He clearly outperforms Jacobs on Sunday night and runs for 215 yards yet Jacobs get more credit for the win by most people. Even Jacobs admits Ward was the better back on the night but everyone says he only got 200 yards because Jacobs loosened up the defense. That oversimplifies things and ignores the fact Ward was the more explosive running back all night. Ward is a very good receiver, a good blocker and a more capable running back than most people recognize.
People say Ward isn't an every down back and that might be true but neither is Jacobs. Jacobs wears down and gets hurt because of his running style. He is a lot like Jerome Bettis really but not as durable probably because he is taller and gets hit in the knees more. Between 1998 and 2005 Bettis never had more than 1412 combined yards and only had more than 1000 combined yards once 4 times. Regardless if Ward is back or not I don't think Jacobs will ever have more than 1400 combined yards. His value as a fantasy back will always be dependent on his TD's because he'll never have big yardage.
Back to Ward though, I really don't think he will get a big contract because he is too old and the consensus everywhere(unjustifiably in my view) is that Jacobs makes him. I think Ward will either be back with the Giants or perhaps end up with a team like New England who specializes in getting undervalued players but either way he won't get paid.
People say Ward isn't an every down back and that might be true but neither is Jacobs. Jacobs wears down and gets hurt because of his running style. He is a lot like Jerome Bettis really but not as durable probably because he is taller and gets hit in the knees more. Between 1998 and 2005 Bettis never had more than 1412 combined yards and only had more than 1000 combined yards once 4 times. Regardless if Ward is back or not I don't think Jacobs will ever have more than 1400 combined yards. His value as a fantasy back will always be dependent on his TD's because he'll never have big yardage.
Back to Ward though, I really don't think he will get a big contract because he is too old and the consensus everywhere(unjustifiably in my view) is that Jacobs makes him. I think Ward will either be back with the Giants or perhaps end up with a team like New England who specializes in getting undervalued players but either way he won't get paid.