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Westbrook's backup - CBuck? Booker? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Texican
- Start date
Booker has the same type of skillset as Westbrook. He'd figure to get the lion's share if Westbrook went down.I thought CBuck was the correct handcuff, but now I am not sure. Anyone with some insight here?
They wouldn't have traded for Booker if they were comfy with Buckhalter as the primary backup IMOI thought CBuck was the correct handcuff, but now I am not sure. Anyone with some insight here?
JamesTheScot
Footballguy
I think's its RBBC. While Booker may have a similar skillset as Westbrook, how long did it take Westbrook to convince Reid that he was big enough to carry the load? And there is still talk of limiting Westbrooks touches again to keep him fresher.Now Booker comes in giving up something like 12 pounds to Westbrook!I think it becomes a thunder & lightning deal with Booker getting significantly fewer touches than Westbrook would normally get.Philly trading for Booker doesn't mean Booker will be the RB1...it just means that Philly believes it will have a better chance of winning with him than without him. Philly minus Westbrook w/out Booker < Philly minus Westbrook w/Booker. That's all it means.Warrick Dunn is one of the few under 200 # RB's I can remember that had fantasy value, and he spent much of career with coaches sharing his touches with guys like Alstott and Duckett. Maybe Booker will beat the odds and be more like Dunn than every other <200 #er out there.
Nemesis Enforcer
Footballguy
my take on this is that CBuck is the backup either way for whatever that means. I have heard things that they will try to get Booker on the field more with Westbrook to keep him fresh, moving one out wide, etc. I think Booker's potential is clearly capped with Westbrook healthy but should he go down Booker would fill in admirably. If Westbrook goes down I don't see CBuck's role changing that much with Booker sliding in there. I see the clear beneficiary being Booker as he will be used in the same manner. Now if he will be as productive in this offense as Westbrook that is yet to be seen.
As a guy who is sitting in the #3 spot and targeting Westbrook, there is no way I leave the draft without adding Booker later in the draft as protection. I am also looking to to add him in dynasty leagues that I am in. Philly was targeting booker out of FSU when Miami got to him first, they sought him out in the offseason and got him because he fits their offense. Westbrook is 29 I believe and while only missing 1 game last season, is not known for putting in 16 game seasons. I view Booker as one of those later round picks that could really pay huge dividends if the starter in front of him goes down. When other guys are drafting Tatum Bells and Chris Perrys I will be grabbing him.
As a guy who is sitting in the #3 spot and targeting Westbrook, there is no way I leave the draft without adding Booker later in the draft as protection. I am also looking to to add him in dynasty leagues that I am in. Philly was targeting booker out of FSU when Miami got to him first, they sought him out in the offseason and got him because he fits their offense. Westbrook is 29 I believe and while only missing 1 game last season, is not known for putting in 16 game seasons. I view Booker as one of those later round picks that could really pay huge dividends if the starter in front of him goes down. When other guys are drafting Tatum Bells and Chris Perrys I will be grabbing him.
If Westy went out, I expect both Booker and Buck to see an increase. I doubt either comes close to replacing Westbrooks touches alone though. I suspect Buckhalter would get the majority of the "running downs" while Booker would see more of the third down duty/passing downs. Buckhalter is a much better inside runner then Booker appears to be.
People keep saying that Booker has a skillset similar to Westbrooks. That may be true, but he isn't as talented, and nowhere does that show more then on the inside running.
There is no true "cuff" for Westbrook...we'll see a stud RB1 replaced by a pair of flex RBs. (RB3/4's)
People keep saying that Booker has a skillset similar to Westbrooks. That may be true, but he isn't as talented, and nowhere does that show more then on the inside running.
