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RB Damien Harris, BUF (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Fariq
- Start date
wgoldsph
Footballguy
He's a player I'm hoping comes into his own in year two. With ne only drafting tes it looks like they're going to be a ground n pound based team and Sony just didn't have "it" last year. He's still on my taxi squad in a league with very few fa rbs and he'd be a great boost to my roster if he can get 10-15 touches a game.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Shane Vereen was a 2nd round draft pick (56th overall). He had 15 carries and 0 receptions as a rookie. He crept up to 62 carries and 8 receptions in his second year.
James White was a 4th round pick (130th overall). He had 9 carries and 5 receptions as a rookie. He progressed to 22 carries and 40 receptions in his second year.
As of right now, NE has Michel, White, Burkhead, Bolden, and a fullback all fighting for a piece of the pie. The Patriots are strapped for salary cap space, so it would not surprise me if they cut Burkhead (which would save them like $3 million against the cap). They could save $3.5 million if they opted to move on from White (which I think is less likely than Burkhead).
For Harris' sake, I am hoping that the Pats just had so many other options that he just has to bide his time until some of the other backs move on. While lots of people are saying Michel didn't have "it" last year, the only one that matters is BB. From interviews I heard with him, Bill passed the blame around to include the OL and TEs not doing their jobs and having a converted FB trying to learn on the fly as contributors to the lack of a steady running game. Bill did say that everyone needed to do better (including Michel), but it didn't sound like he was considering limiting Michel's carries. Maybe that will change this year, but NE really made no effort to even give Harris a chance to get on the field.
James White was a 4th round pick (130th overall). He had 9 carries and 5 receptions as a rookie. He progressed to 22 carries and 40 receptions in his second year.
As of right now, NE has Michel, White, Burkhead, Bolden, and a fullback all fighting for a piece of the pie. The Patriots are strapped for salary cap space, so it would not surprise me if they cut Burkhead (which would save them like $3 million against the cap). They could save $3.5 million if they opted to move on from White (which I think is less likely than Burkhead).
For Harris' sake, I am hoping that the Pats just had so many other options that he just has to bide his time until some of the other backs move on. While lots of people are saying Michel didn't have "it" last year, the only one that matters is BB. From interviews I heard with him, Bill passed the blame around to include the OL and TEs not doing their jobs and having a converted FB trying to learn on the fly as contributors to the lack of a steady running game. Bill did say that everyone needed to do better (including Michel), but it didn't sound like he was considering limiting Michel's carries. Maybe that will change this year, but NE really made no effort to even give Harris a chance to get on the field.
Faust
MVP
dipandglide
Footballguy
I've been scooping him up everywhere. I don't expect a huge 2020. But I see the possibility where he is the lead back in 2021. He's talented, has high character, and decent draft capital. I'll take those kinds of fliers all day long when they are essentially free.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
dipandglide
Footballguy
Log jam at RB, weaker team that will likely ve trailing more, and history. A previous poster above shared tidbits about Vereen and White. His ceiling is capped this year barring injuries.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Interesting. I think he needs to pop this year or its probably not going to happen for him. Doesn’t need to be the lead guy or have a huge year, but he should show us something exciting.
Apple Juice
Footballguy
The odds are low that all four NE backs stay healthy/productive all year again. At some point he'll probably get enough carries to be evaluated.
I think he's one of the better lotto tickets out there. One the bright side, he has fresh legs after taking the year off and I'm hopeful he learned the offense so he won't be like a rookie coming in. I got him with a third round pick last year so I'm really rooting for him to show something. Always feels good to hit on a 3rd rounder. The only other time I ever did it was drafting Carson.
I think he's one of the better lotto tickets out there. One the bright side, he has fresh legs after taking the year off and I'm hopeful he learned the offense so he won't be like a rookie coming in. I got him with a third round pick last year so I'm really rooting for him to show something. Always feels good to hit on a 3rd rounder. The only other time I ever did it was drafting Carson.
