Is MJD the best backup in FF history? (1 Viewer)

[jeter23]

As far as I know, Jones Drew was the backup every week, until last wek when Taylor was out. Taylor was the starter all year, yet MJD easily outscored him and mst others. In my PPR leagues, he finished as the #7 RB (#5 the past 6 weeks) even with his backup status. Other backup RBs played well like Bush, Betts, Barber, etc but Jones Drew was the best. Has their ever been another backup RB who scored so many fantasy points, without significant injury to the starter?

 

[LHUCKS]

He wasn't really a "backup" per se.

More of a RBBC in Jax this year.

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

As far as I know, Jones Drew was the backup every week, until last wek when Taylor was out. Taylor was the starter all year, yet MJD easily outscored him and mst others. In my PPR leagues, he finished as the #7 RB (#5 the past 6 weeks) even with his backup status. Other backup RBs played well like Bush, Betts, Barber, etc but Jones Drew was the best. Has their ever been another backup RB who scored so many fantasy points, without significant injury to the starter?

reggie bush 06, Maroney 06, bettis 05, M barber III 06 all deserve honorable mentions

 

[Colin Dowling]

Without injury to the starter? No, this is the best I can find. It's the 44th best season by a RB since 2002.

 

[videoguy505]

Larry Johnson put up some pretty good numbers last year before Priest got hurt, when they were playing in that quasi-RBBC.

 

[Z-Dog]

As far as I know, Jones Drew was the backup every week, until last wek when Taylor was out. Taylor was the starter all year, yet MJD easily outscored him and mst others. In my PPR leagues, he finished as the #7 RB (#5 the past 6 weeks) even with his backup status. Other backup RBs played well like Bush, Betts, Barber, etc but Jones Drew was the best. Has their ever been another backup RB who scored so many fantasy points, without significant injury to the starter?

I don't know about the specific numbers, but there have been RB tandems that have put up terrific stats int he past. Even this season, MBIII won't finish many points behind MJD, and Mike Bell will outscore Tatum Bell (though with far fewer points than the other two). Bush and McAllister are also quite impressive this year.Truth is that we are seeing an unprecedented amount of RB TD scoring over the past few years, and RBs are used more ways than any other position. MJD had a very impressive season, but in the past it was the rare starter who scored 14 TDs in a season, while today, 'backup' RBs are doing it. Tough to compare.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Larry Johnson backing up Priest in his rookie year

Shawn Alexander backing up Ricky Waters

Didn't Duece McAllister backup Ricky Williams his rookie year (or did Rasta already get moved to Miami before Deuce got drafted ... I can't remember?)

Those are some pretty good backup rookies.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Larry Johnson backing up Priest in his rookie yearShawn Alexander backing up Ricky WatersDidn't Duece McAllister backup Ricky Williams his rookie year (or did Rasta already get moved to Miami before Deuce got drafted ... I can't remember?)Those are some pretty good backup rookies.

Johnson hardly touched the ball. (21 touches, 1 TD)Waters got hurt opening the door for Alexander.Deuce hardly touched the ball. (31 touches, 2 TD)Barber III's season this year, while impressive, is nowhere near what Drew has done. MJD has scored 25.8% more points then Barber.

 

[jeter23]

Without injury to the starter? No, this is the best I can find. It's the 44th best season by a RB since 2002.

But how many of the 43 in front of him were backups for their teams?My point is that MJD only got 1 start and was considered a backup until this past week when Taylor got hurt and had to miss the game.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Without injury to the starter? No, this is the best I can find. It's the 44th best season by a RB since 2002.

But how many of the 43 in front of him were backups for their teams?My point is that MJD only got 1 start and was considered a backup until this past week when Taylor got hurt and had to miss the game.

Right, I'm concurring with your statement. This is the best season by a guy in a backup role that I can find wherein the other person in the backfield remained mostly healthy all season.

 

[Gatorman]

Mercury Morris, 1972.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Doesn't meet the criteria but interesting nonetheless...In 1976 Rocky Bleier (fullback) had 1330 total yards in 14 games. Franco Harris (halfback) had 1279 in 14 games.

