I received an e-mail last week asking me to predict the Patriots’ running back to own this year. The short answer is “none of the above” as each back will be limited by his well-defined role and the unique game plan that Bill Belichik has prepared for each opponent .
Throw in the return of a healthy Tom Brady, and the Pats will pick up their passing attempts again in 2009. None of the Pats running backs will be worth drafting until the late rounds, but let’s go ahead break this one down according to expectations.
Fred Taylor: Has the best chance to take over primary early-down duties, but his value will be limited by his usual lack of red zone work and a single-digit reception total rivaling Michael Turner’s.
Sammy Morris: Will lose early-down work to Taylor and receptions to Faulk, but has a double-digit touchdown ceiling as the short-yardage back.
Kevin Faulk: Ever the perfect third-down back, Faulk remains an ideal chip-blocker and will end up with more receptions than the rest of the backs combined.
Laurence Maroney: The Pats have grown as weary of the constant injuries as they have of the dancing behind the line in lieu of running North-South. He desperately needs a change of scenery and may find it sooner rather than later. Either way, Maroney is clearly nothing more than a complementary back at this stage of his career.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Roster-filler. Just like last season, he won’t see the field unless the rest of the backfield crumples.
Morris is the back to own in old-fashioned touchdown leagues; Faulk is the obvious pick in PPR leagues; Taylor’s best chance is in basic rushing yardage leagues; and Maroney is a mere stash-and-hope in Dynasty leagues.
Comments
someone in the NFL should really trade for Maroney (McDaniels and Pioli, are you listening?). say what you will about the guy, he's got special talent and can -- with minor changes -- be made into a much more useful NFL RB. there's some serious talent being more or less wasted here.
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