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Larry Johnson (1 Viewer)

Thomsen

Footballguy
I've been reading reports about LJ looking really good in camp (I know it's early) and clearly better than Parker and Portis. We all know Shanahan's success with any given RB, so could LJ return to at least RB2 value? Say 900-1000 rushing yards, 5-6 TDs. As I recall Shanahan always praised LJ back in his Denver days, so maybe he has plans for him. LJ did show improvement with the Bengals.

 
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I've been reading reports about LJ looking really good in camp (I know it's early) and clearly better than Parker and Portis. We all know Shanahan's success with any given RB, so could LJ return to at least RB2 value? Say 900-1000 rushing yards, 5-6 TDs. As I recall Shanahan always praised LJ back in his Denver days, so maybe he has plans for him. LJ did show improvement with the Bengals.
I guess anyone you draft as your RB6 has upside. But the LJ Shanahan praised in his Denver days doesn't play anymore. This guy isn't the same. I guess he could emerge in a feature role but it's not a risk I would take until it was lottery time in the draft. And even if he came through I wouldn't feel good starting him. Maybe a bye-week filler with my fingers crossed?
 
Way too early to say. Right now it looks like a fantasy mess. With Parker, Portis, and Johnson in town it could well be some type of split. Part of me thinks that Portis is still capable of a GOOD fantasy season, but I can't help but worry about the time missed last season, and the # of career carries.

Is Johnson just so beat up and "old" in the football world that he can't still perform---or was he stuck in fantasy hell in KC.

Parker's YPC has really fallen off on a fairly good offensive team, and he's missed time. I think he'll be that change of pace guy, but if the other 2 big name backs are too beaten up, who knows...

And speculation that Westbroook could be brought in still persists. If the concussions are behind him, can he not still be an impact player? He averaged 4.5 yards a carry last season and 7.2 yards per carry. Injuries kept him out of the mix for the most part, but when he touched the ball he was productive.

Long story short--you should draft later. Let this sort itself out. But, even when a starter is named, with 3 backs that have shown the ability to produce, I expect SOME sort of split.

 
Shanny has a way of getting run-of-the-mill RB's to produce in his system,given the names of the guys who've succeeded under his wing in the past, LJs progress this offseason shouldn't be overlooked..

Tatum Bell jokes aside, Shanny knows RB's..

I'd be willing to bet that if he's the starter, LJ produces at a high level in 2010..TDs, yards, etc..

Redskins have a very good QB, decent O-line, decent WR's..

 
I like LJ the best of any of the backs on the roster - he didn't look bad for KC, much better than his numbers. I am little worried that Washington's line didn't make much more room to run than KC's last year, but I think LJ could be at least nice bye week/injury filler when the Skins have good matchups. He's the only Washington back I would draft at current ADP, Portis is going way too high.

 
Sigmund Bloom said:
I am little worried that Washington's line didn't make much more room to run than KC's last year
Good point. I think LJ needs a good line to shine, which is why he looked good in the half season he had with the Bengals last year. With his long stride style, he's just not a guy who thrives in a system where he's asked to push the pile or make something out of nothing. Obviously, any back is going to have more success if he is running behind a better line...but LJ's strengths seem more dependent on having initial room through the hole.
 
Thomsen said:
I've been reading reports about LJ looking really good in camp (I know it's early) and clearly better than Parker and Portis.
I heard a report like this on ESPN980 this week. The specifics were: - Johnson looks elusive, making people miss. - He ends every run by running all the way to the end zone. - They're not in pads. - There's no contact.edited to add: The Redskins will have a right tackle who has never started there before (I believe), and a rookie starting left tackle.
 
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And it starts. Stay away, far away. Although gambling with RB6 isn't terrible as long as your other positions are pretty locked down.

As for Portis, I don't think he is done. And I don't think LT is done either. Their total rushes/receptions are very similar, and far less than many other great runningbacks before they fell off. Jlew, Edge, Martin, Faulk, George, and Emmit to name a few.

But they have more or close to Ahman Green, SA, Dunn, Duece, Rudi, Preist, and Dillion did when they fell off.

So I guess you have to ask your self what kind of talent is Portis (and on another topic, LT)? Good, or Great?

 
But they have more or close to Ahman Green, SA, Dunn, Duece, Rudi, Preist, and Dillion did when they fell off.
At least on Dillon, I do not see the comparison. LJ has 1400 career carries. Dillon had 1865 career carries the year BEFORE his best season, in 2004, where he had 1635 yards and 12 TD. Not to mention, the 2 years following that season he had 25 more TDs. In fact, off-subject, but the more I look at Dillon's stats, the more I think he is a Hall-of-Famer, or at least should be. #17 on the all-time rushing list, #16 on the all-time rushing TD list, 6 straight 1000 yard seasons to start his career in the wasteland that was Cincinnati in the late 90s and Early 00s. Imagine what he could have done on a better team for those 7 years?

