Bermuda_Chub
Footballguy
While the rest of the fantasy world jumps on the D. Ward pickup, as a reasonably well informed Giants fan, I think Ahmad Bradshaw is the smarter pickup. In fact, he is an ideal pickup this week in deep leagues and leagues like mine, where FA's are handled by a real money salary cap. Why?
1) The Giants running game traditionally produces excellent fantasy backs; the will is there and so is the O-line;
2) Derrick Ward is a perpetually injured back who runs with a self-destructive style. If he stays healthy for the duration of his stint as Jacobs' replacement, I'll consider it a minor miracle. Here's a snippet from Eric over at the BBI board (whom I consider to be an expert on all things Giant) on the Gnts' preseason running game vs. the Pats:
"Reuben Droughns had a little bit more of a showing this week with the 33-yard run, where he broke tackles and cut back against the grain, all while being escorted by the fleet footed 275 lb quarterback in toe. Much like Jacobs, he refuses to go down and almost invites contact. Derrick Ward runs the same way. That could take its toll on these guys as the season wears on. It does seem though that there is a definite "smash-mouth" characteristic amongst all the backs on the roster. In fact the thing I like most about all of the backs on the depth chart is they know how to "finish" their runs. Even as they are tackled, they keep their feet moving and always seem to get that extra push for a half-yard or so.
Even Ahmad Bradshaw, who's the most elusive of the backs on the roster with his cutback style, delivers a blow to the defenders who try to wrap him up. This is a strong group who will hopefully be able to wear down opposing defenses in the fourth quarter of games. Bradshaw though, might be special. Considering all the RBs were playing against a back-up defense, once again, he had the best night, running behind a blocking group that for the most part is looking for work now. Droughns, by the way, did a nice job as the lead blocker for Bradshaw in the second half. Bradshaw did have a tough night picking up the blitz on several occasions, although it looked more as if he was confused by the blitz packages more than anything else. Oh those tricky Patriots."
3) Eric is right -- Bradshaw looked pretty special in the preseason. Moreover, he better fits the organizational mold of a Giant running back. The Giants like to advertise themselves as a smashmouth running team, but they are not and have not been since the beginning of the Parcells era. Joe Morris, Tiki Barber, Dave Meggett, Rodney Hampton. These are the guys I think of when I envision a Giants RB. Jacobs and my man Ottis Anderson have been the exceptions. The Giants have not been Pittsburgh East since the Larry Csonka debacle, and I think the Jacobs experiment was/is doomed to fail.
Bottom line: I think Bradshaw will have every opportunity to win the job by mid-season. He is probably the most talented back on the roster and he best fits the system. He just needs to learn how to block. Don't miss out on the chance to pick up this year's Domanick Davis.
1) The Giants running game traditionally produces excellent fantasy backs; the will is there and so is the O-line;
2) Derrick Ward is a perpetually injured back who runs with a self-destructive style. If he stays healthy for the duration of his stint as Jacobs' replacement, I'll consider it a minor miracle. Here's a snippet from Eric over at the BBI board (whom I consider to be an expert on all things Giant) on the Gnts' preseason running game vs. the Pats:
"Reuben Droughns had a little bit more of a showing this week with the 33-yard run, where he broke tackles and cut back against the grain, all while being escorted by the fleet footed 275 lb quarterback in toe. Much like Jacobs, he refuses to go down and almost invites contact. Derrick Ward runs the same way. That could take its toll on these guys as the season wears on. It does seem though that there is a definite "smash-mouth" characteristic amongst all the backs on the roster. In fact the thing I like most about all of the backs on the depth chart is they know how to "finish" their runs. Even as they are tackled, they keep their feet moving and always seem to get that extra push for a half-yard or so.
Even Ahmad Bradshaw, who's the most elusive of the backs on the roster with his cutback style, delivers a blow to the defenders who try to wrap him up. This is a strong group who will hopefully be able to wear down opposing defenses in the fourth quarter of games. Bradshaw though, might be special. Considering all the RBs were playing against a back-up defense, once again, he had the best night, running behind a blocking group that for the most part is looking for work now. Droughns, by the way, did a nice job as the lead blocker for Bradshaw in the second half. Bradshaw did have a tough night picking up the blitz on several occasions, although it looked more as if he was confused by the blitz packages more than anything else. Oh those tricky Patriots."
3) Eric is right -- Bradshaw looked pretty special in the preseason. Moreover, he better fits the organizational mold of a Giant running back. The Giants like to advertise themselves as a smashmouth running team, but they are not and have not been since the beginning of the Parcells era. Joe Morris, Tiki Barber, Dave Meggett, Rodney Hampton. These are the guys I think of when I envision a Giants RB. Jacobs and my man Ottis Anderson have been the exceptions. The Giants have not been Pittsburgh East since the Larry Csonka debacle, and I think the Jacobs experiment was/is doomed to fail.
Bottom line: I think Bradshaw will have every opportunity to win the job by mid-season. He is probably the most talented back on the roster and he best fits the system. He just needs to learn how to block. Don't miss out on the chance to pick up this year's Domanick Davis.
