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Why does Sjax keep getting the love? (1 Viewer)

I did look at Fred's stats. Did you? From year 5 on, he was in the top 10 only 2 times and barely at that. And yea, it's a mtyh that Fred missed lots of time every year. But it's equally a myth that he was a dominant fantasy RB which is what you seem to be implying.
Not implying that at all. Take what I say exactly as I say it and don't try to read into what isnt there.Fred Taylor had seasons over 1200 yards rushing. Then was injury riddled for a couple years. In his 5th seaosn, he returned to his previous levels of high rushing production.

SJax should return to his previous levels of ELITE production. If you want to use a model for the same type of injury pattern, not exact rushing numbers. Try to read please.
I need some reading lessons from you I guess. Please help me.
Starting in the 5th year of his career Fred Taylor had top caliber fantasy seasons in 5/7 years. So 2 years are what we have where he didn't contribute enough to be worth a lot.

...snip...
Are you saying that top caliber fantasy is not dominant? If you don't consider top caliber to be dominant then you are right, I did misread you. If you want to be all arrogant and superior, that's fine but don't pretend you were misquoted.Sorry for the hijack - this is a good thread... Like the OP, I'm not feeling the love for Sjax but there have been some interesting points brought up.
Correct. If I meant dominant then I would have said dominant. That owuld be why I said "don't read into, take exactly at face value...etc. And Taylor's seasons were all roughyl top 15 I believe, which would qualify as top caliber. I think. Please correct me if that's wrong.
 
There is no value in drafting SJax in the 1st half of the 1st round. Even if he finishes top 5, or even top 3, you paid top 3 or 5 'money' for him. If he was falling to the late 1st or 2nd or even better the 3rd round, okay that's value. But as it stands, based on his ADP I will be drafting a SAFER guy like Frank Gore. Taking Sjax with one of the top picks is a GAMBLE that will return at best even money.
Gore has played in all 16 games once in his career.....I don't see how he is a safer play
This is how they've placed in my PPR:2008: Gore 15, Jackson 162007: Gore 8, Jackson 142006: Gore 5, Jackson 2Avg: Gore 9.3, Jackson 11.6I admit, closer than I expected, but I just prefer Gore's situation more than Jackson's in St.Louis, and I can't help but feel SJ is soft. Just doesn't seem like he's worth the headache. And if their numbers are so similar why is SJ a "steal" at 1.3-1.6 but Gore is dropping to the end of the 1st in PPRs when he's been (albeit slightly) more consistent?
 
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The past few years highly touted/draft pick lineman rarely bust.

2008: Jake Long(stud), Ryan Clady(one of the best LT's last year), Chris Williams(injured, but starting this season), Brandon Albert(started), Gosder Cherilius(started), Jeff Otah(stud), Sam Baker(solid last year).

2007: Joe Thomas(stud), Levi Brown(solid), Joe Staley(solid), Ben Grubbs(stud)

2006:D'Brickashaw Ferguson(solid), Davin Joseph(solid), Nick Mangold(solid) both Jets lineman paved the way for that great running attack last year.

2005: Jamaal Brown(made the pro bowl), Alex Barron(has been soft), Chris Spencer, Logan Mankins.

2004: Robert Gallery(has been moved inside), Shawn Andrews(injured, but a solid when healthy), Vernon Carey(stud).

Where are all these lineman that bust?
See bolded names above - I think Cherilius was a major disappointment but started because of what they paid him. Injuries also are a factor.My point is that you can't just assume because the Rams drafted an OL with a high pick that this automatically upgrades their line. I haven't seen the team chemistry yet, and neither has anybody else
Really though, You've picked out a bunch of older players and two injury-plagued ones, plus an OT that, if I remember correctly, is playing at near Pro-bowl level after moving inside to G.I think you'd agree that at worst its a 50/50 shot that Jason Smith turns out as a solid starter, and I would argue that it is even better than that. Add in a good free agent pickup on the inside, and you've got the makings for a much improved OL.

 
Wimer, could you please present a reason with some semblance of evidence to back it up as to how SJax is inconsistent or why he shouldn't be drafted?

Because its a losing argument to say his situation will get worse. It basically can;t get worse...especially with 6 games against NFC West teams, a game against HOU, a game against JAX, and a game against IND (none of which are known for great rush defenses ya know?)
Refer to the numerous posts above. If none of those have made my case, then we'll have to agree to disagree on Jackson. By the way, I haven't argued that Jackson shouldn't be drafted. Most NFL players have value at a certain point in a draft (depending on league parameters vis-a-vis roster sizes, starting lineups and etc). However, I think that drafting Jackson before the 3rd round in a typical 12-team non-PPR redraft league and prior to the middle second round of a typical PPR league would be a mistake.

I disagree that his situation can't get worse. New head coach, reshuffled offensive line (that absolutely stunk last year, especially in the red zone), horrid quarterbacking with a horrid backup, youthful and inexperienced WR corps led by 2nd year Donnie Avery/veteran Ronald Curry... this is an offense from the nether regions, folks.

Regarding the NFC West Seattle was abysmal last year but I think they improved over the past offseason and they get Hasselbeck + Houshmandzadeh in action this year, and the 49ers are also benefitting from Mike Singletary's guidance as head coach from the get go this year. Arizona played in the Super Bowl. The Rams are clearly the worst team in the NFC West, IMO.
Hey Mark,I appreciate your stance on Jackson. I can't say that I agree - I'm still on the fence - but I'm shocked the overwhelming amount of support he gets. There is little no chance he gets out of the first round in any draft. I noticed you had LJ ranked ahead of him. These are two players with similar situations. Can you explain why your higher than most on LJ, while continue to rank Jackson so low?

 
Doesn't Chris Johnson, more than anyone look like he's on the verge of a SJax '06 break out type of year? Why not just take CJ?

Jackson in '05: 15 games, attempts 254, rushing yards 1046, average 4.1, TDs 8, receptions 43, yards 320, TDs 2

Johnson in '08: 15 games, attempts 251, rushing yards 1228, average 4.9, TDs 9, receptions 43, yards 260, TDs 1

Shockingly similar numbers...and obviously we know '06 was SJ's break out year...maybe CJ's break out in this year? I know White is there getting 190 carries, but the similarities in the numbers are hard to ignore.

 
Wimer, could you please present a reason with some semblance of evidence to back it up as to how SJax is inconsistent or why he shouldn't be drafted?

Because its a losing argument to say his situation will get worse. It basically can;t get worse...especially with 6 games against NFC West teams, a game against HOU, a game against JAX, and a game against IND (none of which are known for great rush defenses ya know?)
Refer to the numerous posts above. If none of those have made my case, then we'll have to agree to disagree on Jackson. By the way, I haven't argued that Jackson shouldn't be drafted. Most NFL players have value at a certain point in a draft (depending on league parameters vis-a-vis roster sizes, starting lineups and etc). However, I think that drafting Jackson before the 3rd round in a typical 12-team non-PPR redraft league and prior to the middle second round of a typical PPR league would be a mistake.

I disagree that his situation can't get worse. New head coach, reshuffled offensive line (that absolutely stunk last year, especially in the red zone), horrid quarterbacking with a horrid backup, youthful and inexperienced WR corps led by 2nd year Donnie Avery/veteran Ronald Curry... this is an offense from the nether regions, folks.

Regarding the NFC West Seattle was abysmal last year but I think they improved over the past offseason and they get Hasselbeck + Houshmandzadeh in action this year, and the 49ers are also benefitting from Mike Singletary's guidance as head coach from the get go this year. Arizona played in the Super Bowl. The Rams are clearly the worst team in the NFC West, IMO.
Hey Mark,I appreciate your stance on Jackson. I can't say that I agree - I'm still on the fence - but I'm shocked the overwhelming amount of support he gets. There is little no chance he gets out of the first round in any draft. I noticed you had LJ ranked ahead of him. These are two players with similar situations. Can you explain why your higher than most on LJ, while continue to rank Jackson so low?
Hey gonzobill5, I'm glad to compare/contrast the 2 situations.I think that K.C. has upgraded their QB situation tremendously with the signing of Matt Cassel. Other than Dwayne Bowe, they don't have proven weapons there for him to throw to (but that's 1 more proven weapon than the Rams boast right now). The Rams went backward at QB this year doing subtraction by addition with Kyle Boller now the #2 behind a failing, flailing Marc Bulger. I'd rather bank on Cassel/Bowe as a combo than Bulger/Avery. I think the Chiefs have a better passing attack entering 2009 than the Rams.

Larry Johnson has got his head straight now that Herm Edwards and his regime are out of town - he's been working hard in OTAs and, though I keep hearing how some think he's not a great fit for the new offense, I look at his heyday of '05 and '06 and note that he caught at least 33 balls in those years and averaged 10 or more yards per catch. I think he's a versatile weapon and that Johnson may actually benefit from being lightly used the last 2 seasons - he's had time to get healthy and recover from 742 carries in the aforementioned 2 'glory' years of 05 and 06.

I have nothing detrimental to say/report about Steven Jackson - he's soldiering on with the new coaching regime just as he did last year.

Comparing the two teams as rushing units, the Chiefs averaged 113.1 yards per game last season with L.J. only in the game part-time and very shaky QBing (though with Tony Gonzalez, who is now a Falcon). That was 16th in the NFL and the team averaged a stellar 4.8 yards per carry. The team had no significant losses on the OL unit and added G Mike Goff who may start this year.

The Rams were 25th in the league last year averaging 103.1 rushing yards per game, with an average YPC of 4.0. The Rams lost LT Orlando Pace, C Brett Romberg, C Nick Leckey, while adding LT Jason Smith ® and C Jason Brown (FA Baltimore).

The Rams will be integrating way more new personnel on their OL than the Chiefs will be this year.

Both teams have new coaching staffs. Both are going through adjustments/growing pains.

