The Future for McGahee and Lewis
The Ravens never wanted to keep Jamal Lewis in the first place. They offered him a backup's contract for one-year and $2 million. His deal with the Cleveland Browns isn't much better, at only $3.5 million for a season. That nicely straddles the line between starter and backup and makes it clear they don't view Lewis as a long-term solution. That's a good thing.
Lewis' 2,000-yard season in 2003 was his finest hour, but also his year of reckoning. He hasn't been truly healthy since earning 429 touches that season. Lewis is a 27-year-old former superstar trapped in a 33-year-old's body. Problem is, he doesn't see it that way.
Lewis spoke to the Cleveland media Thursday, claiming he could still run a forty-yard dash in the high 4.3's. While he won't hold a Pro Day anytime soon, Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson will. Pre-draft speculation in Cleveland centered around Peterson, but Lewis doesn't think they'll take him.
"Honestly, I would be surprised if they wouldn't spend that money somewhere else," Lewis said.
If the Browns pass on Peterson only because of Lewis' presence, then signing the former Raven would go from a poor move to a disastrous one. I don't think the Browns see Lewis has a 20-25 carry-a-game guy, though, despite saying he needed that many on Thursday. The Browns probably see Lewis as a placeholder; a guy to split carries with a rookie to be named later, whether it's a first-rounder or not. Lewis isn't someone that is going to help fantasy leaguers much anymore, if he did at all the last two years. He's a RB3 for the middle rounds.
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Another running back changing places is Willis McGahee. Despite rumors about his lackluster work ethic, the Ravens rewarded McGahee with a monster contract including $15 million guaranteed in the next three years. Baltimore also sent two third-round draft picks (and a seventh) in exchange for him, so they are hoping for a large return on their investment.
McGahee has been ordinary at best the last two seasons with a 3.8 yards-per-carry average. But he's moving to a better offensive line and ideally will be more motivated while surrounded by his University of Miami cohorts. In a lot of ways, McGahee is the anti-Jamal Lewis. He's always looking to break the big play and has the skills to do so. It's churning out four yard gains that are his problem.
McGahee will not be worth a first-round pick in fantasy leagues until he works on his passing game skills. That's a large reason why Buffalo tired of him. He's not known as a great blocker or receiver, so Musa Smith should still be heavily involved on third downs. McGahee will get plenty of work in the red zone, though, and is a solid bet to hit 300 carries and ten or more touchdowns.
It's early, but that should make him a solid RB2 worth a look after 12-15 running backs are off the board next August. McGahee has upside in there somewhere, but we haven't seen it in his two full seasons as a starter.
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