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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Sleeper RB's
        
(Message started by: StegRock on Aug 31^st, 2002, 5:38am)

Title: Sleeper RB's
Post by StegRock on Aug 31^st, 2002, 5:38am

Some sleepers of the light to semi-light variety that could pay off big dividends this year:

Jamel White - William Green scares for some reason. I just think that he is an "injury" waiting to happen. I also question his work ethic. He missed a lot of offseason workouts. Jamel White is apparently a hard worker who they can't keep off the field. He has capitalized in a big way on the deficiencies of Green and James Jackson. White will get his this year even if a lot of it is in the passing game.

Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala & Amos Zereoue - This is another case where the guy ahead scares me. Jerome Bettis has already intimated at letting Fu and Amos "carry" more of the load this year. Both, especially Zereoue, have shown some serious skills. However, if the Bus breaks down, I think it may be Fu who gets the starting knod over Amos. On the other hand, Fu is the kind of "big back" (a'la Bettis and Dayne who is next on the list) that needs to get a lot of rushes so as that battering effect on the defense comes into play as the game progresses. At any rate, they both merit roster spots in leagues deep enough.

Ron Dayne - This guy gets such a bum wrap. Bottom line if you extrapolated his numbers last year, or his rookie year for that matter, over a season, they would be quite good. Over a thousand with more than a few TD's. He is big back who needs more carries.  The punishment he divvies out would pay off big dividends in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, defenses are not being required to have to tackle him for a full game. That is what is attributing to his poor yards-per-rush. But, if Tiki goes down, this would all change.

Lamont Jordan - In TD-only leagues, he could be very valuable. Overall, he will steal some carries away from Curtis Martin (who I have on my roster in the GBRFL (http://www.fantasyfootballer.com/), so no biases here) and many of them will be at the stripe. This guy is for real. Notwithstanding Martin's new contract, there, eventually, will be no holding him back.

T.J. Duckett - Can you say Jamal Anderson Part II? This guy may just be a better version of him. Warrick Dunn will get his share, but, based on their respective styles, the kind of carries Dunn will get and the kind Duckett will get will be totally different. Duckett will still get his share to the tune of at least 10, perhaps 15, carries per game right from the get-go. And, if Dunn gets injured,...

Troy Hambrick - Not an unknown here! I like him, especially after Emmitt Smith breaks the record. He is the heir apparent on a historically great team that may just be on the rise. Great keeper-league pick-up!

For some deeper sleepers, click through to this thread:
http://www.fantasyfootballer.com/cgi-bin/theGridiron/YaBB.cgi?board=55;action=display;num=1030551333

Enjoy! 8)

Comments, anyone?

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by KTS on Aug 31^st, 2002, 8:45am

Travis Henry will break out this year. He will have the lanes to run and will also get all the goal line carries. 1200 yrds / 10 TDs

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by Drugrunner on Sep 4^th, 2002, 11:53am

A few Comments:

I've Held Jamel White on my Roster for almost 2 years now, and can say that although he totaly deserves the opertunity to start, Green will be given every chance, and even if Green is even with White, it will always be Green. Butch Davis just never seems to want to give the kid a chance. Thinking that white will surplant Green in open competion is incorrect. He deserves it, but it will not happen.

Ron Dayne is currently hobbled as well as Tiki Barber. That, and he doesn't have the wheels to be a Star in this league. If you are looking at Dayne because Tiki is somewhat injured at the moment, you would be better served looking at Sean Bennett who will be Tiki's replacement and play along side Dayne if Tiki is out for an extended period. Dayne will not take over as the Featured back.

Last season, news coming out of the Jets was exactly the same. Jordon will be given opertunities to play, and moght see action on the Goal Line. The Jets also said that Pennington would be incorperated in at QB. Nothing happened. Curtis Martin just signed a 5 year extention, and will be the sole ball carrier. The Jordan as the Goal Line back is over played. Don't count on it.

Sleepers you should really be looking at are:

Curtis Keaton When Deuce McCallister goes down, and he will, the last season he played without an injury of some kind was his Second year Freshman season in College. (He was Red Shirted his first year) Keaton has all the skills, but was burried behind Corey Dillon in Cinncy. Keaton can play, and needs an injury to McCallister, but I assure you that will happen. At some point this season, Keaton will be a very valuable starter.

