Just a few points on opportunity:
Darren McFadden (4.07)
Opp (B): I really don’t have a lot to base this on but I just cannot believe he was taken in the top5 but is stuck in a 2 back rotation system unless he proves he cannot handle the load. Oakland has a rookie basically under Center so I don’t think this is going to be a wide open offense. In fact I think DMac, Fargas, and even Bush may all have their moments during the season but I also think McFadden will get at least 15-18 touches a game or Al Davis’ head will simply explode.
OL (C+): The Raiders avg 4.1 ypc last season. They have 3 of those starters returning and have added John Wade from TB, and Kwame Harris will likely step in at LT for Barry Sims which might be an upgrade to some extent. Not the OL that some people think but it’s not horrible by any stretch, possibly even improving.
Sch (C+): DEN, @KC, @ Buf to open the season. Actually it is a very nice schedule for most of the season but look what he faces in weeks 14 and 15, typically the opening of the playoffs in most leagues…@SD, NE, those two games sort of dampen my enthusiasm a bit. It’s the timing of those games more than anything. Would rather they played them in weeks 1 and 2.
Surround (D): JeMarcus might be good long term but he is not a top20 QB, not even top25 likely. Javon Walker wants to retire, Curry is not a WR1, other than the 2nd year TE Zach Miller, I don’t like a lot of the skill position players presently.
Intangibles (B): I like his skill set and think he will show some flashed of why people loved him coming out of college. The fact is though he doesn’t play on a high octane offense yet, and he will have a learning curve tog et over as he enters the NFL.
Overall (C+): A guy that is very interesting to take in PPR leagues on the 3/ 4 turn.
“C” tier
I have to disagree here.. I think that 15-18 touches a game would be around the max McFadden will see this year. I think he'll do well playing behind the Raiders good run blocking offensive line, but I don't see him garnering that many touches. He and Fargas should split carries this year with Michael Bush stealing goal line and short yardage carries. I suspect he'll see some where around 10-11 carries/game and 2-3 catches/game his rookie year. I don't think McFadden will ever be a 20+ carry/game back, and especially not with Fargas and Bush on the roster.
Thomas Jones (5.01)
Opp (C ): He is going to get a good amount of the carries, but I still see Washington gobbling up catches and potential touches. This could score out higher if he takes a more traditional role with Favre taking the snaps.
OL (B): You can’t grade them on the 3.8 ypc they amassed with Clemens/Pennington starting, and the addition of Alan Faneca cannot be undersold here. I think they will be much improved at running the football, and hopefully the addition of Brett Favre will
Help with the urn game even more.
Sch (C+): NE and SD in the 1st 3 weeks. After the week 5 bye there is nice a soft part where they will face CIN, @Oak, KC, @Buf, St L…should be some good games in there. Den, @SF, BUF, @Sea for the playoff stretch.
Surround (B): Favre is an upgrade at QB, plain and simple. Coles and COtchery are not flashy but I think they will be improved with Favre.
Intangibles (B): You have to love the addition of Brett Favre. Jones has some skills and look at what Favre has done with guys like Dorsey Levens, Ahman Green, Ryan Grant, it’s long and distinctive list.
Overall (C ): Jones is another guy I think you want on your radar on the 3/ 4 turn if you go WR/WR or WR/QB on the 1/ 2 turn.
The Jets went out and spent a lot of money to get Thomas Jones two years ago to help their running game. They fed him the ball a ton, but the blocking really stunk last year. So this off season they went out and spent a lot of money again to help improve their running game. I see no reason why they won't feed Jones the ball a ton again this year. Leon Washington is a great returner and a good receiver out of the backfield, but he is nothing more than a change of pace back. How many carries do you expect him to steal this year? I think Jones gets the bulk of the work, and should see an increase in TDs as the Jets offense is greatly improved.
Willie “no longer fast” Parker (4.05)
Opp (D): Think he might not get 300+ carries this season? I just see a split right down the middle for the Steeler backfield and I also don’t see Parker getting goal line touches exclusively either.
OL (B-): I’ll sum it up like this. I think the OL is going to be OK at run blocking, the challenge will be pass protection for them but that should not impact their run blocking skills.
Sch (C ): The regular season is OK, but starting in week 13, the money weeks, here is how the schedule shakes out…@NE, DAL, @Bal, @TN…not exactly easy by any stretch.
Surround (A): Big Ben, Ward, Miller, Holmes, Sweed, and others make up a superior skill position set around for Parker/Mendenhall.
Intangibles (D): Writing is on the wall, and I think Parker will lose a significant amount of carries to the rookie.
Overall (C ): Fairly short write up for Parker but I just don’t have much to say about him. I think it’s obvious his time as an RB1 getting 70% of the workload…just isn’t going to happen. Factor in an OL that lost Alan Faneca, and a tough schedule down the stretch, put that all together and I don’t like the end result too much. No way I am grabbing Parker in the late 3rd-middle 4th round.
While I don't see Willie Parker getting too many goal line carries, I think he still gets the bulk of the carries for the Steelers. He is still capable of breaking off long runs. Mendy is very talented, but I don't see him getting a 50/50 split with the proven vet. I also think the Steelers will run the ball enough so that Mendy won't have to steal too many of FWPs carries. A grade of D is just too low here IMO.
LenDale White (5.06)
Opp (C-): The presence of a 2nd RB will be felt. I believe he is in a split situation at best, and I doubt he will be getting many catches out of the backfield. Good thing is he shared a backfield with Reggie Bush in college so he can function even when he isn’t the primary back. I think some weeks White will be featured more than others.
OL (B-): They ran very well behind the LT Michael Roos last season…no wonder they paid that guy a big sum of money. Jake Scott will be the RG, and Amano/Harris will fight it out for the LG spot. Both starting Guards left or retired in the off season, but that’s OK because they needed to improve there anyways.
Sch (C ): JAX, MN, @Bal all before the week 6 bye. IND, GB, @Chi, @Jax in the 2nd half, playoffs are pretty alright with @Det, CLE, @Hou, and PIT to close things out…perhaps this schedule could be slightly higher.
Surround (D): Crumpler but not much else in the WR/TE stable to speak of. Young is not a great passing QB yet either.
Intangibles (C-): Chris Johnson is gaining on his touches day by day in camp. The OC came out and basically is trying to see how many carries a game he can give to Johnson, in other words he sounds like he wants to get the ball in Johnson’s hands as much as possible…that doesn’t bode well for White.
Overall (D+): I don’t think he will be the guy that owners want as the season progresses.
The Titans had a 2nd back last year...Chris Brown. He proved to be a good change of pace to Lendale when he was healthy. I love Chris Johnson just as much as anyone, but I see him as nothing more than a change of pace back. He has awesome speed and they are going to want to use him in space so I think he will get a high number of receptions. I'd say anywhere from 2-4 receptions/game, but no more than 10 carries a game for the rookie. Lendale showed he could carry most of the load last year, and he wasn't even fully healthy. He should see around the same amount of work as last year... maybe a 10% decrease in carries. He will also see all the short yardage and goal line carries. Fischer is the type of coach who likes a RB to grind it out and wear a defense down.