There is no true "cuff" for Westbrook...we'll see a stud RB1 replaced by a pair of flex RBs. (RB3/4's)
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dotman
Footballguy
IMO, Buckhalter is the handcuff because he will put up more fantasy points should Westy get hurt. Buckhalter did well last year when he got the ball and looked good in the first preseason game as well. I like the addition of Booker but he just doesn't seem like a guy who would get more than 7-8 carries a game. He will obviously get a few looks in the passing game as well but the Eagles spread the ball around and Buckhalter is decent at catching the ball too, plus it looks like Booker will be returning kicks as well. It would certainly be RBBC if Westbrook didn't play but I can see Buck getting 15 carries a game and should get way more goal line looks. Even if Westbrook gets hurt I only see Booker getting about 10-12 touches a game.
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
Thats my take.I own Westy x2... and in each case I would 'cuff with CBuck initially.
zadok
Footballguy
Exactly right.
Deranged Hermit
Not cool & Pissed
I think Buck's role will be largely unchanged (maybe a slight increase in touches) while Booker would get most of Westbrook's usual touches.
munchkin
Footballguy
I have to believe that if Parcells thought Booker had Westbrook like talents he wouldn't have traded him for a 4th round pick. That isn't to say that Booker can't be a productive player in Westbrook's absence but we need to see more before we label him Westy II. I also hope to get him in my rookie/FA draft in a couple weeks.
dotman
Footballguy
Westbrook touched the ball almost 25 times a game last year...do you really think Booker could handle anywhere near that amount and return kicks as well? He looks so frail compared to Westbrook. To me he seems like the type of guy who would lose a lot of his effectiveness once his touches go into double digits.I should add that while I think Buckhalter is the best handcuff, it gets a lot closer in PPR leagues, but I still would take Buck since he should offer more consistent production. But I really wouldn't want to start either of these guys unless it was a favorable match up.
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Nemesis Enforcer
Footballguy
I would assume that if Westbrook went down and Booker assumed some of those touches that he wouldn't still be returning kicks also. I don't know too many teams that let their starting rbs return kicks so I would think Philly wouldn't keep him in there.
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
So is Tony Hunt just a non-factor then? I've seen he might not even make the roster.
Frank Black
Footballguy
For Westbrook owners, this situation warrants consideration of keeping both backups on your roster instead of keeping some useless backup TE, K, D or WR who wil never crack your lineup this year or anytime soon even in a keeper league.
ultramattman
Footballguy
Booker's importance on the roster comes from his ability to back up Westbrook in the passing game (while Buck handles the bulk of the rushing.) If Westy goes down, I would expect Booker to be a decent fill-in starter in PPR leagues, a la Chris Perry in his one productive year. He'll probably see 5-6 receptions a game, along with 4-5 carries.
Jayrod
Footballguy
Chris Johnson weighs somewhere around 196.
I can't imagine too many redraft leagues where keeping three players to fill one roster spot makes a lot of sense. The bottom line is that there is no true handcuff. Booker is already an RB4/bye week flex type option..so it makes SOME sense to have him rostered on any team. Buckhalter is only an option for the Westbrook owner, but his ceiling is as a temporary borderline RB2/3 IF Westbrook went down.People put too much stock in the idea of a "handcuff". Precious few players have a legit "handcuff". For most players, the true handcuff is the next ranked RB on your squad. GENERALLY, you should put more effort into getting the best player then into your better player's cuff.Frank Black said:
Jason Wood
Zoo York
I'm not sure where you got that quote but it doesn't jive with anything the coaches have indicated.
1) Buckhalter is listed as RB2 on the team's depth chart
2) Buckhalter got the start in Westbrook's place against the Steelers
The reality is, as the others have said, he and Booker would both play quite a bit if Westy went down. They're very different backs. But Buckhalter is a team leader, healthy and gives the team a more conventional power, inside running presence that Booker does not. At the end of the day, there really isn't a good "handcuff" for Westbrook. The Eagles wouldn't run the ball enough in his absence, and with both splitting touches, I can't see either being a viable starter. Now, to be fair, Booker may be used enough in the passing game to be a spot fill-in starter in PPR leagues.
