Brian Westbrook Respect Thread (1 Viewer)

[Ralphie]

First-time Westbrook owner this year. I never really got the chance to watch him closely over the last couple of years because I never seemed to draft any Eagles players. I was somewhat reluctant to draft him at the end of the first round. I know people constantly knock him because he's an injury risk.

Through 8 games played:

1200+ total yards

9 TDs

4.8 YPC

54 receptions

He's an incredibly tough inside runner for his size and breaks tackles. He's a very good receiver. He has burst and is a threat for 50+ yard runs. He can pass protect. He's on a lousy team, and he's basically picking it up and carrying it on his shoulders. There are certainly better backs out there when it comes to individual phases of the game, but for all-around, all-purpose RBs I'll take him over anyone (with the exception of LT).

Do fans outside of FF really know how good this guy is? I've heard a lot more buzz this year about other good backs who really aren't at his level when it comes to all phases of the game (e.g. MBIII, Jacobs, Maroney, T. Henry, W. Parker). Is it just the durability issue? Because he's proving to be at least as durable as any of these guys. Or is it mainly just the team he plays for, which has been nasty of late? I just don't get it. He's the Rodney Dangerfield of RBs.

 

[dirtywaters20]

Fans of the Eagles have been acutely aware of how good he is. He is (and always has been) the best offensive player on the Eagles.

 

[Ned]

a great stat before yesterday's game started...

westy accounted for 37% of philly's total offense.

 

[talbott]

He's still in that area that Tiki Barber was in for a while before people REALLY recognized him as one of the NFL's elite. From a fantasy perspective, he's a rock solid week in, week out contributor, who every so often single handedly wins you a game (yesterday; his game against the Lions). I did the moonwalk on my way up to the draft board to get him at #9 in my 12 teamer this year, and he's paid huge dividends. He's headed for absolute top 5 status next season.

 

[shredhead]

First time Westy owner as well, I've always known he was good just from reading these boards over the years. He just never made it on my teams because of where I drafted and where is ADP has been. The stars finally aligned this year and I am happy to have him on my team. He is welcome on my team any time. As far as him being on a crap team, this may be true this year, although I wouldn't quite put the Eagles as crap yet. Underperforming, yes, but not crap. Even when the Eagles were going to Superbowls and Championship games, Westy has always been a big part of the offense. I can't comment on the respect he gets (or doesn't get) outside of the FF community.

 

[Game Time]

Eagles MVP..... and quite possibly the league MVP.... Watched him since his days at Nova.... makes things look easy..... He doesn't get the credit for the toughness he plays with..... He lays out some punishment too... Lowers the shoulder to deliver blows... top notch stiff arm... and can hit that next gear as quicjk as anyone!

 

[Steel Town]

I grabbed him at #7 this year and was thrilled. I actually got some remarks from my other owners about his durability and that he was "too much risk" to place on a 1st round pick. I managed to have him on my team 2 years in a row, and the guy is absolutely rock solid. If he plays, then he is almost a lock for a 100 total yards. And when he is on - he wins games for you single handedly.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

a easy example of this exact thread from my league

a young owner(teenager) IM'd me yesterday and told me "wow, westy is the new Sjax"

i replied no, Sjax was the new westy last year-westy has been the #### for like 4years now-the idea was totally lost on him. westbrook is a awesome talent and could not be in a better situation. he is the perfect RB for Andy Reid's west coast version. so many fantasy owners i've seen steer away from westy for years b/c of his 'injury' history. i never have. i mean who gives a #### if he misses 2-3games a year, most RB's do-it comes with the job. its more rare to find a RB who plays everygame every year

 

[Wu-banger]

I have in 4 out of 5 leagues this year ... and would have had him in my 5th but i had the #3 overall pick and took LJ .. DOH!!!

I do not think he gets enought respect in Fantasy and reality.... even from Eagles fans, most of them love them , but I dont think they appreciate them.

My 2 big money league , filled with 75% Eagles fans, I was able to land him @ 9 and 10... so If they know how valubale he is , they sure are not showing it.

 

[AcerFC]

I too ran to the board when Westy was there at 8. Unfortunately I traded him when he was hurt because I was scared away. Oh well. If he is there at 3 next year and I have that pick, I take him

 

[BustedKnuckles]

I love the dudes game ...he is rock solid and will be franchising him for next season

I have NO problem building around westbrook

 

[Da Guru]

For some reason I always pass on Westbrook, I keep thinking he is too frail.

 

[Sweet Love]

For some reason I always pass on Westbrook, I keep thinking he is too frail.

Funny, I am in the same boat. I picked #5 in a PPR league and grabbed Gore without honestly thinking of Westbrook. Westie went to the next pick and all of the sudden the light bulb went on. For some reason I either buy into preseason hype that he will be replaced by Moats, Buckhalter or that other guy's whose butt has not even gotten off the bench this year.I did grab him in a heavy TD in the second round and that has worked out well for me.