So, in a nutshell, I think Larry Johnson has the better fantasy prospects/situation when compared to Steven Jackson because

A). His compatriots on the offense in the passing game are superior to the Rams unit

B). Larry Johnson's OL is more established, performed better during 2008 than the Rams, and have just one new face to integrate into their rhythm this year, vs. the myriad of changes that the Rams are dealing with on their unit (and their unit wasn't as good last year to begin with as far as run blocking goes).

C). In particular, the Chiefs aren't asking a rookie to assume the demanding LT position while the Rams are doing just this.

MW

 
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The past few years highly touted/draft pick lineman rarely bust.

2008: Jake Long(stud), Ryan Clady(one of the best LT's last year), Chris Williams(injured, but starting this season), Brandon Albert(started), Gosder Cherilius(started), Jeff Otah(stud), Sam Baker(solid last year).

2007: Joe Thomas(stud), Levi Brown(solid), Joe Staley(solid), Ben Grubbs(stud)

2006:D'Brickashaw Ferguson(solid), Davin Joseph(solid), Nick Mangold(solid) both Jets lineman paved the way for that great running attack last year.

2005: Jamaal Brown(made the pro bowl), Alex Barron(has been soft), Chris Spencer, Logan Mankins.

2004: Robert Gallery(has been moved inside), Shawn Andrews(injured, but a solid when healthy), Vernon Carey(stud).

Where are all these lineman that bust?
See bolded names above - I think Cherilius was a major disappointment but started because of what they paid him. Injuries also are a factor.My point is that you can't just assume because the Rams drafted an OL with a high pick that this automatically upgrades their line. I haven't seen the team chemistry yet, and neither has anybody else
Really though, You've picked out a bunch of older players and two injury-plagued ones, plus an OT that, if I remember correctly, is playing at near Pro-bowl level after moving inside to G.I think you'd agree that at worst its a 50/50 shot that Jason Smith turns out as a solid starter, and I would argue that it is even better than that. Add in a good free agent pickup on the inside, and you've got the makings for a much improved OL.
Actually, I didn't pick out any of those players initially. I was responding to a list proporting to tout high draft picks on the OL compiled by another poster. I just highlighted players on his list that didn't really support his conclusions (IMO).LT is a tough position to play in the NFL. The Rams are asking Jason Smith to step into the LT position without any NFL experience and play at a high level. I think that it is unreasonable to suggest that rookie Jason Smith is going to easily fill Orlando Pace's sizable shoes.

 
When healthy, he gets you consistent double digit points. He really only had one clunker in 2008 (1.7pts) then a 7.4 pt game in the blowout loss to Philly week 1.

If you grab SJax in the middle of round 1 and secure 3 solid RBs by round 4/5, you should be primed for elite RB production to carry your team. You can have a RB stable like SJax + Westy/Ronnie + Addai/Stewart after 5 rounds. Pretty good matchup plays there.

 
I've had him twice, and won the league with him as my top pick last year and I am very likely to pass on him at #5. That offense is just so anemic AND he can't stay healthy.

I did really enjoy watching him, especially in 2006, but I'm still afraid to make him the centerpiece of my team.

I am hoping that some comments in this thread make me change my mind. Will their offense improve?
Who cares if their offense improves? He was a top 5 rb last year with that pathetic offense on a ppg basis. It wasn't the lousy offense that held him back from being an absolute stud...it was just injuries. That's all there is to be afraid of this year. I really have a hard time seeing that offense getting worse.

Seriously people - this man's FLOOR appears to be top 5...
Do you realize how delusional this sounds, talking about a player, for whatever reason, that hasn't finished in the top 10 Rbs, much less top 10 players, in the league for two straight years?
 
I've had him twice, and won the league with him as my top pick last year and I am very likely to pass on him at #5. That offense is just so anemic AND he can't stay healthy.

I did really enjoy watching him, especially in 2006, but I'm still afraid to make him the centerpiece of my team.

I am hoping that some comments in this thread make me change my mind. Will their offense improve?
Who cares if their offense improves? He was a top 5 rb last year with that pathetic offense on a ppg basis. It wasn't the lousy offense that held him back from being an absolute stud...it was just injuries. That's all there is to be afraid of this year. I really have a hard time seeing that offense getting worse.

Seriously people - this man's FLOOR appears to be top 5...
Do you realize how delusional this sounds, talking about a player, for whatever reason, that hasn't finished in the top 10 Rbs, much less top 10 players, in the league for two straight years?
It isn't delusional at all because when talking ceilings/floors, you assume a 16 game season. Prorated, I believe both his seasons are top 5 or 6.
 
Darko M said:
Doesn't Chris Johnson, more than anyone look like he's on the verge of a SJax '06 break out type of year? Why not just take CJ?Jackson in '05: 15 games, attempts 254, rushing yards 1046, average 4.1, TDs 8, receptions 43, yards 320, TDs 2Johnson in '08: 15 games, attempts 251, rushing yards 1228, average 4.9, TDs 9, receptions 43, yards 260, TDs 1Shockingly similar numbers...and obviously we know '06 was SJ's break out year...maybe CJ's break out in this year? I know White is there getting 190 carries, but the similarities in the numbers are hard to ignore.
It could be 200 carries again AND 10-15 TD. Jackson in 06 had no competition for carries pretty much AT ALL. HUGE difference IMO.
 
Mark still waiting on that info you claim shows that he is inconsistent.

Or does that info simply not exist?
Instinctive,I have linked to his game logs in several of my posts. But since you insist I post that material here -

1 @PHI L 38-3 14 40 2.9 9 0 3 34 11.3 24 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 7.4

2 NYG L 41-13 13 53 4.1 15 0 7 37 5.3 22 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 9

3 @SEA L 37-13 23 66 2.9 8 0 5 62 12.4 50 0 1 0 - fantasy points = 12.8

4 BUF L 31-14 24 110 4.6 29 1 5 78 15.6 53 0 0 0 fantasy points = 24.8

5 Bye Week

6 @WAS W 19-17 22 79 3.6 9 0 3 32 10.7 15 0 1 1 fantasy points = 11.1

7 DAL W 34-14 25 160 6.4 56 3 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 fantasy points = 35.6

8 @NE L 23-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

9 ARI L 34-13 7 17 2.4 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 fantasy points = 1.7

10 @NYJ L 47-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

11 @SF L 35-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points =0

12 CHI L 27-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

13 MIA L 16-12 21 94 4.5 13 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11

14 @ARI L 34-10 18 63 3.5 32 0 4 3 0.8 9 1 2 2 fantasy points = 12.7

15 SEA L 23-20 24 91 3.8 15 1 4 36 9.0 11 0 0 0 fantasy points = 18.7

16 SF L 17-16 32 108 3.4 12 0 2 11 5.5 7 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11.9

17 @ATL L 31-27 30 161 5.4 36 2 4 54 13.5 36 0 0 0 fantasy points = 33.5

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 4 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 7

Jackson was mostly bad/a disappointment/not playing (7), and then mediocre most of the rest of the time (5). He had 4 games in which he might have put his fantasy owners over the top in a head-to-head matchup with a solid showing. Further, 59.2% of his fantasy points for the year were scored in 4 of the 16 games played that year. Almost 60% of the points in his PPG average were scored in only 4 games - the other 40% were scored spread out over the 8 other games that he played in. That's why PPG is not a good measure for analyzing Jackson's impact as a fantasy player last season. He was way too inconsistent, with a few Boom games, a chunk of mediocre games, and then 7 sub-par efforts, with 4 of those being goose eggs.

For comparison's sake, last year's top 5 fantasy backs were (Jackson was 13th among all fantasy backs last year in FP scored):

1 RB Williams, DeAngelo CAR 16 274 1518 18 22 121 2 0 283.9 Williams' game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 2 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

2 RB Turner, Michael ATL 16 377 1699 17 6 41 0 2 276.0 Turner's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

3 RB Peterson, Adrian MIN 16 364 1757 10 21 125 0 4 248.2 Peterson's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

4 RB Forte, Matt CHI 16 315 1231 8 64 484 4 1 243.5 Matt Forte Game Logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 8 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 6 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 2

5 RB Jones, Thomas NYJ 16 290 1312 13 36 207 2 1 241.9

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

What we see from the above is that Jackson was practically the inverse of the top-5 achieving backs last season, who had on average 8 outstanding games during the season, an average of 3.8 mediocre games, and an average of 4.2 sub-par/stinkers. Further, Jackson had 12 games that were mediocre or sub-par, while the top badks averaged 8 mediocre or sub-par games. Conversely, the top backs had 11.8 games of mediocre or excellent status while Jackson had 9.

By any measure other than the artificial "averaging" of Jackson's fantasy points into a PPG perspective/viewpoint (which conveniently excises his DNP weeks), we see that Jackson was A) inconsistent and B)vastly underperformed given his likely draft slot during 2008.

Even when we do consider the PPG perspective with the 4 DNP weeks left out, we see that he concentrated 60% of his fantasy points in only 4 games, and then underperformed (given the lofty draft pick required to acquire Jacksons' services last year (or the year before that)) in 8 games, scraping 40% of his fantasy points thinly across that 8 week span.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see Jackson for what he is - a RB#2 in fantasy football terms. He is the engine that drives the Rams' offense without a doubt, but for all that he is not an outstanding fantasy option. The team surrounding Jackson is very sub-par and his situation drags him down. I have never argued that the guy isn't a talented player, but it takes talent+opportunity+a good situation to make an outstanding fantasy player. Jackson has talent+opportunity without a doubt, but the final piece of the equation is not going to help him, or his fantasy owners, stand out during 2009 for the majority of the games - just as they conspired against him producing excellent results during 12 games last season.

I argued many of these same points last year, by the way, and lots of people who were in love with Jackson last year called me crazy and argued the exact same lines that posters have put up this year to support drafting Jackson with a top 5 pick during 2008 in those threads.

At year's end, Jackson was #13 in fantasy points scored by a running back.

[forrestgump] That's all I have to say about that. [/forrestgump]

 
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I fully recommend having SJax on your roster this year. Inasmuch as I have owned him the last two, and WILL NOT have my team languish a third consecutive season due to his paltry numbers, he will be a LOCK to regain 2006 form. Good luck!

