightower projected ahead of Bradshaw and Jacobs. Manning and Roethlisberger are about even in their rankings. Manning has a far better matchup against the 31st ranked pass defense in the league and they will be forced to throw because Arizona simply does not let anyone run the ball right now.
In short, I’d play Manning and Hightower and feel comfortable about it.
JP 11:26 am on 10/23/2009 Permalink |
Benjamin Watson or Kevin Boss?
Brandon 2:29 pm on 10/23/2009 Permalink |
Not a fan of either this week, but I’m starting Boss in one of my leagues with my tight end on a bye, so maybe you should do the same and we can root for him together!
Amir 12:45 am on 10/24/2009 Permalink
I like Watson here — Pats 3rd WR Edelman is injured and were projecting big things out of Brady this week so he should definitely be looking Watson’s way.
LT 3:27 pm on 10/24/2009 Permalink |
Hey Brandon, got this problem (non-ppr league)
For 2 WR slots: Wayne, Steve Smith (NYG), Andre Johnson…
For 2 RB slots: Bradshaw, PT, Ryan Grant, R. Williams
Guess Wayne & Johnson are obvious… but which RBs? And do I plug Smith into the Flex? Thanks…
Brandon 8:44 am on 10/25/2009 Permalink |
Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne at wide receiver (awesome group there though.) At running back, go PT Cruiser and Ryan Grant (who has a good match-up.) Definitely put Steve Smith in the Flex spot if possible, unless you had someone better in there already.