"Good things, when short, are twice as good."
Sound like a Bill Belichick, the Baron of Brevity, press conference?
Brevity is the soul of wit, so I will be brief.
Avoid bad teams.
Avoid stockpiling your fantasy-football team with players from bad teams.
That means even Michael Turner, Steven Jackson, and Larry Johnson should be avoided.
Sure, if Johnson or Jackson plummets and is dangling down deep in the second round, maybe take a fantasy flyer on the fast back.
In the first round though, don't pull that string.
Beware, no matter how good these guys are, they are gonna get pounded. Their teams are going to be losing most games, and the running game is going to be mostly removed from their team's catch-up offense.
Sure, they will catch a few screens and sneak a couple of draw plays, but their bread and butter, the 25-carries-a-game grind, is gone.
Steven Jackson is playing in the final year of his contract, which is usually a good time to grab a player trying to run hard for a big future payday.
But the St. Louis Rams are bad, especially their offensive line. Orlando Pace, the foundation of the line, is old and injured. Marc Bulger is going to get pounded and probably injured. The Rams' receiving corps, for the first time in a decade, is not deep and Torry Holt always seems to be hobbling.
Head coach Scott Linehan has one foot out the door. The rumors swirl the Rams are running back to Los Angles.
Steven Jackson won't be running for much in St. Louis, as the Rams' ship slowly sinks. Avoid him, Holt, and Bulger. And the rest of the Rams' pack.
Across the "Show-me State", Larry Johnson is ready to run again. And Herman Edwards will run him. The question is: how fast and how far?
The Kansas City Chiefs are weak at quarterback, with Brodie Croyle and constant cast-off Damon Huard behind center. The Chiefs' line, not so long ago one of the best in the league, needs to be rebuilt. Rookie Brandon Albert will help, but he will be exposed on the flank at left tackle, a position he is not real familiar with.
Defenses will be stacked, waiting for Larry Johnson, daring Herman Edwards to throw. Herm doesn't like to throw. Herm likes to win 12-10 on a fourth quarter 50-yard field goal.
Throw out Johnson unless he drops way down into the second round.
Chiefs' wide receiver Dwayne Bowe might be worth a shot as a second or third receiver, despite being on a bad team. When the Chiefs throw, it will be to him. Tony Gonzalez is about shot, and the ex-Tiger has a knack for the end zone if Croyle can connect.
A big if that is; Herm Edwards's long-lost dream of Croyle constantly connecting with players in the correct jerseys.
Sometimes a wide receiver or tight end on a bad team can provide value, if that team is always going to be losing in games and they have a quarterback who can at least give the passing game a decent shot at success.
Michael Turner, meet Confederate General Joseph Johnston. The last person to be so badly beaten in Atlanta.
Turner, like General Johnston, is going to be overwhelmed by numbers and superior firepower. Like the Rebs at Atlanta, Turner isn't really going to have a chance.
The Atlanta Falcons have a rookie quarterback, a very bad offensive line with a rookie tackle, and a depleted receiving corps.
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jimbo about 1 year ago
I agree that FF owners need to be wary of skill players on bad (or perceived bad) teams. But those considerations should be a tie-breaker, not a closed door. When fishing in the late second round or early third round for a RB2, if your choices are between Frank Gore (who plays for the lowly 49ers) or Brandon Jacobs (who plays for the Super Champion Giants), you would probably be better served to take Gore.
Very good article, Dan. But I think you may be unfamiliar with the meaning of the term "brief". :D
(Which is fine by me, because I enjoyed reading all the ground you covered!)
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
It was reported in the comment above that Brandon Jacobs plays for the Super Champion Giants. That should have read "Super Bowl Champion Giants", as Mr. Jacobs is not actually a giant super-hero, nor in fact, the champion of the Super Friends. We regret the confusion.
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Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
The Royal We?
Please...
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Tosten Burks about 1 year ago
We're disappointed...
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Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago
Nice article. Like you said, it is very important not to draft a running back with a bad offensive line. I won't fall for that again. :D
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
I'd agree with a few of the points, but I wouldn't sell Oakland's Running Game with Alex Smith's passing ability.
Oakland's running game last year, with 4 different starters, was still 4th in the league rushing. It also helped that they had Tom Cable's services to work the line.
Wonder how Gallery improved so much? Ask Tom. A coach will make a world of difference....or the difference between a B&B owner, and a coach.
About the only thing that's going to draw down McFadden's numbers, is that they have 3 different RBs that can make numbers....Fargas on one side, McFadden another, and Bush for a goal line hit.
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Bill San Antonio about 1 year ago
loved the line about smith and nolan, hilarious. the fact that all this even has to be said drives the point home that some people should NOT be playing fantasy football. good stuff.
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