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So you would ask that question and doubt yourself.
I think that's a pretty lofty expectation for any RB on a passing team, especially for an "unproven" back. That being said, I do own him and I like him. I'll probably play him in my flex over Michael Bush.
I read that the Titan's run defense ranked 24th last year..... also, the Pats throw so much, everyone has to play the Pass against them....
"Patriots RB Shane Vereen (foot) missed practice again on Thursday.Vereen hasn't practiced in two weeks, which should ensure a heavy workload for Stevan Ridley at Tennessee."Ridley is going to get all the running work unless something happens (fumble or whatever). im starting him with confidence in my flex
Not including last year, New England has been a sneaky good rushing team. Belichick won't hesitate to pound the ball if that is what the other team is giving him. You've got to believe most teams will sell out to try and stop the NE passing game, leaving wide open lanes for NE RB's.
When has New England ever done that?
Green-Ellis ran for 136 yards and 2 rushing TDs on the Jets last October.
Even with 4pt TDs you'd be insane to play any back outside the top ten over any QB, even moreso when there is good reason to believe that the changes implemented in the Ravens offense are going to benefit Flacco tremendously. As to Ridley being ranked #27, I am struggling to think of 5 starting backs that I would play him over. Royster is a given, though I could easily see him outscoring Ridley this week. I guess you would start him over Pierre Thomas, but I certainly wouldn't start him over Sproles. No way I start him over Gerhart or Beanie. Jennings isn't even a question. Richardson is playing so I wouldn't start him over him. I'd play Benson and Kevin Smith ahead of him. Honestly other than Royster, I can't think of a single starting back I would play him over.I think 11 carries for about 50 yards and no TDs is a reasonable expectation (Gronk is their GL back).
Trying to wrap my brain around postgame or post-season fantasy football. Week 17, all stats are known, **NOW** draft your team.
And take a lesson from the Cowboys. NE's problems have been the interior of the line, just like Dallas. Dallas was sucking until they let Romo throw on every down, and after that he was getting the ball out before the NY bullrush could get to him. Only then did their run game become effective.Why anyone thinks Ridley is in line for a big day is beyond me. They still have Woodhead, and it's a pass-first-second-third team.
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1) If a team's O-Line is shacky [sic] then it affects their running game too.. perhaps moreso. 2) I dont' understand why people think the Patriots are going to kill the Titans. The pats will be lucky to have a 2TD lead at any point in the game. The line is at 5 and has been free-falling. The titans are no slouch this year and will compete for the division. 3) Even if Vereen doesn't see the field New England will still spread the ball around between Woodhead and even Hernandez.... or they will have Ridley picking up blitzes / aiding in protection. There are a lot of factors on why Ridley is projected where he is. To assume what you have is a bit off base, IMO.
Rankings /= projections. They should account for risk. How would you feel putting Ridley in your line-up and then see Danny Woodhead in the backfield for 75% of the snaps? It's hard to read the mind of Billy Belichick.
You don't need to read his mind. You only need to look at what has happened on the field over the last two years. The guy with more pedigree (Vereen) has consistently been outperformed by the lower drafted guy (Ridley). BJGE is gone. Look for Ridley to do at least what BJGE did last season, but probably more because their is one less mouth to feed now and Vereen hasn't proven he can consistently make an impact.
Since the Pats evolved into a passing machine, here were the number of games each year where a RB went over 100 yards rushing and 100 yards rushing + receiving2011 1, 32010 2, 72009 2, 32008 3, 82007 7, 9
Thanks, this is exactly my point.People talking of Ridley running for 100+ yards need to row back a little bit. I'm not saying he absolutely can't, but according to the stats NE RBs don't do it.His value (and as I say, I'm starting him in my flex in the 1 league I own him in) is on the goal-line, not from racking up huge yards.
So they haven't done it in recent history. I like what I see out of Ridley. He has great value as the goal-line back and nothing but upside from previous years in the rushing yardage department.
Yea, NE doesn't stop throwing the ball with a 3 TD league. The Packers are an example of a team that goes heavy run/conservative with a lead. NE stays on the gas pedal.
It's odd to me that people still don't comprehend that the Pats' starting running back is, for all intents and purposes, Wes Welker.
Alright last post because I think I've made my stance known. But why is Woodhead a concern? He'll have a 5 to 10 carries at the most. We know his role. It's third downs and obvious passing situations. He'll have less than 10 touches.Not a concern, really. Plenty of room for 15-20 carries for Ridley.
And in addition, nearly 1/4 of 100 yard rush+rec RB performances were the third down back, not the starter.
15-20 carries at 4 yards a pop is 60-80 yards perhaps with a TD and 20 receiving yards that's a strong top 15 start. The question is whether he gets there as the Pats are NOT a rushing team and they often featured last year Woodhead when they went pass heavy. I'd absolutely start him over Greene and maybe Gore ... but he is far more likely to have an empty 80 combined yards.
The fact that Vereen is most likely not playing is why people are saying they think he should be ranked higher.
Well Shonn Greene plays Buffalo and has potential for 25+ carries for 120-150 yards with a chance to score. He killed Buffalo last year.Ridley belongs in the teens with Kevin Smith, McGahee, Hillis, Doug Martin, CJ ect... he'll get his 8-12 points some way or another especially with no Vereen.
Woodhead only had 77 carries last year. BJGE and Ridley combined for 260. I don't see Woodhead being featured. He is a situational player and that is it.
How are those bath salts treating you? In 2 games last year against Buffalo, Greene had a total of 32 carries for 154 yards (4.8 ypc), 3 receptions for 12 yards total, and 0 TD's. Good ypc but a far cry from 25+ carries for 120-150 yards per game.
I don't think he gets the numbers you quoted above, but LT2 was still there last season. The Jets in recent years have run all over Buffalo. The defensive pieces they added will obviously help their pass rush, but it looks like they may still struggle stopping the run.
Forget carries look at touches and plays. If Ridley doesn't even get on the field for a full quarter it wouldn't shock me UNLESS they trust him in pass happy mode.
I am a firm believer that its now the Ridley show in NE. All other backs, woodhead/bolden/vereen are complementary. I was rooting for Vereen and dont have Ridley but i sure like him now. I think high RB2 stats should be expected as he beat everyone out handily.
The part you a missing is since when did the Pats decide to have 1 feature back? Why would you combine BGE and Ridley's carries from last season? Wouldn't you think its much much much more likely that Ridley steps into BGE's shoes and somebody else fills his roll from last year like Vareen or Bolden? I haven't seen one good reason why the Pat's would change their approach.
We're talking about a team that featured the two tight end set last season. You're ignoring the amount of carries that BJGE and Ridley had last season. I guess we'll see on Sunday but I believe this statement is way off.
1. Ridley was the most efficient back last year2. The Patriots let BJGE walk away and instead drafted a rookie in Bolden3. Ridley passes the eyeball test 4. Vereen is hurt and could never establish himself at all last season (15 carries)Ridley will be the guy. Just sayin'.
It is an interesting situation causing many of us to speculate that Ridley will be a feature back **more importantly** that committee approach could wane. Watching this situation closely all August I saw that Ridley has been heads and tails better player than all other Pats backs. On the contrary those who watch BB the last 5 (or 20!) years do not believe he will ever change his approach. Going back to the Tommy Vardell & Eric Metcalf days with the Browns in 1992Fact is all the other guys not named Ridley pretty much suck, namely Woodhead (no break tackle skills), Vereen (too injured) and Bolden (too raw) though i hold both the latter in a deep league)