 
Mark still waiting on that info you claim shows that he is inconsistent.

Or does that info simply not exist?
Instinctive,I have linked to his game logs in several of my posts. But since you insist I post that material here -

1 @PHI L 38-3 14 40 2.9 9 0 3 34 11.3 24 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 7.4

2 NYG L 41-13 13 53 4.1 15 0 7 37 5.3 22 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 9

3 @SEA L 37-13 23 66 2.9 8 0 5 62 12.4 50 0 1 0 - fantasy points = 12.8

4 BUF L 31-14 24 110 4.6 29 1 5 78 15.6 53 0 0 0 fantasy points = 24.8

5 Bye Week

6 @WAS W 19-17 22 79 3.6 9 0 3 32 10.7 15 0 1 1 fantasy points = 11.1

7 DAL W 34-14 25 160 6.4 56 3 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 fantasy points = 35.6

8 @NE L 23-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

9 ARI L 34-13 7 17 2.4 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 fantasy points = 1.7

10 @NYJ L 47-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

11 @SF L 35-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points =0

12 CHI L 27-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

13 MIA L 16-12 21 94 4.5 13 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11

14 @ARI L 34-10 18 63 3.5 32 0 4 3 0.8 9 1 2 2 fantasy points = 12.7

15 SEA L 23-20 24 91 3.8 15 1 4 36 9.0 11 0 0 0 fantasy points = 18.7

16 SF L 17-16 32 108 3.4 12 0 2 11 5.5 7 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11.9

17 @ATL L 31-27 30 161 5.4 36 2 4 54 13.5 36 0 0 0 fantasy points = 33.5

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 4 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 7

Jackson was mostly bad/a disappointment/not playing (7), and then mediocre most of the rest of the time (5). He had 4 games in which he might have put his fantasy owners over the top in a head-to-head matchup with a solid showing. Further, 59.2% of his fantasy points for the year were scored in 4 of the 16 games played that year. Almost 60% of the points in his PPG average were scored in only 4 games - the other 40% were scored spread out over the 8 other games that he played in. That's why PPG is not a good measure for analyzing Jackson's impact as a fantasy player last season. He was way too inconsistent, with a few Boom games, a chunk of mediocre games, and then 7 sub-par efforts, with 4 of those being goose eggs.

For comparison's sake, last year's top 5 fantasy backs were (Jackson was 13th among all fantasy backs last year in FP scored):

1 RB Williams, DeAngelo CAR 16 274 1518 18 22 121 2 0 283.9 Williams' game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 2 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

2 RB Turner, Michael ATL 16 377 1699 17 6 41 0 2 276.0 Turner's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

3 RB Peterson, Adrian MIN 16 364 1757 10 21 125 0 4 248.2 Peterson's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

4 RB Forte, Matt CHI 16 315 1231 8 64 484 4 1 243.5 Matt Forte Game Logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 8 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 6 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 2

5 RB Jones, Thomas NYJ 16 290 1312 13 36 207 2 1 241.9

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

What we see from the above is that Jackson was practically the inverse of the top-5 achieving backs last season, who had on average 8 outstanding games during the season, an average of 3.8 mediocre games, and an average of 4.2 sub-par/stinkers. Further, Jackson had 12 games that were mediocre or sub-par, while the top badks averaged 8 mediocre or sub-par games. Conversely, the top backs had 11.8 games of mediocre or excellent status while Jackson had 9.

By any measure other than the artificial "averaging" of Jackson's fantasy points into a PPG perspective/viewpoint (which conveniently excises his DNP weeks), we see that Jackson was A) inconsistent and B)vastly underperformed given his likely draft slot during 2008.

Even when we do consider the PPG perspective with the 4 DNP weeks left out, we see that he concentrated 60% of his fantasy points in only 4 games, and then underperformed (given the lofty draft pick required to acquire Jacksons' services last year (or the year before that)) in 8 games, scraping 40% of his fantasy points thinly across that 8 week span.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see Jackson for what he is - a RB#2 in fantasy football terms. He is the engine that drives the Rams' offense without a doubt, but for all that he is not an outstanding fantasy option. The team surrounding Jackson is very sub-par and his situation drags him down. I have never argued that the guy isn't a talented player, but it takes talent+opportunity+a good situation to make an outstanding fantasy player. Jackson has talent+opportunity without a doubt, but the final piece of the equation is not going to help him, or his fantasy owners, stand out during 2009 for the majority of the games - just as they conspired against him producing excellent results during 12 games last season.

I argued many of these same points last year, by the way, and lots of people who were in love with Jackson last year called me crazy and argued the exact same lines that posters have put up this year to support drafting Jackson with a top 5 pick during 2008 in those threads.

At year's end, Jackson was #13 in fantasy points scored by a running back.

[forrestgump] That's all I have to say about that. [/forrestgump]
So when he plays, Jackson 75% of the time he goes over 100 yards, and he went under 7 points only once?Again...you don;t get that injury is irrelevant. You can't predict injury.

That would be me saying: Don't go draft Adrian Peterson, I know his ceiling is super high and his floor is high too, but he could miss games because in the past he has often been injured. Do you see what you are saying?!?!?!

75% of the time you get double digits from Jackson. 91% of the time you get at least 7 points.

He had a better percentage of games over ten points than Thomas Jones, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams.

Should I also not take Peterson?

This shows that out of all your examples, Forte is more consistent. I would say that makes sense. He has no carry competition, has proven to be durable, and will get the ball. His situation is better than Jackson. Now, Jackson is more talented and has a much higher ceiling...so I would still prefer Jackson, personally. But anybody who wants Forte over Jackson is just as correct, if they want the absolute best consistency...with a lower ceiling.

Again...the only way SJax's rating is worse than any of those guys is with "end of the year total" or "missed games due to injury."

If you think he will miss more games to injury again, then pass me that crystal ball. And if he does, I'll come in here and say "mark, you were right." But if he doesn't, I'd give 5:1 odds that you come back with the same thing next year.

Again, look at the games he plays. Games on the field. Because your RB position isn't getting zero when he sits. And when he plays, the odds are in your favor that you're getting stud production.

 
I wanted to make a separate post to say that week 9 he was obviously still injured and barely got any playing time. With that adjustment, you got over 7 points 100% of the time he played and got double digits 81% of the time.

 
I appreciate the analysis, Mark, but the games Jackson did not play in are not relevant to the conversation, and it is simply a way to slant the analysis against him. Of course the top RBs all played 16 games, that is how it works in the end of year rankings. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that at least 2 out of those 5 RBs miss games this year. Trying to predict injuries, especially to RBs, is folly. We are using actual performance to predict future performance.

Any player that gets 100+ yards 8 out of 11 full games played is consistent. TDs are inconsistent for MOST players, as is evidenced below.

You think Jackson supporters should take off their rose colored glasses and see Jackson as a RB2... well, using your consistency criteria, let's look at the 6th through 12th ranked RBs last year:

Slaton:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 6

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games played w/out TD

LT:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games w/out TD

Portis:

over 16 pts : 4

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 5

9 of 16 games w/out TD

MJD:

over 16 pts : 7

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 6

7 of 16 games w/out TD

Westbrook:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 2

under 10 : 9 (2 missed games)

8 of of 14 games w/out TD

Chris Johnson:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (1 missed game)

7 of 15 games w/out TD

Jacobs:

over 16 pts : 6

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (3 missed games)

4 of 13 games w/out TD

~~~~

So, the profile of a RB1, based on last year's top12 (all 12, not just the 7 in this post):

6.6 games 16+ pts

4.2 games 10-15.9

5.2 games under 10

Normalized for games actually played, since we are using this information to evaluate for the upcoming season and cannot accurately predict injuries:

6.8 games 16+ pts

4.3 games 10-15.9

4.9 games under 10

Jackson's 12 games normalized to 16:

5.3 games 16+ pts

6.7 games 10-15.9

4.0 games under 10

Inconsistent?

Unless you use last year's games missed as the baseline going forward (Tom Brady is going to miss 15 games!!!), you cannot use missed games in this kind of analysis. Is a currently healthy Steven Jackson going to miss 4 games in 2009? Maybe. He has averaged about 14 games played in 5 years. But I encourage anybody that thinks they can predict RB injuries to look at the data.... a huge percentage of RBs miss time every year.

Considering Jackson a RB2 going forward is not reasonable, IMO. The risk of injury to any RB is significant.

I did a survey of last year's preseason consensus top 30 RBs HERE.

Cliff's notes: 7 out of the top 10 and 13 out of the top 20 missed games due to injury.

 
I appreciate the analysis, Mark, but the games Jackson did not play in are not relevant to the conversation, and it is simply a way to slant the analysis against him. Of course the top RBs all played 16 games, that is how it works in the end of year rankings. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that at least 2 out of those 5 RBs miss games this year. Trying to predict injuries, especially to RBs, is folly. We are using actual performance to predict future performance.

Any player that gets 100+ yards 8 out of 11 full games played is consistent. TDs are inconsistent for MOST players, as is evidenced below.

You think Jackson supporters should take off their rose colored glasses and see Jackson as a RB2... well, using your consistency criteria, let's look at the 6th through 12th ranked RBs last year:

Slaton:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 6

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games played w/out TD

LT:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games w/out TD

Portis:

over 16 pts : 4

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 5

9 of 16 games w/out TD

MJD:

over 16 pts : 7

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 6

7 of 16 games w/out TD

Westbrook:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 2

under 10 : 9 (2 missed games)

8 of of 14 games w/out TD

Chris Johnson:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (1 missed game)

7 of 15 games w/out TD

Jacobs:

over 16 pts : 6

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (3 missed games)

4 of 13 games w/out TD

~~~~

So, the profile of a RB1, based on last year's top12 (all 12, not just the 7 in this post):

6.6 games 16+ pts

4.2 games 10-15.9

5.2 games under 10

Normalized for games actually played, since we are using this information to evaluate for the upcoming season and cannot accurately predict injuries:

6.8 games 16+ pts

4.3 games 10-15.9

4.9 games under 10

Jackson's 12 games normalized to 16:

5.3 games 16+ pts

6.7 games 10-15.9

4.0 games under 10

Inconsistent?

