AHMAD BRADSHAW! (1 Viewer)

[aburt19]

Jacobs will get hurt this year, he is too big and runs too fierce to not get dinged. When he does Bradshaw is gonna be a stud.He ran over the first team defense of the Panthers.

I am an owner of Bradshaw but know this if Jacobs gets hurt Bradshaw will not be a stud he is not an every down back. Also first team offense or not it is week one preseason football. Meaningless!

Um...if Jacobs gets hurt, Bradshaw will be a stud. I don't know what you are smoking, but Bradshaw is already in line for Ward like numbers, even with Jacobs playing....I know I'll be targeting him in the middle of the draft.

If you target him in the "middle of the draft", it's a serious overdraft. Of 15 panelists on FBG, no one has him rated any higher than the 38th back this yearand several don't even have him in the top 50. I'm not saying that he can't exceed this draft position, just that I have my doubts that drafting him in themiddle rounds of the draft leaves much upside for him.

I have grown to love the great work that FBG staff members do here, but they are no better at figuring out who is what or what will happen than your average fantasy fanatic here in the shark pool. Matt was very High on Bradshaw coming out of college and I believe when he chimes in you will hear some praise. Matt by the way is the author of the RSP and no one and I mean no one does more in depth analysis of players coming into the NFL draft than Matt. Cecil and Sig are really good, but I would bet they have to be in a slight bit of awe of Matt's devotion to his work.Bradshaw is the real deal and fell to the 7th round due to character concerns. So believe your eye's or go with the flock. FBG staff gets a great deal right, sometimes they miss on a few. I am Fantasy Football for 300 plus days a year. I leave it alone in January and resume research in in the middle of February, I am an ardent supporter of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio and a big fan of FBG's. I tell all my league mates that they have to subscribe to this site to keep it going.Regardless of the amount of work that goes into the paid content of this sight, there is nothing more valuable then the insights and opinions of the Shark Pool. I would challenge anyone to find a more learned group than all of these misanthropes right here, right now.Your last statement about rated Higher than the 38th back? Well on the face of it that is ridiculous unless Bradshaw gets hurt. He will perform better in RBBC than your last ten starters.Bradshaw will finish no less than 20th best FFBL RB this year. You can take that to the bank ( sorry i forgot all the banks went belly up).

Matt is one of his biggest supporters and he has him ranked 40th among the running backs. That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of Bradshawfinishing in the top 24.

 

[corpcow]

Jacobs has gotten 46% of the rushing attempts in each of the past two years (obviously, may have been more if he stayed healthy). Ward got 38% of the rushing attempts last year (though almost 5x the number of targets in the passing game). Bradshaw had 15% of the rushing attempts and was barely used in the passing game.

In 2007, Brandon also had 46% of the rushing attempts; Ward had 29%; Droughns had almost 20%; and Bradshaw had about 5%.

The difference between Jacobs and Ward is greater, IMO, than the difference between Bradshaw and Ware. And, of course, I think Bradshaw and Ware are generally more interchangeable than Jacobs is with anyone else, and have relatively similar skill sets. Plus, if Jacobs were to go down for any extended period of time, they really wouldn't have much depth with Andre Brown already out for the year - so I would have to think they wouldn't want to overload any particular back.

So, what makes you think that Bradshaw will get 65% of the carries when Jacobs, the clear #1 on the team, doesn't today?

I agree with the bolded part for sure, but you can't cherry pick percentages like that. He was making a guess that it would be 65-35 if Jacobs went down. You are saying Brandon only got 46% of the carries, which is for the entire season, including the games Jacobs missed. You need to look at the percentage of carries Jacobs gets in games he is actually playing to get an idea of what the split might be when he is out, or look at what the splits between Ward/Bradshaw were during games Jacobs was out. Tell me what those splits were, and then I can have a better guess on what the Bradshaw/Ware splits might be if Jacobs misses games. I do agree with you that the split probably wouldn't be as high as 65-35, but your reasoning is not a fair analysis IMO.