 
And it starts. Stay away, far away. Although gambling with RB6 isn't terrible as long as your other positions are pretty locked down.As for Portis, I don't think he is done. And I don't think LT is done either. Their total rushes/receptions are very similar, and far less than many other great runningbacks before they fell off. Jlew, Edge, Martin, Faulk, George, and Emmit to name a few.But they have more or close to Ahman Green, SA, Dunn, Duece, Rudi, Preist, and Dillion did when they fell off.So I guess you have to ask your self what kind of talent is Portis (and on another topic, LT)? Good, or Great?
LT is already ranked in the Top 10 all time in total touches with 3,410. Portis is ranked 31st with 2,418.Green ranks 2 spots higher than Portis (+88 touches). Portis already has more touches than SA. Portis has more than 700 more touches than Deuce, almost 800 more than Rudi, and 300 more than Priest Holmes.I don't see either LT ot Portis drinking from the fountain of youth and both are in RBBC situations now. Bottom line, if you have to start either of these two for any extended stretch fantasy wise your team is likely in some mild trouble.
 
LJ averaged 4.4 yards per carry last year in Cincinnati (on 46 carries) compared to 2.9 yard per carry in Kansas City (on 132 carries). For comparison Benson averaged 4.2 ypc on 300 carries. An awkward comparison and a small sample size, but it suggests that at this stage, LJ can be an effective RB behind a decent OLine, yet he can't create on his own behind a sub-par line.

If Shannahan's system in Washington comes together and the line is decent, he could be effective. But that's only if he beats out Portis and FWP. There are too many IFs with LJ... but if they all pan out, he could be a decent RB3/flex at some point in the season.

If you play with fire, however, you're going to get burned. I had to learn the hard way the best way to deal with Shanny is to let others play the guessing game in the offseason and inseason week to week. There's not a clear cut RB on that team, and the Oline probably won't be very good during their first year in the system. LJ's ADP will probably rise over the summer till he's a 8th-9th round pick or so by late August. If you can get him in the 12th round+ maybe worth a gamble.

ETA - Highlights from Week 12 last season, Bengals vs. Browns. LJ had 22 carries for 107 yards. Looks alright.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlig...als-16-Browns-7

 
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If he keeps this up the first two weeks of training camp I think he'll be given the first crack and will be an awesome value if you get in before the masses, SSOG has sold me on Shanny's method of RB's. Bring in competition, give the one that steps up the bulk. Re-evaluate as necessary.

 
If he keeps this up the first two weeks of training camp I think he'll be given the first crack and will be an awesome value if you get in before the masses, SSOG has sold me on Shanny's method of RB's. Bring in competition, give the one that steps up the bulk. Re-evaluate as necessary.
But do we really have any idea who is "stepping up" yet as of today? All we have are vague reports like "LJ looks good" or "Portis in better shape than recent offseasons".
 
If he keeps this up the first two weeks of training camp I think he'll be given the first crack and will be an awesome value if you get in before the masses, SSOG has sold me on Shanny's method of RB's. Bring in competition, give the one that steps up the bulk. Re-evaluate as necessary.
But do we really have any idea who is "stepping up" yet as of today? All we have are vague reports like "LJ looks good" or "Portis in better shape than recent offseasons".
Not much, but maybe a little. The first two weeks of camp will be much more important.I think Portis and Parker are done, so I've been leaning more towards LJ or one of the nobody's Shanny brought in than either of them so reports like this re LJ only further solidify that thought.
 
Thomsen said:
I've been reading reports about LJ looking really good in camp (I know it's early) and clearly better than Parker and Portis.
I heard a report like this on ESPN980 this week. The specifics were:- Johnson looks elusive, making people miss.- He ends every run by running all the way to the end zone.- They're not in pads. - There's no contact.edited to add: The Redskins will have a right tackle who has never started there before (I believe), and a rookie starting left tackle.
So McNabb won't have time to throw and Shanny will try and pound the ball a lot? Bad Tackles means DEs wizzing by. Who is gonna block DeMarcus Ware, Justin Tuck, Philly DEs...I think Washington is clearly the #4 team still in the NFC East.
 
