Who runs the rock in KC in 2011? (1 Viewer)

[az_prof]

With Charles likely out for the year, is there any value there? What will the team do?

I can't see a 33 year old Thomas Jones being featured for long.

McCluster is too small to be featured.

That leaves LeRon McClain, doesn't it? He did have a 1000 yards for BA a few years ago and like to run. He can also catch ok for a big guy. Is McClain a good FA pickup?

Or, could KC trade for someone? Deangelo/JStewart from CAR? Or Donald Brown from IND? Or, Oakland and Michael Bush?

My gut feeling is that McClain is a good add here.

 

[Clifford]

It's a combo of all three and likely to be a hot hand situation. Not sure there is much reward to be reaped here.

In yahoo you can play McCluster at WR which could make him a decent WR flex play.

 

[Warhogs]

As poorly as KC is playing right now I don't see a lot of value in any of the RB filling in. Thomas Jones probably gets first crack to start, McCluster may get a few more touches as they probably draw up a few more plays for him. I think McClain will not be much of a factor for at least the next few weeks as they rely on Jones/McCluster first. If that offense does not show any life they are probably all deep backups at best.

 

[ponchsox]

Meh, I would just stay away unless you are in a pinch. These guys aren't significant upgrades over most RBs already rostered.

 

[Doughhead]

McCluster is the most intriguing. He's a dynamic playmaker in an offense that will be playing from behind a lot and looking for big plays. His receiving skills out of the backfield should also be valuable for a QB that doesn't stretch the field.

That being said, most traditional running plays will probably be split between Jones and McClain, so it's tough to see McCluster as having anything more than flex value in a PPR, and that's if everything breaks right for him. And even if he is able to put together a nice season statistically, week-to-week inconsistency is likely inevitable.

 

[Captain Hook]

I think Jones is the primary back supplemented with McClain (maybe goal line and short yardage) and McCluster for pass and special formation plays. The one name to keep an eye on is Jackie Battle if they give him enough carries (and you are short enough at RB to worry about this which likely means a very deep league)

A team as bad as KC isn't trading value for anyone

 

[griff321]

If Jones doesn't get GL work he's worthless. Kuhn will score more points FFS. McCluster is the guy to look at but he may not be available like the other two likely are.

 

[eoMMan]

As others have stated, I'd pass on a KC back right now.

 

[az_prof]

I think Jones is the primary back supplemented with McClain (maybe goal line and short yardage) and McCluster for pass and special formation plays. The one name to keep an eye on is Jackie Battle if they give him enough carries (and you are short enough at RB to worry about this which likely means a very deep league)

A team as bad as KC isn't trading value for anyone

Well, teams don't usually make midseason trades, so you are probably right.But....KC won their division last season, and no one in the AFC West is undefeated. Denver, Oakland, and SD all look pretty weak too. So, it doesn't seem impossible that KC could turns things around. Good HBs can usually be gotten for a fairly average to low draft pick. I am guessing a second rounder would get JStewart, who is a FA next season. A third rounder for Bush maybe? He also is a FA in 2012. A 7th rounder for D. Brown would probably do the trick as he has no role in IND. Not sure who else might be available.

 

[zamboni]

Given how much Jones has been a huge fan of Jones, I would agree that TJ will likely get one last shot to prove if he has anything left, with McCluster there to spell him/cover 3rd down duty. But if TJ falters and the team continues to play from behind, Haley may have no choice but to go in a totally different direction.

Strangely, Haley may actually have his job saved due to a possible mulligan for losing Moeaki, Berry and now Charles. But that is for another thread.

 

[eaglesfan7]

I think it's a bigger question for Charles owners than anyone else. As Charles owners we have no choice but to grab one of these guys. If you don't own Charles I'd stay away from the backfield.

 

[qimqam]

I picked up McCluster last week because he gets Rushing & Receiving touches plus points for Return Yardage.

He is also listed as a WR/RB

 

[NeverEnough]

My guess is McClain gets the bulk.

 

[benm3218]

As poorly as KC is playing right now I don't see a lot of value in any of the RB filling in. Thomas Jones probably gets first crack to start, McCluster may get a few more touches as they probably draw up a few more plays for him. I think McClain will not be much of a factor for at least the next few weeks as they rely on Jones/McCluster first. If that offense does not show any life they are probably all deep backups at best.

