Why does everyone like Jerome Harrison over Maurice Morris? (1 Viewer)

[Louisville Slugger]

Is it just me or is everyone getting Jerome Harrison confused with Barry Sanders? Dont get me wrong I think Harrison is a pretty solid player, but why is everyone so hot for him and not Maurice Morris?

At the moment Morris is listed higher than Harrison on the depth chart. My gut feeling tells me that even if Best goes down the two of them will split carries.

The true sleeper in Detroit to me seems like Keiland Williams. Williams skill set is quite different from both Morris and Harrison. It is not inconceivable that once he gets the offense down (it is rumored he won't dress week one because he hasn't had time to learn the system yet) that he will play a far bigger role that Morris + Harrison who imho have no value unless Best gets hurt.

If Keiland Williams is paired with Best on a regular basis I could see a 650 yard 8-10 td season in a high powered offense. Not bad for a ww pickup.

Any thoughts?

 

[jon_mx]

The Fullback role is not something that is planned to be featured in the Lions offense, so I am not seeing anywhere near 650 yards. The reason I believe in Harrison is because the guy is a stud when he starts. He has 10 career starts and in 7 of them he went 99 yards or more. Harrison averages over 110 yards when he starts, meanwhile Morris except for the 109 yard performance was pathetic in the other games (21, 22, and 51) he started last year. Morris is aging and has little burst. Harrison is young and still explosive. Morris is better on blocking, but Harrison is more the type of back the Detroit coaches want to feature in their offense.

 

[Louisville Slugger]

The Fullback role is not something that is planned to be featured in the Lions offense, so I am not seeing anywhere near 650 yards. The reason I believe in Harrison is because the guy is a stud when he starts. He has 10 career starts and in 7 of them he went 99 yards or more. Harrison averages over 110 yards when he starts, meanwhile Morris except for the 109 yard performance was pathetic in the other games (21, 22, and 51) he started last year. Morris is aging and has little burst. Harrison is young and still explosive. Morris is better on blocking, but Harrison is more the type of back the Detroit coaches want to feature in their offense.

I don't think they plan on using him as a fullback. If I understand the plan correctly they hope to use him the same way they planed on using Mikel Leshoure as a kind of thunder and lightning combo... Maybe the 650 yards is somewhat optimistic, but if they were to use him at the goaline he could rack up a bunch of td's once he learns the system.As far as Harrison and Morris goes I don't think either one has any value unless Best gets hurt. Even then I think they split carries.

 

[Joe Summer]

Maurice Morris has been in the NFL for 9 seasons and has never been a full-time starter, which must be a record for a non-specialist RB. He is the definition of "career backup". He's 31.75 years old, playing a position where most players retire when they hit 30. And last year he showed definite signs of decline, with his YPC down to 3.7.

Meanwhile, Harrison is less than 2 years removed from leading the Browns in rushing, where he averaged 111 yards per start. His career YPC is 4.8. And he's 28 years old. If Peyton Hillis hadn't emerged out of nowhere last season, Harrison might have ended up on the cover of Madden '12.

 

[Thumper]

The Fullback role is not something that is planned to be featured in the Lions offense, so I am not seeing anywhere near 650 yards. The reason I believe in Harrison is because the guy is a stud when he starts. He has 10 career starts and in 7 of them he went 99 yards or more. Harrison averages over 110 yards when he starts, meanwhile Morris except for the 109 yard performance was pathetic in the other games (21, 22, and 51) he started last year. Morris is aging and has little burst. Harrison is young and still explosive. Morris is better on blocking, but Harrison is more the type of back the Detroit coaches want to feature in their offense.

I don't think they plan on using him as a fullback. If I understand the plan correctly they hope to use him the same way they planed on using Mikel Leshoure as a kind of thunder and lightning combo... Maybe the 650 yards is somewhat optimistic, but if they were to use him at the goaline he could rack up a bunch of td's once he learns the system.As far as Harrison and Morris goes I don't think either one has any value unless Best gets hurt. Even then I think they split carries.

I agree with everything you said. Morris and Harrison will do nothing, but cancel each other out. If anyone in this situation will have any value it will be K.Williams. Williams has a totally different skill set than the other three guys and is the likely goaline vulture once he learns the system...Grab Williams as a flyer and don't bother with thE other two for now.

 

[jon_mx]

Keiland Williams never even cracked 500 yards in a season in college and we are suppose to believe he is going to be a stud at the pro level. Maybe LSU was loaded with talent, but Keiland Williams has little track record to base it on. Meanwhile Harrison rushed for 1900 yards in 2005 in college.

 

[Thumper]

Keiland Williams never even cracked 500 yards in a season in college and we are suppose to believe he is going to be a stud at the pro level. Maybe LSU was loaded with talent, but Keiland Williams has little track record to base it on. Meanwhile Harrison rushed for 1900 yards in 2005 in college.

In no way do I see him as a real life "stud" but I do believe that a situation exists that could make him an effective fantasy player in an explosive offense.

 

[Joe Summer]

I don't understand the "Grab Williams" mentality. He's going to sit on the bench for several weeks while he learns the playbook, then he MIGHT play enough to vulture a TD every other week. But that's his ceiling. And most fantasy players just don't have the space on their bench for "7 points every other week" guy, especially this early in the season when there will be so many breakout players available.

I mean, the guy got CUT by Mike Shanahan, yet he gets more attention in this forum than some guys who are starters. Mike Shanahan!!

 

[Thumper]

I don't understand the "Grab Williams" mentality. He's going to sit on the bench for several weeks while he learns the playbook, then he MIGHT play enough to vulture a TD every other week. But that's his ceiling. And most fantasy players just don't have the space on their bench for "7 points every other week" guy, especially this early in the season when there will be so many breakout players available.

I mean, the guy got CUT by Mike Shanahan, yet he gets more attention in this forum than some guys who are starters. Mike Shanahan!!

Very true, but he is worth a late round choice or a pick up off the ww if you have the room. It will probably be a few weeks before we know how the backfield in Detroit will shake out.