The part time RBs (1 Viewer)

[inzanitee]

Interested to see what people's take on some of the part-time/smaller RBs this season.

Leon Washington - Showed how electrifying he can be and earned a bigger piece of the pie. Will he get significanatly more touches than he did last year? Will Shonn Greene merely take carries from TJ?

Darren Sproles - They're saying LT will be used more than last season, but you have to wonder. Sproles looks like a dynamo; seems like they'd be foolish not to try and get him 10 touches a game or so.

Jerious Norwood - more of a classic backup/COP guy at this point, but seems to possess true explosiveness and catches the ball well. With Turner logging in a large number of carries, Norwood could see a little more action (though don't they say Norwood is going to be more involved *every* year, and he never is?)

Ahmad Bradshaw - the drafting of Andre Brown seems to have dropped his value significantly, but I don't think Brown was picked to take Bradshaw's gig, he's more like a true backup to Jacobs IMO. Ahmad may have the highest upside of any of these types because *if* he keeps the #2 role, he could see a similar number of touches to what Ward got last year, and I think Bradshaw is a better playmaker than Ward.

Jerome Harrison - maybe the most interesting to me because he can be had for nothing, and yet has shown at times to be a truly explosive player. Latest news is he may be used more on 1st and 2nd downs, so he could end up with stats similar to Leon or Sproles, and be had much, much later in drafts.

Any of these guys could end up being solid #3/#4RBs/flex players if they see the ball enough.

 

[bigmarc27]

Maybe I'm being ignorant and I admittedly don't know a lot about the SD team, but I don't see how Sproles isn't used pretty extensively. He's electric when he gets the ball and they just franchised him. In my mind for this upcoming season, Sproles = Reggie Bush.

 

[dmac37]

Interested to see what people's take on some of the part-time/smaller RBs this season.

Leon Washington - Showed how electrifying he can be and earned a bigger piece of the pie. Will he get significanatly more touches than he did last year? Will Shonn Greene merely take carries from TJ?

Darren Sproles - They're saying LT will be used more than last season, but you have to wonder. Sproles looks like a dynamo; seems like they'd be foolish not to try and get him 10 touches a game or so.

Jerious Norwood - more of a classic backup/COP guy at this point, but seems to possess true explosiveness and catches the ball well. With Turner logging in a large number of carries, Norwood could see a little more action (though don't they say Norwood is going to be more involved *every* year, and he never is?)

Ahmad Bradshaw - the drafting of Andre Brown seems to have dropped his value significantly, but I don't think Brown was picked to take Bradshaw's gig, he's more like a true backup to Jacobs IMO. Ahmad may have the highest upside of any of these types because *if* he keeps the #2 role, he could see a similar number of touches to what Ward got last year, and I think Bradshaw is a better playmaker than Ward.

Jerome Harrison - maybe the most interesting to me because he can be had for nothing, and yet has shown at times to be a truly explosive player. Latest news is he may be used more on 1st and 2nd downs, so he could end up with stats similar to Leon or Sproles, and be had much, much later in drafts.

Any of these guys could end up being solid #3/#4RBs/flex players if they see the ball enough.

I agree with your take on Bradshaw.Also think "Neon Leon" will kick it up a notch this year as far as FF scoring.

 

[Patoons]

In a PPR, I think Leon could be a low-end #2 RB option.

He'll have around 50 receptions. Question is how many carries will he get. I think a decent amount and he'll hit around 600 yds. rushing. His value is relatively low, especially with the drafting of Greene, but Schottenheimer has already said that he plans on using Leon more this year.

 

[Ozymandias]

In a PPR, I think Leon could be a low-end #2 RB option.He'll have around 50 receptions. Question is how many carries will he get. I think a decent amount and he'll hit around 600 yds. rushing. His value is relatively low, especially with the drafting of Greene, but Schottenheimer has already said that he plans on using Leon more this year.

Every coach says that about every player in the spring.Then it's same ol', same ol'.