Unless you use last year's games missed as the baseline going forward (Tom Brady is going to miss 15 games!!!), you cannot use missed games in this kind of analysis. Is a currently healthy Steven Jackson going to miss 4 games in 2009? Maybe. He has averaged about 14 games played in 5 years. But I encourage anybody that thinks they can predict RB injuries to look at the data.... a huge percentage of RBs miss time every year.

Considering Jackson a RB2 going forward is not reasonable, IMO. The risk of injury to any RB is significant.

I did a survey of last year's preseason consensus top 30 RBs HERE.

Cliff's notes: 7 out of the top 10 and 13 out of the top 20 missed games due to injury.
huh. this seems to support Mark's analysis. but maybe i'm being shallow
 
There is no value in drafting SJax in the 1st half of the 1st round. Even if he finishes top 5, or even top 3, you paid top 3 or 5 'money' for him. If he was falling to the late 1st or 2nd or even better the 3rd round, okay that's value. But as it stands, based on his ADP I will be drafting a SAFER guy like Frank Gore. Taking Sjax with one of the top picks is a GAMBLE that will return at best even money.
NAILS
 
Mark still waiting on that info you claim shows that he is inconsistent.

Or does that info simply not exist?
Instinctive,I have linked to his game logs in several of my posts. But since you insist I post that material here -

1 @PHI L 38-3 14 40 2.9 9 0 3 34 11.3 24 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 7.4

2 NYG L 41-13 13 53 4.1 15 0 7 37 5.3 22 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 9

3 @SEA L 37-13 23 66 2.9 8 0 5 62 12.4 50 0 1 0 - fantasy points = 12.8

4 BUF L 31-14 24 110 4.6 29 1 5 78 15.6 53 0 0 0 fantasy points = 24.8

5 Bye Week

6 @WAS W 19-17 22 79 3.6 9 0 3 32 10.7 15 0 1 1 fantasy points = 11.1

7 DAL W 34-14 25 160 6.4 56 3 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 fantasy points = 35.6

8 @NE L 23-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

9 ARI L 34-13 7 17 2.4 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 fantasy points = 1.7

10 @NYJ L 47-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

11 @SF L 35-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points =0

12 CHI L 27-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

13 MIA L 16-12 21 94 4.5 13 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11

14 @ARI L 34-10 18 63 3.5 32 0 4 3 0.8 9 1 2 2 fantasy points = 12.7

15 SEA L 23-20 24 91 3.8 15 1 4 36 9.0 11 0 0 0 fantasy points = 18.7

16 SF L 17-16 32 108 3.4 12 0 2 11 5.5 7 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11.9

17 @ATL L 31-27 30 161 5.4 36 2 4 54 13.5 36 0 0 0 fantasy points = 33.5

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 4 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 7

Jackson was mostly bad/a disappointment/not playing (7), and then mediocre most of the rest of the time (5). He had 4 games in which he might have put his fantasy owners over the top in a head-to-head matchup with a solid showing. Further, 59.2% of his fantasy points for the year were scored in 4 of the 16 games played that year. Almost 60% of the points in his PPG average were scored in only 4 games - the other 40% were scored spread out over the 8 other games that he played in. That's why PPG is not a good measure for analyzing Jackson's impact as a fantasy player last season. He was way too inconsistent, with a few Boom games, a chunk of mediocre games, and then 7 sub-par efforts, with 4 of those being goose eggs.

For comparison's sake, last year's top 5 fantasy backs were (Jackson was 13th among all fantasy backs last year in FP scored):

1 RB Williams, DeAngelo CAR 16 274 1518 18 22 121 2 0 283.9 Williams' game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 2 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

2 RB Turner, Michael ATL 16 377 1699 17 6 41 0 2 276.0 Turner's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

3 RB Peterson, Adrian MIN 16 364 1757 10 21 125 0 4 248.2 Peterson's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

4 RB Forte, Matt CHI 16 315 1231 8 64 484 4 1 243.5 Matt Forte Game Logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 8 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 6 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 2

5 RB Jones, Thomas NYJ 16 290 1312 13 36 207 2 1 241.9

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

What we see from the above is that Jackson was practically the inverse of the top-5 achieving backs last season, who had on average 8 outstanding games during the season, an average of 3.8 mediocre games, and an average of 4.2 sub-par/stinkers. Further, Jackson had 12 games that were mediocre or sub-par, while the top badks averaged 8 mediocre or sub-par games. Conversely, the top backs had 11.8 games of mediocre or excellent status while Jackson had 9.

By any measure other than the artificial "averaging" of Jackson's fantasy points into a PPG perspective/viewpoint (which conveniently excises his DNP weeks), we see that Jackson was A) inconsistent and B)vastly underperformed given his likely draft slot during 2008.

Even when we do consider the PPG perspective with the 4 DNP weeks left out, we see that he concentrated 60% of his fantasy points in only 4 games, and then underperformed (given the lofty draft pick required to acquire Jacksons' services last year (or the year before that)) in 8 games, scraping 40% of his fantasy points thinly across that 8 week span.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see Jackson for what he is - a RB#2 in fantasy football terms. He is the engine that drives the Rams' offense without a doubt, but for all that he is not an outstanding fantasy option. The team surrounding Jackson is very sub-par and his situation drags him down. I have never argued that the guy isn't a talented player, but it takes talent+opportunity+a good situation to make an outstanding fantasy player. Jackson has talent+opportunity without a doubt, but the final piece of the equation is not going to help him, or his fantasy owners, stand out during 2009 for the majority of the games - just as they conspired against him producing excellent results during 12 games last season.

I argued many of these same points last year, by the way, and lots of people who were in love with Jackson last year called me crazy and argued the exact same lines that posters have put up this year to support drafting Jackson with a top 5 pick during 2008 in those threads.

At year's end, Jackson was #13 in fantasy points scored by a running back.

[forrestgump] That's all I have to say about that. [/forrestgump]
So when he plays, Jackson 75% of the time he goes over 100 yards, and he went under 7 points only once?Again...you don;t get that injury is irrelevant. You can't predict injury.

That would be me saying: Don't go draft Adrian Peterson, I know his ceiling is super high and his floor is high too, but he could miss games because in the past he has often been injured. Do you see what you are saying?!?!?!

75% of the time you get double digits from Jackson. 91% of the time you get at least 7 points.

He had a better percentage of games over ten points than Thomas Jones, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams.

Should I also not take Peterson?

This shows that out of all your examples, Forte is more consistent. I would say that makes sense. He has no carry competition, has proven to be durable, and will get the ball. His situation is better than Jackson. Now, Jackson is more talented and has a much higher ceiling...so I would still prefer Jackson, personally. But anybody who wants Forte over Jackson is just as correct, if they want the absolute best consistency...with a lower ceiling.

Again...the only way SJax's rating is worse than any of those guys is with "end of the year total" or "missed games due to injury."

If you think he will miss more games to injury again, then pass me that crystal ball. And if he does, I'll come in here and say "mark, you were right." But if he doesn't, I'd give 5:1 odds that you come back with the same thing next year.

Again, look at the games he plays. Games on the field. Because your RB position isn't getting zero when he sits. And when he plays, the odds are in your favor that you're getting stud production.
hmm, so how do you figure that he only put up more than 16 fantasy points 4 times last year and was not a stud in the other 8 games he played? 4 out of 12 doesn't look like "odds in my favor i'm getting stud production." also, in 07 he topped the 16 FP mark 5 times n 12 games "on the field". Less than 50% solid games don't look like odds in "my" favor, but again, maybe i'm being shallow
 
Mark still waiting on that info you claim shows that he is inconsistent.

Or does that info simply not exist?
Instinctive,I have linked to his game logs in several of my posts. But since you insist I post that material here -

1 @PHI L 38-3 14 40 2.9 9 0 3 34 11.3 24 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 7.4

2 NYG L 41-13 13 53 4.1 15 0 7 37 5.3 22 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 9

3 @SEA L 37-13 23 66 2.9 8 0 5 62 12.4 50 0 1 0 - fantasy points = 12.8

4 BUF L 31-14 24 110 4.6 29 1 5 78 15.6 53 0 0 0 fantasy points = 24.8

5 Bye Week

6 @WAS W 19-17 22 79 3.6 9 0 3 32 10.7 15 0 1 1 fantasy points = 11.1

7 DAL W 34-14 25 160 6.4 56 3 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 fantasy points = 35.6

8 @NE L 23-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

9 ARI L 34-13 7 17 2.4 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 fantasy points = 1.7

10 @NYJ L 47-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

11 @SF L 35-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points =0

12 CHI L 27-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

13 MIA L 16-12 21 94 4.5 13 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11

14 @ARI L 34-10 18 63 3.5 32 0 4 3 0.8 9 1 2 2 fantasy points = 12.7

15 SEA L 23-20 24 91 3.8 15 1 4 36 9.0 11 0 0 0 fantasy points = 18.7

16 SF L 17-16 32 108 3.4 12 0 2 11 5.5 7 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11.9

17 @ATL L 31-27 30 161 5.4 36 2 4 54 13.5 36 0 0 0 fantasy points = 33.5

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 4 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 7

Jackson was mostly bad/a disappointment/not playing (7), and then mediocre most of the rest of the time (5). He had 4 games in which he might have put his fantasy owners over the top in a head-to-head matchup with a solid showing. Further, 59.2% of his fantasy points for the year were scored in 4 of the 16 games played that year. Almost 60% of the points in his PPG average were scored in only 4 games - the other 40% were scored spread out over the 8 other games that he played in. That's why PPG is not a good measure for analyzing Jackson's impact as a fantasy player last season. He was way too inconsistent, with a few Boom games, a chunk of mediocre games, and then 7 sub-par efforts, with 4 of those being goose eggs.