For the record, I didn't "cherrypick" percentages - I just did overall season carries because, frankly, it was easier to calculate and I was somewhat rushed. But, on the whole, this is the trend I have observed when watching games (and I go to 2-4 per year). Jacobs only got more than 20 carries 4 times last year (21, 22, 21, 24). When we look at only the games that Jacobs played in, it breaks out to be Jacobs 54%, Ward 34% and Bradshaw at 12%. Only twice did he break 65%, and in both instances Bradshaw got 0 carries. In 2007, it was 64% for Jacobs in those games - and this is including a few games where there were 20ish carries and he got >80% of them. (I.e., he never got more than 20-25 carriesl; if the total carries was at/fewer than that number, he got a greater percentage of them).

The split between Ward/Bradshaw when Jacobs was out was more lopsided last year, but I also discount that somewhat because, on the whole, it seemed like Bradshaw was out of favor for whatever reason. 2007 is a bad year for comparison as Bradshaw didn't get many carries early in the season, and Ward was out by the time the playoffs rolled around and Bradshaw was getting significant work.

For me, it boils down to this: Jacobs is the clear leader inthis backfield and he wasn't (consistently) getting 65% of the carries. To me, the difference between Jacobs and anyone else in this backfield - including Ward from last year - is great, whereas I see Ware and Bradshaw as bringing very similar things to the table. In the past, they've shown a tendency to distribute the load as to not give too much to one back, even placing limits on their best back in Jacobs. And, if this scenario we're talking about plays out, it means they have very little depth (and would probably bring a 3rd RB off the street). THis suggests to me that they would distribute the load pretty evenly.

And, given that Bradshaw will take a mid-round pick and Ware can be had in the last round or on the wire, Ware is the one that screams value to me.

 

[inzanitee]

Digging Bradshaw this year, especially in ppr leagues.

Please explain, he had 5 catches last year. Thanks

I think he will be in on many 3rd downs, and from what I've read it's not that he's a poor reciever, it's just that he wasn't in the game enough. This year he should be catching a lot more passes (had 2 catches 1st preseason game in limited action) out of the backfield.

 

[PahtyTom]

He whiffed on a block that got Carr sacked.

He also had a great block downfield that helped Carr scramble for a first down....

One is more important than the other.

Depends on the point in time...

Well the time is in preseason when he's trying to prove that he can be on the field on 3rd downs to spell Jacobs. How's that?

 

[PahtyTom]

Digging Bradshaw this year, especially in ppr leagues.

Please explain, he had 5 catches last year. Thanks

I think he will be in on many 3rd downs, and from what I've read it's not that he's a poor reciever, it's just that he wasn't in the game enough. This year he should be catching a lot more passes (had 2 catches 1st preseason game in limited action) out of the backfield.

He needs to improve his pass blocking if he wants to be on the field on 3rd downs. They aren't gonna let Eli get hurt because Bradshaw doesn't understand the blitz pickup schemes, no matter how exciting he is with the ball in his hands.

 

[az_prof]

Digging Bradshaw this year, especially in ppr leagues.

Please explain, he had 5 catches last year. Thanks

I think he will be in on many 3rd downs, and from what I've read it's not that he's a poor reciever, it's just that he wasn't in the game enough. This year he should be catching a lot more passes (had 2 catches 1st preseason game in limited action) out of the backfield.

He needs to improve his pass blocking if he wants to be on the field on 3rd downs. They aren't gonna let Eli get hurt because Bradshaw doesn't understand the blitz pickup schemes, no matter how exciting he is with the ball in his hands.

What evidence do you have that he doesn't understand blitz schemes or that Ware understands them better? Usually it takes time for young backs to learn to pass block and Bradshaw has two years now in the Giants system. Is this really an issue or something people are imagining?

