Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
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Deep Sleeper RBs
Colin Dowling - Morency represents yet another running back brought in by the Texans. The question is, why? They’ve got Jonathan Wells, who has performed well in spot duty. They’ve got Tony Hollings, who they spent a high pick on. Why keep adding bodies to the backfield? It could be that the team isn’t sold on Dom Davis. It could also be that the team wants to have a variety of options in the backfield. Regardless, Morency is the type of back that was able to take over games against tough competition in college. He could quickly grab a role getting 5-10 touches a game as well as the occasional touchdown in Houston, making him valuable in the later rounds of drafts. Andy Hicks - Selected high in the 3rd round by the Houston Texans, Vernand Morency is no immediate threat to starter Domanick Davis, but he will see opportunities and has the skill to produce if given those opportunities. With the Texans concerned at the number of niggling injuries Davis suffered, expect his workload to recede and Morency to pick up the slack. In deeper leagues he would be a great late addition. Cecil Lammey - The Houston Texans have shown a commitment to running the football. Unfortunately for them Domanick Davis seems to get nicked up quite a bit. This was his rap in college football also, as he often spent time on the bench while LaBrandon Toefield racked up yards for LSU. The Texans have taken note and drafted Vernand out of Oklahoma State. He is a bit old for a rookie because he spent some time in the Colorado Rockies farm system. What Morency does is run with a great burst. He is a very explosive runner that has a good pad level and can lower his head and bowl over defenders. Davis has a tendency to miss time due to injury and Morency could come in and contribute right away for the Texans. Jason Wood - Not to take anything away from Domanick Davis, but Morency deserves more consideration on draft day than his 63rd place ADP among RBs suggests. No position produces more rookie production than running back and Morency is but one injury away from a potential major role on a team committed to the run. As importantly, Morency played in a zone-blocking ground attack at Oklahoma State, exactly the same system employed in Houston. "Bloom" - The Texans running attack has never really gotten on track with Domanick Davis as the feature back. Dom Capers expressed late last year that he would ideally want a multi-headed RB attack. Davis gets dinged up, and is not good at playing hurt. Whether via a Davis injury or Capers’ curiosity, Morency should get a look sometime this season. If Vernand is impressive, he could settle in as the primary RB on first and second down and become a solid RB3 for fantasy. He could be more talented than some of the backups RBs drafted ahead of him, and he also has one of the shakier starters ahead of him – definitely worth a look as your draft enters the double digit rounds. "Couch Potato" - Starter Domanick Davis was never meant to be a feature back when drafted in the 4th round of 2003, but got the chance and has never let go. Davis tends to get dinged up, and the Texans wanted Tony Hollings to share some of the load last year. Hollings was unable to stay healthy for any length of time, though, and word is the Texans are about to give up on him. The other backup, Jonathan Wells, has a career YPC of 3.0. So, Morency was taken in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL draft. He ran for 1,474 yards, 12 TDs and a 5.7 YPC at Oklahoma St and has a sturdy 5-10, 215 lbs frame. He should get some playing time, and has the talent to really surprise if Davis misses time. "EBF" - Domanick Davis has been very productive over the past two seasons, but he's also been a very inconsistent runner. The Texans selected Morency with an early third round pick in the 2005 draft. If Davis continues to struggle running the ball then Morency might get a chance to steal some playing time. He was a highly-regarded prospect entering the draft and he could excel if given a chance. "SammyJankis" - There was a lot of debate on who was the best running back in the 2004 draft after the big three of Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Cadillac Williams. A lot of experts thought that Morency was the 4th best back. Morency is a slasher with great vision and decent size. Behind Domanick Davis, the Texans don’t have much in their RB stable, so Morency should easily win the backup job. The Texans have a RB friendly system. Morency has a lot of upside and is one injury away from a great situation.