 

[Patoons]

In a PPR, I think Leon could be a low-end #2 RB option.He'll have around 50 receptions. Question is how many carries will he get. I think a decent amount and he'll hit around 600 yds. rushing. His value is relatively low, especially with the drafting of Greene, but Schottenheimer has already said that he plans on using Leon more this year.

Every coach says that about every player in the spring.Then it's same ol', same ol'.

I'm not sure I agree.I don't think Mangini appropriately utilized Leon in the past two years. They'd be fools not to use him more. He's a gamebreaker. It's definitely a time for coachspeak, but I don't think this is one of those instances.

 

[Tau837]

Maybe I'm being ignorant and I admittedly don't know a lot about the SD team, but I don't see how Sproles isn't used pretty extensively. He's electric when he gets the ball and they just franchised him. In my mind for this upcoming season, Sproles = Reggie Bush.

Hard to judge what Sproles' workload will be, since it is somewhat tied to Tomlinson's health. I doubt he'll be getting a Bush-like workload unless Tomlinson goes down.That said, I could see the Chargers reducing Tomlinson's workload, at least slightly, to try to keep him healthy for the playoffs, since he has now broken down at playoff time in two straight seasons. And especially since they have Sproles who provided crazy production with his touches last year. As an example, consider that Sproles averaged more yards per reception last year than Gates. Electric is a great word to describe his production last year - 5.4 ypc and 11.8 ypr.Just posted this in another thread, and it highlights Sproles' potential if he does get more touches:

I'm sure Johnson would get some carries if LT went down, but I see no reason to believe Sproles wouldn't get 10+ touches every game, and he has produced very well when given that much opportunity.Sproles had 10+ touches 4 times last season and produced the following:64 yards/2 TDs132/2150/2106/1He had 10+ touches two times before last year, both in 2007, when he produced the following:135/224/0And, incidentally, the Chargers were 5-1 in those games, with the only loss coming at Pittsburgh in last year's playoffs.

 

[todisco1]

I think Leon has a legit shot at top 20 in ppr leagues. Sproles too but I'm not convinced he'll get enough touches.

Bradshaw looks like a great buy low if people are down on him because of the drafting of Brown.

Don't think too much of Norwood - if I had Turner I'd definitely try and handcuff him, but I'm not sure he'll get enough touches to be an effective starter while Turner is healthy.

Jerome Harrison I am keeping an eye on - it's early, so everyone says nice things about their players right now but supposedly Harrison has been looking great and all indications are that he'll be a bigger part of the offense. If Jamal is winding down, Harrison could be ramping up for a solid year, though he'll never be a lead back I don't think (I guess none of the guys on this list will be, hence the title of the thread lol). He's available in one of my dynasty leagues and when free agency opens up he is my #1 choice.

 

[gman8343]

I would add Jamaal Charles to this list, he seems to fit the mold of the others listed. Quick, agile, explosive, decent reciever, though probably never a workhorse RB.

 

[lyon812]

Harrison, Norwood, and Washington all have perks, including the fact that they're all UFAs in 2010. I'm a big fan of gambling on guys on the cheap that might be given a lot of money for a larger role by another team. I don't think any of them are the next Turner, though.

The biggest problem is, I think, that they're all very similar in build/perception and are free agents at the same time.

Harrison 26yrs, 5'9/205 -- in line for more carries with Lewis' ankle injury, but rookie James Davis more traditionally suited to that role

Jerious Norwood 25 yrs, 5'11/202 -- they always want to get him more involved, surely they'll reduce Turner's # of carries, but by how much?

Leon Washington 26 yrs, 5'8/202 -- seems fixated on a deal like MJD, which won't happen. I suspect they'll eventually extend him at a reasonable rate to pair with Greene.

I also agree that Charles and Sproles should be on par with those guys. Bradshaw I'm more nervous about. Someone above says Brown wasn't picked to take Bradshaw's job. No, he wasn't. But he may have been picked to take Ward's job, and that's what Bradshaw owners should be concerned about.

 

[thecardiackid]

Bradshaw I'm more nervous about. Someone above says Brown wasn't picked to take Bradshaw's job. No, he wasn't. But he may have been picked to take Ward's job, and that's what Bradshaw owners should be concerned about.