 

[shadow2k]

Drafted him at #7, would have taken him as high as #3 behind LT and SJax. He's always banged up, but he doesn't miss any more time than any other RB...except for LT. And when he plays, he's money. At least in PPR.

 

[awesomeness]

I have in 4 out of 5 leagues this year ... and would have had him in my 5th but i had the #3 overall pick and took LJ .. DOH!!!I do not think he gets enought respect in Fantasy and reality.... even from Eagles fans, most of them love them , but I dont think they appreciate them.My 2 big money league , filled with 75% Eagles fans, I was able to land him @ 9 and 10... so If they know how valubale he is , they sure are not showing it.

believe me, eagles fans appreciate Westbrook more than anyone else on the team. Cause one thing is for sure, Mcnabb isnt gonna win us any games..

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

he is a HUGE injury risk. guy is terrible. i bet Moats and Hunt and Buckhalter are the future. are you listening my fellow money league owners?

in all seriousness, i wish to have Brian Westbrooks children. should i fall into the FF superbowl this year, i may just have to dress my 7 month old, a girl mind you, in this and show up at a sports bar:

http://www.amazon.com/Westbrook-Philadelph...231&sr=1-15

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

I'm in a redraft league with a ton of Eagle homers, and he fell to me at 2.03

I've had him in a keeper league for four years now, and I've always loved having him. I think 2 things have kept Westbrook in lower regard than he deserves:

1) He was a 3rd round pick from a I-AA school (Villanova). Granted, he was the NCAA all-purpose yard record holder, but he didn't have that college pedigree out of the gate that causes people to pay a premium for "upside" early on, like they do with inferior talents that were drafted higher in the NFL.

2) Generally, when people look at how to measure a RB, their eyes almost always go to the previous season's rushing yard rankings first, and until last season, Westbrook's have always looked pedestrian. 700-800 yards a year, which would put him middle teens-20th best. Plus until last year, he had good TD totals but never great totals.

For some reason, his receiving yards have always been discounted, very much like Tiki's were all those years. When healthy he's always been good for 100-140 yards a game, but because the split was something like 65/55 rush/rec, it didn't look "as impressive" as someone like a Rudi Johnson, who'd get 90/10 and end up with a much higher total rushing number for the season, even though Westy's combined yards were higher.

People eventually adjusted their thinking on the value of a Tiki Barber, plus there seems to be more PPR leagues than in recent years, so people are finally coming around on Westbrook as well. I think his game is actually very close to Marshall Faulk, but again, he's never had a 20-TD year like Faulk and he wasn't drafted 2nd like Faulk, so he's not looked at in the same light.

 

[Swampy]

At #8 I was debating between Parker and Westy, debating knowing about Westy's injury problems and Parkers upside. The kicker I knew while healthy he was the best Fantasy player out there. Glad I made the right decision.

 

[splitvizionz]

Point blank, he is just amazing.. best all-around back in the league... That 50+ yd reception yesterday was just awesome..

 

[krsone21]

I had the number 4 pick in a PPR survivor league and I didn't even hesitate to take Westbrook there. I was laughed at by one particular person and I asked him if he was serious. I said look at his receiving numbers man that should tell you eveything you need to know for a league like this.

 

[pats3in4]

At #8 I was debating between Parker and Westy, debating knowing about Westy's injury problems and Parkers upside. The kicker I knew while healthy he was the best Fantasy player out there. Glad I made the right decision.

I was in a similar boat. I'm in a one-keeper league and had to decide between keeping Westbrook or Parker. With Westbrook's injury history and his permanently messed up knee (missing ligaments or something), I was very tempted to keep Parker. I kept Westbrook because A) He's the focal point in the Eagles' passing game as well as the running game and that wasn't about to change under Reid and B) Parker got a ton of goalline love from Cowher last year, love that Tomlin may not give this time around. I guessed right.As for the general question, I do not think that Westbrook gets a lot of love outside of Philly or FF. You rarely hear his name mentioned amongst the top RBs in the game. Even after yesterday's outstanding game, the guy getting all the pub was McNabb. I think the general football watching public views Westbrook incorrectly as a scatback (e.g. Eric Metcalf) or 3rd down receiving back (e.g. Kevin Faulk) who just happens to play on 1st and 2nd downs as well. The guy is as strong as a bull; He's no lightweight that goes down upon the slightest contact, but I think many out there feel he's just a little guy playing RB.

 

[sheerterror]

I loved that in the postgame interview, Westbrook was asked about his 50 yard TD off a screen pass, and he said something to the effect of that play showed just how much of a team game football really is - despite how great of an individual effort the play was. The guy is not only a phenomenal running back, but he's extremely humble and team oriented as well. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite players in the league.

