YCS Fantasy Football Guide 2007 - RB's

Ah yes, it's the middle of August, and that means only one thing: fantasy football drafts. Now, I'm not a big follower of NFL football except the 20-odd weeks of the year it's actually played. Yet, I've managed to finish in the top 3 in my league each of the last 3 years, so you might listen to a thing or two I say.

Without further ado, here's my advice on fantasy RB selection in your fantasy based solely on anecdotal evidence, foolish conjecture, and other people's opinions on football.

Best value
Larry Johnson - If he's not snatched at #2 or #3, you should pounce on him. Forget the contract hold-out. He's going to play, and he's going to rock your league. These contract things always work themselves out. Let's say he even missed a game or two. Big deal. Most early-season wins are based on luck in the draft and not based on long-term roster management. Ever notice how the best teams in your fantasy league come on strong at the end of the year? Yeah, it's just like real sports. If your star RB can come on strong at the season's end, you're a lock for the playoffs.

Best combo to draft as a pair
Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush - If you're like me, you don't have the time nor do you care enough to try to figure out who's going to get more touches, who's going to get the ball in the red zone, who's going to star in the team's season tickets commercials, or who's going to lay the linebacker's wife. I say, "Fuck it, I'll just draft both of them." Drew Brees and Colston aren't going to repeat last year's performance, so these guys will do even more for the Saints. Plus you can probably pick one of them up in the 2nd round and the other in the 4th or 5th round and look like an absolute genius.

Worst combo to draft as a pair
Marion Barber and Julius Jones - Drafting a pair of decent running backs can be cool (see the previous category), or it can really suck. If you make this move, you're stupid because 1.) neither of these guys is good enough to start every week for you anyways, 2.) Wade Phillips can't coach, 3.) Marion Barber isn't related to Tiki, meaning Marion Barber sucks and Ronde Barber is simply overrated, 4.) it's a proven fact that nobody has ever won a fantasy league with either of these two guys on their team.

Worst player on a good team
Laurence Maroney - Here's the type of RB you don't want in fantasy football, a decent guy on a great team... and worse yet, an overrated team who's supposed "dynasty" has been nothing but luck. I don't know how this team wins football games since every single Patriot clearly sucks at fantasy football, even that prima donna Brady. I bet the Pats work really well as a team on the field, are well-coached, blah blah blah. Who cares? You need yards and TDs, not victories and hooded sweatshirts with cut-off sleeves.

Best player on a bad team
Frank Gore - Here's another type of RB you better stay away from, a great player on a bad team. Yes, he carries the load for the Niners, and yes he carried the load for my fantasy league championship team last year (and yes, I'm going to mention that I won my league as many times as possible). But he still plays on a shitty team, so he doesn't get a ton of scores. And if you saw his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," you realize he's still too bitter about losing the 2000 presidential election to focus on football. I'd only pick him if he falls to like #9 or #10 in your draft.

Most likely to make you regret you used your first pick on him
Joseph Addai - Talk about an unproven player! I didn't even know who he was until Week 9 last year. Here's a pretty good criterion for making your first round pick, "Is he one of the top 12 most recognizable names in the NFL?"... or better yet, "Would I build an actual NFL franchise around this man?" ... or even more importantly, "Would I draft him on Madden with my first draft pick in franchise mode?" If you answer no to any of those questions, then you're drafting on hype, potential, and lunacy. Or maybe you're just smarter than I am about football.

Most likely to get injured and make you say, "I should have known"
Brian Westbrook - He really has only been injured a couple times, but he plays with McNabb. And everyone knows how contagious ACL tears are.

Players you'll draft too high and say, "Aww man, but he used to be good on his old team."
Edgerrin James - This guy sucked last year. Somehow he inched his way to a 1000-yard season. All I remember was seeing him trip forward in two-yard increments and still asking for more touches. He needs to just accept that he plays for a perennial loser. The Cardinals blow. Forget the new stadium, insane wide-out talent, a proven college QB who is probably due for a good season... This team will still lose more than 10 games this season, and the Edge will provide nothing but regrets for your team.

Guys I would never draft because I don't watch college football and -- yes, I'm serious -- I've never, ever heard of them Marshawn Lynch - His name sounds pretty cool. I just can't see myself on draft day making the "bold pick" of an unproven rookie. Let some other schmo draft him who knows even less about football than you do, and he can be the schmo that says, "But he was rated highly on this list of fantasy projections that I printed out from MSN.com!"

Guys that you can safely draft and later say to your league, "But I meant to draft the OTHER Adrian Peterson" Adrian Peterson (MIN) and Adrian Peterson (CHI) - Enough said. I don't know who the Vikings' Peterson is, but I'm betting he doesn't look as much like Bob Marley as ours does.