Mark Wimer - Hamstring problems kept rookie Cedric Cobbs on the sidelines and out of the spotlight last season. This year he’s healthy and ready for training camp – if Corey Dillon has injury issues this season, Cobbs is the player most likely to step in and fill Dillon’s shoes. Keep an eye on Cobbs’ progress during training camp before pulling the trigger on him, but he could be a steal if he sees playing time during 2005. "EBF" - When healthy, Cedric Cobbs was a dominant running back for Arkansas. He didn't get much of a chance to show his skills last year as a backup to Corey Dillon, but the Patriots made no apparent effort to add competition for that backup RB role. This tells me that they might have some faith in Cobbs. I think Corey Dillon's age and career workload make him an above average injury risk, meaning Cobbs might get an opportunity to emerge in the near future. He has the potential to excel if given carries and is one of the better backup NFL RBs to have on your fantasy team. "Jurb26" - As great and dominant as Dillon was last year; we simply have to face certain realities. In this case, it is age and workload. RBs that amass the workload that Dillon did last year in their 30s just seem to break down at a higher rate than most. Makes sense really. Now, I’m not saying I expect Dillon to get hurt or perform poorly this year. Only that Cobbs could become a great sleeper candidate it this were to be the case. Cobbs seemed to have nice abilities coming out of college and was the RB of the future for NE. How soon will that future be? I’m sure NE fans and Dillon’s owners hope not this year, but it is certainly a possibility worth considering. "SammyJankis" - Cobbs is a tough, physical runner that missed most of last year with injury. The Patriots are said to be very high on Cobbs and will give him every chance to win the backup job this training camp. With only a 31 year old Corry Dillon ahead of him on the depth chart, Cobbs certainly has the high-ceiling you look for in a late round flyer.
Andy Hicks - In week 12 last season against the Rams Najeh Davenport displayed the kind of stats that studs are made of, 186 yards and 1 TD. With Ahman Green not the same back he was a couple of seasons ago it is within the realms of possibility that Davenport will get to showcase the ability he has only previously teased us with. A career average of over 5 yards a carry and more opportunities present us with a nice sleeper pick. Aaron Rudnicki - Davenport was expected to play a bigger role in the Packers offense last year but injuries held him back. He is a big, strong RB at 6’1”, 247lbs and has a career average of 5.1 yards per carry. While Ahman Green will continue to get the lion’s share of carries when healthy, the Packers like to rotate in other backs and should give Davenport a steady diet of carries including some goalline work. He’s also scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2006 so he has plenty of motivation to have a big season. "BassNBrew" - I’m staying far away from Ahman Green this year. His recent arrest on suspicion of domestic violence is a major red flag and could result in a suspension from the league. Last year there was plenty of talk about the Packers using Davenport and Fisher between the 40s. Davenport averaged over 5 yards per carry in 71 attempts last year and about 5.5 ypc in 77 attempts the year prior. I expect roughly 100 carries for Davenport this year. If Green misses time this year, Davenport instantly becomes a viable starting fantasy back. "Unlucky" - Davenport has been a solid producer when Ahman Green has been injured or resting. He’s one of the more talented backup RBs in the league that won’t be drafted in the first 150 players. His YPC was over 5.0 with 70+ carries the last two seasons. He’s one A. Green injury away from being a starting fantasy RB.