 

[Ralphie]

I loved that in the postgame interview, Westbrook was asked about his 50 yard TD off a screen pass, and he said something to the effect of that play showed just how much of a team game football really is - despite how great of an individual effort the play was. The guy is not only a phenomenal running back, but he's extremely humble and team oriented as well. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite players in the league.

I like how some backs make predictions regarding how many yards they want to get. (e.g. Steven Jackson talking in the preseason about how he wanted 2,500 yards). Westbrook doesn't make predictions or set individual goals. He doesn't complain when he doesn't get enough carries or when he's not the focus of the offense (although he is most of the time). He just shows up for work and gets it done.

 

[SSOG]

Do fans outside of FF really know how good this guy is?

Most fans INSIDE FF don't really know how good this guy is. Despite that injury knock, he misses an average of one game a season due to injury (remember, several of his "missed games" were after the Eagles had locked up their playoff seed and were resting their starters). His per-game numbers are off-the charts good every season, but people always find some excuse or another to let him drop when it comes to draft time.

 

[nashua55]

he is marshall faulk except he doesnt get as many td's, because he has a QB that is way too inconsistant and kills drives.

 

[SSOG]

he is marshall faulk except he doesnt get as many td's, because he has a QB that is way too inconsistant and kills drives.

Speaking of players whose greatness goes unrecognized... Donovan McNabb is part of the solution, not part of the problem. Philly has had a very good offense the entirety of Westy's time there. They aren't the 2000 Rams, but then again, nobody will ever mistake Pinkston and Thrash for Holt and Bruce. The real difference between Westbrook and Faulk isn't McNabb, it's **** Vermeil.

 

[BigTex]

At night when I holding my teddybear, I have man dreams about Westbrook............aaaaaahhhhh, I'm getting sleppy again.

 

[Sabertooth]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

As an Eagles fan what I love most about Westbrook is that he can do EVERYTHING you ask a back to do and more.

Want someone to run up the middle ? No problem

Need a back to catch some swing passes? He is your man

How about picking up a blitz? There are few better then BWest.

We dont even have to mention what he can do in the slot.

The guy is just incredible at every aspect of the game.

 

[dirtywaters20]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

Bush can't hold a candle to Westbrook when it comes to carrying the ball. Not even close, he doesn't have the vision or patience at this point in his career.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

 

[LILB811]

I wanted to hold off on this thread considering I am a huge Eagles fan, so I will do my best to keep this unbiased. There are 3 running backs in the league right now that when they get the ball in their hands all I can think is "Holy ####, this guy is so good": LT, Peterson, and Westbrook. I don't think any other Running Back in the league is as much of a gamebreaker as any of these 3. After any Eagles loss, as frustrating as they may be, I just feel bad for BWest because you just know that the loss had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Like Buddy Ball said, he does everything, and he does it all well. The first man very, very rarely brings him down. He's just that good at making guys miss. He can block, he can catch, he has speed, power, and elusiveness. He may even be more humble than LT. He always says the right things, and contributes a lot in the community as well.

I love being able to go root for this guy at bars, and yelling out things like

There are some guys that any NFL fan needs to just appreciate, and BWest is most definitely one of them.

 

[The Ref]

2008 FBG RB Rankings

1. LT

2 AD

3 Brian Westbrook

 

[talbott]

My mancrush is in full effect.

 

[AngryGorilla]

the man is studtacular. He's fantasy gold 'like whoa'

I <3 Brian Westbrook

 

[Chunky Soup]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

Bush can't hold a candle to Westbrook when it comes to carrying the ball. Not even close, he doesn't have the vision or patience at this point in his career.

Westbrook is what Bush hopes to be.

 

[Ed Wood]

I loved that in the postgame interview...

And he looked like, as Muhammad Ali used to say, a "baddddddd" man in that cool black hat.

 

[maxwell1295]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

Say what? If you took Warrick Dunn and Reggie Bush and rolled them up together, they still wouldn't add up to Brian Westbrook...

 

[azngangster]

You're definately right. Westbrook is amazing. He never seems to get his due as a top Rb in the Nfl, but that is exactly what he is. People inside and outside of fantasy circles seem to underrate him. He reminds me of when people would got to their fantasy drafts, and Tiki Barber was always picked later than he should. That screen pass turned touchdown was a thing of beauty.

 

[The Jerminator]

You're definately right. Westbrook is amazing. He never seems to get his due as a top Rb in the Nfl, but that is exactly what he is. People inside and outside of fantasy circles seem to underrate him. He reminds me of when people would got to their fantasy drafts, and Tiki Barber was always picked later than he should. That screen pass turned touchdown was a thing of beauty.

