Eagles' gravy train not derailed after all?
With Brian Westbrook looking down the barrel of age 30, his Dynasty league owners have been toying with the right time to sell since last offseason. Donovan McNabb's Week 12 benching made the situation even more hairy, prompting rampant speculation that the Eagles offense as we've known it was effectively derailed.
Knowing that both aging offensive tackles were free agents, that the injury-prone Westbrook was looking increasingly brittle, and that McNabb still harbored ill-will against the team and the fans, this offseason looked like the last chance to bail before the wheels came flying off. The problem for Westbrook owners is that the rest of the guys in their league could read the tea leaves just as easily. Would you have taken a ride on the Titanic had you known about the iceberg beforehand?
But, as we all know, change happens quickly in the NFL. The Eagles have not just replaced both offensive tackles in the same offseason -- they've actually upgraded while getting younger. Better yet, they still have a full stockpile of draft picks to reload the talent base.
Already riding Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson in my long-time Full Contact league, I've been turning rosters around in my head looking for sensible trade scenarios since the season ended. Unfortunately, Westbrook's value has dropped to the point where holding and hoping is the only option that makes sense.
The rebuilt offensive line is a nice head start.
Westbrook's value isn't out of the woods yet, however. A Knowshon Moreno or Donald Brown addition would still spring a leak that could never be patched, but owners can hold out hope that ol' aches and pains has one more dominant season left in those knees.
Comments
The Eagles got a real fullback for the first time in a long time too, don't forget.
If they can get a center that is better at run blocking than Jamal Jackson, that would be one imposing group of blockers for Westbrook.
Posted by: Fredex | April 17, 2009 6:05 PM
Westbrooks done
Posted by: Anonymous | April 17, 2009 7:09 PM
Westbrook's done?
Please. In PPR leagues he's still the best back you can have.
Posted by: Liam S | April 17, 2009 7:39 PM
Chris, is your league closed for the offseason as to free agent pickups? Must be, otherwise why would you be holding 3 PKs with Miles Austin on the WW?
-- CP
Posted by: Couch Potato | April 17, 2009 7:44 PM
Hey CP,
Good to hear from you. Yes, the league is closed to the waiver wire until after the August draft. I don't think anybody realized T.O. was going to be cut when the waiver closed after Week 17. I'm sure Austin will get taken pretty high in the draft.
Until I succeed in getting the scoring more normalized, kickers are also worth a bit more than most leagues ... especially playoff kickers since we use the NFL playoffs as our league's playoffs.
Posted by: Chris Wesseling | April 17, 2009 8:02 PM
I wouldn't call Leonard Weaver a "real fullback".
Posted by: Franz | April 18, 2009 8:19 PM
That's what I was thinking, Franz. Weaver isn't exactly a classic lead-blocker. He's a much better runner & receiver than the average fullback, but he's not known for his blocking ability.
Posted by: Wess | April 19, 2009 12:54 AM