Andy Hicks - With Rudi Johnson coming off a 361 carry season expect 2004 1st round pick Chris Perry to get into the mix. Last year was a season that Perry and his fantasy owners would rather forget. This season however he offers that tantalizing option of being a low risk, high reward pick in your fantasy draft. At the very worst he’ll see spot duty, but he should do much more than most are expecting. Jason Wood - There is no disputing Rudi Johnson’s place atop the Bengals RB hierarchy but Chris Perry deserves more consideration than his current ADP suggests. Remember, it was only a year ago that many thought Perry would supplant Johnson as the Bengals long-term answer at RB. He was a 1st round choice a season ago after a monstrously productive career at Michigan. If healthy, Perry can produce tough yardage between-the-tackles, is an able blocker and has above average receiving skills. If Rudi Johnson gets injured, Perry could step in and be highly productive, in my view. David Yudkin - Rudi Johnson had 361 of the Bengals’ 392 rushing attempts last season (92%), which is a very high percentage. That may have been due to the injury of first-round pick Chris Perry. The Bengal’s RB receiving totals also have fallen the past several seasons, and with an offense on the verge of improving by leaps and bounds this year, some of that production should go to Perry. "EBF" - At this time a year ago, Rudi Johnson's job security was in serious question due to Cincinnati's first round selection of RB Chris Perry. Perry failed to make an impact as a rookie and Johnson was eventually given a contract extension by the team. Despite this recent vote of confidence for Rudi, Perry is still an intriguing backup. If Rudi disappoints or gets injured then Perry will have a chance to show why he was the second RB chosen in the 2004 draft.
"diesel7982" - While we all know that Mike Anderson being listed as the current #1 RB on the Denver depth chart is nothing more than a motivational ploy for Tatum Bell, Anderson is still quite valuable. While he is 32 years old, it is important to remember he has played for only 5 seasons, and has taken a very limited workload over his career. The other Denver backups, Quentin Griffin and Maurice Clarett, are recovering from ACL surgery and 2 years removed from all football, respectively. Anderson knows the Denver system better than any of the RBs on the roster, and will likely be the RB taking the bulk of the workload should the somewhat injury-prone Tatum Bell go down. Even if Bell is healthy, Anderson has a decent shot of earning goal-line carries as he is 1” taller, 20 pounds heavier, and more of a power runner than Bell. Denver’s running game is fantastic enough that the backup RB, whoever it is, should be among the first backup RBs drafted. "LHUCKS" - The competition for Anderson is far from proven as Tatum Bell was injured throughout his rookie campaign and Clarett is somewhat of a project. Anderson could very well be a stop-gap once again for the explosive Denver rushing attack. A role he has filled several times in the past with great success. "Unlucky" - It’s Denver and that means two things: they will produce a very good RB, and it might not be the one you expect. So, why not gamble on Anderson? Bell will be drafted highly, and perhaps rightfully so. Anderson has proven his skills before, and is running with the first team right now. Given the opportunity, Anderson could be fantasy starter and perhaps star.
David Dodds - Jesse backs up LaDainian Tomlinson so he is not in competition for a starting job. But injuries happen in the NFL. With an offense that utilizes the running back a lot, Chatman is in a good situation should he need to fill in for an injured Tomlinson. He rushed for 392 yards on just 65 carries (6.0 ypc) while scoring 2 TDs in very limited duty last year. This will be his 4th year in the NFL and at age 25 is in the prime of his athletic life. All he needs is that opportunity. "BassNBrew" - Chatman looked good in relief on Tomlinson last year with a 6 yard per carry average. Obviously this is solely a play in hopes of something happening to Tomlinson. San Diego has been putting a lot of miles on LT’s tread recently, meaning that some time in the shop is a matter of when, not if. "BostonFred" - LaDainian Tomlinson has average 340 carries a year throughout his career, and finally started to show it when he injured his groin this year. Schottenheimer would certainly continue to run the ball with Chatman, who averaged 6 yards per carry and had a 100 yard game just playing in relief of Tomlinson. Like most running back sleepers, Chatman would need an injury to get his chance, but with the wear and tear Tomlinson's had, he's worth a late round flier.
