What we learned: Chiefs minicamp
Mandatory minicamp is often the final place to take stock of what, if anything, has changed before training camp. I'll occasionally take a look at the main points fantasy leaguers learned from finished minicamps.
1. Larry Johnson is healthy enough to practice every day
It's practically the only information we need to know about this Chiefs offseason. Contact work, of course, is a whole different matter. But L.J. has recovered as well as can be expected. That doesn't mean we are taking him in the top-20 picks.
2. The starting wideout spot is even more wide open than we thought.
Which makes sense when Devard Darling is the presumptive leader. Marcus Price, Will Franklin, and Jeff Webb are also in the mix.
3. Damon Huard could be traded
Not a huge fantasy impact here, but the Chiefs look fully prepared to go with Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen as their top two quarterbacks. Teams in need of a trusty veteran arm could do a lot worse than Thigpen.
***
Another thing I learned last night at Shea, possibly my fiiting goodbye to the stadium: Trash storms are memorable.
Comments
I've barely started thinking about FF but LJ has to be in the top 20 doesn't he?
In a 12 team draft that means he'd be late 2nd. I don't buy it.
With all the questions around rb's like M. Barber, Ryan Grant, etc.. no way LJ isn't top 20.
Posted by: Sean-O | June 11, 2008 06:35 PM
Sean,
What was LJ worth last year? What is he now except a year older? Only positive is he got hurt last year so he didn't get his yearly beatdown/punishment. Top 20 is too generous. I will do the same as last year and avoid him period.
Posted by: b roo | June 11, 2008 10:07 PM
Rebuilding (aka bad) team, limited offense, age, over use, injury... whats not to love?
On the bright side, if KC hit on every single pick they made in the draft and Croyle sucks less, the team might improve more than I think. LJ could be a value pick well outside the first two rounds, but somebody will take him way too early just on name recognition.
Posted by: Chad F. | June 12, 2008 12:15 AM
we talk often about number of carries. rotoworld is putting lynch in the top 8 b/c he's got the backfield to himself. and LJ's got a much better year of success under his belt than lynch, and not much better competition... i do believe charles will get some carries and some catches, but hopefully LJ's healthy and well rested after last year.
and talk about a bad offense... does it get worse than buffalo? maybe... maybe KC, but it's close.
if LJ falls to me at 11 or 12 i'm snagging him without question.
hey 3g, are you implying that bowe's #1? none of those guys are gonna push him, are they?
Posted by: echo | June 12, 2008 07:32 AM
You would think this to be a make or break year for L.J. I cant imagine him wanting to stick around if another woeful year happens again.
He went from God to a regular soldier.
Posted by: Abruzzi | June 12, 2008 11:46 AM
yea, all of u guys (and rotoworld) are so continuously bashing LJ. i know the qualms, listed above, but a true workhorse RB with at least 350 carries and goal line work, and decent hands, is gonna factor into fantasy this year... waaay more than a mid 20's pick. u gotta be kidding me with this. yes, he had a horrible year last year, then hurt, but with all the committees hes just too valuable to let slip. ill take him over barber, grant. too early to tell what their offense will be like. their line was the number one culprit last year, but it has to be better this year. everything else is trivial.
Posted by: scott c | June 12, 2008 11:47 AM
I'm with echo and scott on this one, and I'm not usually an LJ supporter (nor a basher).
He was overworked for one year. And? So was Jamal Lewis, and I seem to remember him going to prison for a bit, coming back with his ankle bothering him, struggling a bit only to have one hell of a season (with a team EVERYONE thought would be crap prior to the season, I might add). LJ is as good/better than Jamal was, and is without the prison time/nagging ankle injury/career carries. Be honest, EVERYONE (thank you Sportscenter) expected LJ to experience some sort of injury bug after his 400 carry season.
Now he's healthy after a somewhat "off" year (in terms of production and, more importantly, wear on the body).
Sooo the guy took less of a beating last season, has most of the same starters returning around him with some promising rooks to help out, and has his legs back under him health-wise (and please, LJ is NOT old), yet somehow is a worse draft pick than last season? I don't give a flip if he's 28. NFL "age" for RBs is as much about "mileage" as anything else, and LJ has a combined total of 2 seasons worth of starting carries in the NFL (just cracked 1000 career carries). FAR from over the hill.
So... same offense, coming off a down year with plenty of recovery time and some new young talent around him...
Where is there to go but up?
Posted by: The Dox | June 13, 2008 12:23 AM