Breezy H2O
Footballguy
An injury away from fantasy relevance. Two injuries away from being the man.
Big believer in his talent.
Big believer in his talent.
Breezy H2O
Footballguy
Sony is locking down the RZ stuff. White will still be the primary satellite back, I assume.
If Burkhead is cut, I'm buying.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Details on Lamar Miller's contract. Since he was on IR last year, just like with Cam Newton, the Pats opted for the incentive route. His contract contains a lot of not likely to be earned incentives and weekly roster bonuses. (That basically give NE more cap flexibility.) He signed for the veteran minimum ($1.05). With incentives, he could make $2.5 million this season. Only $200,000 guaranteed.
This makes it really easy for the Pats to release him with very little damage to their cap. NE still has $32.3 million in cap space this year, and the most likely outcome is they don't spend much of it and roll it over to 2021.
This makes it really easy for the Pats to release him with very little damage to their cap. NE still has $32.3 million in cap space this year, and the most likely outcome is they don't spend much of it and roll it over to 2021.
barackdhouse
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Generally speaking over the years, the more a NE player does in the preseason, the less the player actually does in the regular season. Maybe Harris does see a lot bigger role, but there is a decent chance that Harris is getting a lot of work because Michel and Miller aren't there at the moment.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
They will definitely get a boost initially because other teams will have no idea what they are going to do.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Anarchy99
Footballguy
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Perhaps, but BB did have 4 losing seasons out of 5 in Cleveland and another in NE, so he is capable of it.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I don’t have him on any of my teams, but I wish I did. In those leagues his owners will have been keeping up with the news, unfortunately.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
How did the other 31 coaches in the NFL do 20-25 seasons ago? Because that’s the timeframe we are talking.
I have posted several times that the current NE team was very similar to the one from the early 2000s (but that was before all the opt outs).
Bill will get the most out of them, so I doubt they will be horrible. Who knows how things will play out for any team given how crazy this year has been.
wgoldsph
Footballguy
Michel may not play to start the season. And Miller... Well I'm personally not big on older rbs coming off leg injuries.
But yeah, obviously Harris is getting work because those two are out.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
It might be a little different this year given COVID and the new offense, QB being installed. Plus, Michel and Miller aren't really much of a hurdle. If Harris can't beat them out this year than he likely doesn't have much of a future.
rockaction
Footballguy
He's 23. It really is time for a back in the NFL to sort of seize control by this year or next. Crucial steps here, though NE asks its backs to do different things. I'm with Anarchy99 on the caution, though. He got virtually no time last year and is only seemingly getting it due to injury and opt-outs.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Absolutely, it is all about where I am getting him in mocks. Fantasy Pros has him as the 205, the 59th RB off the board. I will take my shot on him at that price.
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Hankmoody
Footballguy
I own him in 4/5 leagues and would love to sell on this news. What kind of prices are you seeing on him?
wgoldsph
Footballguy
I'd wait a week or two. The buzz out of camp has been good so far and if it keeps up his price will rise. As it is he's still just a late round moonshot who won't get you anything.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I haven’t inquired. I was responding to some one that said he could be cheap if people weren’t keeping up with the news. I liked him as a prospect but not quite willing to pay a second yet.Hankmoody said:
Hankmoody
Footballguy
pantherclub
Footballguy
His adp as of today is round 10/11. This seems really really off to me. Before I looked it up I would have guessed 6/7 since Michel is coming off (another) injury.wgoldsph said:
rockaction
Footballguy
Saw a newswire blurb where the guy was quoted as saying that Harris's job was his "to lose" and that he'd massively impressed in camp. Whether this was an insider's view or not I can't say, but it was something. More blurbs from news sources:
(RotoWire) ESPN's Mike Reiss believes that Harris has put himself in a good position to be "a primary option (in the Patriots' running game) alongside Rex Burkhead" to start the coming season. Analysis: Per Reiss, Harris' "fresh legs and soft hands in the passing game" have helped the second-year back take advantage of the continued absence of Sony Michel (foot), whose Week 1 status is cloudy. If Michel isn't ready to start the season and Lamar Miller (knee) is unable to make a late push for early-down work once he joins practice, it's starting to look like Harris could have a chance to head the team's backfield in New England's opener
(FantasyPros) Patriots beat writer Jeff Howe noted Sunday that second-year RB Damien Harris continues to be a camp standout. Analysis: Howe adds that Harris is impressing in more ways than just as a runner, noting that he "looks comfortable in his route tree" and has been consistently picking up blitzers. The positive reports keep trickling in about Harris, who looks likely to lead New England's backfield in touches at this point. Lamar Miller and Sony Michel are low-ceiling fantasy bets right now.