 

[identikit]

He whiffed on a block that got Carr sacked.

He also had a great block downfield that helped Carr scramble for a first down....

One is more important than the other.

Depends on the point in time...

Well the time is in preseason when he's trying to prove that he can be on the field on 3rd downs to spell Jacobs. How's that?

One play.That's a compelling sample size to downgrade him.

 

[PahtyTom]

It's no secret that his pass blocking is what has kept him from getting more playing time so far in his career. And in limited action in his first preseason game he whiffs on a block to get his qb sacked. Those r the facts. Do with them what u want guys.

 

[Scooby1974]

Well the time is in preseason when he's trying to prove that he can be on the field on 3rd downs to spell Jacobs. How's that?

One play.

That's a compelling sample size to downgrade him.



Rather like upgrading Bradshaw after he "completely destroyed the entire Carolina Defense" by running over them in a meaningless preseason game? Are we to assume that those DB's wouldn't have just gone all out and really put their bodies on the line during a REAL game? If I'm a starter and playing in a meaningless game, I'm not going to risk getting hurt (or hurting one of my teammates by smashing into them) and would give it a half-effort to preserve my body. I'm not saying Bradshaw's run wasn't impressive looking, just that it may never have happened in a "real" game. The Carolina DB's have their jobs sewn up, it isn't like they are trying to make the team.

 

[Burning Sensation]

BEAST!!!!

 

[az_prof]

Rather like upgrading Bradshaw after he "completely destroyed the entire Carolina Defense" by running over them in a meaningless preseason game? Are we to assume that those DB's wouldn't have just gone all out and really put their bodies on the line during a REAL game? If I'm a starter and playing in a meaningless game, I'm not going to risk getting hurt (or hurting one of my teammates by smashing into them) and would give it a half-effort to preserve my body. I'm not saying Bradshaw's run wasn't impressive looking, just that it may never have happened in a "real" game. The Carolina DB's have their jobs sewn up, it isn't like they are trying to make the team.



The problem with your logic is that HE HAS DONE IT IN A REAL GAME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3MkLCRkPIM

 

[ookook]

I do not think Jacobs has anywhere near earned the label of being "injury prone".

He is a beast to behold. And may get injured, but so might Forte or ADP.

 

[jdswan922]

I do not think Jacobs has anywhere near earned the label of being "injury prone".He is a beast to behold. And may get injured, but so might Forte or ADP.

In his 2 seasons as a starter he has missed 8 games due to injury. He is a beast, but he has never played a full season except for his rookie year in which he had 38 carries. He will miss a couple games, it is just the nature of his game.

 

[footballsavvy]

Don't be surprised at the end of the season when Bradshaw has more "touches" than Jacobs>

Jacobs is unusually fast for his size. Bradshaw is unusually gifted as a running back despite his size. It will make a dynamic duo and in 2009, the duo will be the most prolific tandem in NFL history. I predict 1500+ total yards for each!

Their Offensive line, system, lack of proven receivers, and schedule will lend itself to the above statment barring a major injury for either of them.

Look Out

 

[DropKick]

Wow, Mustang was going for "committee"? I was trying to figure out how "comity" in the legal sense was appropriate and couldn't figure it out, and was feeling a bit

I was thinking 'comedy', but I wasn't sure how funny Bradshaw was.

I was thinking "commodity"... man...

 

[Banger]

Don't be surprised at the end of the season when Bradshaw has more "touches" than Jacobs>Jacobs is unusually fast for his size. Bradshaw is unusually gifted as a running back despite his size. It will make a dynamic duo and in 2009, the duo will be the most prolific tandem in NFL history. I predict 1500+ total yards for each!Their Offensive line, system, lack of proven receivers, and schedule will lend itself to the above statment barring a major injury for either of them.Look Out

Jacobs carries are usually very hard carries where he's bowling over people, carrying people and taking big hits on his frame. The Giants are going to run the ball A LOT and I think they will look to keep Jacobs at around 15-18 carries a game. Bradshaw should be able to get 10-12 or so a game (Ward had 182 last year) and also get about 4 grabs. With the Giants line and mixing in the quick and powerful Bradshaw with Jacobs I could definitely see another successful Jacobs/Ward type tandem this year.

