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 wont have a NE RB on my team this year. If I had to choose one. I'd take Maroney. Maroney has a lot of talent, but more than injuries I think Belicheat holds him back. Maroney had a 4.5 ypc in 07. I know Maroney has had his injuries but I just get the feeling Belicheat don't like him. Fragile Fred is the best runner or used to be every other year or so. But he's old and, well... fragile. If you have one of these guys on your team as a bye week replacement, couldn't imagine having them for anything else, you better hope that's the player getting the ball that week out of the five.
One last thing I wouldn't draft any of them over Rice,Norwood,Charles,Geene,or Harrison.
Posted by: Shannon | July 15, 2009 02:26 PM
pats have a solid stable of rb's, look what they managed last year when teams were keying to shut down running game and force inexperienced cassel to the air. they were a top ten rushing team in the league. dont sleep on the pats! patriot haters spend the offseason coming up with reasons they will falter, but in the end you all eat serious crow. we lost the BEST player in the game last year and went 11-5! when 11-5 is considered a down year i can understand why the haters hate! GO PATS!
Posted by: Ron | July 15, 2009 03:43 PM
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that Belichek loves these aging vets at the goal-line. Remember Corey Dillon a couple years ago? From 2004-2006, he was with the Pats and had over 3100 rushing yards (yes, you read that right) and 37 TDs. I picked him up cheaply in a couple leagues and ended up using him as my every-week flex player. And I think they had similar plans for Jordan, who couldn't stay healthy. I think Taylor is undervalued at this point. I wouldn't reach for him, but I'd be glad to have him.
Posted by: Mikayla | July 15, 2009 07:12 PM
pats backfield = waiver wire. I wouldn't use a pick with that much uncertainty, rather pick a flyer on a rook with upside then old vets being sheppard like sheep by belichick
Posted by: abruzzi | July 15, 2009 11:03 PM
the RB's are average to below average by NFL standards. Sammy Morris is the clear best one of them all for the simple reason he is the guaranteed Gaol Line back. Faulk is worth maybe a RB4/5 in PPR leagues. Taylor and Maroney have no value. Time to decalre Maroeny a huge first round bust.
Posted by: scott l. | July 16, 2009 12:03 PM
*Warning: Total irresponsible speculation on my part*
I think Shannon has a good point... ever since Maroney started in with the Myspace page and talking about... aw hell... what was it he called weed? Cabbage or something like that? It was pretty much all over the internet... But there seemed to be some publicly bad decisions on his part.
More importantly, it felt like his ego was getting too big and Belicheck seems like a guy who doesn't take that kind of 'ish lying down. And that's subsequently why his teams always win... cause you can't get away with that "me" b-s.
Posted by: echo | July 17, 2009 12:57 AM
misfit your avoiding all the bucs running backs when they just came out and said that they are going to be featuring derrick ward??
Posted by: Al | July 17, 2009 06:25 PM