1) Buckhalter is listed as RB2 on the team's depth chart
2) Buckhalter got the start in Westbrook's place against the Steelers
The reality is, as the others have said, he and Booker would both play quite a bit if Westy went down. They're very different backs. But Buckhalter is a team leader, healthy and gives the team a more conventional power, inside running presence that Booker does not. At the end of the day, there really isn't a good "handcuff" for Westbrook. The Eagles wouldn't run the ball enough in his absence, and with both splitting touches, I can't see either being a viable starter. Now, to be fair, Booker may be used enough in the passing game to be a spot fill-in starter in PPR leagues.
Ted Lange as your Bartender
Footballguy
He'll only make the team if they decide to keep 5 RBs (including a FB). Hunt really isn't all that good. No speed, isn't all that impressive a GL back, and almost got Donovan murdered last season when he whiffed on a blitz assignment against Dallas.BeTheMatch said:
Jason Wood
Zoo York
There are a lot of ways both Hunt and Moats will be cut; the team could keep two FBs, could keep four TEs, etc...ultimately I would say Hunt makes the team while Moats is cast away.BeTheMatch said:
Texican
Footballguy
Sorry, I should have posted that in the original post. It was from Yahoo Sports.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Well, they're entitled to their opinion but I haven't seen anything from the team that corroborates their contentions.
Manster
Footballguy
as a westy owner, this is pretty much spot on how i feel.if westy goes down AND we see a true viable FF RB emerge in Philly, then i would try to snag him off the WW. otherwise i'm saving my roster spots for better depth than c-buck or booker.
I drafted Booker as he catches plenty of balls that make him more consistent in PPR leagues. Look at his last 6 games with the Dolphins last year and you will see he gets plenty of action in the passing game just like Westbrook so if you are in a PPR it is a pretty easy call grab Booker.
thriftyrocker
Footballguy
In a game where Philly dominated, Booker did nothing. He got some chances too but he seemed to run right into a wall of defenders each and every time. Not as terrible in the preseason, but I think the impression that he will be Westbrook-light if BW gets hurt has now been squashed.Buckhalter only had 2 carries and 1 was a gadget play where both he and BW were in the backfield, and they handed it to Buck with a misdirection type thing.Hunt is the starting FB. His FB runs went ok, he hit the line hard and converted on his RZ chance. Really he was the only backup RB to have a good preseason game, which is the reason he's now the starting FB.I think if Westbrook gets hurt, Buckhalter is the starter, and Booker gets a healthy number of catches. None are worth holding in a redraft.
KoolKat
Footballguy
Good stuff. Booker really looked that bad? He has had rave reviews all offseason, I wish I could see him play for myself. How do you feel about Booker in a dynasty league? Was he a target in the pass game at all during week 1?
Billy Bats
Footballguy
The real handcuff would be McNabb and the receivers if Westbrook went down. Reid would throw the ball 5-7 more times a game. Buckhalter isn't even worth carrying as a backup to Westbrook, as he will never see the touches Westbrook does, and still wouldn't be worth a number 2 rb. But Buck would definitely get more carries than Booker. No doubt.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
As I've said from Day One, Westbrook has no fantasy handcuff. He's such an important cog in the offense and such a unique player in terms of his receiving ability, the Eagles would dramatically alter their offensive reads if Westy went down. Buckhalter would get the tough yards, Hunt would contribute in short yardage and, yes, Booker would see action in passing situations. But none of them would be a viable fantasy option most weeks, save for the very deepest of leagues.
KoolKat
Footballguy
Probabaly doesn't change anything, but I thought this was interesting:
"The Sports Xchange reports that Lorenzo Booker figures to be a bigger part of the offense in Week 2 against the Cowboys than he was in Week 1 against the Rams. Booker was on the field for just four plays in the first three quarters."
"The Sports Xchange reports that Lorenzo Booker figures to be a bigger part of the offense in Week 2 against the Cowboys than he was in Week 1 against the Rams. Booker was on the field for just four plays in the first three quarters."