 

[Bri]

Jacobs has gotten 46% of the rushing attempts in each of the past two years (obviously, may have been more if he stayed healthy). Ward got 38% of the rushing attempts last year (though almost 5x the number of targets in the passing game). Bradshaw had 15% of the rushing attempts and was barely used in the passing game.

In 2007, Brandon also had 46% of the rushing attempts; Ward had 29%; Droughns had almost 20%; and Bradshaw had about 5%.

The difference between Jacobs and Ward is greater, IMO, than the difference between Bradshaw and Ware. And, of course, I think Bradshaw and Ware are generally more interchangeable than Jacobs is with anyone else, and have relatively similar skill sets. Plus, if Jacobs were to go down for any extended period of time, they really wouldn't have much depth with Andre Brown already out for the year - so I would have to think they wouldn't want to overload any particular back.

So, what makes you think that Bradshaw will get 65% of the carries when Jacobs, the clear #1 on the team, doesn't today?

I agree with the bolded part for sure, but you can't cherry pick percentages like that. He was making a guess that it would be 65-35 if Jacobs went down. You are saying Brandon only got 46% of the carries, which is for the entire season, including the games Jacobs missed. You need to look at the percentage of carries Jacobs gets in games he is actually playing to get an idea of what the split might be when he is out, or look at what the splits between Ward/Bradshaw were during games Jacobs was out. Tell me what those splits were, and then I can have a better guess on what the Bradshaw/Ware splits might be if Jacobs misses games. I do agree with you that the split probably wouldn't be as high as 65-35, but your reasoning is not a fair analysis IMO.

For the record, I didn't "cherrypick" percentages - I just did overall season carries because, frankly, it was easier to calculate and I was somewhat rushed. But, on the whole, this is the trend I have observed when watching games (and I go to 2-4 per year). Jacobs only got more than 20 carries 4 times last year (21, 22, 21, 24). When we look at only the games that Jacobs played in, it breaks out to be Jacobs 54%, Ward 34% and Bradshaw at 12%. Only twice did he break 65%, and in both instances Bradshaw got 0 carries. In 2007, it was 64% for Jacobs in those games - and this is including a few games where there were 20ish carries and he got >80% of them. (I.e., he never got more than 20-25 carriesl; if the total carries was at/fewer than that number, he got a greater percentage of them).

The split between Ward/Bradshaw when Jacobs was out was more lopsided last year, but I also discount that somewhat because, on the whole, it seemed like Bradshaw was out of favor for whatever reason. 2007 is a bad year for comparison as Bradshaw didn't get many carries early in the season, and Ward was out by the time the playoffs rolled around and Bradshaw was getting significant work.

For me, it boils down to this: Jacobs is the clear leader inthis backfield and he wasn't (consistently) getting 65% of the carries. To me, the difference between Jacobs and anyone else in this backfield - including Ward from last year - is great, whereas I see Ware and Bradshaw as bringing very similar things to the table. In the past, they've shown a tendency to distribute the load as to not give too much to one back, even placing limits on their best back in Jacobs. And, if this scenario we're talking about plays out, it means they have very little depth (and would probably bring a 3rd RB off the street). THis suggests to me that they would distribute the load pretty evenly.

And, given that Bradshaw will take a mid-round pick and Ware can be had in the last round or on the wire, Ware is the one that screams value to me.

The Giants use their RBs one after another to wear a defense down. This is their system in ideal circumstances.Ware and Bradshaw are pretty different backs. Bradshaw has big play ability and is a smallish back.