 

[jeter23]

Without injury to the starter? No, this is the best I can find. It's the 44th best season by a RB since 2002.

But how many of the 43 in front of him were backups for their teams?My point is that MJD only got 1 start and was considered a backup until this past week when Taylor got hurt and had to miss the game.

Right, I'm concurring with your statement. This is the best season by a guy in a backup role that I can find wherein the other person in the backfield remained mostly healthy all season.

Oops, sorry Colin.

 

[Jason Wood]

Looking back to 1970, I scanned for RB teammates who each finished the season in the top 20...

Mike Alstott & Warrick Dunn (1998-Bucs) --
Terry Kirby & Keith Byars (1993-Dolphins) --
Rod Bernstine & Marion Butts (1991-Chargers) --
Kevin Mack & Leroy Hoard (1991-Browns) --
Derrick Fenner & John L. Williams (1990-Seahawks) --
Neal Anderson & Brad Muster (1990-Bears) --
John L. Williams & Curt Warner (1988-Seahawks) --
Ickey Woods & Neal Anderson (1988-Bengals) --
Dalton Hilliard & Rueben Mayes (1987-Saints) --
Stump Mitchell & Earl Ferrell (1987-Cardinals) --
Albert Bentley & Eric Dickerson (1987-Colts) --
Ernest Byner & Kevin Mack (1987-Browns) --
Ernest Byner & Kevin Mack (1985-Browns) --
Wendell Tyler & Roger Craig (1984-49ers) --
Ottis Anderson & Stump Mitchell (1984-Cardinals) --
Tony Dorsett & Ron Springs (1981-Cowboys) --
Cullen Bryant & Elvis Peacock (1980-Rams) --
Eddie Lee Ivery & Gerry Ellis (1980-Packers) --
William Andrews & Lynn Cain (1980-Falcons) --
Chuck Muncie & Tony Galbreath (1979-Saints) --
David Sims & Sherman Smith (1978-Seahawks) --
Walter Payton & Roland Harper (1978-Bears) --
Delvin Williams & Wilbur Jackson (1977-49ers) --
Mark VanEaghen & Clarence Davis (1977-Raiders) --
Terry Metcalf & Wayne Morris (1977-Cardinals) --
Greg Pruitt & Cleo Miller (1977-Browns) --
Franco Harris & Rocky Bleier (1976-Steelers) --
Andy Johnson & Sam Cunningham (1976-Patriots) --
Terry Metcalf & Jim Otis (1975-Cardinals) --
O.J. Simpson & Jim Braxto (1975-Bills) --
Mack Herron & Sam Cunningham (1974-Patriots) --
Lawrence McCutcheon & Jim Bertelsen (1973-Rams) --
Mercury Morris & Larry Czonka (1973-Dolphins) --
Boobie Clark & Essex Johnson (1973-Bengals) --
Dave Hampton & Eddie Ray (1973-Falcons) --
Mike Garrett & Cid Edwards (1972-Chargers) --
Charlie Smith & Marv Hubbard (1972-Raiders) --
John Riggins & Emerson Boozer (1972-Jets) --
Mercury Morris & Larry Czonka (1972-Dolphins) --
Calvin Hill & Walt Garrison (1972-Cowboys) --
Essex Johnson & Doug Dressler (1972-Bengals) --
Art Malone & Dave Hampton (1972-Falcons) --
Vic Washington & Ken Willard (1971-49ers) --
John Brockington & Donny Anderson (1971-Packers) --
Steve Owens & Altie Taylor (1971-Lions) --
Duane Thomas & Calvin Hill (1971-Cowboys) --
Norm Mulaich & Tom Matte (1971-Colts) --
Leroy Kelly & Bo Scott (1971-Browns) --
Hewritt Dixon & Charlie Smith (1970-Raiders) --
Jim Kiick & Larry Czonka (1970-Dolphins) --
Mel Farr & Altie Taylor (1970-Lions) --
Bo Scott & Leroy Kelly (1970-Browns) --A lot more top-20 pairs than I expected. Many of these can be explained away as fullback/tailback and starter get injured/replaced...but I'm sure a few deserve closer scrutiny.

