Patriots Backfield is a Muddled Mess
In an early Tuesday snapshot of the Patriots' offensive backfield, nocturnal beat reporter Mike Reiss pointed out that Kevin Faulk has played more snaps than any New England tailback over the last two seasons. That, of course, hasn't led to much fantasy value. Injuries to Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris helped Faulk finish as the RB27 overall in 2008, but previous to then he hadn't been higher than RB34 since 2000.
In a mailbag posted Tuesday afternoon, the presumably coffee-chugging Reiss predicted that newly signed Fred Taylor would finish second on the team in snaps this year.
Here is a rundown of the Patriots' depth chart, along with Average Draft Position (ADP):
1. Fred Taylor - ADP = 114 (RB45)
2. Laurence Maroney - ADP = 142 (RB52)
3. Sammy Morris - ADP = 141 (RB51)
4. Kevin Faulk - ADP = 184 (RB61)
5. BenJarvus Green-Ellis - NR
Drafters are smartly avoiding Pats ball carriers even as late as the middle rounds, but aside from Maroney (who has the most upside of any back here) we still see Taylor and Morris as significantly overvalued. We wouldn't mind taking a late-round "flier" on Maroney, or one on Faulk in points-per-reception settings, but this is the league's most muddled running back committee entering training camp. Here's a list of RBs Taylor and Morris are going ahead of:
1. Ray Rice
2. Jerious Norwood
3. Jamaal Charles
4. Shonn Greene
5. Jerome Harrison
New England could potentially employ a legitimate four-man committee, with Taylor and Maroney sharing early-down work, Morris and Maroney vying for short-yardage carries, and Faulk dominating passing downs. Let someone else deal with it.
Comments
i can see investing in fred taylor, an 11th round pick perhaps, and when he gets a solid game while he's on your bench, include him in a trade asap. cause god only knows, hell go right back to mediocrity as soon as you start him. and he'll probably squeeze out another RB3 -style game whens he back on our bench. frustration x2.
jerome harrison is prime to be this year's version of slaton, if only b/c he's #3 on the browns depth chart with an older/damaged RB and a mediocre RB in front of him. im not expecting the guy to do much, but sounds like a wise late investment for weeks 10-16. or is it 17. 18? 20. 22?
Posted by: bear | July 14, 2009 08:13 PM
Four or Five Headed Monster...how many can be active game day? Faulk is the sure thing. But then what?
Posted by: Ernie | July 14, 2009 09:24 PM
If I had to throw my money at one of these guys, I'd go with Maroney. He is the only one of the group that can do it all. Turns out, he can't stay healthy long enough to prove it, but we saw earlier in his career that he had some legitimate fantasy potential. He is probably the 5th best RB to own out of the AFC East, which isn't saying much, but at least its saying something.
Taylor is interesting because he is the best pure runner of the bunch. I don't particularly want him on my roster, but he could be a nice bye-week filler if the matchup is nice. 50 yards and a TD isn't out of the realm out a possibility in any given week. But it would have to be a heckofa matchup for me to start him.
Also, while everyone else says Faulk is the sure thing, I say... watch out. Wasn't Tom Brady the last sure thing for the Pats? Just saying.
Posted by: jrb5151 | July 14, 2009 10:47 PM
I like Sammy Morris' skill set the most out of all of their RBs... excluding Fred Taylor, who at one point was the best of this bunch but has gotten too old to be effective at this point.
Morris can run hard between the tackles, he can catch the ball and he's an experienced blocker.
I like him the most of the bunch to get extended playing time and thereby have some fantasy relevance... but of this group, that isn't saying much.
Posted by: echo | July 15, 2009 09:52 AM
Bellicheck loves veterans. He road the wheels off of dillon when they got him. Now don't expect that kind of production from Taylor but he will be the lead back until he gets injured.
Posted by: pazz | July 15, 2009 10:47 AM
None of these guys are reliable as every-week fantasy starters. But I would take Fred Taylor over Maroney. Taylor has never played in a pass heavy offense. I think he's going to benefit from it ... have more opportunity to break long runs. The Pats coaching staff has to be frustrated by Maroney's lack of durability. He's more fragile than Fred.
Posted by: Chuck | July 15, 2009 12:55 PM
Fantasy drafts are about value. In an auction league I would gladly grab Maroney for 1$-3$ or as a late pick in a snake draft. It doesn't hurt you if he doesn't pan out but he has a big upside as a sleeper. Last year I got Turner for $14 in a league with a 200 cap. Everyone thought Atlanta would suck too bad, (Rookie QB, ect..) for him to do well. It's about risk\reward.
Posted by: Scott | July 15, 2009 01:42 PM