Lamichael James (1 Viewer)

[HittinHard]

Held in a PPR Dyno for 2 years now and beginning to wonder if he is going to be a FF factor or time to bail?

 

[Sabertooth]

Tough to tell until he gets a meaningful opportunity.

 

[Terpman22]

GD Harbaugh man. F'in things up. I took this guy early round 2 his rookie year. I think he has 8 career carries or something terrible. If you haven't cut bait already though, not much out there to replace him that is better.

 

[FF Ninja]

I recall reading a breakdown on him that was very discouraging. I've never drafted him and I'm pretty sure I never will. He's probably going to be an NFL bust, but he's almost certainly going to be a FF bust while on the 49ers. I'd find a different use for that roster spot if I owned him in dynasty.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

He's someone I've scooped up in four or five dynasty leagues after he was cut.

He had a nice pre-draft profile, comes with a strong draft pedigree and he's performed well in his limited touches. What's not to like?

 

[Coeur de Lion]

He's someone I've scooped up in four or five dynasty leagues after he was cut.

He had a nice pre-draft profile, comes with a strong draft pedigree and he's performed well in his limited touches. What's not to like?

Kendall Hunter too IMO. Everyone is ready to annoint Lattimore as Gore's heir apparent -- and he might be, but considering the cost of the other two guys (essentially free), I don't mind rolling the dice on the chance that Lattimore never makes it back. Even though he's a kid you can't help but root for, that was an effing hideous injury.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Lattimore, Hunter, James -- someone's going to have a lot of value eventually. I'm on James because he's free (where he is), but also because I like his pre-draft profile more. I like Lattimore too (and he's probably the safer pick), but he's not remotely cheap. Hunter I'm not at all sold on.

 

[Coeur de Lion]

Lattimore, Hunter, James -- someone's going to have a lot of value eventually. I'm on James because he's free (where he is), but also because I like his pre-draft profile more. I like Lattimore too (and he's probably the safer pick), but he's not remotely cheap. Hunter I'm not at all sold on.

Yeah, I have them ranked Lattimore, James, Hunter also -- it's mainly the free + situation components that are appealing to me. I wasn't a huge fan of Hunter coming out either, and he went through a phase where he was hugely over valued, but he has been effective with his limited touches also, as both a runner and receiver. IMO might as well double down on the two free guys to fade Lattimore's health given the relative cost...

 

[fatness]

Update

If the 49ers want to maneuver higher in next month's draft, they could offer another team multiple draft picks in return or they could offer a team picks and a player. That player? According to a league source, the 49ers have been shopping running back LaMichael James, a second-round pick in the 2012 draft.

http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2014/04/source-49ers-shopping-running-back-lamichael-james.html

James ran for 5,082 yards and scored 53 rushing touchdowns while at Oregon. However, he has had only scant work as a runner with the 49ers and finds himself behind Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and perhaps Marcus Lattimore on the depth chart at running back this season.

James served as the team's primary returner last year and played well in that role, averaging nearly 11 yards a punt return. But the source said he has made it clear to the team he wants a bigger role as running back as well. He carried the ball only 12 times in the 2013 regular season and just once in the playoffs. He missed the first three games with a knee injury.

It's also worth noting that the 49ers spent a long time looking at possible return men in free agency.

 

[Steed]

He's talking smack to a roto editor! Lol

@evansilva I will make you eat this tweet 1 day and that's on my life you just added more motivation I can express but I applaud u https://twitter.com/LaMichaelJames/status/456603144554680323

 

[BigJim®]

He's talking smack to a roto editor! Lol

@evansilva I will make you eat this tweet 1 day and that's on my life you just added more motivation I can express but I applaud u https://twitter.com/LaMichaelJames/status/456603144554680323

 

[cstu]

The bottom line is that when given a chance to prove himself in the preseason he blew it. His rookie year he fumbled 3 times on 15 touches and last year he fumbled on 25 touches while only averaging 2.3 YPC.

 

[drummer]

The bottom line is that when given a chance to prove himself in the preseason he blew it. His rookie year he fumbled 3 times on 15 touches and last year he fumbled on 25 touches while only averaging 2.3 YPC.