My exact thoughts. Charles was already lackluster in that putrid offense. I wouldn't want any of them.

 

[hutchins929]

Meh, I would just stay away unless you are in a pinch. These guys aren't significant upgrades over most RBs already rostered.

You mean, unless you had Jamaal Charles on your team?Like Me

 

[solorca]

I grabbed McCluster last week just to fill an empty roster spot as a possible bye week fill-in. Even with the Charles injury, I don't see any reason to bump him higher than the RB4 or 5 level...maybe a little high if you can start him as a WR. He's not a bad guy to have on the bench as your fifth or sixth guy with a lot of upside, but I would hate to be in a position where I had to rely on him.

I wouldn't even roster Thomas Jones or Mcclain.

 

[supersecretid]

With Charles likely out for the year, is there any value there? What will the team do?

I can't see a 33 year old Thomas Jones being featured for long.

McCluster is too small to be featured.

That leaves LeRon McClain, doesn't it? He did have a 1000 yards for BA a few years ago and like to run. He can also catch ok for a big guy. Is McClain a good FA pickup?

Or, could KC trade for someone? Deangelo/JStewart from CAR? Or Donald Brown from IND? Or, Oakland and Michael Bush?

My gut feeling is that McClain is a good add here.

Nah, of course not. The guy who they fed 245 carries last year (despite the fact that Charles was ripping off 6+ ypc) is definitely not someone KC is interested in giving the ball to. I take it you're not a Chiefs fan.TJ will be THE featured back for the forseeable future. There aren't many such backs that don't crack at least the top 24 at RB. TJ is an easy RB3 until he proves otherwise. Heck, he had over 1,000 yards and 6 TDs last year as a back-up.

Edit again: I'm really shocked by this thread. Jones was RB26 last year in my league, with very standard scoring. The Chiefs look bad but do we really think he's going to score fewer points as the featured back than he did as a back-up last year?

 

[hutchins929]

With Charles likely out for the year, is there any value there? What will the team do?

I can't see a 33 year old Thomas Jones being featured for long.

McCluster is too small to be featured.

That leaves LeRon McClain, doesn't it? He did have a 1000 yards for BA a few years ago and like to run. He can also catch ok for a big guy. Is McClain a good FA pickup?

Or, could KC trade for someone? Deangelo/JStewart from CAR? Or Donald Brown from IND? Or, Oakland and Michael Bush?

My gut feeling is that McClain is a good add here.

Nah, of course not. The guy who they fed 245 carries last year (despite the fact that Charles was ripping off 6+ ypc) is definitely not someone KC is interested in giving the ball to. I take it you're not a Chiefs fan

Be honest, You're a Chiefs fan??? Or is it just the BBQ?

 

[atcdav]

It's a combo of all three and likely to be a hot hand situation. Not sure there is much reward to be reaped here.In yahoo you can play McCluster at WR which could make him a decent WR flex play.

official NFL depth chart lists him as WR. So does CBS, who I asked about it. They replied that they contacted the Chiefs directly ans the Chiefs confirmed his is a WRIN my WR heavy leavy I would love to roster a WR that gets carries like a RB

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I did the KC-Det game recap which will be up later tonight and might shed some light into the role of each player. I would toss it up in here but it is subscriber content and not really fair to those who paid.

I will say that McCluster has zero chance of being the feature back. he is gadget type guy and avoids contact at all costs. Jones/McClain is a better bet but the reality is the team has lost a few weapons and defenses are not going to respect them much.

 

[dagwood]

I did the KC-Det game recap which will be up later tonight and might shed some light into the role of each player. I would toss it up in here but it is subscriber content and not really fair to those who paid. I will say that McCluster has zero chance of being the feature back. he is gadget type guy and avoids contact at all costs. Jones/McClain is a better bet but the reality is the team has lost a few weapons and defenses are not going to respect them much.

Do you feel the same in a PPR format. Seems like 1. KC will be behind a lot.2. McCluster has the potential to catch 4-6 passes per game, rush for 25-50 yards per game, and score an occasional long TD. That adds up to some nice production from a guy sitting on a lot of WW's.

 

[supersecretid]

McCluster is Reggie Bush light. It's a big enough longshot that we'll ever see Bush getting a significant number of carries. It's that much more of a longshot that we'll ever see it from McCluster. He'll get a decent number of touches by fitting into a lot of different types of plays but he won't ever be the workhorse.