Mike Brown - As high as I am on LaMont Jordan, he has still never been his team’s primary ball carrier in the NFL. No one knows how he’ll respond to the challenge, if he’ll wear down, etc. Fargas is now fully recovered from his ACL tear, and is one of the year’s best handcuff picks. Fargas could even have value without a Jordan injury, because a player of his talents is likely to have some definitive role. "EBF" - Last year the Oakland RB job was ripe for the taking. Justin Fargas didn't take it. He was hampered by minor injuries and never managed to earn a lion's share of the carries. Frustrated with its RBs, the Raiders signed former Jet LaMont Jordan to a big contract this past offseason. This move made Jordan the team's clear #1 back and left Fargas in limbo. Despite all of this, I still think Fargas is a player worth watching. Injuries have held him back, but he is one of the most physically talented backup RBs in the league and he has looked great at times in preseason action. He's never been healthy enough to earn regular playing time and he appears to be stuck in a bad situation, but he has the talent to be a big surprise if he somehow gets an opportunity to play. "Fullback Fro" - Justin has all the tangibles to be a very good NFL caliber back. He has the size the speed and the heart. He just hasn’t been able to stay healthy. I think this is the year we see what he’s made of. Although Lamont Jordan was brought in a free agent and looks to be the starter, he cannot take all of the carries. I expect Fargas to excel in the opportunities he does get and challenge for an increased role throughout the season. He becomes very valuable incase of an injury to Jordan, who has never proven he can be an every down back in the NFL.
Andy Hicks - With the suspension of Onterrio Smith, the rookie Ciatrick Fason receives definite opportunities this season. Injury prone Michael Bennett is the starter and the only competition for duties for Fason would be 3rd down back Mewelde Moore and goal line back Moe Williams. For all round duties Fason is the better option. If he had stayed in college he was seen by some as a 1st round prospect in 2006. At his current draft slot he presents little risk and an incredibly high upside. If you do draft him, be patient and wait for the inevitable Michael Bennett injury. Ron White - I hate the Vikings RB situation again this year. But considering Smith is gone, Moore is better suited as a 3rd down back, and Bennett is in the final year of his contract, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fason starting at some point this season. Fason brings the whole package for a feature back, at least he seems to fit the mold better than any of the current backs on the roster. The Vikings offense is powerful enough for the running back to generate some lofty numbers, if the Vikings can just figure it out. Could be well worth the price! "Couch Potato" - It's tough coming up with RB sleepers since 51 RBs fall within the excluded player category. Here's one I like though. At an ADP of RB54 as of this writing, I think Fason is one Michael Bennett injury away from starting. I've read from some sources who are pretty well-connected with the Vikings that their strong preference is to keep Mewelde Moore in a 3rd down and change-of-pace role. They like Fason's talent a lot, trading up in the 4th round this year to get him (the same round Onterrio Smith was drafted a couple of years ago). If you are rolling the dice later in a draft on a backup RB, this guy just might pay off big.
David Dodds - Kevin is the quiet backup to Corey Dillon. He also is the team's third down back. He is never going to lead the league in rushing (even if Dillon got hurt), but he routinely puts up OK fantasy numbers, especially in leagues that reward points for receptions. In larger leagues (14 teams and up) and point per reception leagues, grabbing Kevin Faulk late can be the difference in staying competitive through the bye weeks and RB injuries a normal season brings. Cathy Fazio - Kevin Faulk has value as a bye week filler, particularly in fantasy leagues that award one point per reception. With Corey Dillon as the established running back, Faulk won’t be utilized in that regard. But the New England offense favors short screen passes which are well suited to Faulk’s strengths. "Tick" - Faulk's ranks among RBs over the last three years: 38th, 34th, and 44th. So why is his ADP outside the top 50? Granted, he has almost no upside, but he can fill in when needed and get you some points that an upside guy like Frank Gore can't be relied on to provide. Faulk missed five games last season and still finished 44th among RBs. He should again put up RB36 or so numbers, and that's useful if you've already got some upside players and need someone who will reliably produce.