It's more in that he can't fit into whatever offense the 49ers decide to run. He's small. This isn't a spread offense where they can put him in space. The 49ers can't work in that many screens for him.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

The bottom line is that when given a chance to prove himself in the preseason he blew it. His rookie year he fumbled 3 times on 15 touches and last year he fumbled on 25 touches while only averaging 2.3 YPC.

4.9 per carry (4.7 for both years combined).

Did the fumbles come on runs, or returns? There's a HUGE difference in fumble rates for those two activities. Three is still a lot, but doesn't look nearly as bad as a returner.

ETA: and if I ask Desean Jackson to line up at left guard did he "blow it" when he gets run over by a d-lineman?

 

[Pickle Rody]

I really like both James and Lattimore, but barring an injury to Gore this season, I don't see either of them (Hunter included, although I don't like him very much) garnering much playing time at all in 2014.

 

[BigJim®]

Nothing scientific about it, as much of James' potential is in the hands of the 49ers staff. However, got to say I love the chip on his shoulder in that posted tweet. Definitely seems to have a lot of confidence in his abilities.

 

[iamkoza]

I really like both James and Lattimore, but barring an injury to Gore this season, I don't see either of them (Hunter included, although I don't like him very much) garnering much playing time at all in 2014.

is there no way gore would be cut this pre-season? I dont know the financials on his contract, but if Lattimore impresses couldnt they consider running with lattimore/hunter/james or draft pick as their RB's?

edit: per rotoworld it looks like Gore's contract could be worth over $6M this year after bonues are considered

 

[cstu]

I really like both James and Lattimore, but barring an injury to Gore this season, I don't see either of them (Hunter included, although I don't like him very much) garnering much playing time at all in 2014.

is there no way gore would be cut this pre-season? I dont know the financials on his contract, but if Lattimore impresses couldnt they consider running with lattimore/hunter/james or draft pick as their RB's?

edit: per rotoworld it looks like Gore's contract could be worth over $6M this year after bonues are considered

The 49ers seem set on keeping despite the big contract and are not going to ask him to take a pay cut.

I think they want to do the right thing and let him finish out his contract.

 

[cstu]

Have 49er fans forgotten this play?

 

[Touchdown There]

Have 49er fans forgotten this play?

That is the only play that should ever be remembered about Lamichael James. He should never get a shot at the starting job. That play should ruin his whole life.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

The bottom line is that when given a chance to prove himself in the preseason he blew it. His rookie year he fumbled 3 times on 15 touches and last year he fumbled on 25 touches while only averaging 2.3 YPC.

Montee Ball supporters would say this makes him in line to start.

 

[johnadams]

I really like both James and Lattimore, but barring an injury to Gore this season, I don't see either of them (Hunter included, although I don't like him very much) garnering much playing time at all in 2014.

is there no way gore would be cut this pre-season? I dont know the financials on his contract, but if Lattimore impresses couldnt they consider running with lattimore/hunter/james or draft pick as their RB's?

Highly unlikely. Gore may not be a great RB at this point, but he's still a great football player. He does so much for the offense that doesn't show up in stat lines and none of the guys behind are ready to fill.

Problem is, I think James so far is overmatched. I'm not sure that he'll show much more, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to think he will ever be more than a COP type at best.

 

[cstu]

The bottom line is that when given a chance to prove himself in the preseason he blew it. His rookie year he fumbled 3 times on 15 touches and last year he fumbled on 25 touches while only averaging 2.3 YPC.

Montee Ball supporters would say this makes him in line to start.

Ball had a rough start (2 fumbles in his first two games) but only fumbled once in his next 128 carries, including the playoffs.

 

[JohnnyU]

What I'm reading about this guy is that he pretty much isn't very good in the 49er offensive scheme. Just a straight line runner with no power or elusiveness and is better suited for an offense that puts him in space. Not that most didn't already know that, but he's probably still worth an end of the bench spot in 26 man rosters in dynasty leagues, at least for a few months. However, he does have one foot in the waiver wire and the other on a banana peel.

 

[49ernut]

I recall reading that it wasn't the HC's decision to draft him, it was the GM. When the GM is drafting players for the HC and they don't have the same game plan, then the results are what you see, a player that doesn't fit with the team. James would be better off with an offense that runs a little spread and uses the small backs, Saints, Eagles, etc.. The 49ers have a run first mentality with a bruiser for a RB, hence keeping Gore and drafting Lattimore. James does not fit and will either be traded or dropped.