Again, don't follow the "33 year old" Thomas Jones hate here. At 32 he average 3.7 ypc (below average, but not bad) and put up RB26 numbers as a back-up. 8 months later the starter goes down and people are calling him "unrosterable". I'd call it at 1,300 yds and 8 TDs, conservatively.

 

[zamboni]

With Charles likely out for the year, is there any value there? What will the team do?

I can't see a 33 year old Thomas Jones being featured for long.

McCluster is too small to be featured.

That leaves LeRon McClain, doesn't it? He did have a 1000 yards for BA a few years ago and like to run. He can also catch ok for a big guy. Is McClain a good FA pickup?

Or, could KC trade for someone? Deangelo/JStewart from CAR? Or Donald Brown from IND? Or, Oakland and Michael Bush?

My gut feeling is that McClain is a good add here.

Nah, of course not. The guy who they fed 245 carries last year (despite the fact that Charles was ripping off 6+ ypc) is definitely not someone KC is interested in giving the ball to. I take it you're not a Chiefs fan.TJ will be THE featured back for the forseeable future. There aren't many such backs that don't crack at least the top 24 at RB. TJ is an easy RB3 until he proves otherwise. Heck, he had over 1,000 yards and 6 TDs last year as a back-up.

Edit again: I'm really shocked by this thread. Jones was RB26 last year in my league, with very standard scoring. The Chiefs look bad but do we really think he's going to score fewer points as the featured back than he did as a back-up last year?

You make good points, but that was last year. Jones was pretty pedestrian for most of the year, and really seemed sluggish down the stretch. Now a year later, I doubt he's gotten any burst back. But as mentioned previously, Haley seems very loyal to TJ, so he will likely be given one last shot to see what he can do.

 

[zamboni]

It's a combo of all three and likely to be a hot hand situation. Not sure there is much reward to be reaped here.In yahoo you can play McCluster at WR which could make him a decent WR flex play.

official NFL depth chart lists him as WR. So does CBS, who I asked about it. They replied that they contacted the Chiefs directly ans the Chiefs confirmed his is a WRIN my WR heavy leavy I would love to roster a WR that gets carries like a RB

MFL has him at RB, which unfortunately mutes his value in non-PPR leagues.

 

[Young 8]

So, it doesn't seem impossible that KC could turns things around.

Chiefs will go 0-16 and post the record for lowest pts in NFL history

 

[Young 8]

TJ is an easy RB3 until he proves otherwise. Heck, he had over 1,000 yards and 6 TDs last year as a back-up.Edit again: I'm really shocked by this thread. Jones was RB26 last year in my league, with very standard scoring. The Chiefs look bad but do we really think he's going to score fewer points as the featured back than he did as a back-up last year?

LOL, Jones is one year older and he looks completely SHOTBut I suppose you didn't watch him running this year

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I will say that McCluster has zero chance of being the feature back. he is gadget type guy and avoids contact at all costs. Jones/McClain is a better bet but the reality is the team has lost a few weapons and defenses are not going to respect them much.

 

[supersecretid]

So, it doesn't seem impossible that KC could turns things around.

Chiefs will go 0-16 and post the record for lowest pts in NFL history

I know you're joking, but I think this sort of thinking is part of what's going on here.This should not be the first NFL season for most of you. Teams are basically never as bad as they look at their worst or as good as they look at their best. Odds are the Chiefs will still win 3-4 games this year. Odds are they'll still average 14-17 pts per game, if not a bit more. Could they go 1-15 and have 200 points for the year? Sure. But that stuff is rare and more often than not even the seemingly awful teams don't do that poorly.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I did the KC-Det game recap which will be up later tonight and might shed some light into the role of each player. I would toss it up in here but it is subscriber content and not really fair to those who paid. I will say that McCluster has zero chance of being the feature back. he is gadget type guy and avoids contact at all costs. Jones/McClain is a better bet but the reality is the team has lost a few weapons and defenses are not going to respect them much.

Do you feel the same in a PPR format. Seems like 1. KC will be behind a lot.2. McCluster has the potential to catch 4-6 passes per game, rush for 25-50 yards per game, and score an occasional long TD. That adds up to some nice production from a guy sitting on a lot of WW's.