For comparison's sake, last year's top 5 fantasy backs were (Jackson was 13th among all fantasy backs last year in FP scored):

1 RB Williams, DeAngelo CAR 16 274 1518 18 22 121 2 0 283.9 Williams' game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 2 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

2 RB Turner, Michael ATL 16 377 1699 17 6 41 0 2 276.0 Turner's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

3 RB Peterson, Adrian MIN 16 364 1757 10 21 125 0 4 248.2 Peterson's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

4 RB Forte, Matt CHI 16 315 1231 8 64 484 4 1 243.5 Matt Forte Game Logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 8 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 6 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 2

5 RB Jones, Thomas NYJ 16 290 1312 13 36 207 2 1 241.9

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

What we see from the above is that Jackson was practically the inverse of the top-5 achieving backs last season, who had on average 8 outstanding games during the season, an average of 3.8 mediocre games, and an average of 4.2 sub-par/stinkers. Further, Jackson had 12 games that were mediocre or sub-par, while the top badks averaged 8 mediocre or sub-par games. Conversely, the top backs had 11.8 games of mediocre or excellent status while Jackson had 9.

By any measure other than the artificial "averaging" of Jackson's fantasy points into a PPG perspective/viewpoint (which conveniently excises his DNP weeks), we see that Jackson was A) inconsistent and B)vastly underperformed given his likely draft slot during 2008.

Even when we do consider the PPG perspective with the 4 DNP weeks left out, we see that he concentrated 60% of his fantasy points in only 4 games, and then underperformed (given the lofty draft pick required to acquire Jacksons' services last year (or the year before that)) in 8 games, scraping 40% of his fantasy points thinly across that 8 week span.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see Jackson for what he is - a RB#2 in fantasy football terms. He is the engine that drives the Rams' offense without a doubt, but for all that he is not an outstanding fantasy option. The team surrounding Jackson is very sub-par and his situation drags him down. I have never argued that the guy isn't a talented player, but it takes talent+opportunity+a good situation to make an outstanding fantasy player. Jackson has talent+opportunity without a doubt, but the final piece of the equation is not going to help him, or his fantasy owners, stand out during 2009 for the majority of the games - just as they conspired against him producing excellent results during 12 games last season.

I argued many of these same points last year, by the way, and lots of people who were in love with Jackson last year called me crazy and argued the exact same lines that posters have put up this year to support drafting Jackson with a top 5 pick during 2008 in those threads.

At year's end, Jackson was #13 in fantasy points scored by a running back.

[forrestgump] That's all I have to say about that. [/forrestgump]
So when he plays, Jackson 75% of the time he goes over 100 yards, and he went under 7 points only once?Again...you don;t get that injury is irrelevant. You can't predict injury.

That would be me saying: Don't go draft Adrian Peterson, I know his ceiling is super high and his floor is high too, but he could miss games because in the past he has often been injured. Do you see what you are saying?!?!?!

75% of the time you get double digits from Jackson. 91% of the time you get at least 7 points.

He had a better percentage of games over ten points than Thomas Jones, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams.

Should I also not take Peterson?

This shows that out of all your examples, Forte is more consistent. I would say that makes sense. He has no carry competition, has proven to be durable, and will get the ball. His situation is better than Jackson. Now, Jackson is more talented and has a much higher ceiling...so I would still prefer Jackson, personally. But anybody who wants Forte over Jackson is just as correct, if they want the absolute best consistency...with a lower ceiling.

Again...the only way SJax's rating is worse than any of those guys is with "end of the year total" or "missed games due to injury."

If you think he will miss more games to injury again, then pass me that crystal ball. And if he does, I'll come in here and say "mark, you were right." But if he doesn't, I'd give 5:1 odds that you come back with the same thing next year.

Again, look at the games he plays. Games on the field. Because your RB position isn't getting zero when he sits. And when he plays, the odds are in your favor that you're getting stud production.
hmm, so how do you figure that he only put up more than 16 fantasy points 4 times last year and was not a stud in the other 8 games he played? 4 out of 12 doesn't look like "odds in my favor i'm getting stud production." also, in 07 he topped the 16 FP mark 5 times n 12 games "on the field". Less than 50% solid games don't look like odds in "my" favor, but again, maybe i'm being shallow
You didn't read...or you just skimmed and nitpicked last sentence word choice. I know we all have different definitions of the term stud so:If I am almost guaranteed to get double digits when a guy plays, and half his doubl digit games are stud games, I would say odds are in my favor that he produces a stud game compared to another RB's odds. Actually, if you look at both my and Lott's analysis of each of the other RBs used as an example, you find that only Forte is as consistent a contributor as SJax.

And here's the post below the one you quoted...

I wanted to make a separate post to say that week 9 he was obviously still injured and barely got any playing time. With that adjustment, you got over 7 points 100% of the time he played and got double digits 81% of the time.
If I get a guy who scores just as many "stud games" (as defined by Wimer in his most recent post) as Michael Turner, and never has a game below 7 (of which Turner had FOUR iirc) then I would call him more consistent. Wouldn't you?
 
Completely agree. He and Forte are the most overrated players in Round 1 this year.
This.As to Jackson, though, he's like a WR. His PPG is so high because he has a couple of totally explosive games every season surrounded by a ton of mediocre games. I like my RBs to be more consistant.
VERY :confused: He scored 5 of his 7 rushing TDs in 2 games last year, with one of the 2 multiple TD games occurring in week 17 (worthless from most fantasy owner's perspectives) had only 1 receiving score, and left his fantasy owners with goose-eggs in the TD column 11 of 16 games last year (4 of them with absolute goose-eggs due to yet another series of nagging injuries). The surrounding cast in St. Louis is worse this year than last with the departure of Tory Holt, and nobody fears the QB tandem of Marc Bulger/Kyle Boller at all.Yes, Jackson is capable of making exciting big plays from time to time, but he is a marked man this year. He has a huge bulls-eye on his jersey due to being the sole game-breaking weapon that the Rams field. He'll face stacked fronts all year long unless (and I'm doubtful Bulger can do this) Bulger presents a credible threat to pass the ball with his youngster/journeyman WR corps.
Jackson had 100+ yards from scrimmage in 8 out of 11 full games last year. He had 90 yards in another. That is about as consistent as you get. TOP THREE ppg. Who did he outperform, on average, when he played?

EVERYBODY except Turner and Deangelo Williams. EVERYBODY. Peterson? Outperformed him. Gore? Slaton? LT? Westbrook? Forte? Portis? MJD? Outperformed ALL of them.

On a terrible team with not passing game and an O-line that was terrible DUE IN LARGE PART TO INJURIES.

What has changed this year? Holt was most certainly not a difference maker last year, and the passing game is not likely to be worse. Pace is gone, that is not good.... but those rookie O-linemen that bust 1/2 the time? They also DON"T bust 1/2 the time. Oh yeah, then there is the acquisition of Jason Brown, a HUGE upgrade at center. Then there is the statistical fact that teams that are snake-bitten by injuries (the Rams had something like 50% MORE starter games missed due to injury than the league average) tend to regress to the mean... so it's more likely that the Rams have fewer injuries than last year. The defense is going to improve with fewer injuries and the addition of a few good players that will allow existing talented players to play their natural positions instead of playing out of position.

They gained more in free agency than they lost in Pace and Holt. They have some good rookie prospects. This all points to an improved team, not a worse team. I'm not saying they are playoff bound, just that they are certainly not WORSE.

So is Jackson able to match last year's stats on a team that gets better, even if it is only a little better? OF COURSE.

With Jackson you get elite production when he is healthy. You DO NOT get "absolute goose-eggs" as Wimer stated when he misses games. You get whatever production your backup gets. BIG DIFFERENCE. 66 RBs had 5+ ppg. 50 had 7.35 ppg or better. You don't get zero from your backup.

I understand not wanting to draft him because you are worried about injuries. Sure, 1/2 the top 30 projected RBs are going to miss games due to injury, but Jackson has missed games two years in a row. Players get the injury prone label until they aren't injury prone, I guess. However, ALL RBs get injured, it's just a matter of when. But I understand the "logic" that other RBs are "safer" bets to stay healthy.

I understand being worried about the team being bad. But Jackson was very good last year on a terrible team. The Rams added more than they lost this offseason, so last year is roughly Jackson's floor. But I understand the theory, at least, that bad teams are less likely to produce good fantasy players.

What I don't understand is why people just don't get why other people like Jackson. YOU (the generic "you", not talking about any particular person) don't like him? Super. Other very smart people disagree with you, and the statistics back up the fact that Jackson has been very good on a very bad team. He has put up ELITE production in the absolute worst of situations.

Imagine if the Rams are 10% better.... or 20% better.... imagine if they have the league average in injuries, or *GASP* fewer than the league average... imagine that the #2 pick in the draft is *GASP* actually a good player.... imagine that the defense is better with more talent than last year and a defensive minded head coach...

Now imagine that Jackson only misses *GASP* 2 games.... he goes from very good to very VERY good. ELITE, even.

Now imagine Jackson doesn't miss any games. MONSTER.

Are all of these things going to come to pass? Not likely. What if NONE of them come to pass? Well, we get last year's production, #13 overall but #3 in ppg.

You can count the number of RBs with Jackson's ceiling on one hand.

Why is this guy still considered a 1st/2nd round pick?
SERIOUSLY????
I have to ignore all of your points, because you make things up in your posts. I picked one RB out of your list.. ONE!Westbrook had 19.3 ppg last year.. 270.8 in 14 games. SJax had 226.8 in 12 games for a 18.9 ppg. How many other discrepencies will there be if I do more FACT checking?

edit: Just checked Forte, his 305.6 in 16 is 19.1 I mean come on, let's just make up some more garbage!

 
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Sjax is a gamble, you want good return on your pick, stay with the big 4 of MJD, Forte, ADP, and Turner if you can.
Turner scored below 7 points 25% of the time, and also scored over 50% of his points against teams in the bottom 6 of rushing defense. He doesn't get to play those teams again this year.Whereas when SJax played, he scored over 7 points 100% of the time."I mean come on, lets just make up some more garbage!"(Had to put that in there...)
 
