I think we are going round and round here and you are essentially debating through me with all anti-DeAngelo posters in this thread. I never said DeAngelo is not a talented RB. My point is that last season was a "perfect storm" scenario for him and I don't automatically assume he will repeat or improve on that performance this season. I think people are underestimating the effect Stewart had on DeAngelo's numbers.
You obviously don't see my opinion as credible, so read this brief article from the Charlotte Observer:
Panthers' TC Notes
As odd as it sounds, part of the reason for DeAngelo's success was the opposite running style of Stewart. So, those assuming that less carries for Stewart results in more carries for DeAngelo
at the same ypc average he achieved last season may be sadly mistaken. I just don't think you can say if Williams gets x # of more carries this season you can automatically multiply that number by 5 to 5.5 ypc and say that is how many more yards he will get
on top of what he did last season.
Bottom line is we can analyze last season's numbers all we want, they do not provide a 100% accurate prediction of what will happen
this season. That is why they play the games and why we watch them. If everybody knew and agreed on the results before they happened, why would we watch the games and why would we play fantasy football for that matter?
I rely on my gut feeling when I draft and my gut tells me DeAngelo will fall back to earth somewhat this season, so I would not take him as the #2RB off the board. Barring injury I like MJD as a better bet this season.
All we have to give now is our opinions, we won't know which side in the debate is right until the end of the season.
P.S. I did click on the link you provided, but could not get it to work.
Actually, I'm not expecting #'s from last year. I definitely think his ypc will not approach 5.5 again this year. I'd be thrilled if he could even maintain 5.0, which would be success. I also don't think he's going to score 20 TDs again. So, no, that's not the reason why I like DeAngelo. But, at the same time, I don't think Turner is going to have 376 carries again or score 17 TDs. I don't think Forte is goign to have almost 400 touches again. I don't think CJ3 can also maintain an almost 5.0 ypc and score double digit TDs. Ditto for Slaton. In other words, ALL of these guys have a ways to fall back down to earth. And, of all of these, I think DeAngelo has more cushion to fall and still remain ahead of the rest. I also firmly believe he's more talented than all of them. And, I think his situation is actually the best of all them (yes, with Stewart in the fold). I think it's very reasonable that DeAngelo gets as many, if not more carries, and should easily score double digit TDs barring injury. I can't say the same for the rest. They ALL could repeat their #'s or even outperform them, but DeAngelo just seems safer than the rest and has a higher upside than them as evidenced by last year. When you say you trust your gut that DeAngelo will fall back to earth, I understand that.
By why isn't your gut saying that about the other guys like Forte, Slaton, CJ3, Turner...?
As I said, I think DeAngelo's #'s come down. But I think it's very likely the others do too. And if I had to lay %'s as to who's least likely to have a significant change, that goes to Williams. I actually like all of the RB's ranked this high and would be happy drafting from any part of the 1st round this year because they all have legitimate upside and have, overall, fewer ? marks than RB's in the recent past that I can remember. I can see legit reasons in a head to head where all of these guys could be ranked above Williams. I'm not discounting that at all. But, as I also stated above, it's amazing to me that so many feel that way and that he, as a consensus, is ranked lower than ALL of them. It's splitting hairs, but I find it interesting. And I guess the reasons behind why (Stewart, easy schedule) seem "safer" to me than some of the issues with the other guys. Probably because I don't see Stewart as a threat at all (no reason to take carries from a 4th year vet with the season he had to give to a 2nd year injured RB) nor do I think his results were only as a result of an easy schedule (wasn't as easy as people make it out and he still murdered that schedule with eye-popping #'s and ran well against good defenses too). I guess that's our fundamental difference.
Will definitely be interesting to see how the year plays out. By the way, the statement about me not finding your opinion credible is not true. I understand it and I can see why you and others feel that way. I don't agree with those reasons and that's ok. That's why we're here and, no matter how the season plays out, there's reasons behind both arguments that are legitimate.