Pierre leaves Reggie behind
For one night, the Saints running back from Chicago outshined the Bears running back from Louisiana. Thursday was Pierre Thomas' night, final score notwithstanding. It was the night the world could see how much better the Saints offense runs with Thomas as the primary back, and Reggie Bush as backup complementary player. The undrafted player is a better pro than the Golden Boy from USC. This seemed to dawn on Bush as he slumped further in his winter coat while nursing his knee injury for most of the second half.
It was hard not to think back to Week 17 of last season, when my man crush for Mr. Thomas began. He racked up over 200 total yards in a depressing loss in Chicago, showing power running and receiving ability. His arsenal was on display again Thursday. He scored twice, making eight TDs in five games. He rushed for 87 yards, and caught seven passes for 59 yards for a cool 33 points in PPR leagues. His game isn't flashy, but it's complete and effective. Much like Matt Forte. You start to wonder how Reggie Bush fits in behind Thomas moving forward, not the other way around. And you start to wonder how Bush will handle it all.
Comments
A last minute swap putting PT in and Ryan Grant out hopefully has helped me in a very tough playoff match-up.. If I make it to the finals PT against DET is looking sweeter by the minute!
Posted by: Obama Mama | December 12, 2008 02:17 AM
re: Obama Mama
I also threw PT into my lineup at the last minute. Better yet, the guy I'm facing started Bush & Shockey for a total of 5 points!
Posted by: AD | December 12, 2008 09:39 AM
What do you think Thomas' value is next year? 4th round? Whould you draft him before Bush?
Posted by: CC | December 12, 2008 09:53 AM
Owning Bush and PT made for some really tough roster decisions last night. And, I think for the first time this season, listening to Gregg hurt me :( PT in my PPR league was gold - Reggie, not so much.
Too bad I started Bush.
Posted by: RMSJ | December 12, 2008 10:10 AM
Yeah I had Pierre on my bench for LT2 in one league, Steven Jackson in another. I dont fault myself but it's still annoying.
Thomas next year - we have to see if anything changes. If its just thomas/bush, then maybe 4th/5th round yeah.
Posted by: Gregg | December 12, 2008 10:28 AM
Thomas was started in 33% of Yahoo leagues - but on none of my three teams. :| Came thiiis close to throwing him in at flex on one team but was afraid the game could turn into a punt fest and that Bush would get more reps this game. Live and learn...and agonize.
Isaac Bruce, you owe me two touchdowns!
Posted by: Tenac | December 12, 2008 11:43 AM
i think this is typical gregg blowing a couple games wayyy out of proportion.
okay, PT was very solid last night. the numbers were there, and well, thats what happens when u "feature" a back. every team that does that, including the bears and forte, allows their rb the chance to rack up points. duh. pierre is no stud in the making. hes solid, but lets see it over more than a couple games. lets not forget he was just about terrible when subbing in for deuce earlier this year, while reggie was lighting it up with punt returns, backfield swing passes and even a run here and there. NO did lose the game. they didnt dominate with offense. drew brees didnt over take a tough weather element and light up the passing game. and bush got hurt... yet again.
give me a brees saints team at NO, with a healthy bush (asuming that happens) a now clicking colston, complementary moore, and etc, and lets just see how much they "feature" PT. Bush give any team another element u just cant ignore. i remember reading after their MNF on the season pass recap rotoworld saying "bush is by far the most dangerious player in space. Dont give him the ball in open field." Never will i believe that sean payton will stick to a grind it out, smashmouth, run oriented, ball control gameplan through out any year.
PT is the Fantasy Playoff MVP 2008, no doubt, but lets not go crazy with expecting anything great beyond. he did nothing earlier in the year with great opportunity. he should do better next year with a bigger role going in, but how quickly did we say that after last year. im sure they'll bring another "big" back in.
Gregg, no bashing agains u, but u did screw me in a PPR with calling bush over PT. but because of the reasons stated above, i hold no grudges since i think PT's bolow up was more of those situations of circomstance and not a bad prediciton. i mean, reggie did put up 20pts last week in a PPR.
lets just see what happens with reggies knee (could be shut down now that NO is out of it) and where PT stands in the last couple of weeks, and see just how much greggs PT man crush extends into next season... again.
Posted by: scott | December 12, 2008 12:02 PM