I know that Wannabee(JT) said today that he felt McCluster would be have more upside in PPR leagues. Perhaps with attrition he will be the best option but I see a guy who is timid.

 

[CalBear]

Who's out there in free agent land? Noel Devine? Chester Taylor? JJ Arrington? Tiki Barber? You've gotta think they'll add someone just for depth. The Chiefs don't have a tailback on their practice squad.

 

[az_prof]

Quote: "Again, don't follow the "33 year old" Thomas Jones hate here. At 32 he average 3.7 ypc (below average, but not bad) and put up RB26 numbers as a back-up. 8 months later the starter goes down and people are calling him "unrosterable". I'd call it at 1,300 yds and 8 TDs, conservatively."

Jones is now 33. And last year in an apparently better situation he averaged 3.7 ypc. You say that is "not bad," and yet I suspect it would be the lowest average ypc for any starting RB. Certainly in the bottom 4. So, it IS bad. And it could be worse.

If you are counting on Jones, I think you are going to be very disappointed. He may start week 3, but he won't be effective. And soon the Chiefs will have to make a change. If you want to be on top of things in fantasy, you need to see the change coming before it is a done deal. But, that was the point of this thread: to see how different people are analyzing this.

 

[FavreCo]

If Jones doesn't get GL work he's worthless. Kuhn will score more points FFS. McCluster is the guy to look at but he may not be available like the other two likely are.

GL Work? Are you kidding? How the hell is this disaster ever going to get near the goal line?

 

[Ariakis]

With a horrible defense (and offense) I just don't see a 3 YPC back making an impact which all but eliminates TJones or McClain. Of the two McClain has more of a puncher's chance if they do turn it around. McCluster is the only one with a PRAYER of value. If he goes for an average of 8-40 and 4-40 with an occasional TD that makes him very viable especially in a PPR. MFL has him at RB ... mediocre for sure but viable. Yahoo has him as a RB/WR ... awesome depth guy. CBS has him at WR only which is solid ... unless you are the one that lost Charles.

 

[Mark Wimer]

I think Jones is the primary back supplemented with McClain (maybe goal line and short yardage) and McCluster for pass and special formation plays. The one name to keep an eye on is Jackie Battle if they give him enough carries (and you are short enough at RB to worry about this which likely means a very deep league)A team as bad as KC isn't trading value for anyone

Their offense has been just non-existent this year. I don't see a need to spend much in the way of bid $ on these guys for waiver wire. When I dropped Charles in my redraft league I picked up David Nelson as the depth in Buffalo is getting shallow with Easley on IR and Parrish out for a few weeks - I avoided the Jones/McClain/McCluster conundrum.

 

[Redmen62]

Again, don't follow the "33 year old" Thomas Jones hate here. At 32 he average 3.7 ypc (below average, but not bad) and put up RB26 numbers as a back-up. 8 months later the starter goes down and people are calling him "unrosterable". I'd call it at 1,300 yds and 8 TDs, conservatively.

Agreed that people calling Jones "unrosterable" are nuts. But not as nuts as anyone expecting 1300 yards and eight TDs (conservatively)...3.7 ypc is straight up bad. That was when Jones was a year younger, on a competent offense, with Charles moving the chains and helping tire out a defense.

But let's say Jones is able to duplicate that 3.7 ypc. He has 43 yards right now, so he needs 1257 yards in the next 14 games. That would take 340 carries, at his 3.7 per pop average.

Not a single running back in the NFL had 340 carries last year, much less any 33-year old running backs on bad offenses that will have to pass to play catch up.

1300 yards would be a minor miracle, not a conservative estimate.

 

[ldizzle]

i doubt that they pick someone up and stick with TJ/Mcclain/battle but here is a list of available guys for giggles:

Clinton Portis

Justin Fargas

Mike Hart

Brian Westbrook

Tiki Barber

Laurence Maroney

Correll Buckhalter

Kevin Smith

Jamal Lewis

Deshawn Wynn

Javarris James

James Davis

Ryan Moats

Sammy Morris

Jalen Parmele

Barry Sanders Sr or Jr....j/k

probably more but too lazy...