And it starts. Stay away, far away. Although gambling with RB6 isn't terrible as long as your other positions are pretty locked down.As for Portis, I don't think he is done. And I don't think LT is done either. Their total rushes/receptions are very similar, and far less than many other great runningbacks before they fell off. Jlew, Edge, Martin, Faulk, George, and Emmit to name a few.But they have more or close to Ahman Green, SA, Dunn, Duece, Rudi, Preist, and Dillion did when they fell off.So I guess you have to ask your self what kind of talent is Portis (and on another topic, LT)? Good, or Great?
LT is already ranked in the Top 10 all time in total touches with 3,410. Portis is ranked 31st with 2,418.Green ranks 2 spots higher than Portis (+88 touches). Portis already has more touches than SA. Portis has more than 700 more touches than Deuce, almost 800 more than Rudi, and 300 more than Priest Holmes.I don't see either LT ot Portis drinking from the fountain of youth and both are in RBBC situations now. Bottom line, if you have to start either of these two for any extended stretch fantasy wise your team is likely in some mild trouble.
I should mention that each touch wasn't nessecarily counted, while it wasn't an exact science it showed me some clear seperations between RB's. I feel bad, I can't really defend it because like I said, not an exact science, and I'm still working to improve it. But Each Portis and LT show evidence they have one more good season left (1,000 yards). with LT having more medicore seasons following.
 
I have to think if Shanahan can make a guy like Mike Anderson as productive as he did, then he can do the same with a guy that has obviosuly proven he can be productive.

Sometimes, really good players just go through funks and I think in LJs case, he was in a position where he lost interest in KC because they were bad and he had issues with them over money and KC lost interest in him and his actions. to me, he didn't look like a guy that had lost his gears; he looked like a guy that just didn't care anymore.

If LJ was THE guy on this team, i would take a roll of the dice with him. He could pan out HUGE. But, he has competition and I think right now all these guys will be effective but none will shine because of shared work. But, if they cut a guy or injuries play in, I think the Redskin RB left standing could be a very solid play...maybe like Earnest graham a few years ago where it just ended up being his gig and he cranked out consistent yards each week.

I would love these guys on a contending FF team where they are your flex option. I wouldn't have much use for them in a rebuilding team.

 
I have to think if Shanahan can make a guy like Mike Anderson as productive as he did, then he can do the same with a guy that has obviosuly proven he can be productive.Sometimes, really good players just go through funks and I think in LJs case, he was in a position where he lost interest in KC because they were bad and he had issues with them over money and KC lost interest in him and his actions. to me, he didn't look like a guy that had lost his gears; he looked like a guy that just didn't care anymore.If LJ was THE guy on this team, i would take a roll of the dice with him. He could pan out HUGE. But, he has competition and I think right now all these guys will be effective but none will shine because of shared work. But, if they cut a guy or injuries play in, I think the Redskin RB left standing could be a very solid play...maybe like Earnest graham a few years ago where it just ended up being his gig and he cranked out consistent yards each week. I would love these guys on a contending FF team where they are your flex option. I wouldn't have much use for them in a rebuilding team.
I gotta agree. Shanny can make any back productive. The real problem is predicting the RB that will get the starting Job.Shanny has a history of changing the starter at the last minute just before the game starts, and I dont expect this to change. it will look like one guy will start, by the end of exhibition 2 others will look like they will start at some point and then you will find out who is really the starter on opening day.so unless one player plays so well compared to the others that there is no question in anyones mind, I'd expect this battle for the starting job will be too tough to predict until the season starts.
 
No one has mentioned the likely outcome: unless you draft early, it's likely that ONE of the these two RBs will NOT be on the roster come draft day.

 
Willie Parker = Gone

Clinton Portis = Worn and Torn

Larry Johnson = Steal of the Draft

Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.

In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame

 
Willie Parker = GoneClinton Portis = Worn and TornLarry Johnson = Steal of the Draft Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame
:lmao:
 
Willie Parker = Gone

Clinton Portis = Worn and Torn

Larry Johnson = Steal of the Draft

Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.

In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame
And we all know that there is irrefutable proof that workload matters more than age.
 
Steal of the draft? He would certainly be one in my book. I took him on a flier in the 18th and final round, second to last pick of the draft. I sure hope so.

 
Shanny has a history of changing the starter at the last minute just before the game starts
He does?
IIRC there was about a 4-6 week run in 2005 or 2006 where Shanny kept flipping RBs around due to injury. I could be completely misremembering though.
Shanny has a history of mixing up the first 15 plays and adjusting the game-plan forward accordingly. Yes, we have seen multiple backs used in his tenure because of the very reason you mentioned -- injury. The man likes his veterans and historically builds teams around them to support that. Remember how bad the Denver o-line was under Reeves? Shanny comes in, fixes that, Elway finally has room to operate, and they eventually win back to back Super Bowls. It's going to be interesting to see if that trend continues in Washington with the strong veteran, RB's included, presence there.
 
