From money to legroom to number of sexual partners, in America, we’re taught that more is always better. But in the world of fantasy football, more RBs aren’t necessarily a good thing – especially when they’re in the same backfield. As part of our Week 1 preview, we’re going to take a look at a few of the RB tandems affecting your teams and let you know what to expect this weekend.Jacksonville Jaguars: Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew
MJD and Freddy T have been sharing duties in the Jaguars backfield for a couple years now, but like the Duff sisters they always leave you wanting a little more. Freddy has earned the right to shed his “fragile” moniker after playing in 15 games each of the past two seasons, but like Hilary, he just doesn’t seem relevant anymore. Most of his carries come between the 20s, leading to few scoring opportunities. Still, his consistent yardage totals make him a reasonable flex play.
Like Haylie, MJD is a little more appealing at first glance. He’s younger, got fewer miles on him, he scores TDs, and he’s got a hyphenated last name. But consider his stats from last year. Is that the kind of production you want to be getting from your RB2? Sure, that 125-yard, and 2-TD performance looks nice, but it was only one game. MJD’s a true two-face. You never know who’s showing up – the good, the bad or the ugly. All you can hope for is another Festivus miracle.
Dallas Cowboys: Marion Barber and Felix Jones
If you've been watching Hard Knocks, you’ve probably been blowing your load watching Felix Jones tear up the practice field. But as good as Jones has looked, the truth in the Dallas backfield is still Marion Barber. Barber will be getting a majority of the carries (likely 20 per game) for a potent offense, and he has a nose for the end zone. On top of that, On top of that, NFL.com ranks the Cowboys offensive line as the third best in the league. What’s not to like?
As for Jones, I don’t see him having too much value the way things sit right now. He’ll provide a change of pace, but he might not get more than 10 touches per game. In the best case scenario, the Cowboys line him up at flanker a few plays per game to help bolster their depleted WR corps. If Barber ever goes down, Jones’s stock will immediately soar, but until then he’s just the dick in the glass case – break in case of emergency.
1 comment:
Thank you for the novel sir. RB by committee is not a new concept - just one that seems to be biting us all in the a$$ more frequently lately. And who can blame the coaches - delegating back duties manages the risk of injury. Advice on The Rox: Take these guys if you're stuck with them in the draft order - but balance it with a backup or youngster in the later rounds. You're ultimately better off with some flier backup who gets their moment to shine behind some injured overrated schmo. See: Ryan Grant, Derrick Ward, Sammy Morris (even if it was only for five minutes) circa 2007. That exact scenario is what created MJD in the first place. There are plenty of backs poised for a big fat fall this year. My money's on the dudes nobody's heard of waiting in the wings. Lucky for me I've got a list of them to watch and I'm a free agent whore. I'll let you know how it works out.
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