Did you have the first pick of your fantasy draft? Or the second? Or the third or fourth? Chances are, you considered yourself lucky. In fact, I’m guessing that if you had the first pick, you wasted no time sending in your pick. You probably didn’t flinch and you probably figured you had the safest investment in your draft.
“LT.”
You didn’t need to accompany it with anything else. Who was going to question that decision? Every pundit with a pen or laptop told you that there was no way you could consider selecting anyone else. After all, how often do 31-touchdown seasons occur among running backs?
Now you’re mad. Tomlinson has been shut down by every team the Chargers have faced this season. Sure, he had a touchdown pass week one, but what’s his ypc average? 2.3. On 57 carries he’s managed 130 yards and one score. Hey, not to add salt to the wound or anything, but 11 backs managed to break 100 yards rushing in their respective week three games.
But don’t worry: the three owners who picked after you aren’t happy either. They probably took Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, and Shaun Alexander. The first managed only 118 yards the first two weeks of the season and was hurt during a productive game. He’ll miss next week. And by the way, he hasn’t scored yet this season. Larry Johnson is averaging a pathetic 2.8 ypc and he hasn’t scored either. Worse yet, he’s becoming a distraction. After spending the first few years of his career quiet and reserved, he’s spent 2007 running his mouth about everything from his contract to, now, criticizing his coaches.
“Football is easy,” he said, criticizing his coaches. “It’s not a chess game. It’s checkers. When they’re looking for the run, you pass. When they’re looking for the pass, you run. When they put nine in the box, you pass. When they overload one side, you run to the other side.”
I’m sure his teammates are happy he doesn’t wear a headset.
Finally, the only running back with a respectable season of the four is Shaun Alexander. He has 275 yards rushing and a pair of scores — hardly what we’d expect, but still decent — but he’s going to be playing with a protective cast in the near future. His wrist may be fractured and he’s already considered something of an injury concern.
No doubt, backs are struggling this season. And there isn’t much fantasy owners can do about it. It’s still early. The only back that should absolutely be benched this weekend is Jackson, who will miss the game. The other three are up to you, though LT and Alexander seem like must-starts because of their potential.
2007 is going to be one long season. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go decide whether I should start Tomlinson or Oakland’s LaMont Jordan. Never thought I’d have to make this decision.
2 comments ↓
Jake Delhomme is an MVP Candidate? Isn’t this the same Jake Delhomme that got embarassed by Joey Harrington last week? The same guy that passed for 109 yards?
I hadn’t updated it from week two, and even that was a beta version. It’s updated now, if you’d like to take a look.
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