Oh come on people. This is Mike Shanahan we're talking about. Look further down the depth chart until you come across a name you barely recognize, then you'll find the Redskins' 1000-yard RB for 2010.

That wasn't a joke.

 
Willie Parker = GoneClinton Portis = Worn and TornLarry Johnson = Steal of the Draft Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame
LJ is 2 years older than Portis.
 
Willie Parker = GoneClinton Portis = Worn and TornLarry Johnson = Steal of the Draft Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame
LJ is 2 years older than Portis.
2 years older and a 3.3 YPC last year behind a superior offensive line in Cincinnati. I'm sorry but there is no cure for what ails LJ, or Portis for that matter. LJ's body is in better than shape than Portis but has less juice left. Portis has more juice than LJ but his body is falling apart. I fail to see how Larry or Portis does anything meaningful over the course of a full season.
 
Willie Parker = GoneClinton Portis = Worn and TornLarry Johnson = Steal of the Draft Shannahan in town, and contrary to the uneducated comments that LJ has to many touches … 1400 carries is quite low for someone whose been in the league for 8 years.In fact Portis has over 800 more touches in the same time frame
LJ is 2 years older than Portis.
a 3.3 YPC last year behind a superior offensive line in Cincinnati.
:whistle: He had a 4.4 YPC in Cincinnati last year
 
I guess people will never fully realize just how good of an nfl runniingback Clinton Portis is... If healthy Shanahan is not going to take him off the field very often. He is tremendous at picking up blitzes and will help in the passing game. I am surprised that anyone thinks that he wont get the bulk of the work, if healthy of course.

 
Willie Parker = GoneClinton Portis = Worn and TornLarry Johnson = Steal of the Draft
Larry Johnson has been keeping that secret well-hidden during training camp and preseason games, where he has looked slow and plodding. He's on the team as Portis's backup. Night-and-day difference between their performances so far this year.
 
LJ looked awful in preseason. I think he made the team solely because Shanny remembers when he used to be good. He isn't a threat to Portis at all.

 
Portis is so much better than LJ at this point it is laughable. I say that and I actually own LJ and not Portis. :confused:

 
LJ looked awful in preseason. I think he made the team solely because Shanny remembers when he used to be good. He isn't a threat to Portis at all.
:goodposting:I saw him run for a bunch of yards and a TD against the Jets. ;)
 
Considering Portis' age, career workload, and recent injury history, you could do a lot worse in acquiring a backup RB with starting potential.

Is Johnson going to be a world beater? No, but he's also not the shambling mound of rotting flesh some on this thread would have you believe. I personally think he's going to rack up a lot more yards and TDs this season than most are predicting.

 
Considering Portis' age, career workload, and recent injury history, you could do a lot worse in acquiring a backup RB with starting potential.Is Johnson going to be a world beater? No, but he's also not the shambling mound of rotting flesh some on this thread would have you believe. I personally think he's going to rack up a lot more yards and TDs this season than most are predicting.
Given Portis's health LJ is worth taking a chance on in the late rounds. Even if Portis is healthy I think LJ will be given a shot to get some touches, maybe even be the goalline back.
 
Considering Portis' age, career workload, and recent injury history, you could do a lot worse in acquiring a backup RB with starting potential.Is Johnson going to be a world beater? No, but he's also not the shambling mound of rotting flesh some on this thread would have you believe. I personally think he's going to rack up a lot more yards and TDs this season than most are predicting.
Of the 97 RBs with a total of at least 100 carries over the past 3 seasons, Johnson ranks 89th with a 3.56 ypc. He's scored 8 TD in his last 529 rushing attempts. As already mentioned, he's 2 years older than Portis. I'm not sure there will be a lot of opportunity here . . .
 
Considering Portis' age, career workload, and recent injury history, you could do a lot worse in acquiring a backup RB with starting potential.Is Johnson going to be a world beater? No, but he's also not the shambling mound of rotting flesh some on this thread would have you believe. I personally think he's going to rack up a lot more yards and TDs this season than most are predicting.
Of the 97 RBs with a total of at least 100 carries over the past 3 seasons, Johnson ranks 89th with a 3.56 ypc. He's scored 8 TD in his last 529 rushing attempts. As already mentioned, he's 2 years older than Portis. I'm not sure there will be a lot of opportunity here . . .
Good points, but the situation could help LJ along. Over the last 3 seasons Johnson was running behind one of the worst O lines in football.While I don't think he will be a great pick up this season he could be in the right situation to be a late rnd choice.
 

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