Instinctive,

I have linked to his game logs in several of my posts. But since you insist I post that material here -

1 @PHI L 38-3 14 40 2.9 9 0 3 34 11.3 24 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 7.4

2 NYG L 41-13 13 53 4.1 15 0 7 37 5.3 22 0 0 0 - fantasy points = 9

3 @SEA L 37-13 23 66 2.9 8 0 5 62 12.4 50 0 1 0 - fantasy points = 12.8

4 BUF L 31-14 24 110 4.6 29 1 5 78 15.6 53 0 0 0 fantasy points = 24.8

5 Bye Week

6 @WAS W 19-17 22 79 3.6 9 0 3 32 10.7 15 0 1 1 fantasy points = 11.1

7 DAL W 34-14 25 160 6.4 56 3 2 16 8.0 9 0 0 0 fantasy points = 35.6

8 @NE L 23-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

9 ARI L 34-13 7 17 2.4 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 fantasy points = 1.7

10 @NYJ L 47-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

11 @SF L 35-16 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points =0

12 CHI L 27-3 Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats. fantasy points = 0

13 MIA L 16-12 21 94 4.5 13 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11

14 @ARI L 34-10 18 63 3.5 32 0 4 3 0.8 9 1 2 2 fantasy points = 12.7

15 SEA L 23-20 24 91 3.8 15 1 4 36 9.0 11 0 0 0 fantasy points = 18.7

16 SF L 17-16 32 108 3.4 12 0 2 11 5.5 7 0 0 0 fantasy points = 11.9

17 @ATL L 31-27 30 161 5.4 36 2 4 54 13.5 36 0 0 0 fantasy points = 33.5

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 4 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 7

Jackson was mostly bad/a disappointment/not playing (7), and then mediocre most of the rest of the time (5). He had 4 games in which he might have put his fantasy owners over the top in a head-to-head matchup with a solid showing. Further, 59.2% of his fantasy points for the year were scored in 4 of the 16 games played that year. Almost 60% of the points in his PPG average were scored in only 4 games - the other 40% were scored spread out over the 8 other games that he played in. That's why PPG is not a good measure for analyzing Jackson's impact as a fantasy player last season. He was way too inconsistent, with a few Boom games, a chunk of mediocre games, and then 7 sub-par efforts, with 4 of those being goose eggs.

For comparison's sake, last year's top 5 fantasy backs were (Jackson was 13th among all fantasy backs last year in FP scored):

1 RB Williams, DeAngelo CAR 16 274 1518 18 22 121 2 0 283.9 Williams' game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 2 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

2 RB Turner, Michael ATL 16 377 1699 17 6 41 0 2 276.0 Turner's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 5 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

3 RB Peterson, Adrian MIN 16 364 1757 10 21 125 0 4 248.2 Peterson's game logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 9 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 4

4 RB Forte, Matt CHI 16 315 1231 8 64 484 4 1 243.5 Matt Forte Game Logs

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 8 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 6 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 2

5 RB Jones, Thomas NYJ 16 290 1312 13 36 207 2 1 241.9

Weeks over 16 fantasy points = 7 (this would be = to 100 yards combined + 1 TD or more in a 1/10 yardage 6 pt TD league).

Weeks between 10-15.9 fantasy points = 3 (at least 100 yards combined, 0 TD)

Weeks below 10 fantasy points = 5

What we see from the above is that Jackson was practically the inverse of the top-5 achieving backs last season, who had on average 8 outstanding games during the season, an average of 3.8 mediocre games, and an average of 4.2 sub-par/stinkers. Further, Jackson had 12 games that were mediocre or sub-par, while the top badks averaged 8 mediocre or sub-par games. Conversely, the top backs had 11.8 games of mediocre or excellent status while Jackson had 9.

By any measure other than the artificial "averaging" of Jackson's fantasy points into a PPG perspective/viewpoint (which conveniently excises his DNP weeks), we see that Jackson was A) inconsistent and B)vastly underperformed given his likely draft slot during 2008.

Even when we do consider the PPG perspective with the 4 DNP weeks left out, we see that he concentrated 60% of his fantasy points in only 4 games, and then underperformed (given the lofty draft pick required to acquire Jacksons' services last year (or the year before that)) in 8 games, scraping 40% of his fantasy points thinly across that 8 week span.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see Jackson for what he is - a RB#2 in fantasy football terms. He is the engine that drives the Rams' offense without a doubt, but for all that he is not an outstanding fantasy option. The team surrounding Jackson is very sub-par and his situation drags him down. I have never argued that the guy isn't a talented player, but it takes talent+opportunity+a good situation to make an outstanding fantasy player. Jackson has talent+opportunity without a doubt, but the final piece of the equation is not going to help him, or his fantasy owners, stand out during 2009 for the majority of the games - just as they conspired against him producing excellent results during 12 games last season.

I argued many of these same points last year, by the way, and lots of people who were in love with Jackson last year called me crazy and argued the exact same lines that posters have put up this year to support drafting Jackson with a top 5 pick during 2008 in those threads.

At year's end, Jackson was #13 in fantasy points scored by a running back.

[forrestgump] That's all I have to say about that. [/forrestgump]
So when he plays, Jackson 75% of the time he goes over 100 yards, and he went under 7 points only once?Again...you don;t get that injury is irrelevant. You can't predict injury.

That would be me saying: Don't go draft Adrian Peterson, I know his ceiling is super high and his floor is high too, but he could miss games because in the past he has often been injured. Do you see what you are saying?!?!?!

75% of the time you get double digits from Jackson. 91% of the time you get at least 7 points.

He had a better percentage of games over ten points than Thomas Jones, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and DeAngelo Williams.

Should I also not take Peterson?

This shows that out of all your examples, Forte is more consistent. I would say that makes sense. He has no carry competition, has proven to be durable, and will get the ball. His situation is better than Jackson. Now, Jackson is more talented and has a much higher ceiling...so I would still prefer Jackson, personally. But anybody who wants Forte over Jackson is just as correct, if they want the absolute best consistency...with a lower ceiling.

Again...the only way SJax's rating is worse than any of those guys is with "end of the year total" or "missed games due to injury."

If you think he will miss more games to injury again, then pass me that crystal ball. And if he does, I'll come in here and say "mark, you were right." But if he doesn't, I'd give 5:1 odds that you come back with the same thing next year.

Again, look at the games he plays. Games on the field. Because your RB position isn't getting zero when he sits. And when he plays, the odds are in your favor that you're getting stud production.
hmm, so how do you figure that he only put up more than 16 fantasy points 4 times last year and was not a stud in the other 8 games he played? 4 out of 12 doesn't look like "odds in my favor i'm getting stud production." also, in 07 he topped the 16 FP mark 5 times n 12 games "on the field". Less than 50% solid games don't look like odds in "my" favor, but again, maybe i'm being shallow
You didn't read...or you just skimmed and nitpicked last sentence word choice. I know we all have different definitions of the term stud so:If I am almost guaranteed to get double digits when a guy plays, and half his doubl digit games are stud games, I would say odds are in my favor that he produces a stud game compared to another RB's odds. Actually, if you look at both my and Lott's analysis of each of the other RBs used as an example, you find that only Forte is as consistent a contributor as SJax.

And here's the post below the one you quoted...

I wanted to make a separate post to say that week 9 he was obviously still injured and barely got any playing time. With that adjustment, you got over 7 points 100% of the time he played and got double digits 81% of the time.
If I get a guy who scores just as many "stud games" (as defined by Wimer in his most recent post) as Michael Turner, and never has a game below 7 (of which Turner had FOUR iirc) then I would call him more consistent. Wouldn't you?
lots of qualifiers there. sounds like you are twisting numbers to get the result you desire to display. just my opinionfollowing your qualifiers = If I am almost guaranteed to get double digits an dhalf a player's games are stud games but the guy in question only plays 75% of the time (as S Jax has the last two years), then by my reckoning i'm almost guaranteed to get double digits in 9 of games played in a 16 game season (56%) and a stud performance in 4.5 (28%) of the games. Less than 30% stud games doesn't look too hot compared to the real studs from 2008 that Mark listed. but i'm known to be shallow

edit to add that i'm just guessing almost guranteed means 75% of the time I'll get double digits (jackson had 3 of 12 under 10 FP last year = 75% over 10)

 
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I'm amazed at the amount of people who want to pay a premium on Jackson, despite the year they seem to be paying for happened 3 years ago. Maybe next year he'll finally fall out of the top 5 picks after people get tired of paying for a career year that's so unlikely to be replicated. For WR's people are so much more likely to let it go and let other people chase the numbers, with RB's though the bait always gets plenty of bites.

 
I'm amazed at the amount of people who want to pay a premium on Jackson, despite the year they seem to be paying for happened 3 years ago. Maybe next year he'll finally fall out of the top 5 picks after people get tired of paying for a career year that's so unlikely to be replicated. For WR's people are so much more likely to let it go and let other people chase the numbers, with RB's though the bait always gets plenty of bites.
Was Jackson a consensus round 1 pick last year? I can't recall.
 
I feel like we've had this exact thread like 4 times already this offseason.

People feel like Chris Johnson did pretty well last year, right? Did you know that Sjax scored roughly the same number of points in 11 games in an embarrassingly bad situation as Chris Johnson scored in all 16 games last year?

Simply put, anyone that doesn't see the value in Sjax isn't paying attention, to him or to the Rams. I don't think people really understand how bad of a situation St Louis was the last 2 years. Short of Oakland during the Aaron Brooks era, I can't EVER think of one that was worse.

St Louis could barely pick up a first down last year. They never got into the redzone, barely ever sustained a drive past 3 plays, went backwards as often as forwards, and had a defense that had them commonly abandoning the run by the 2nd quarter. Yet Jackson STILL managed to finish in the top 3 in PPG among RBs and in the top 15 for the whole season despite playing only 11 games.

Did you know that FOUR PLAYERS on the Patriots alone had more redzone carries than Sjax? Did you know that month-long backups like Mewelde Moore had more Redzone carries than Sjax? Yet he was STILL top 3 in PPG, and top 15 for the season even missing 5 games.