(RotoWire) ESPN's Mike Reiss believes that Harris has put himself in a good position to be "a primary option (in the Patriots' running game) alongside Rex Burkhead" to start the coming season. Analysis: Per Reiss, Harris' "fresh legs and soft hands in the passing game" have helped the second-year back take advantage of the continued absence of Sony Michel (foot), whose Week 1 status is cloudy. If Michel isn't ready to start the season and Lamar Miller (knee) is unable to make a late push for early-down work once he joins practice, it's starting to look like Harris could have a chance to head the team's backfield in New England's opener
(FantasyPros) Patriots beat writer Jeff Howe noted Sunday that second-year RB Damien Harris continues to be a camp standout. Analysis: Howe adds that Harris is impressing in more ways than just as a runner, noting that he "looks comfortable in his route tree" and has been consistently picking up blitzers. The positive reports keep trickling in about Harris, who looks likely to lead New England's backfield in touches at this point. Lamar Miller and Sony Michel are low-ceiling fantasy bets right now.
pantherclub
Footballguy
^ If thats all true then what round should we target him?
rockaction
Footballguy
Dude, you've got me. That backfield is a mess. In redraft, I'd stay away. There are guys going pretty low that I can think of that I'd rather have.
eta* And it was Newton's job "to lose," not Harris. Got my NEP crossed, but the blurbs are direct cut-and-pastes from Boston beat writers.
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Doug B
Footballguy
I just took Damien Harris in the second round of a 12-team keep-6 league. Here are the names of the RBs that were still available at my pick:
Adrian Peterson
Alexander Mattison
Kerryon Johnson
Jordan Howard
Sony Michel
Latavius Murray (I own Kamara)
James White
Boston Scott
Damien Harris
Zack Moss
Nyheim Hines
Tarik Cohen
Chase Edmonds
Benny Snell (I own Conner)
Duke Johnson
Tony Pollard
Carlos Hyde
The breaks seem to be going Harris' way at the moment. Not a ton to go on because of no preseason ... but Harris seems to be someone for whom jumping into the Top 20 among FF running backs (and maybe some Top 10 stretches at times) isn't too much of a stretch. Probably TD dependent, though ... hard to imagine Belichick now deciding to force-feed Harris and try to feature a 1,500-YFS near-bellcow.
Adrian Peterson
Alexander Mattison
Kerryon Johnson
Jordan Howard
Sony Michel
Latavius Murray (I own Kamara)
James White
Boston Scott
Damien Harris
Zack Moss
Nyheim Hines
Tarik Cohen
Chase Edmonds
Benny Snell (I own Conner)
Duke Johnson
Tony Pollard
Carlos Hyde
The breaks seem to be going Harris' way at the moment. Not a ton to go on because of no preseason ... but Harris seems to be someone for whom jumping into the Top 20 among FF running backs (and maybe some Top 10 stretches at times) isn't too much of a stretch. Probably TD dependent, though ... hard to imagine Belichick now deciding to force-feed Harris and try to feature a 1,500-YFS near-bellcow.
wgoldsph
Footballguy
The praise is generally recent and he could be a guy who's still being slept on considering NE picked up Miller earlier in the offseason. I'd go for white ahead of him just in that offense because you know for sure white will get his, but I've been stumping for Harris hard all offseason.