If Jacobs is out, it's not ideal. I do think the first week, Ware opens and Bradshaw takes over. At what point is debatable. If it's Bradshaw as the predominant back from 2nd thru 4th, then that's the guy you want. If it doesn't work, Bradshaw will simply play a more traditional role and be "the guy". I do think they have more confidence in Bradshaw AND that NFL defenses would be more concerned about Bradshaw-which is also useful.

Andre Brown getting hurt may be the best thing for Bradshaw fans and that's unfortunate.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Don't be surprised at the end of the season when Bradshaw has more "touches" than Jacobs>Jacobs is unusually fast for his size. Bradshaw is unusually gifted as a running back despite his size. It will make a dynamic duo and in 2009, the duo will be the most prolific tandem in NFL history. I predict 1500+ total yards for each!Their Offensive line, system, lack of proven receivers, and schedule will lend itself to the above statment barring a major injury for either of them.Look Out

Jacobs carries are usually very hard carries where he's bowling over people, carrying people and taking big hits on his frame. The Giants are going to run the ball A LOT and I think they will look to keep Jacobs at around 15-18 carries a game. Bradshaw should be able to get 10-12 or so a game (Ward had 182 last year) and also get about 4 grabs. With the Giants line and mixing in the quick and powerful Bradshaw with Jacobs I could definitely see another successful Jacobs/Ward type tandem this year.

Yeah, it seems like they will go with a 60-40 or 65-35 Jacobs/Bradshaw split. At least until Jacobs inevitably gets hurt for 4-6 games, at which point Bradshaw will step up. So at the end of the year it will look like:Jacobs: 18 touches per game x 11 games = 198 touchesBradshaw: 12 touches per game x 11 games + 18 touches per game x 5 games = 222 touches** Note: this assumes that when Jacobs misses 5 games, Bradshaw steps in and gets Jacobs' typical share of the load.

 

[Bri]

With the Giants line and mixing in the quick and powerful Bradshaw with Jacobs I could definitely see another successful Jacobs/Ward type tandem this year.

the thing to remember is Ward and Jacobs were like "bigger" and "biggest". If you picture some games and imagine Bradshaw getting Ward's reps. Does it matter that he is not big enough to have that big back effect Ward and Jacobs did? Would chasing his speed tire a D enough?

 

[Bri]

Yeah, it seems like they will go with a 60-40 or 65-35 Jacobs/Bradshaw split. At least until Jacobs inevitably gets hurt for 4-6 games, at which point Bradshaw will step up. So at the end of the year it will look like:Jacobs: 18 touches per game x 11 games = 198 touchesBradshaw: 12 touches per game x 11 games + 18 touches per game x 5 games = 222 touches** Note: this assumes that when Jacobs misses 5 games, Bradshaw steps in and gets Jacobs' typical share of the load.

Huh?He's missed zero, one, five and three games in his four years in the NFL. 5 is hardly the norm. Last year, he was ready willing and able to play but Coughlin held him out, late in the season so the total games unplayed would be even less.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Yeah, it seems like they will go with a 60-40 or 65-35 Jacobs/Bradshaw split. At least until Jacobs inevitably gets hurt for 4-6 games, at which point Bradshaw will step up. So at the end of the year it will look like:Jacobs: 18 touches per game x 11 games = 198 touchesBradshaw: 12 touches per game x 11 games + 18 touches per game x 5 games = 222 touches** Note: this assumes that when Jacobs misses 5 games, Bradshaw steps in and gets Jacobs' typical share of the load.

Huh?He's missed zero, one, five and three games in his four years in the NFL. 5 is hardly the norm. Last year, he was ready willing and able to play but Coughlin held him out, late in the season so the total games unplayed would be even less.

Do you REALLY think the 2005-06 seasons when Jacobs only carried the ball 2.5 times per game (2005) and 6.4 times per game (2006) are good compares for the punishment of being a lead RB? Of course not, that's just silly.Since being annointed the starter, Jacobs has started on average 11 games per season - 9 in 2007, 13 in 2008. Thus it is not a stretch to assume that he will only start 11 games in 2009.