Simply put, Sjax has the highest floor imaginable. Fantasy points are a product of talent and situation. There is no other player in the league for which we can say, we know he would still be a top 5 player no matter how bad the team around him gets. None. Even the San Diego team LT had in his early years was 10x the situation for a RB that STL has been the last 2 years. What happens to Chris Johnson if the Titans turn inept next year? What happens to Peterson or MJD if those teams don't even get into the redzone in half their games? What happens to Peterson if the Vikings have to lineup in the shotgun and air it out by the 2nd quarter?

Now, on the flipside, things change fast in the NFL (just ask Miami and Atlanta). What happens if STL becomes mediocre or even just simply bad instead of god-awful next year? Well, we saw what happens in 2006. Now, imagine what Sjax could do if STL went through a Miami or Atlanta style turnaround?

Now, people are going to come in and say that STL isn't going to be any better this year, which if they've been paying attention to the NFL the last decade is absurd given how quickly god-awful teams have turned around in spite of no obvious changes. But the point is, even if they don't, IT DOESN'T MATTER because Sjax is ALREADY putting up top 3 ppg numbers every year even in the god-awful situation he's been in.

So, simply put, why does Sjax get the love?

Because his floor in his "bad" seasons is as good or better than the "good" seasons of the people being drafted around him, and his ceiling given the awful situations he's been playing in and still producing is light-years ahead of them.

I really feel like people that don't see it are missing the very obvious boat here.

 
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Wimer apparently only rosters 2 RBs.

Pretty embarrassing for someone on the FBG payroll to be claiming that SJax before the 3rd round is a mistake.

 
Tex Goldstein said:
Instinctive said:
Tex Goldstein said:
hmm, so how do you figure that he only put up more than 16 fantasy points 4 times last year and was not a stud in the other 8 games he played? 4 out of 12 doesn't look like "odds in my favor i'm getting stud production." also, in 07 he topped the 16 FP mark 5 times n 12 games "on the field". Less than 50% solid games don't look like odds in "my" favor, but again, maybe i'm being shallow
You didn't read...or you just skimmed and nitpicked last sentence word choice. I know we all have different definitions of the term stud so:If I am almost guaranteed to get double digits when a guy plays, and half his doubl digit games are stud games, I would say odds are in my favor that he produces a stud game compared to another RB's odds. Actually, if you look at both my and Lott's analysis of each of the other RBs used as an example, you find that only Forte is as consistent a contributor as SJax.

And here's the post below the one you quoted...

Instinctive said:
I wanted to make a separate post to say that week 9 he was obviously still injured and barely got any playing time. With that adjustment, you got over 7 points 100% of the time he played and got double digits 81% of the time.
If I get a guy who scores just as many "stud games" (as defined by Wimer in his most recent post) as Michael Turner, and never has a game below 7 (of which Turner had FOUR iirc) then I would call him more consistent. Wouldn't you?
lots of qualifiers there. sounds like you are twisting numbers to get the result you desire to display. just my opinionfollowing your qualifiers = If I am almost guaranteed to get double digits an dhalf a player's games are stud games but the guy in question only plays 75% of the time (as S Jax has the last two years), then by my reckoning i'm almost guaranteed to get double digits in 9 of games played in a 16 game season (56%) and a stud performance in 4.5 (28%) of the games. Less than 30% stud games doesn't look too hot compared to the real studs from 2008 that Mark listed. but i'm known to be shallow

edit to add that i'm just guessing almost guranteed means 75% of the time I'll get double digits (jackson had 3 of 12 under 10 FP last year = 75% over 10)
Well I just took the data and did the math. When he is healthy, you are 100% guaranteed to get at least 7 points, historically. Adrian Peterson can't say that. MJD can't say that. Michael Turner can come nowhere near to saying that.And once again you argument came down to how much he plays or doesnt play due to injury. Stop trying to nitpick your way into an argument and just admit "I only avoid him because I think he will get injured again."

Blue-Kun said:
I'm amazed at the amount of people who want to pay a premium on Jackson, despite the year they seem to be paying for happened 3 years ago. Maybe next year he'll finally fall out of the top 5 picks after people get tired of paying for a career year that's so unlikely to be replicated. For WR's people are so much more likely to let it go and let other people chase the numbers, with RB's though the bait always gets plenty of bites.
He scores in the top 3 ppg every year. When he plays healthy, you are guaranteed to get at least 7 points 100% of the time, based on previous data. If you think he gets hurt again, thats your deal. When you draft like that though, you pass on guys like Brian Westbrook who then go for double digit TDs and 2000+ yards. Once again, SJax has the highest ceiling with only Adrian Peterson and MJD (both are drafted ahead of him...) in the discussion with him.

If your only knock is injury, then say it and move on.

 
two_dollars said:
Jackson had 100+ yards from scrimmage in 8 out of 11 full games last year. He had 90 yards in another. That is about as consistent as you get. TOP THREE ppg.

Who did he outperform, on average, when he played?

EVERYBODY except Turner and Deangelo Williams. EVERYBODY. Peterson? Outperformed him. Gore? Slaton? LT? Westbrook? Forte? Portis? MJD? Outperformed ALL of them.

On a terrible team with not passing game and an O-line that was terrible DUE IN LARGE PART TO INJURIES.

What has changed this year? Holt was most certainly not a difference maker last year, and the passing game is not likely to be worse. Pace is gone, that is not good.... but those rookie O-linemen that bust 1/2 the time? They also DON"T bust 1/2 the time. Oh yeah, then there is the acquisition of Jason Brown, a HUGE upgrade at center. Then there is the statistical fact that teams that are snake-bitten by injuries (the Rams had something like 50% MORE starter games missed due to injury than the league average) tend to regress to the mean... so it's more likely that the Rams have fewer injuries than last year. The defense is going to improve with fewer injuries and the addition of a few good players that will allow existing talented players to play their natural positions instead of playing out of position.

They gained more in free agency than they lost in Pace and Holt. They have some good rookie prospects. This all points to an improved team, not a worse team. I'm not saying they are playoff bound, just that they are certainly not WORSE.

So is Jackson able to match last year's stats on a team that gets better, even if it is only a little better? OF COURSE.

With Jackson you get elite production when he is healthy. You DO NOT get "absolute goose-eggs" as Wimer stated when he misses games. You get whatever production your backup gets. BIG DIFFERENCE. 66 RBs had 5+ ppg. 50 had 7.35 ppg or better. You don't get zero from your backup.

I understand not wanting to draft him because you are worried about injuries. Sure, 1/2 the top 30 projected RBs are going to miss games due to injury, but Jackson has missed games two years in a row. Players get the injury prone label until they aren't injury prone, I guess. However, ALL RBs get injured, it's just a matter of when. But I understand the "logic" that other RBs are "safer" bets to stay healthy.

I understand being worried about the team being bad. But Jackson was very good last year on a terrible team. The Rams added more than they lost this offseason, so last year is roughly Jackson's floor. But I understand the theory, at least, that bad teams are less likely to produce good fantasy players.

What I don't understand is why people just don't get why other people like Jackson. YOU (the generic "you", not talking about any particular person) don't like him? Super. Other very smart people disagree with you, and the statistics back up the fact that Jackson has been very good on a very bad team. He has put up ELITE production in the absolute worst of situations.

Imagine if the Rams are 10% better.... or 20% better.... imagine if they have the league average in injuries, or *GASP* fewer than the league average... imagine that the #2 pick in the draft is *GASP* actually a good player.... imagine that the defense is better with more talent than last year and a defensive minded head coach...

Now imagine that Jackson only misses *GASP* 2 games.... he goes from very good to very VERY good. ELITE, even.

Now imagine Jackson doesn't miss any games. MONSTER.

Are all of these things going to come to pass? Not likely. What if NONE of them come to pass? Well, we get last year's production, #13 overall but #3 in ppg.

You can count the number of RBs with Jackson's ceiling on one hand.

Why is this guy still considered a 1st/2nd round pick?
SERIOUSLY????
I have to ignore all of your points, because you make things up in your posts. I picked one RB out of your list.. ONE!Westbrook had 19.3 ppg last year.. 270.8 in 14 games. SJax had 226.8 in 12 games for a 18.9 ppg. How many other discrepencies will there be if I do more FACT checking?

edit: Just checked Forte, his 305.6 in 16 is 19.1 I mean come on, let's just make up some more garbage!
final RB ppg rankings3 RB Jackson, Steven 15.85

5 RB Westbrook, Brian 15.56

7 RB Forte, Matt 15.22

Since we are on the footballguys.com message board, I chose the scoring system they use for their final rankings. Crazy, I know.

I don't make things up. If it is my opinion, I say so. If I am recalling a stat without looking it up, I will indicate that. If I am using statistics, I am using real numbers.

Have a good season, guy.

 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.

 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
You're right. I will rephrase that.Steven Jackson scored over 7 points in 100% of the games he played healthy last season. That better? Now if you want to prove my point even further...why don't you try and find any other RBs who did that? There won''t be many...if any at all.
 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
That is a personal preference, and that is fine. Some people like "safe" players, some people like upside.Going forward, you have to be able to predict injury to choose points per year over points per game.13 out of the 2008 preseason consensus top 20 RBs missed time due to injury last year. Good luck predicting injuries.
 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
That is a personal preference, and that is fine. Some people like "safe" players, some people like upside.Going forward, you have to be able to predict injury to choose points per year over points per game.13 out of the 2008 preseason consensus top 20 RBs missed time due to injury last year. Good luck predicting injuries.
The trend is your friend.
 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
That is a personal preference, and that is fine. Some people like "safe" players, some people like upside.Going forward, you have to be able to predict injury to choose points per year over points per game.13 out of the 2008 preseason consensus top 20 RBs missed time due to injury last year. Good luck predicting injuries.
The trend is your friend.
Yeah, just ask Brian Westbrook or Curtis Martin or Fred Taylor or...[/sarcasm]
 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
That is a personal preference, and that is fine. Some people like "safe" players, some people like upside.Going forward, you have to be able to predict injury to choose points per year over points per game.13 out of the 2008 preseason consensus top 20 RBs missed time due to injury last year. Good luck predicting injuries.
The trend is your friend.
No follow-up on my "making things up"?
 
