Am I the only one who thinks the addition of Brown could actually help improve Addai's play? In 06 Indy rushed over 500 times with Addai getting about 225; less than 50% of the carries for 1000+ and 7 TDs. Indy rushed roughly 450 times in 07 with Addai getting about 260, which is close to the 60% of carries being projected on him this year with Brown in the mix. With that he put up 1000+ yds and 12 TDs. Obviously, splitting the load hasn't been a problem for Addai's production in the past. Why this argument is now being used against Addai's value in fantasy circles is beyond me. Granted last year Addai only got about 30% of the carries because of the injuries, but putting up 500+ yards and 5 TDs (+ 2 rec TDs) with these limited touches really isn't THAT bad considering. 60% could have put him on pace to put something close to his 06 production, maybe a little less in yards but a tad better in the TD department. Injury concern is normal, but I also don't consider a guy forever injury prone who played 15/16 games every year prior to last. His body is young enough to recouperate fully, better than an older back would. And if Brown can do a better job of wearing down defenses better than a 30 year old back like Rhodes, then I think Addai will have a better shot at staying healthy. I'm not drafting Addai as a number 1. But I have no issues with the risk of plugging him in as my #2.
No you are not. I think that last year has to be considered atypical in that his o-line was decimated, he was injured and frankly that offense wasn't clicking for the first half of the season. Manning was coming back from his injury and truly not able to play action as well as he usually does, not to mantion he was forcing the ball to a hobbled Harrison. Addai is one season removed from RB3 overall, putting up 1450 yards, 41 receptions and 15 TDs. No question last year sucked big, floppy, donkeydick. I drafted him his rookie year and I've gotten very good production out of him for 2/3 of his career. I won't be keeping him this year (Slaton Andre) but I hope he drops the way it looks like he is going to. I have no problem with him as my RB2 as I see a very nice bounce back year.
The Addai defenders in this thread make some great points- thanks for that. I'm not quite as gung-ho on Brown as I was a couple hours ago.However, I don't think you can dismiss last season quite as easily, because he's an RB, and the RB timeline is a compressed one. Sure, there's been some top-tier guys who have faltered and then bounced back, but there are far, far more who put up a couple years of impressive numbers and then fall of the radar. If you take Addai as your RB2, you're gambling that he will be a member of the distinct minority who bounce back. It's a big risk. I think it would be totally different at QB, WR or TE, but the list of early flameout RBs is a very long one.