That's a great point.And I agree about Charles. If he adds some of the right kind of weight, he could surprise - especially when LJ moves on.

 

[Zoomanji]

No Ray Rice?

With Willis' assoreted injuries I think he has a good chance to step up

McClain is back to FB and seems to have bulked up as well.

Could be a nice play here with Rice

 

[dmac37]

No Ray Rice?With Willis' assoreted injuries I think he has a good chance to step upMcClain is back to FB and seems to have bulked up as well. Could be a nice play here with Rice

Rice is already valued at a higher level than these guys, but still a great value IMO.

 

[todisco1]

Bradshaw I'm more nervous about. Someone above says Brown wasn't picked to take Bradshaw's job. No, he wasn't. But he may have been picked to take Ward's job, and that's what Bradshaw owners should be concerned about.

That's a great point.And I agree about Charles. If he adds some of the right kind of weight, he could surprise - especially when LJ moves on.

Possible, but Brown is really much more like Jacobs IMO, and I don't think they'll use him like that. Bradshaw should still be the complimentary RB in a system that is going to allow for some nice all around numbers for two RBs.Also agree with Charles.How would people rank these guys in terms of value in drafts?

 

[gregjcross]

Bradshaw I'm more nervous about. Someone above says Brown wasn't picked to take Bradshaw's job. No, he wasn't. But he may have been picked to take Ward's job, and that's what Bradshaw owners should be concerned about.

That's a great point.And I agree about Charles. If he adds some of the right kind of weight, he could surprise - especially when LJ moves on.

Possible, but Brown is really much more like Jacobs IMO, and I don't think they'll use him like that. Bradshaw should still be the complimentary RB in a system that is going to allow for some nice all around numbers for two RBs.Also agree with Charles.How would people rank these guys in terms of value in drafts?

Very hard to be high on Bradshaw based on the opportunity/competition-- he continues to look like a third leg, a talented one at that; But i wonder if there is some quiet rift between he and Coughlin. Bradshaw's ability is up there for sure.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

i think Danny Ware is a serious threat to Bradshaw's workload moreso than Andre Brown. Coughlin and the Gmen really like Ware

in PPR sproles/Leon/Norwood i think can all produce RB2 #'s as long as your league allows there return yardage/TD's as well. they can easily fall into the RB14-25 range with each's versatility. as Matt Ryan grows and takes more of the offensive load so will norwood's #'s grow

 

[tdmills]

i think Danny Ware is a serious threat to Bradshaw's workload moreso than Andre Brown. Coughlin and the Gmen really like Warein PPR sproles/Leon/Norwood i think can all produce RB2 #'s as long as your league allows there return yardage/TD's as well. they can easily fall into the RB14-25 range with each's versatility. as Matt Ryan grows and takes more of the offensive load so will norwood's #'s grow

Danny Ware hasn't shown anything since his freshman year at UGA. But now the undrafted FA is going to replace Ward? But the drafted Brown and Bradshaw won't that have both shown more in college and Bradshaw has shown more in the NFL...including the Playoffs....im not buying the Ware hype.

 

[Patoons]

i think Danny Ware is a serious threat to Bradshaw's workload moreso than Andre Brown. Coughlin and the Gmen really like Warein PPR sproles/Leon/Norwood i think can all produce RB2 #'s as long as your league allows there return yardage/TD's as well. they can easily fall into the RB14-25 range with each's versatility. as Matt Ryan grows and takes more of the offensive load so will norwood's #'s grow

Danny Ware hasn't shown anything since his freshman year at UGA. But now the undrafted FA is going to replace Ward? But the drafted Brown and Bradshaw won't that have both shown more in college and Bradshaw has shown more in the NFL...including the Playoffs....im not buying the Ware hype.

I got to agree here. I also think Bradshaw is being quickly dismissed around here. He wasn't really utilized all that much last season, so it's not like he didn't perform well. When given the opportunity, Bradshaw produced. Without Ward, he should get more touches and be productive.I can't see Ware being more than the #4 guy.