Robert Holcombe High Draft pick a few years ago by the Rams. Actually surplanted Lawerence Phillips as the starter before the Rams traded for Faulk. Moved to Full Back for the Rams. Holcombe has all the skills, and can be a featured runner. Is currently the #2 man behind Eddie George after beating out Skip Hicks. If you believe that George won't make it the whole season, Holcombe is going to tear it up playing the Colts, Texans, and Jags D twice this year.

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by Razzak on Sep 4^th, 2002, 10:06pm

This is why I made sure to grab guys like:
Barlow, Dayne, Jordan, Fuamatu, and Mealey.

Richardson and Hicks are kinda punks.. gotta drop hicks on tuesday :)

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by StegRock on Sep 5^th, 2002, 11:47am

Interesting note regarding Jamel White. I just read something over at KFFL that Coach Davis is talking about handing the ball off to William Green to the tune of 20 to 25 times a game. Means not much left for J. W., right? Decreases J. W.'s value, right? Maybe not! J. W. is just as big of a threat through the air as he is on the gruond, at least more so than Green. That is where he will get his stats early on/until Green gets injured or gives out. That last part is the key. If they are looking at getting this ROOKIE (who has not particularly established himself as being someone who "toughs" it out) the ball so often like that so quickly, it puts him in harms way more often, of course, but it also does not bode well for the stretch run when rookies usually hit the proverbial "wall" and their numbers tail off, and Green did not even get a good training camp in. There is a VERY good chance White will see increased duty down the stretch, i.e. when we have to win our FF Championships. Do NOT dismiss him. He is a big-time sleeper in the waiting, who will produce fairly respectable numbers between now and ]then. 8)

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by DOLFAN on Sep 5^th, 2002, 12:00pm

I feel all these guys have a shot. The questionis which one??? We know 1-4 rbs will go down this year, who will come out of nowhere to succeed?..only time will tell.

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by PhantasyPhilly on Sep 5^th, 2002, 5:56pm

James Allen is all but forgotten in Houston. Perhaps it is because he is on an expansion team, but let's not forget that one of the strengths of the Texans (once healthy) is their O-line.

James Allen was a decent back in Chicago, but not nearly good enough to hold off A-Train.

He would be a great reserve back and I know he is probably still sitting out there as a free agent in nearly all of the smaller leagues.

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by bgsgfan on Sep 7^th, 2002, 12:43am

Another way to look for sleepers is to look for solid #2 guys. Noone knows who will get injured and it seesm to me it happens almost as much to guys we don't expect to go down as it does to the guys we do classify as injury risks.

Here are a few guys that almost never get drafted, however have shown talent and are solid #2s:

Leon Johnson, Chi
Brandon Bennet, Cin
Robert Edwards, Mia

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by Drugrunner on Sep 7^th, 2002, 1:35am

This next one, I don't agree with, but he should be mentioned.

RB Marcel Shipp, Arizona

I believe that Thomas Jones will have a fine season, and will lock himself in as the starter. If you believe that Thomas Jones is a waste of flesh, and will never produce, and that he is destined to fail, then Marcel Shipp is the very best deep sleeper available this year. Many people are going to tell you that Josh Scoobey is the replacement, and he might be at the Goal line, but nothing more. Scoobey is a North South runner who can't get outside. He gears down before making cuts, and loses all his power and speed. His playing speed is conciderable less than his 40 speed. He Struggles to maintain his balence while making cuts. Never used in the passing game in College, and doesn't appear to have natural soft hands of a reciever. Scoobey is a powerful inside runner (He can bench over 400 lbs. 400lbs!?!?!), short yardage guy, but will never make it as a featured runner. A goal line job is the best he will ever be used for, certainly never a starting RB. Shipp on the other hand was used extensively at Massachetts in the passing game. He has above average strength and balence. Stands 5'10", and weighs 220lbs. Has traditionaly made most of his yardage after contact. Was a top RB in Division 1-AA ball, who has always been a featured runner at every level, never a role player like Scoobey.

Title: Re: Sleeper RB's
Post by StegRock on Sep 8^th, 2002, 9:10am

Yummy! Delectable! [smiley=lickinmychops.gif] Those last three posts, Drug, Philly, bg..., that was some delicious analysis. I just ate it up and I am satiated. Great thought-processes, guys! Keep up the great work! Thanks! [smiley=smileythumbsup.gif]