Brian Westbrook---Do you consider him an injury risk? (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

I'd like to clarify that by "injury risk", I mean the potential to miss a significant amount of games (>3-4 games in my opinion) that could jeopardize your fantasy season. Missing 1-2 games is insignificant to me, but if you feel otherwise, feel free to post and vote how you see fit. I think we might see some interesting results.

Please only vote here if you HAVE owned Westbrook in either of the last 2 years.

If you HAVE NOT owned him, vote here: http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=404836

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Hoping people can be honest here and only vote in the 2 questions that apply to you:

The polls don't work that way. I think you can fix it by adding an option for each question, i.e. "I did not own Westbrook". "I did own Westbrook."

 

[gianmarco]

Hoping people can be honest here and only vote in the 2 questions that apply to you:

The polls don't work that way. I think you can fix it by adding an option for each question, i.e. "I did not own Westbrook". "I did own Westbrook."

I know, I realized that later. Fixed and just did 2 separate threads. People can null vote in the thread that doesn't apply to them to see results.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I have owned Westbrook the last 4 years in a dynasty, and I happliy took him in a redraft full of Eagle homers last year at 2.03 .

I've lost a game each of the last two years simply due to him being de-activated before a night game after lineups had been locked. And even with that, I would not hesitate to draft him this year, and I see him being a top echelon back for another two years beyond '08.

You need a strong stomach to tolerate his questionables every week, but he's only missed two meaningful games the last two years (he got pulled early in week 17 of 2006 after the Eagles clinched the division, but that wasn't his fault). He's a warrior, a yardage machine, great in leagues that award bonuses for long TDs, and he's still good for a potential punt return TD once or twice a year.

 

[MAC_32]

He was drafted as a weak RB1/strong RB2 in 06 and a lower RB1 in 07 in large part due to his so called inability to stay healthy, both years he was studly. Football is a violent game, ALL players are injury risks. I've been feeding on Westbrook when I've had later round 1 picks each of the last two seasons and I would do the same this year but he is finally shaking the over rated injury hazard label and is being drafted as the top 5 RB he really is. Someday more fantasy owners will put less stock in medical history, but until then I will continue to exploit their weakness.

 

[menobrown]

You need a strong stomach to tolerate his questionables every week, but he's only missed two meaningful games the last two years (he got pulled early in week 17 of 2006 after the Eagles clinched the division, but that wasn't his fault).

Good point that I've been thinking about since last off season that I'm not sure others consider. A lot of people will point to the fact he has not missed much time the past few years and proclaim the fact he is injury prone is a myth. And you know they may be right. But what they don't often consider is that you over the past few years Westbrook owners went their great angst all week worrying about him before usually getting rewarded on Sunday. I'll tell you I've avoided him for this very reason. This year I think there is something which makes his injury situation potentially less worrisome to his owners and that is the presence of possibly a true handcuff in Booker. The past few years Westbrook's lack of a true or reliable handcuff soured me on him as I had no way of protecting my what would be a risky first round investment. Of course you can plan to draft Booker and get beat to the punch and at a minimum it's going to cost you a draft pick and a roster spot but if I owned Westbrook I'd do all I kid to own Booker if for no other reason so I could stop worrying about Westbrook.

 

[Jon_Moore]

Absolutely not.

He's missed a total of 2 games over the last 2 years, and he still manages to finish as a top 5 backs, and in PPR he fights for the #1 spot. You consider that' he's perpetually dinged up, imagine the upside if he got through a full season completely undinged.

 

[David Yudkin]

Over the last 3 seasons, here's the breakdown of touches and games played . . .

1 LaDainian Tomlinson 1002 + 167 = 1169 (48)

2 Edgerrin James 1021 + 107 = 1128 (47)

3 Larry Johnson 910 + 104 = 1014 (40)

4 Thomas Jones 920 + 90 = 1010 (47)

5 Steven Jackson 837 + 171 = 1008 (43)

6 Willie Parker 913 + 72 = 985 (46)

7 Willis McGahee 878 + 89 = 967 (45)

8 Jamal Lewis 881 + 80 = 961 (46)

9 Rudi Johnson 848 + 59 = 907 (43)

10 Brian Westbrook 674 + 228 = 902 (42)

And that's including a year with 156/61 and missing 4 games.

 

[cstu]

I don't like the choices for the second poll question since I think "avoid" is the wrong term. I would be tempted to pass on him for LT, AP and SJax in a PPR league.

 

[gianmarco]

I don't like the choices for the second poll question since I think "avoid" is the wrong term. I would be tempted to pass on him for LT, AP and SJax in a PPR league.

By avoid, I mean to pass on him for a slightly lesser talent. Not to the extreme of not taking the guy. Apologize if that wasn't too clear.

 

[a_troll00]

Here's how I see the situation playing out. If I draft him, he will have an injury plagued season. If I don't draft him, he will wind up playing all 16 games and have a top three finish. That's just my luck.

 

[gianmarco]

Bump for morning

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

I have had him in at least one league the last 3 years. Other than LT2 his injury risk is not bigger than anyone else that I would consider for the #2 spot, which is where I will select him in ppr leagues.

 

[Ace Matherton]

Its a given he will miss 1 game, there is no disputing that really. The question is can you handle 1 DNP, while recieveing top 3-5 production every other game. Its a risk i'll take after the first 3 picks is some formats, and some formats i would not consider him in the first round.

 

[gianmarco]

Bump to keep together

 

[Pip's Invitation]

ALL RB's are injury risks. It's the nature of the position. It applies to him no differently from all the others.

 

[DWidmar]

I owned him in a Dynasty league the last two years. I did trade him this offseason but not because of injury concerns but more so trying to get some value for him before his age determines he has no value. I went into both years realizing the Westbrook would miss a game or two and that I could live with that. When I look at the top 30 rb's in my league last year, 16 of them missed as least one game, including 6 of the top 10 backs.

My team was better off having Westbrook playing in 14 or 15 games versus having some other backs who played all 16 games. He was the #8 overall back in 2006 and the #2 back in 2007. (non ppr league)

 

[slayer666]

ALL RB's are injury risks. It's the nature of the position.

 

[Fantaholic]

Happily take him at 4 or 5 regardless of propensity to injury

 

[Duckboy]

Had him as my PPR keeper this past year (have to drop him this year ). Wouldn't consider him enough of an injury risk to drop him in the rankings (2nd or 3rd with ADP behind LT).

 

[Short Corner]

Had him the last two years in my high stakes league. It is not only the injuries that get you, but Reid will activate him last minute as well. Lost back-to-back weeks two years ago when he was a last minute scratch one week and the next he was listed as doubtful and blew up.

ETA---I would gladly take him agai if he falls to me at 1.05.