I already followed up on your numbers.. ti all depends on the scoring system. I won't touch him because I think he has no heart. I think he'd rather claim a sore hammy than tough it out for a team that is going nowhere.

 
I already followed up on your numbers.. ti all depends on the scoring system. I won't touch him because I think he has no heart. I think he'd rather claim a sore hammy than tough it out for a team that is going nowhere.
lol that's new. Now we pick players based on perceived value of heart. Man this is getting to be pretty one-sided.
 
I already followed up on your numbers.. ti all depends on the scoring system. I won't touch him because I think he has no heart. I think he'd rather claim a sore hammy than tough it out for a team that is going nowhere.
Yes, it depends on scoring system... but you said I was making things up because YOUR scoring system is different. You implied that I was basically lying and that all my points were suspect because YOUR scoring system didn't match my factual data.As far as Jackson's toughness, you don't know what you are talking about. When he tore his groin muscle last year, not strained it, not pulled it, TORE it, I wrote him off for the year. The Rams were 2-5 when he tried to come back from a torn groin too early in week nine. He then sat out three games and came back in week 13 for a 2-9 team.So he slacked his way through the final five games for a last place team, showing no heart on his way to 638 yards and 4 TDs. He inconsistently put up 100+ yards in 4 games and scored TDs in 3 out of 5 games.It sucks when facts get in the way, doesn't it?
 
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I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
You're right. I will rephrase that.Steven Jackson scored over 7 points in 100% of the games he played healthy last season. That better? Now if you want to prove my point even further...why don't you try and find any other RBs who did that? There won''t be many...if any at all.
Matt Forte & MJD After that there were 4 RB's that had one game under 7 points and played FULL seasons and Frank Gore. Thomas Jones (week 17 - aka the week that doesn't matter for most people), Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, LT and Steve Slaton. :unsure:
 
I'd rather have points per year than points per game. and no, he is not 100% guaranteed to have 7 points every game. No one is.
You're right. I will rephrase that.Steven Jackson scored over 7 points in 100% of the games he played healthy last season. That better? Now if you want to prove my point even further...why don't you try and find any other RBs who did that? There won''t be many...if any at all.
Matt Forte & MJD After that there were 4 RB's that had one game under 7 points and played FULL seasons and Frank Gore. Thomas Jones (week 17 - aka the week that doesn't matter for most people), Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, LT and Steve Slaton. :shrug:
So, Just to make sure: "There won't be many..."And there were 2. I think that qualifies as not many. I stand by what I said, thank you for the data.
 
So here we are on the verge of training camp and does anyone know how healthy Sjax is currently. I know groins can be really painful to come back from. I googled and didnt really come up with much.

 
Along with the positive arguments about his ability and the team improving around him let's not overlook that his new offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur, was with the Eagles as the QB coach when Bryant Westbrook averaged 84.7 receptions per 16 regular-season games over a 5-year period ending last season. I'm lovin' SJax in PPR leagues whether he plays 16, 14 or 12 games (as long as the missed games are not weeks 13-16).

 
So here we are on the verge of training camp and does anyone know how healthy Sjax is currently. I know groins can be really painful to come back from. I googled and didnt really come up with much.
As far as his groin is concerned, he injured it in the middle of the season, missed 4 1/2 games, then played extremely well for the final 5 games. The groin is not an issue. No other injuries. He is healthy.
 
So here we are on the verge of training camp and does anyone know how healthy Sjax is currently. I know groins can be really painful to come back from. I googled and didnt really come up with much.
As far as his groin is concerned, he injured it in the middle of the season, missed 4 1/2 games, then played extremely well for the final 5 games. The groin is not an issue. No other injuries. He is healthy.
Thanks, this should be an interesting year for sjax. I am considering him with the 5th but I really really love Slaton this year for some reason.
 
So here we are on the verge of training camp and does anyone know how healthy Sjax is currently. I know groins can be really painful to come back from. I googled and didnt really come up with much.
As far as his groin is concerned, he injured it in the middle of the season, missed 4 1/2 games, then played extremely well for the final 5 games. The groin is not an issue. No other injuries. He is healthy.
This is what I've heard/read as well.
 
I appreciate the analysis, Mark, but the games Jackson did not play in are not relevant to the conversation, and it is simply a way to slant the analysis against him. Of course the top RBs all played 16 games, that is how it works in the end of year rankings. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that at least 2 out of those 5 RBs miss games this year. Trying to predict injuries, especially to RBs, is folly. We are using actual performance to predict future performance.

Any player that gets 100+ yards 8 out of 11 full games played is consistent. TDs are inconsistent for MOST players, as is evidenced below.

You think Jackson supporters should take off their rose colored glasses and see Jackson as a RB2... well, using your consistency criteria, let's look at the 6th through 12th ranked RBs last year:

Slaton:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 6

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games played w/out TD

LT:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games w/out TD

Portis:

over 16 pts : 4

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 5

9 of 16 games w/out TD

MJD:

over 16 pts : 7

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 6

7 of 16 games w/out TD

Westbrook:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 2

under 10 : 9 (2 missed games)

8 of of 14 games w/out TD

Chris Johnson:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (1 missed game)

7 of 15 games w/out TD

Jacobs:

over 16 pts : 6

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (3 missed games)

4 of 13 games w/out TD

~~~~

So, the profile of a RB1, based on last year's top12 (all 12, not just the 7 in this post):

6.6 games 16+ pts

4.2 games 10-15.9

5.2 games under 10

Normalized for games actually played, since we are using this information to evaluate for the upcoming season and cannot accurately predict injuries:

6.8 games 16+ pts

4.3 games 10-15.9

4.9 games under 10

Jackson's 12 games normalized to 16:

5.3 games 16+ pts

6.7 games 10-15.9

4.0 games under 10

Inconsistent?

Unless you use last year's games missed as the baseline going forward (Tom Brady is going to miss 15 games!!!), you cannot use missed games in this kind of analysis. Is a currently healthy Steven Jackson going to miss 4 games in 2009? Maybe. He has averaged about 14 games played in 5 years. But I encourage anybody that thinks they can predict RB injuries to look at the data.... a huge percentage of RBs miss time every year.

Considering Jackson a RB2 going forward is not reasonable, IMO. The risk of injury to any RB is significant.

I did a survey of last year's preseason consensus top 30 RBs HERE.

Cliff's notes: 7 out of the top 10 and 13 out of the top 20 missed games due to injury.
I don't see how you can normalize his production over 16 games using this type of analysis. Jackson could just have easily had boom and bust games had he played in the additional 4 games.Last year, if you remove his top 2 games, his average PPG drops from 17.5 to 12.5. I love Jackson - I've owned him 2 years in my money league, love to watch him run, but I feel that he is too inconsistent to draft at his ADP and cannot find a reason to rank him so highly.

 
I appreciate the analysis, Mark, but the games Jackson did not play in are not relevant to the conversation, and it is simply a way to slant the analysis against him. Of course the top RBs all played 16 games, that is how it works in the end of year rankings. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that at least 2 out of those 5 RBs miss games this year. Trying to predict injuries, especially to RBs, is folly. We are using actual performance to predict future performance.

Any player that gets 100+ yards 8 out of 11 full games played is consistent. TDs are inconsistent for MOST players, as is evidenced below.

You think Jackson supporters should take off their rose colored glasses and see Jackson as a RB2... well, using your consistency criteria, let's look at the 6th through 12th ranked RBs last year:

Slaton:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 6

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games played w/out TD

LT:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 4

8 of 16 games w/out TD

Portis:

over 16 pts : 4

10 - 15.9 : 7

under 10 : 5

9 of 16 games w/out TD

MJD:

over 16 pts : 7

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 6

7 of 16 games w/out TD

Westbrook:

over 16 pts : 5

10 - 15.9 : 2

under 10 : 9 (2 missed games)

8 of of 14 games w/out TD

Chris Johnson:

over 16 pts : 6g

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (1 missed game)

7 of 15 games w/out TD

Jacobs:

over 16 pts : 6

10 - 15.9 : 3

under 10 : 7 (3 missed games)

4 of 13 games w/out TD

~~~~

So, the profile of a RB1, based on last year's top12 (all 12, not just the 7 in this post):

6.6 games 16+ pts

4.2 games 10-15.9

5.2 games under 10

Normalized for games actually played, since we are using this information to evaluate for the upcoming season and cannot accurately predict injuries:

6.8 games 16+ pts

4.3 games 10-15.9

4.9 games under 10

Jackson's 12 games normalized to 16:

5.3 games 16+ pts

6.7 games 10-15.9

4.0 games under 10

Inconsistent?

Unless you use last year's games missed as the baseline going forward (Tom Brady is going to miss 15 games!!!), you cannot use missed games in this kind of analysis. Is a currently healthy Steven Jackson going to miss 4 games in 2009? Maybe. He has averaged about 14 games played in 5 years. But I encourage anybody that thinks they can predict RB injuries to look at the data.... a huge percentage of RBs miss time every year.

Considering Jackson a RB2 going forward is not reasonable, IMO. The risk of injury to any RB is significant.

I did a survey of last year's preseason consensus top 30 RBs HERE.

Cliff's notes: 7 out of the top 10 and 13 out of the top 20 missed games due to injury.
I don't see how you can normalize his production over 16 games using this type of analysis. Jackson could just have easily had boom and bust games had he played in the additional 4 games.Last year, if you remove his top 2 games, his average PPG drops from 17.5 to 12.5. I love Jackson - I've owned him 2 years in my money league, love to watch him run, but I feel that he is too inconsistent to draft at his ADP and cannot find a reason to rank him so highly.
He doesn't score under 7 points, and rarely scores below 10. How is that inconsistent? Just because the big games are huge and the "small games" are simply big, does not mean that because they are small for him you can call them small.
 

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