Mark Wimer - Remember all the painful scenes at the beginning of 2004 when Giants’ coach Coughlin was angered by Ron Daynes’ failures as a short-yardage back? This year, Brandon Jacobs steps into this role for the Giants, and according to all accounts he’s eminently suited (6’ 4”, 260 lbs) to gain the tough yards. If he continues to impress (he was great in mini-camp), Jacobs could get a lot of goal-line work in the big-back role under coach Coughlin. "Couch Potato" - I thought about listing Najeh Davenport as my 3rd RB sleeper, but we already know about him so that's just too easy. Enter Brandon Jacobs: a big, fullback-sized guy with halfback speed. Drafted in the 4th round in 2005, the Giants want to give him the short yardage/goal line role Ron Dayne wasn't up to in the past. Also note that 30 year old Tiki Barber has absorbed the punishment of 1,093 total touches the last 3 years. I could see Jacobs having TJ Duckett-like TD numbers, and becoming a super sleeper if Tiki's body begins to break down. "LHUCKS" - Coughlin loves to run the ball and even Tiki has admitted he can’t carry the load that he did in ’04. Although Tiki has proven to be a durable runner he is getting up there in age and Jacobs could be a tremendous benefactor if anything goes awry in the Giants backfield.
Colin Dowling - I expect Westbrook and Buckhalter to get the bulk of the running work for the Eagles. However, Andy Reid has never been shy about using more than one runner and in some formats with large rosters, particularly “best ball” leagues where you don’t submit a lineup, Moats could help by cashing in on a couple games where he gets an extended look. Westbrook’s contract situation is a bit hazy beyond this year, and it would not be a shock for the team to see what they have in Moats during 2005. Cecil Lammey - Ryan Moats is a very talented runner that a lot of teams were looking at. I know for a fact the Broncos were targeting him, but unfortunately for them the Eagles snatched him up before anyone else could grab him. Moats is going into a great situation in Philadelphia. Starter Brian Westbrook decided to end his holdout which means Moats will have to come off the bench initially. However, dating back to his days at Villanova Brian Westbrook has had problems staying healthy. This bodes well for Moats who has the big time ability of an every down back. Moats greatest asset is his vision. He sees the field well and makes smart decisions when running the football. He has great body control and balance and thus is tough to bring down. He is definitely close to seeing some significant playing time in 2005. "Jurb26" - We all know how great a year Westy had last year. But how many people seem to realize that Philly and Reid really seem to like getting multiple RBs involved in their offense? Westy greatly benefited from the departure of Staley (to Pitt) and an injury to Buckhalter. Even with these 2 things happening, Westy and Philly still split a great portion of the work between him and Levens. Buckhalter comes back this year, but can he stay healthy and how ready is he? Westy’s contract is in its final year and Moats was taken relatively high by Philly. I expect that Philly will use Moats a great deal this year. That seems to be their blueprint and they will want to know what they have in the young ball carrier before deciding what to do with Westy. Moats seems to have the talent to take advantage of opportunities on the field, even as a rookie.
David Dodds - Deep sleeper at RB is all about who could do well if given the chance. Maurice Morris is that type of player. He has averaged 5.2 yards per carry in his 3 seasons playing behind Shaun Alexander. All he needs is an opportunity. Consider that Shaun Alexander is going as a top 3 pick in fantasy drafts, it is easy to realize that Morris would be very valuable if Alexander got hurt. Maurile Tremblay - Morris has been one of the more capable backup RBs in the league throughout his career, but playing behind the durable Shaun Alexander, he has not gotten extended playing time. In the last rounds of the draft, you should look for high-risk, high-upside players – and as of June 2005, Morris fits that description perfectly. On the chance that Shaun Alexander is injured or ends up in another NFL city this year and Morris ends up starting in Seattle, he is a potential top ten fantasy RB. David Yudkin - This may turn into an all or nothing proposition, especially if a draft was being help in June. The Seahawks are actively shopping Shaun Alexander, and if they can find a taker, that could result in Morris inheriting the starting RB position. Investing a 14th or 15th round pick in Morris could pay first round dividends should Alexander leave town.
