| When I hear of others debating lineup choices
from week to week, trying to utilize the best matchups of offense vs. defense and
basically overthinking what I consider easy lineup decisions in most cases, I can’t
help but laugh. Or should I say, I used to laugh.
Always an advocate of building a strong lineup on Draft Day and simply sticking with it
through thick or thin, I used to consider this process as a fool’s game.
Granted, injuries and byes would lead toward some subtle changes. But barring trades,
my team has always resembled a strong front, and one look at the extremely thin bench
would make most safe players cringe.
If there was one personal law of fantasy football that I always adhered to, it was that
depth does you no good on the bench.
I’ve decided now, with so few stalwarts out there for the taking, that maybe that
theory needs to be revised.
Let’s take a look at the running backs in the league and decide who is a lock play
every week, who is almost a lock and those you should only be considering in desperate
measures.
Lock plays: Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson, Lamar Smith,
Curtis Martin, Eddie George, Ahman Green and Ricky Williams.
Probably should play: Corey Dillon, Jerome Bettis, Shaun Alexander, Mike
Anderson, Emmitt Smith, Stephen Davis, Correll Buckhalter (if starting), Tyrone Wheatley
and James Stewart.
Better off avoiding: Antowain Smith, Priest Holmes, Travis Henry, Terry Allen,
Tshimanga Biakabutuka, James Jackson, Stacey Mack, Michael Pittman, Ron Dayne, Anthony
Thomas, Mike Alstott, Michael Bennett, Maurice Smith and Garrison Hearst.
Now that we’ve clarified where these players belong in your lineup, what do you do
with the information?
If you have more than two starters in the lock-plays category, your league is too small
or you should be winning by so much that you don’t need to be reading this. But if
that is the case, trade one now. I’m certain your team must have a weakness somewhere
if your team is this loaded at running back.
If you have nothing but the middle-of-the-class running backs, yet so many of them that
you can’t make a decision on a week-to-week basis, go with your gut. Pick two or
maybe three (just to be safe) and deal away the rest in an attempt to upgrade your team in
other areas. There has to be something you can improve upon.
If you are stuck with players in only the third group, start praying and hope for the
best — and a lot of passing.
Random observations on the NFC
MarTay Jenkins posted big numbers, but Arizona still seems fixated on getting
the ball to David Boston as often as possible.
Correll Buckhalter might be a little underrated. He’s done it against
sloppy defenses, but he’s shown an ability to be productive.
Once a death trap to fantasy football players, the Chicago Bears are suddenly looking a
little appealing. With Jim Miller now starting at quarterback, Marcus Robinson
has value again, and Marty Booker is starting to look like a viable option. If no
one has Anthony Thomas in your league, pick him up.
Although not getting a lot of hype for it, few runners are going harder than Ahman
Green right now.
Odds are you haven’t figured out what to do with the Minnesota Vikings, and
neither have I.
I’d still rather have the third or fourth option in the Rams’ offense than
the first on a lot of others.
Maurice Smith isn’t quite ready to be a No. 1 in the NFL, but given time
and a little patience, he could be OK.
Anyone heard from Joe Horn lately? Sit him and sit him now. I wasn’t a fan
at the beginning of the season, and most of his productivity came when Jeff Blake
was leading the Saints. Aaron Brooks seems to have other favorites. |
