I am going to bench Taylor because I have a better option in barlow (less talent, better matchup, better team) but let's not overstate NE's rushing defense. The only good running back they have faced this year is Portis, and he did OK (110 yards, 4.3 ypc, 1 TD)--although that's a pretty bad game for portis I guess.I just can't think of a reason to play taylor over barlow other than name recognition & a mystical belief that fred taylor's talent will overcome all else. BTW, my league gives 6 pts for a TD and only 1 point for 20 yards, so yards aren't as important as in most leagues.personally I'd probably start jones over taylor but it would be tough. earlier in the year somebody had a feature where they showed that matchups for RB's are hugely important (a very high % of backs with great matchups did well, and almost none did well with awful matchups). any time you can start a full time back against Houston at home you have to consider it.
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Fred Taylor goes to New England (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Capybara
- Start date
Bionic Eyeball
Footballguy
Are you really a rabid Pats fan?Can Fred get through for a TD?I get 1 point/20 yards and 6 points for TDs. I need TDs.I think Thomas Jones could rush for two TDs at home against Houston.Playoff Problem: Should you bench Fred?I drafted LT2 in round 1I drafted Fred in round 2.I drafted Thomas Jones in round 16.If I have the guts to start Jones over Taylor in the playoffs week 15, I look like a draft genius if Jones scores twice. I picked Jones based on playoff potential and of course, injury protection. The safe play is starting the top two draft picks. Benching the second round pick to start a 16th round pick takes guts. If I start my 16th round pick for the first time in the playoffs and ride his two touchdowns to victory, I will earn this smiley:
Gottabesweet1
Footballguy
i'd play t-jones over taylor, i just wish i would have one my waiver bid and got t-jones... but im stuck starting taylorand watching have his worst day ever
RedBird33
Footballguy
Let me start by saying that this has been a great thread to follow for anyone but especially a Taylor owner thinking of benching him. Great thoughts, great insight and great debate. I posted something similar to this in another thread but though I would chime in here as well.
I am thinking of benching Taylor over Hambrick. The fact that NE has not allowed a TD in over four games really scares me (BTW, this is a scoring based league with mininmal yardage points). The weather in NE does not look to be as bad as last week but for a fair weather team to play in what amounts to the dead of winter has to be a factor. It will be cold and might snow, JAX will not be used to that feeling and it should lead to the offense not being as efficient as they might be under better conditions, equating to less opportunity for Taylor. Hambrick has done nothing in weeks but Cason is now Out and Ham is basically the only show in town. This coupled with the last time Ham has done anything of mention was in week 9 against the same Redskins and he had 100/2. WASH is the 26th ranked run D as well.
I do not really agree with Smlevin and his post stating that past performances do not indicate what will happen the second time around. I think that it gives Ham confidence that he has and can get the job done against said opponent. I do agree that it is not an indicator of things to come but you cannot overestimate confidence in sports or a competative environment. I do however agree with Smlevin on his Talent, Opportunity and Matchup theory. The first two are in Taylor's favor but the matchup goes to Ham in this case and that and a hunch may be enough to swing me to tap Ham on the shoulder this Sunday.
I am thinking of benching Taylor over Hambrick. The fact that NE has not allowed a TD in over four games really scares me (BTW, this is a scoring based league with mininmal yardage points). The weather in NE does not look to be as bad as last week but for a fair weather team to play in what amounts to the dead of winter has to be a factor. It will be cold and might snow, JAX will not be used to that feeling and it should lead to the offense not being as efficient as they might be under better conditions, equating to less opportunity for Taylor. Hambrick has done nothing in weeks but Cason is now Out and Ham is basically the only show in town. This coupled with the last time Ham has done anything of mention was in week 9 against the same Redskins and he had 100/2. WASH is the 26th ranked run D as well.
I do not really agree with Smlevin and his post stating that past performances do not indicate what will happen the second time around. I think that it gives Ham confidence that he has and can get the job done against said opponent. I do agree that it is not an indicator of things to come but you cannot overestimate confidence in sports or a competative environment. I do however agree with Smlevin on his Talent, Opportunity and Matchup theory. The first two are in Taylor's favor but the matchup goes to Ham in this case and that and a hunch may be enough to swing me to tap Ham on the shoulder this Sunday.
SeniorVBDStudent
Footballguy
Well, I don't know about rabid, maybe avid would be a better choice of words.Starting Thomas Jones over Fred Taylor would not be at all wise.Think about it: Thomas Jones.Are you really a rabid Pats fan?Can Fred get through for a TD?I get 1 point/20 yards and 6 points for TDs. I need TDs.I think Thomas Jones could rush for two TDs at home against Houston.Playoff Problem: Should you bench Fred?I drafted LT2 in round 1I drafted Fred in round 2.I drafted Thomas Jones in round 16.If I have the guts to start Jones over Taylor in the playoffs week 15, I look like a draft genius if Jones scores twice. I picked Jones based on playoff potential and of course, injury protection. The safe play is starting the top two draft picks. Benching the second round pick to start a 16th round pick takes guts. If I start my 16th round pick for the first time in the playoffs and ride his two touchdowns to victory, I will earn this smiley:
Brave Sir Robin
Footballguy
I bid for Jones but the Commish hasn't gotten back to me if I have him or not. It is clear though that this is my smart play. I play Commish this weekend. He'll do right by me no prob.
RedBird33
Footballguy
I have thought further and luckily come to my senses. I will be starting Freddy over Hambrick. From what I can gather Bickerstaff will be splitting carries with Ham this weekend with the better runner getting the node as the feature the rest of the way. Hate Freddy's matchup but think he is the safer play at this point.Good luck to all.
notfragilefreddy
Footballguy
The weather looks cold, with snow flurries possible by the fourth quarter...
He didn't do as badly as Gotta predicted, but in all fairness, his predictions declined as the thread got bigger.
I was expecting between ten and fourteen points from Taylor and got nine. I was up against Priest and was luckily able to survive thanks to the rest of my team (Bulger, LT, Moss, Bruce, Graham). Cheers to those of you who started somebody like Hambrick or Tom Jones in place of Taylor and were rewarded for it. It's still not a strategy I'd recommend, however-- you'll get burned more often than not when benching your studs due to match-ups . . .