 

[darthraider]

For a guy that doesn't know blitz pick ups and blocking schemes, he was sure on the field a lot during the Superbowl run, more than Jacobs by quite a bit. I would think at that time of the year, when every play matters you would need the best guy in.. I guess since his rookie season he has lost his blocking skills.

 

[Boone22]

For a guy that doesn't know blitz pick ups and blocking schemes, he was sure on the field a lot during the Superbowl run, more than Jacobs by quite a bit. I would think at that time of the year, when every play matters you would need the best guy in.. I guess since his rookie season he has lost his blocking skills.

Especially since this came out a two weeks ago...

Ahmad Bradshaw-RB - Giants Aug. 10 - 10:24 am et

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Ahmad Bradshaw's pass protection has improved.

That's huge for Bradshaw, who needs to block if he is going to be more than a mere handcuff to Brandon Jacobs. He is the clear No. 2 on the Giants' depth chart and could be the feature back as often as every third series. He's worth a pick even if you don't own Jacobs.Source: New York Post

 

[Bri]

Yeah, it seems like they will go with a 60-40 or 65-35 Jacobs/Bradshaw split. At least until Jacobs inevitably gets hurt for 4-6 games, at which point Bradshaw will step up. So at the end of the year it will look like:Jacobs: 18 touches per game x 11 games = 198 touchesBradshaw: 12 touches per game x 11 games + 18 touches per game x 5 games = 222 touches** Note: this assumes that when Jacobs misses 5 games, Bradshaw steps in and gets Jacobs' typical share of the load.

Huh?He's missed zero, one, five and three games in his four years in the NFL. 5 is hardly the norm. Last year, he was ready willing and able to play but Coughlin held him out, late in the season so the total games unplayed would be even less.

Do you REALLY think the 2005-06 seasons when Jacobs only carried the ball 2.5 times per game (2005) and 6.4 times per game (2006) are good compares for the punishment of being a lead RB? Of course not, that's just silly.Since being annointed the starter, Jacobs has started on average 11 games per season - 9 in 2007, 13 in 2008. Thus it is not a stretch to assume that he will only start 11 games in 2009.

so go by whether he was in on the first snap, not whether he played a significant amount?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Digging Bradshaw this year, especially in ppr leagues.

Please explain, he had 5 catches last year. Thanks

I think he will be in on many 3rd downs, and from what I've read it's not that he's a poor reciever, it's just that he wasn't in the game enough. This year he should be catching a lot more passes (had 2 catches 1st preseason game in limited action) out of the backfield.

Ahmad Bradshaw had something in the neighborhood of 50 receptions as a Senior coming out of Hofstra(IIRC)...it was one of those stats that made me pick him up in the last round of almost all rookie drafts he was in. Now so far he has not paid back a whole lot except if you want to maybe trade him for a round or two higher than where you picked him.The reason those numbers were impressive is that not very many RBs in college have a ton of catches...RBs are not throw to nearly as much in college as they are in Pro...not sure why, somebody smarter than me can answer that. I think Bradshaw could be like other RBs who start slow in the NFl but once they get a chance they hit a home run. In fact Bradshaw flashed some of that his rookie year. What made life hard for him and to many onwers is that he served time in jail during the off season for a crimes he did as a minor. I think many were spooked by him but he has been a model citizen even though reports were he was with Plax the night he shot himself in the club, I could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere. I just grabbed Bradshaw in the 10th of the FIX, and I have plucked him up in the 9th 0r 10th round of almost every draft I have done this year. He is an amazing RB4/5 to stash on your roster. I think he will likely have 3-4 really strong games and when Jacobs misses time he will be a startable RB2 most weeks...BJ will miss a couple games you can bank on that. In best ball I cannot find a single reason why an owner that takes BJ in the 3rd round wouldn't spend an 8th, 9th, or 10th on a guy like Bradshaw. Some situations you are almost better off not wasting time on the back up but not here in New York.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I do not think Jacobs has anywhere near earned the label of being "injury prone".