 

[Ryan_21]

I think MJD was more in a RBBC, he has 50 less touches than the Jax starter and 196 total touches.

MB3 was more of a true backup, he has 120 less touches than the Dallas starter and only 146 touches, yet is only trailing MJD in my leagues scoring 159 to 132.

I think for those reasons one has to credit MB3 with being the best backup RB this year, plus MB3 has 1 more TD than MJD and 50 less touches than MJD.

 

[jeter23]

I think MJD was more in a RBBC, he has 50 less touches than the Jax starter and 196 total touches.MB3 was more of a true backup, he has 120 less touches than the Dallas starter and only 146 touches, yet is only trailing MJD in my leagues scoring 159 to 132.I think for those reasons one has to credit MB3 with being the best backup RB this year, plus MB3 has 1 more TD than MJD and 50 less touches than MJD.

Nice points Ryan.

 

[splitvizionz]

he was a huge reason that I won my league.. top scorer on my team...

 

[The Man With No Name]

1986- Herschel Walker had 1574 total yards and 14 td's. He had 737 rushing and 837 receiving. Dorsett had more rushing and over 1000 total yards, but fewer td's.

 

[tombonneau]

1986- Herschel Walker had 1574 total yards and 14 td's. He had 737 rushing and 837 receiving. Dorsett had more rushing and over 1000 total yards, but fewer td's.

I think this prob. most comparable to what the orig. poster brought up. So I guess it's settled: MJD=HW2

 

[MLBrandow]

I think MJD was more in a RBBC, he has 50 less touches than the Jax starter and 196 total touches.MB3 was more of a true backup, he has 120 less touches than the Dallas starter and only 146 touches, yet is only trailing MJD in my leagues scoring 159 to 132.I think for those reasons one has to credit MB3 with being the best backup RB this year, plus MB3 has 1 more TD than MJD and 50 less touches than MJD.

I would also agree that MJD was no more of a backup than Maroney was this year.Well, maybe a little more of a backup.Taylor would have had more carries had he been healthy, and that skewed the numbers.

 

[cr8f]

2000 Baltimore Ravens

Obafemi Ayanbadejo

| Sam Gash

| Priest Holmes

| Jamal Lewis

 

[corpcow]

Barber III's season this year, while impressive, is nowhere near what Drew has done. MJD has scored 25.8% more points then Barber.

In true scoring, yes, MJD had a better season, but he also got 33% more touches.Sure seemed like MJD was in more of an RBBC (especially down the stretch), while Barber was a more traditional "backup". Jones had about 10% more carries than Taylor, and was never in single digits in a game (Fred was single digits 3 times). Ultimately, I think this points to a larger trend of more RBBC. The league is getting more and more physical, and sharing the load helps keep the pounding to a minimum. From a draft perspective, you can get the #2 guy in the equation much cheaper. Barber was a late (11th maybe?) round pickup for me. MJD was usually around the same time or later (or undrafted). JJ was a 2nd/3rd round, and Fred was usually something in 3-5.

 

[Cold Steel]

Mike Vick, Atlanta Falcons.

 

[Cold Steel]

Seriously -

I'm not even sure that this is a legitimate question. Backup RBs are the Michael Turners, the Maurice Morrises, and the Jerious Norwoods of the NFL; the guys who clearly play a second fiddle to the primary RB. That's a different scenario than the secondary RB in a RBBC; in a RBBC, the real backup RB is the RB3. Short-yardage specialists might be considered backups if they would get the starting nod when the main back goes down (Duckett in ATL, Bettis in PIT, Jacobs in NYG) - but that would also be stretching the definition in my book. MJD (and MB3 in my opinion) gets too many carries to be considered a backup

I think that Larry Johnson is (was?) without a doubt the best "backup RB" in FF, since he came off of the bench in two different seasons to have great (phenomenal?) success when the starter (& the RB2 in '04) went down. You could also make a case for the Bus in his later years as a great "backup" RB.

 

[maxwell1295]

Mike Vick, Atlanta Falcons.