 

[BigJim®]

I recall reading that it wasn't the HC's decision to draft him, it was the GM. When the GM is drafting players for the HC and they don't have the same game plan, then the results are what you see, a player that doesn't fit with the team. James would be better off with an offense that runs a little spread and uses the small backs, Saints, Eagles, etc.. The 49ers have a run first mentality with a bruiser for a RB, hence keeping Gore and drafting Lattimore. James does not fit and will either be traded or dropped.

That doesn't seem consistent with Harbaugh's comments after the draft selection. http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/LaMichael-James-Joins-49ers-Backfield/5009579d-6ccb-499f-af99-b93a27a02bb1

 

[Pickle Rody]

I really like both James and Lattimore, but barring an injury to Gore this season, I don't see either of them (Hunter included, although I don't like him very much) garnering much playing time at all in 2014.

is there no way gore would be cut this pre-season? I dont know the financials on his contract, but if Lattimore impresses couldnt they consider running with lattimore/hunter/james or draft pick as their RB's?

edit: per rotoworld it looks like Gore's contract could be worth over $6M this year after bonues are considered

The 49ers seem set on keeping despite the big contract and are not going to ask him to take a pay cut.

I think they want to do the right thing and let him finish out his contract.

This...

Highly unlikely. Gore may not be a great RB at this point, but he's still a great football player. He does so much for the offense that doesn't show up in stat lines and none of the guys behind are ready to fill.

Problem is, I think James so far is overmatched. I'm not sure that he'll show much more, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to think he will ever be more than a COP type at best.

and this.

I just don't see Gore being a cut/cap casualty this season....maybe 2015. I could be wrong.

 

[drummer]

I recall reading that it wasn't the HC's decision to draft him, it was the GM. When the GM is drafting players for the HC and they don't have the same game plan, then the results are what you see, a player that doesn't fit with the team. James would be better off with an offense that runs a little spread and uses the small backs, Saints, Eagles, etc.. The 49ers have a run first mentality with a bruiser for a RB, hence keeping Gore and drafting Lattimore. James does not fit and will either be traded or dropped.

That doesn't seem consistent with Harbaugh's comments after the draft selection. http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/LaMichael-James-Joins-49ers-Backfield/5009579d-6ccb-499f-af99-b93a27a02bb1

It's consistent with the fact that James has been a game day scratch most of this past season.

 

[BigJim®]

I recall reading that it wasn't the HC's decision to draft him, it was the GM. When the GM is drafting players for the HC and they don't have the same game plan, then the results are what you see, a player that doesn't fit with the team.

That doesn't seem consistent with Harbaugh's comments after the draft selection. http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/LaMichael-James-Joins-49ers-Backfield/5009579d-6ccb-499f-af99-b93a27a02bb1

It's consistent with the fact that James has been a game day scratch most of this past season.

2013 definitely doesn't bode well for his 49ers outlook. I don't know that it means Harbaugh and the GM were at odds with the draft selection in 2012.

 

[drummer]

I recall reading that it wasn't the HC's decision to draft him, it was the GM. When the GM is drafting players for the HC and they don't have the same game plan, then the results are what you see, a player that doesn't fit with the team.

That doesn't seem consistent with Harbaugh's comments after the draft selection. http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/LaMichael-James-Joins-49ers-Backfield/5009579d-6ccb-499f-af99-b93a27a02bb1

It's consistent with the fact that James has been a game day scratch most of this past season.

2013 definitely doesn't bode well for his 49ers outlook. I don't know that it means Harbaugh and the GM were at odds with the draft selection in 2012.

Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke are at odds right now given whats come out of the Bay Area media. It's very possible that they were at odds that time. Right now Baalke's drafts are looking really poor, even his signature 2011 draft.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Any new news on James and whether he gets traded during the draft?

This has gotten ridiculous in SF:

Gore

Hyde

Hunter

Lattimore

James

 

[jurb26]

James just hit every leagues trade bait last night.

 

[mcd]

James just hit every leagues trade bait last night.

I think he was already on every teams trade bait. If anything, the Hyde pick just makes it more obvious that he is on his way to a better situation (it couldn't get worse). Although Balke was quoted last night saying they still intend to use him as a kick returner.

 

[Touchdown There]

James is unhappy in SF and I do not believe James will be on the 49ers roster by camp. Hold in dynasty.