Raiders
Footballguy
Right now R Bush’s ADP is at 31. I think that is due mostly to the fact that most people don’t see bush getting over 200 carries this year. In fact 200 carries only works out to 12.5 per game. Given the fact that Deuce is recovering for ACL, and that the Saints just made R Bush the highest paid RB ever, and coupled with the fact that I really don’t see anyway that he is outplayed my McAllister this year; I would say that 12.5 carries a game is a VERY conservative estimation. In fact that is the exact number of carries he is predicted to have by Mr. Dodds this season. And while I think it will be more in the 250 range, lets suppose for the sake of argument that the number really is 200.
Does a RB that carries the ball only 12.5 times a game warrant a first round pick?
If your name is Brian Westbrook it does.
Westbrook in his 4 year career has never carried the ball more than 177 times, and in that year (2004) he finished as the number 10 ranked RB.
177 carries 812 yards 4.6 ypc 3 TDs, with 73 receptions 703 yards 9.6 ypc and 6 TDs.
Last year (18th ranked) he finished with:
156 carries 617 yards 4.0 ypc 3 TDs, with 61 receptions 616 yards 10.1 ypc and 4 TDs
Westbrook’s ADP for 2006 is the 13th player off the board. R Bush is # 31.
My point is this, there are lots of ways to score points and accumulate yards in this league. And there are lots of examples of rookie RB’s stepping right in and doing very well. Few people will argue that Westbrook deserves an end of the first/ top of the 2nd round grade, but people dispute the fact that Bush is even worthy of a 3rd round pick?!
Bush is exponentially more talented than Westbrook is, and he is in just as good of a situation I think. With D Brees still recovering from his injury and learning a new system, I see the screen pass and emergency dump off play being the bread and butter of that passing game.
My projections for Bush in 2006
250 carries 1,225 yards 4.9 ypc 7 Tds, 60 receptions 510 yards 8.5 ypc 6 TD’s
That’s 251 pts. Which would put him as the number 5 back on the board and that equals a first round selection any which way you cut it!!!
Does a RB that carries the ball only 12.5 times a game warrant a first round pick?
If your name is Brian Westbrook it does.
Westbrook in his 4 year career has never carried the ball more than 177 times, and in that year (2004) he finished as the number 10 ranked RB.
177 carries 812 yards 4.6 ypc 3 TDs, with 73 receptions 703 yards 9.6 ypc and 6 TDs.
Last year (18th ranked) he finished with:
156 carries 617 yards 4.0 ypc 3 TDs, with 61 receptions 616 yards 10.1 ypc and 4 TDs
Westbrook’s ADP for 2006 is the 13th player off the board. R Bush is # 31.
My point is this, there are lots of ways to score points and accumulate yards in this league. And there are lots of examples of rookie RB’s stepping right in and doing very well. Few people will argue that Westbrook deserves an end of the first/ top of the 2nd round grade, but people dispute the fact that Bush is even worthy of a 3rd round pick?!
Bush is exponentially more talented than Westbrook is, and he is in just as good of a situation I think. With D Brees still recovering from his injury and learning a new system, I see the screen pass and emergency dump off play being the bread and butter of that passing game.
My projections for Bush in 2006
250 carries 1,225 yards 4.9 ypc 7 Tds, 60 receptions 510 yards 8.5 ypc 6 TD’s
That’s 251 pts. Which would put him as the number 5 back on the board and that equals a first round selection any which way you cut it!!!
