Race is the giant elephant in the room whenever Hillis is discussed. So, it's "racist" for someone to point out the obvious? If you don't think the absurd mantra being chanted about Hillis being "overworked" and desperately needing someone to split carries with is connected to the fact he is the first successful white RB in the NFL in some 25 years, then you are pitifully naive. Hillis had far fewer carries than many smaller backs in the NFL last season. Why doesn't someone campaign for the Ravens to reduce the workload of tiny Ray Rice? Surely a back of that size must be super "overworked," if Hillis was. The same goes for Frank Gore, and MJD. But, no one lobbies for a back to split carries with them, do they? Hillis was on the verge of a superlative season, playing on a horrid offense that featured no real starting QB, and no other skill position starter who would start for any other team. He played through a painful injury the last few weeks of the season, and this lowered his ypc and left the impression that he was "worn down" in the minds of so many who were just waiting for any reason to move him back to fullback, where white RBs are inevitably forced to go. If you think race doesn't play a role here, please tell me the last time that ANY young RB put up the numbers Hillis did, and almost immediately the talking heads and fans alike were demanding that the team-which has huge holes everywhere else-reduce his workload. Hillis was simply fantastic last year, toiling for an awful offense, but now HE needs to have his role diminished? Again, provide me with some examples of other RBs-as young as Hillis- who produced like this and had their roles reduced by the team the next season. If this was any other RB, the same people would be demanding that the Browns fill in the pieces around Hillis, their star player. The OP brings up a great point, but the obvious reason for Hardesty's being so overhyped (an injury prone back who hasn't even appeared in a regular season game) is that he is the only back on the roster who can challenge Hillis for carries. Someone obviously wants that to happen. We'll see- I believe Hillis should actually have his role increased- he is the most powerfully built runner in the league, and it's ridiculous to suggest that a physical freak like him would be "worn down" while tiny, less conditioned runners like Rice and MJD somehow can handle the workload. I love both Foster and Hillis- they led me to a championship in one of my leagues last season. However, it is indisputable that they are being treated differently, in both NFL and fantasy terms. That's fine with me- I always profit in fantasy leagues from the stupidity and narrow minded thinking of others. I picked up Hillis in two leagues last year (he went completely undrafted- and I'm sure it was because no one had an interest in a white RB), and also did well with white WRs like Austin Collie and then Blair White (when Collie was hurt). I'm not favoring white players, but it's easier to find a productive player when other owners consistently ignore them. This year, I'll be targeting Jordy Nelson heavily, because I suspect others won't (although I could be wrong about that- some of them may remember the Super Bowl). Hillis is a great NFL back and a top fantasy producer.