 

[The Kerminator]

i doubt that they pick someone up and stick with TJ/Mcclain/battle but here is a list of available guys for giggles:Clinton PortisJustin FargasMike HartBrian WestbrookTiki BarberLaurence MaroneyCorrell BuckhalterKevin SmithJamal LewisDeshawn WynnJavarris JamesJames DavisRyan MoatsSammy MorrisJalen ParmeleBarry Sanders Sr or Jr....j/kprobably more but too lazy...

Larry Johnson???

 

[hutchins929]

i doubt that they pick someone up and stick with TJ/Mcclain/battle but here is a list of available guys for giggles:

Clinton Portis

Justin Fargas

Mike Hart

Brian Westbrook

Tiki Barber

Laurence Maroney

Correll Buckhalter

Kevin Smith

Jamal Lewis

Deshawn Wynn

Javarris James

James Davis

Ryan Moats

Sammy Morris

Jalen Parmele

Barry Sanders Sr or Jr....j/k

probably more but too lazy...

Mike Hart is a coach at Eastern Michigan University now. I don't know if he has a contract and wether or not it would allow him to leave for the NFL or not. Not that he would be the guy because he wont.

 

[CalBear]

Larry Johnson???

Hmm, that's actually an interesting possibility, although it's hard to see what he brings over Thomas Jones at this point.

 

[duaneok66]

I thought Johnson was in Miami . . .

 

[ldizzle]

I thought Johnson was in Miami . . .

Bingo...and i listed those guys for fun, dont really think anything will pan out. but they could use some depth...

 

[Art_VanDalay]

I thought Johnson was in Miami . . .

LJ? He is in Miami and got a carry this week. Come on guys. Shark Pool? BTW, the call here is McCluster with RB#3/4 value. KC will be losing often with no leads to protect thus relegating TJ and McClain's skill set virtually useless. You may think that Dex is too small and he is but he has explosion which this offense doesn't have anywhere else on the field right now. He did play at Ole Miss in the best college conference in football and did pretty well so I think people are not giving him enough credit. He was obviously not part of last week's gameplan but will be this week so it will be telling to see how they approach this in week 3. I agree that fantasy value is minimal here and only for the desperate but taking some risk early is how you find those diamonds for later. McCluster could be a nice find later in the year because of his receiving ability. Just my .02

 

[mvereb]

Since there's not a ton of NFL data to work with, let's look at McCluster's senior year numbers at Ole Miss (11 games).

181 attempts, 1,169 yards, 8 TDs

44 catches, 625 yards, 3 TDs

The numbers don't tell the whole story though. McCluster was sporadically used in his first six games (37 carries, 164 yards, 1 TD). He had a little more value as a receiver through the first six, grabbing 16 balls for 188 yards and 1 TD.

However, McCluster's workload, competition and production drastically improved over his last five games. McCluster faced Arkansas, Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, and Miss. State. He averaged nearly five grabs per game and 21 carries per game. He compiled 821 rushing yards in these five games. Sandwiched in between these productive games, McCluster missed a game against Northern Arizona and the bowl game against Oklahoma State. The larger workload clearly took a toll on his body.

I know that the SEC isn't the NFL, but at least this gives us some data to look at. McCluster excelled against elite competition, but failed to stay healthy.

We know that McCluster won't be 20+ touch workhorse running back for the rest of the season. I think we can expect 10-12 touches per game.

Based on all of this, he's an RB4 with upside for the occasional big games in PPR.

 

[Young 8]

I know you're joking,

No, i'm notI really think the Chiefs will go 0-16 maybe 1-15They have a tough schedule, no RB, no TE, an awful QB, a banged DEF

 

[Young 8]

Quote: "Again, don't follow the "33 year old" Thomas Jones hate here. At 32 he average 3.7 ypc (below average, but not bad) and put up RB26 numbers as a back-up. 8 months later the starter goes down and people are calling him "unrosterable". I'd call it at 1,300 yds and 8 TDs, conservatively."Jones is now 33.

LOLAre you aware that, for a RB, the jump from 32 to 33 yrs old it's like.....I don't know from 30 to 35 for a normal human being ?

 

[Debeucci]

The actual question the OP should be asking is...

"Who cares?"

KC right now can't beat my local community college football team atm. Too bad they don't play that high school team, the seahawks, this year. The only team I see on their schedule that they probably won't get blown out by is Indy week 5. Otherwise, they'll be playing catchup the entire season. Look at the bright side, it won't be hard for them to pretend to "Suck for Luck."