Where do you rank Brian Westbrook? (1 Viewer)

[BigJ]

I have no idea where to put this guy. He has the potential to be a top back, but every single year he is injured and misses time. Plus he spends so much time on the injury list that I never know whether or not to start him. In a lot of ways he reminds me of Fred Taylor a few years back, huge potential but always injured.

So where do you rank him and why? Stat projections and such would be helpful.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

Football's a rough sport. It's rougher on some players than others such as Brian Westbrook. He doesn't play 16 games in a season but you could say the same for most running backs except maybe LT. When he does play he's a force running and receiving plus he's going to score a good amount of touchdowns overall playing at or near a top 10 rb level. A couple of things do concern me about him though.

Donovan McNabb is coming back from a major knee injury. If he's not healthy and the quarterback play suffers that can hurt Brian Westbrook. Also Brian Westbrook had 317 touches last season where before 2006 he never had more than 250. Hopefully the coaching staff will continue that trend and it wasn't a one-time career year type deal.

It's because of the season he had last year that it's tough for me to project for him. He's definitely in the top 10. I guess it comes down to how you think he'll be utilized in 2007.

If I think he'll be the pseudo-workhorse that he was towards the second half of the season (avg. 20 carries a game) then I should rank him pretty high and project for at or near 2000 total yards and double digit touchdowns and probably ranked in the top 5. If I think season was a career year where everything went right for him and he'll revert to former levels then he'll have around 1500+ total yards and 8 touchdowns or so which would put him probably out of the top 10.

The Philadelphia Eagles seem to me to be smart enough to know that if you want to win you put the ball in the hands of your best players. Westbrook got the ball a ton and they won. Why would they change that? So I won't worry about that too much. I'll watch Donovan McNabb and if he's practicing and looking good in training camp then I see little reason to keep Brian Westbrook out of the top 5 in 2007.

As of right this second I have him behind LT, SJax, Gore, and Parker so he's right at the edge of the top 5.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

#10.

#8 in ppr.

He can play like a #3-5 player and often does.

But there are legit concerns.

Last year is a perfect Westy example and he finished #7.

 

[AB in DC]

He can play like a #3-5 player and often does. But there are legit concerns.Last year is a perfect Westy example and he finished #7.

He finished #6 last year by FBG scoring, #4 in PPR scoring. And that's in only 15 games.I think you have to draft him in the top-six again this year just on potential. Even if he misses a few games, unless they're in the fantasy playoffs, his PPG numbers are worth that high of a pick.

 

[H.K.]

He can play like a #3-5 player and often does.

But there are legit concerns.

Last year is a perfect Westy example and he finished #7.

He finished #6 last year by FBG scoring, #4 in PPR scoring. And that's in only 15 games.I think you have to draft him in the top-six again this year just on potential. Even if he misses a few games, unless they're in the fantasy playoffs, his PPG numbers are worth that high of a pick.

Agreed. But he has missed week 16 in two of the past three seasons, last year being the exception. One other slight negative: its been hard to identify his handcuff, seems like the work is divied up when he doesn't play.

 

[Sea Bass]

Five

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

In a PPR league I have him at 3 - McNabb getting hurt last season will be a blessing this season. With a balanced offense I expect huge things from Westbrook. Now all he has to do is stay healthy

 

[darmani]

What the other guy said. The amount of points per game he cranks out is awesome. Anyone can get hurt. The Eagles are VERY aware of his workload and spell him whenever the game situation (big leads) allows for it. With Buckhalter and Tony Hunt in the mix this year, they have some adequate alternatives. It's a great offense.

In a PPR league, anywhere from 5 - 9 is justifiable. Spot 3, as you have it, is a bit of a reach, but if you're picking in that spot and really like him, its understandable. In non-PPR you're looking at between 10 - 14th overall.

 

[Brewzers]

I've got him #7 (non ppr). Really I expect more of the same this year for Westy. I think the Eagles will probably run the ball more than they have in the past, but I don't think that necessarily translates into more touches for Westbrook. I would look for Buckhalter & Hunt to pick up the extra carries.

 

[BigJ]

Great stuff guys. Anyone else want to chime in here?

 

[AcousticNut]

Personally, I wouldn't take him until right around #10. I had Westbrook last year and the agony of checking the FBG site every 5 minutes to see if he was going to play on a weekly basis caused too many silver streaks on the old noggin.

 

[LHUCKS]

#6 in non-ppr, #5 PPR

 

[Josh the FunkDOC]

I always thought the first round was about minimizing risk, so I'm not overly excited about Westy. In my main money league, for instance, if I had a pick like #6 or #7 where I could get him, there's a good chance Addai will also still be there, and I think he's a clearly superior option: Similar upside (since we don't use PPR), without giving you ulcers every week.