I'm another first-time Westy owner, grabbed him at 1.10 in my Big $$$ League. He, Romo and Braylon have me #1 in points so far...The best part about being a Westy owner is watching the games (first-year DTV NFL ST subscriber as well).You know he's going to touch the ball twice every three downs!My six-year-old thinks we're Eagles fans now (actually Rams fans ) beause I always seem to be watching their games on Sunday. That's my Westy!!!

 

[SproutDaddy]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

Say what? If you took Warrick Dunn and Reggie Bush and rolled them up together, they still wouldn't add up to Brian Westbrook...

But if you followed Westy's career in it's entirety, you'd remember that he wasn't that great at running the ball his first 2 or 3 years. That part of his game has developed nicely, though. He is the ultimate offensive weapon.

 

[-OZ-]

Just traded Boldin+Turner for BW and a late 2nd in my dynasty league.

I probably overpaid, but now I get to pair him with LT as he sends Portis to the bench.

I don't see too many Eagles games, but when I have, he's impressed me as few other RBs do, LT, AD, MFaulk, Tiki, and Barry. Some others may come close, but that's the top of the list.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I agree with most everything said here.

He's my favorite player in the NFL, and I'm happy to have him on as many teams as I can get him.

He is certainly under-appreciated across the country and not enough recognition comes his way. He's a class act and one of the best players in the league.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Westbrook is a great player. No question, he brings the explosion that many backs simply do not have. He reminds me of a rich man's Warrick Dunn. He's probably the best receiving back in the NFL alongside Reggie Bush. He and Bush have very similar games, but Westbrook is better right now.

Say what? :X If you took Warrick Dunn and Reggie Bush and rolled them up together, they still wouldn't add up to Brian Westbrook...

But if you followed Westy's career in it's entirety, you'd remember that he wasn't that great at running the ball his first 2 or 3 years. That part of his game has developed nicely, though. He is the ultimate offensive weapon.

You might want to revisit that "first 2 or 3 years" statement.2002 - First year - 46-193-4.2 YPC2003 - 117-613-5.2, 7 TDs (4 more rec)2004 - 177-812-4.3, 3 TDs (6 more rec)He was in more of a committee approach back then (with the likes of Buckhalter and Duce Staley in 2003 and then Dorsey Levens in 2004), which suppressed his numbers.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

that no good lousy bum that calls himself a running back...i cant STAND him ...hes soooo selfish.....he`s always hurt...AAAARRRGGGGGG. ......oh crap...i thought this was the travis henry thread...my bad

 

[trader jake]

When FBG's discuss him in threads they usually feel compelled to type his whole name. No gimmick nickname or abbreviation...that's how underappreciated he is.

 

[stevegamer]

I haven't seen anyone calling him Michael westbrook in a while, so that's a nice plus.

That play was the ONLY play I caught of the Eagles game over the weeknd - I was in a hotel in Baltimore. When he casught the pass, and I saw Runyan there, I said "He's gone". Some nearby fan said, "No way."

About 10 seconds later, the Eagles version of the bomb (they use a delayed explosive - screen to Westbrook) went off for the TD.

He's crazy good.

 

[Pole Cat]

I haven't seen anyone calling him Michael westbrook in a while, so that's a nice plus.

That play was the ONLY play I caught of the Eagles game over the weeknd - I was in a hotel in Baltimore. When he casught the pass, and I saw Runyan there, I said "He's gone". Some nearby fan said, "No way."

About 10 seconds later, the Eagles version of the bomb (they use a delayed explosive - screen to Westbrook) went off for the TD.

He's crazy good.

One of the announcers did this no more than two weeks ago. Horrendous!

 

[DMXATF23]

Just acquired Westbrook for Edge & Coles in a redraft league, I'm paring him with FWP and intending on riding the two of 'em to my first league title. Just as a bit of an aside I've finished second in this league twice and third once. This is the fifith yeat I've been in the league and feel the best about my team.

-chris

 

[Bob Magaw]

Just traded Boldin+Turner for BW and a late 2nd in my dynasty league. I probably overpaid, but now I get to pair him with LT as he sends Portis to the bench. I don't see too many Eagles games, but when I have, he's impressed me as few other RBs do, LT, AD, MFaulk, Tiki, and Barry. Some others may come close, but that's the top of the list.

we were the flip side of this trade...in a WR-friendly league in which we coveted young WR talent & already had LT, too (league with two versions of players)...after checking back from '03 to present, he appears to be #2 RB in our PPR scoring system during that span (seemingly corroborating that the injury prone label is a bad rap & baseless)... LT was 23 PPG & westbrook was about 18... but westbrook is increasingly getting more touches, & his scoring trending up... nearly 26 PPG in '07 (our scoring system)...projecting to 16 games, 2,400 combo yards & 108 receptions would i think (off top of my head) be near league records... overall in combined yards, & among RBs for receptions...