He has missed 8 games or half a season over the past 3 seasons...that means that every 4-5 games you get out of him he will miss a game...that might not be completely injury prone but at the same time he is likely to miss anywhere from 2-4 full games. And injuries can linger. He had a career high with 219 carries last season...what do you project for total carries this year for Jacobs? How bout the Giants total? There has to be a big uptick for Bradshaw this year, just has to be. And Jacobs had 6 recptions last year. We know the WRs are going to be a mixed bag, likely none of them will catch 80 balls, more like 2-3 of them in the 50-60 range possibly. Boss is OK at TE but he is not a world beater...where do all these balls go? Is Eli going to just not take the field? Dodds has Jacobs and Bradshaw combining for about 30 catches right now for the season...NO WAY!!! They have posted 77/65/60 the past 3 seasons for recptions by RBs...the numbers don't make a lot of sense. Dodds has the extra catches going to the TEs but he has about the same amount of catches going to the WRs as they have been posting...I am not sold on these WRs with Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Hicks...I do like Hixon the best of this quartet no doubt about it but I see the WRs as a whole having the drop off.

 

[yellowdog]

MoP, Bradshaw went to Marshall.

 

[drfeelgood]

Some situations you are almost better off not wasting time on the back up but not here in New York.

Don't you live in Florida?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

MoP, Bradshaw went to Marshall.

So IIRC became IIRI...thanks for the info. I don't know why I thought it was Hofstra.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Some situations you are almost better off not wasting time on the back up but not here in New York.

Don't you live in Florida?

Here=situation, and New York means the Giants not the actual city, sorry bout that.

 

[corpcow]

Just as an aside, I thought Ware looked really good in pass protection last night... he leveled blitzers on at least two occasions. Just something to keep an eye on. I still think Ware is the value guy to get here - I truly believe he will end the season with similar numbers and you can get him in the last round (and even on the wire in many shallow dynasty leagues).

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Do you REALLY think the 2005-06 seasons when Jacobs only carried the ball 2.5 times per game (2005) and 6.4 times per game (2006) are good compares for the punishment of being a lead RB? Of course not, that's just silly.Since being annointed the starter, Jacobs has started on average 11 games per season - 9 in 2007, 13 in 2008. Thus it is not a stretch to assume that he will only start 11 games in 2009.

so go by whether he was in on the first snap, not whether he played a significant amount?

Ok. He played in 11 games in 2007, 13 in 2008. He still missed 4 games per year on average. Not exactly a big difference - but feel free to ignore the broader point.

 

[munchkin]

Rather like upgrading Bradshaw after he "completely destroyed the entire Carolina Defense" by running over them in a meaningless preseason game? Are we to assume that those DB's wouldn't have just gone all out and really put their bodies on the line during a REAL game? If I'm a starter and playing in a meaningless game, I'm not going to risk getting hurt (or hurting one of my teammates by smashing into them) and would give it a half-effort to preserve my body. I'm not saying Bradshaw's run wasn't impressive looking, just that it may never have happened in a "real" game. The Carolina DB's have their jobs sewn up, it isn't like they are trying to make the team.



If this is true, then why would Bradshaw risk injuring himself or one of his team-mates? He is not a "Starter" but he has a position sewed up on this team as much as anyone. If you don't think that nearly all of these players aren't playing for a position on their teams then you are mistaken. I don't know that the coaches are telling their players to go out there and give 75%. The players know themselves that injuries often occur when they are moving slower than the players around them. You can't play with the same technique if you are holding back; further, this is their chance to practice real tackling as most teams aren't doing extensive live tackling during their own team's practices.