Aaron Rudnicki - Taylor finished the 2004 season as the #34 ranked RB using FBG standard scoring. He proved himself a very capable backup/change of pace type RB for the Ravens and they will likely continue to use him in that way to help keep Jamal Lewis fresh. Lewis also spent most of the offseason in prison and away from the team so it’s hard to know exactly what kind of mindset he’ll have when he returns. Taylor seems like a pretty safe bet to outperform his current ADP, and he’ll have even more value in point per reception leagues. "diesel7982" - When you are a backup RB, and the guy starting in front of you has spent his offseason in jail and rehabbing a fairly serious ankle injury, you have to figure you stand to earn quite a few carries this year. Taylor, one of the leagues best backup RBs, had 481 rushing yards and 105 receiving yards in his 5 starts last season in place of the injured Jamal Lewis. The Ravens matched a 1 year, $3 million dollar offer sheet from the Browns in the offseason, so it is obvious they feel he is important to their offense this season. When starting, he should be a useable RB2. "Tick" - Jamal Lewis has been injury prone, is one offense from a season-long suspension for repeated drug offenses, is in a halfway house… the guy is unreliable. Taylor filled in well for Lewis last season (4.5 ypa, 714 yards rushing, 2 TDs), and in the 13th round and later, you could certainly do worse than adding a capable backup with the least reliable starter in front of him.
Mike Brown - Everyone tells you, “You must handcuff your stud RB”. In this case, Julius Jones owners need to be aware that Thomas is the handcuff. But just as importantly, note that Thomas may have a Jerome Bettis-type value this year as a TD specialist. Moe Williams owners from the past can attest to the value of having a TD vulture in your lineup. And if Jones were to get hurt… Aaron Rudnicki - Thomas appeared to be somewhat undervalued in the free agent market but eventually signed in Dallas where he could have a very good opportunity to produce. He is a very strong runner between the tackles who is quicker than most expect him to be. While Julius Jones looked great at times last year, it’s still unclear whether he can handle a heavy workload over a full season. Thomas also looks like an early favorite for short yardage and goalline duties. If he can hold onto that role, he shouldn’t have much trouble cracking the top-50 among fantasy RBs with the potential to do a lot better if Jones gets injured. Mark Wimer - Thomas is a big, hard-charging running back – he’s slated to be the Cowboy’s short-yardage specialist during 2005. If he gets a significant number of goal-line carries, Thomas could be a decent fantasy option during bye-weeks when you need a stand-in for a starter. If Julius Jones has injury problems again, Thomas would be the Cowboy’s featured back.
Mike Brown - Clinton Portis will get banged-up at some point; the only question is, how badly? Betts is, and has been, waiting in the wings in Washington. Should something happen to Portis, Betts showed enough in glimpses last season to prove he can be relied upon. One of the more important handcuffs in 2005. Marc Levin - As an NFL player, Betts appears to be merely serviceable as far as talent goes. But he has an important role with the Redskins as a pounding change of pace to starter Clinton Portis. More importantly, Portis carried the ball 343 times in only 15 games. That is a huge workload, and all signs point to the Redskins trying to reduce that number. Reducing that number means increasing Betts’ playing time. And, as they say, he is one hit away from starting for a coach who loves to run the ball.
Jason Wood - It’s unclear whether Fred Taylor is going to be a factor in Jacksonville this season. Assuming he’s not, Pearman is the kind of deep sleeper that seems to come out of the woodwork to contribute every season. A rookie from Virginia, Pearman is a natural fit as the team’s 3rd-down back having caught 63 passes (yes, 63!) as a junior. At worst, you could be getting a younger Kevin Faulk; at best, you could have the next Tiki Barber. "Bloom" - There could be a huge vacancy in the Jacksonville running game this year if Fred Taylor’s knee doesn’t start improving soon. None of the current RBs on the Jags roster have shown much in their chances to tote the rock. Pearman’s receiving skills should at least get him on the field for 3rd downs. If he impresses in that role, he could get the opportunity to play on the 1st and 2nd downs and follow in the footsteps of Domanick Davis – a rookie 3rd down back who ended up being the best RB on the roster when the dust settled.
