Tough to Rank: Pierre Thomas
Great job on post yesterday: 48 comments! Now on to today's subject ...
Oh, Pierre: we have come so far together. One of favorite muses on this blog, a popular Fantasy Fix topic last summer, and a top-three fantasy back down the stretch. He put up 677 total yards, 19 catches, and nine scores in a career-altering six week stretch. Now it's time to cash in. Right?
Not everyone agrees. Thomas' ADP is all over the map. It seems like he could go anywhere from early in round three to round five, depending on what draft you are in.
I don't expect Thomas to keep up his pace from the end of last year when Reggie Bush returns, but what else has really changed? Here's what I wrote for our magazine:
The Saints failed to add a power back to complement Thomas. ... Tougher than his size suggests, he’s the underpaid man’s Maurice Jones-Drew. Bush will be back to steal receptions, but Thomas is clearly the favorite to lead the team in carries and rushing scores. He’ll play on the goal-line.
So where would you guys take him? I'm struggling to decide how to rank him, Kevin Smith, and Ronnie Brown, who came out identical in my original projections. Let's assume, for this exercise, the Saints don't add another quality back to the mix. We can't build that into our projections, we have to evaluate what we know about him right now. Any change to his circumstance is what our second magazine and online draft guide are for.
Also much thanks to those of you who have jumped on the Twitter train with me. I'll be shooting in quick thoughts on rankings, news, links, and magazine projections there.
Comments
I know the Saints added a couple of power backs in UDFA but many of you guys are forgetting that PT added 10 lbs so far this offseason and he is playing with a chip on his shoulder after he found out the Saints tried to trade back into the first to draft Wells. He's hungry to show he can be that every down back and he will get his chance.
Those UDFAs that were signed are one dimensional and are no threat in the passing game, PT is. If he can prove he can push the pile on goal line carries Payton will opt for him over the other guys any day of the week.
Keep in mind that at the end of the season Payton wanted to have a more balanced offense.
To me, PT is a solid number 2 with the ability to be a number 1 when Reggie gets injured. I'd target him late 2nd, early 3rd in a standard format league.
Posted by: Rich | May 7, 2009 11:08 AM
There are very few feature backs these days. You have to rank Thomas as a strong #2, somewhere between 15 to 20 but with the upside to go between 10 to 15.
Posted by: Jim Duggan | May 7, 2009 11:50 AM
This post on Pierre is much different than the last one on DWill. this one has way more hearsay and fan posturing than real substance or measurables. i think that goest to show that what he and bush bring to the table is pretty equal in production come sundays. its really up to each staying healthy - which is no certainty for either as durability eludes both - and peyton riding the hot hand in-game, and of course if no back comes in to vulture td's away.
sounds like PT's an RB2 with little upside pending injury, at a mid 3rd - 4th rd price. not bad, but not season changing either.
Posted by: scott c | May 7, 2009 12:15 PM
he has bust written all over him.
Posted by: cat | May 7, 2009 09:52 PM
^^^^^
Totally.
Undrafted free agent going into a contract year.
He'll definitely be sitting on his laurels and taking it easy.
He finished 12th among RB's in my league last year, even tho he disappeared from the offense for 5 weeks before Payton decided to give him another shot (and not counting week 16 @ the Lions, where he could have easily had 4 TD's but Payton decided to let everyone on the roster have a goal line carry).
He'll be a top 10 back this year, maybe top 5 if Reggie goes down earlier than later.
Posted by: Sandpoint Web Design | May 8, 2009 02:27 PM
Shhhh! I have Pierre as one of my sleepers this year!
Posted by: Poe | May 18, 2009 10:50 PM
I see it this way
Round 1-4 = Reaching
Round 5 = Thinking about it, grab him if there is a PT lover drafting next to you.
Round 6 = TAKE HIM NOW
Round 7 = Steal
Posted by: Marc De | May 27, 2009 01:30 PM