That said, I *do* like Westbrook over LJ & Alexander this year...probably FWP as well. So LHUCKS' ranking sounds about right. I would NOT be happy if I had to take him that high, but I'd probably go ahead and do it.

My trepidation comes mainly from the cost of that high 1st-round pick. I like McNabb this year, for instance, but that's because his asking price is far lower - 5th or sometimes even 6th round. There are also some late-round backup QBs I really like, which obviously isn't the case with RBs.

Say, does anyone have any splits with/without McNabb? Do they differ enough to really matter?

Thanks,

Josh.

 

[BroadwayG]

#3 in PPR, #6 in Standard

 

[BigRed]

I have no idea where to put this guy. He has the potential to be a top back, but every single year he is injured and misses time. Plus he spends so much time on the injury list that I never know whether or not to start him.

- which is why he's not even on my list. Guaranteed someone else will like him more and pay more.But I'll definitely nominate him early in our auction draft

 

[Irish]

Personally, I wouldn't take him until right around #10. I had Westbrook last year and the agony of checking the FBG site every 5 minutes to see if he was going to play on a weekly basis caused too many silver streaks on the old noggin.

He seemed like a gametime decision every week.

 

[Chaser1439]

Let start by saying that I am a huge Westbrook fan. What I don't understand is people ranking him #6 in non PPR leagues and #5 in PPR leagues. In a PPR leagues Westbrook's value sky rockets! I have Westbrook as a top 5 in PPR leagues, and top 12 in non PPR leagues.

We are talking about a guy that had 77 receptions last year. The only two running backs that are projected to catch more balls this year are Steven Jax, and Reggie Bush. If Westbrook stays healthy, which is a big if, he will combine for over 2000 yards, grab 75 receptions, and score over 12 tds this year. When discussing Brian Westbrook, you must take into consideration that the brook flows down hill!!!!!!

 

[Jeff Haseley]

I've got him at...

PPR - 3

nonPPR - 5

 

[BigRed]

Let start by saying that I am a huge Westbrook fan. What I don't understand is people ranking him #6 in non PPR leagues and #5 in PPR leagues. In a PPR leagues Westbrook's value sky rockets! I have Westbrook as a top 5 in PPR leagues, and top 12 in non PPR leagues.We are talking about a guy that had 77 receptions last year. The only two running backs that are projected to catch more balls this year are Steven Jax, and Reggie Bush. If Westbrook stays healthy, which is a big if, he will combine for over 2000 yards, grab 75 receptions, and score over 12 tds this year. When discussing Brian Westbrook, you must take into consideration that the brook flows down hill!!!!!!

Westbrook ran for WAY more yds than his career norms. If you think that'll continue, I agree w/what you said. I don't.

 

[chris1969]

I've got him at...PPR - 3nonPPR - 5

That's exactly how I rank him.

 

[videoguy505]

I got him at 1.07 in a PPR and feel pretty good about him equaling or outperforming value that slot.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Personally, I wouldn't take him until right around #10. I had Westbrook last year and the agony of checking the FBG site every 5 minutes to see if he was going to play on a weekly basis caused too many silver streaks on the old noggin.

He seemed like a gametime decision every week.

this is tough. i spent way too many sundays last year on this myself. but, he delivered.and (i think) he only missed one game.thx for explaining how i ended up with more "highlights" btw.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

I always thought the first round was about minimizing risk, so I'm not overly excited about Westy. In my main money league, for instance, if I had a pick like #6 or #7 where I could get him, there's a good chance Addai will also still be there, and I think he's a clearly superior option: Similar upside (since we don't use PPR), without giving you ulcers every week.

That said, I *do* like Westbrook over LJ & Alexander this year...probably FWP as well. So LHUCKS' ranking sounds about right. I would NOT be happy if I had to take him that high, but I'd probably go ahead and do it.

My trepidation comes mainly from the cost of that high 1st-round pick. I like McNabb this year, for instance, but that's because his asking price is far lower - 5th or sometimes even 6th round. There are also some late-round backup QBs I really like, which obviously isn't the case with RBs.

Say, does anyone have any splits with/without McNabb? Do they differ enough to really matter?

Thanks,

Josh.

Yes and not really.In 9 games with McNabb starting at quarterback Brian Westbrook averaged 17.1 ppg.

In 5 games with Garcia starting at quarterback Brian Westbrook averaged 17.4 ppg.

Ever so slightly more with Garcia at the helm but overall identical. I didn't count week 17 against the Falcons because that game was meaningless and Westbrook played sparingly. The only difference this season is that if McNabb gets hurt it isn't Garcia who's coming in it's Kelly Holcomb. Or AJ Feeley. Or Kevin Kolb. To be honest we just don't know right now. But if Mc Nabb gets hurt this time around there's no former stud to bail the Eagles out.

 

[crimsonrebel]

8 in non ppr