"LHUCKS" - Julius Jones suffered not one, but two injuries his rookie season that hampered his playing time. Additionally, recent news suggests that Barber is currently the #2 behind Jones. Don’t be surprised if this rookie comes in and makes a splash if the unproven Jones goes down again.
"BassNBrew" - Have you heard that Dayne has come to camp slimmer and faster then ever before? I like Dayne for one reason and one reason only…Mike Shanahan’s ego. Dayne will be Skeletor’s Frankenstein, the creation of a monster that will once and for all demonstrate Shanahan’s genius.
"BassNBrew" - If you’re participating in a league that awards points per receptions, then Tony Fisher becomes the RB you should be targeting. Fisher had a reception in every single game last year, 38 total receptions, and his combined rush/rec yardage was over 500 yards.
"BostonFred" - Goings averaged 99 yards a game and got 6 TDs in the final seven games for Carolina as the team went 5-2 to finish the season. Sure, the Panthers would like to have a healthy Davis or Foster, and Shelton has been described as a Stephen Davis clone, but Goings, who also had 45 catches for 394 yards last year, seems to be a more than adequate replacement. He's available cheap, but would immediately be worth a fantasy start if he got an NFL start. While he's currently third on the RB depth chart, Davis may not even come back from microfract knee surgery, Foster is a huge injury risk, and Shelton is an unproven second round rookie.
Cecil Lammey - Fast Willie Parker is the man. He is among the fastest players on the entire Steelers roster. Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis will carry the load for the Steel crew, with Staley getting the yards and the Bus getting the TDs. However, if Staley is limited by injury again the Steelers might look to the former Tar Heel to carry the load. He is a great change of pace back and if teamed with Bettis could make a great 1-2 combination. Parker is a willing and determined runner. He is a decent inside runner for his size and a good receiver out of the backfield. He played his way into playing time last year and I believe would be looked to before Verron Haynes who has yet to stay healthy.
Marc Levin - Also see Joe Smith. This is sort of an either/or selection. The two backs share amazing similarities – Payton is 6’0, 218 lbs and Smith is 6’1” 224 lbs. Both had extremely impressive NFL Europe campaigns with Payton leading NFL-E in rush TDs while Smith set a league record with 6 consecutive 100 yard rushing games and became only the third NFL-E player to rush for 1,000 yards. Unless the Titans sign a veteran, this writer believes that one of these two will back up oft-injured Chris Brown (which means a strong possibility of extended playing time).
"Tick" - I don't like Marcel Shipp. I think he hasn't really shown he's a decent NFL RB. However, he's got a shot at a starting job if he can beat out JJ Arrington, and rookies can take some time to break in due to blocking an receiving skills they need to hone. I think Shipp loses the competition, but in the 13th round it's worth the gamble that I'm wrong.
Marc Levin - Also see Jarrett Payton. This is sort of an either/or selection. The two backs share amazing similarities: Payton is 6'0", 218 lbs and Smith is 6'1" 224 lbs. Both had extremely impressive NFL Europe campaigns with Payton leading NFL-E in rush TDs while Smith set a league record with 6 consecutive 100 yard rushing games and became only the third NFL-E player to rush for 1,000 yards. Unless the Titans sign a veteran, this writer believes that one of these two will back up oft-injured Chris Brown (which means a strong possibility of extended playing time).
"LHUCKS" - The Minnesota backfield became a little less crowded when S.O.D. was suspended for the year and that left Moe as the most reliable RB on the team. Bennett has averaged 12 games a year since coming to the NFL so Moe could very well be given the opportunity to step in once again to pick up the slack at RB.
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