Power I- Week 2
September 17th, 2009 by Drew Smith
Pittsburgh's RB Dion Lewis (thanks Icon SMI)
Two weeks are in the books and now we are beginning to see how the season is going to unfold with regards to the Running backs. There have been some surprises, but that is common early in the season when teams are playing against glorified high school teams. This is the time when it is important to start sifting through the data to see which of the early heroes are for real and who are pretending.
Likewise there are been several busts that we need to look at to see if they are waiver wire material or just need a little patience.
Let’s take a look at the Top 10 RBs after Week 2…
Ralph Bolden – Purdue: The Boilermakers have a strong offensive line and a coaching staff that is committed to the run. For most of the pre-season it appeared Jaycen Taylor would get the starting job but he clearly lost the job. Bolden has a very favorable schedule and reminds me a lot of the situation with Shonn Greene from Iowa last year; a player to come out of no where and be a consistent starter week in and week out.
Dion Lewis – Pittsburgh: Unlike Bolden, most people knew about Lewis but just didn’t expect the true freshman to be the workhorse out of the gate. If Bolden is this year’s Shonn Greene then Lewis should quickly be compared to Jacquizz Rodgers as an under-sized explosive back that the team figures out quickly they need to touch the ball as often as possible to be competitive. It will be interesting to see if Lewis is able to hold up the entire year, but his schedule is favorable enough to keep Lewis in the Top 10 if healthy.
Ryan Williams – Virginia Tech: Williams went from a potential annoying vulture of carries for Darren Evans owners to the work-horse for a power running team. I have concerns that as the season progresses, true frosh David Wilson will become more involved. For now, he can be started most weeks. This week against Nebraska at home is not a game I would be afraid of starting him.
Jacquizz Rodgers – Oregon State: Doing as expected.
Jake Sharp – Kansas: Sharp is the type of player that kills inferior competition and then comes crashing down when Kansas plays a real defense. A big part of this has to do with the offense that Kansas runs; a pass first and second team, who then has the ability to run to protect a lead. What happens when the Jayhawks don’t have a big lead to protect? Sharp is the back to get you to the playoffs, but not the back to win you a championship. Plan accordingly.
Jahvid Best – Cal: Best will begin to climb towards the top of the rankings as they start playing tougher opponents.
Nic Grigsby – Arizona: Grigsby is a classic case of someone who pads his stats against weak teams and then disappears when the competition gets better. I would not be excited to be starting him against half the teams left on his schedule and would trade him if you got a decent offer.
Reggie Arnold – Arkansas State: Arnold is a consistent back who you can start confidently on a weekly basis- with the exception of Iowa. If he can find the endzone consistently, this year he has a legitimate shot at finishing in the Top 10 Fantasy RBs for the first time in his stellar career.
Matt Asiata – Utah: Asiata was my favorite sleeper heading into the season and he hasn’t let me down. Unfortunately, he hurt his shoulder this past week and the extent of his injury is unknown. Tough break for a player on the verge of fantasy stardom, that is if the injury proves to keep him on the sidelines for any extent of time. A healthy Asiata is someone you can start every week with the exception of TCU but until we find out more you have to leave him on your bench.
Bryce Beall – Houston: Beall is doing pretty much what I expected and should be started every game for the rest of the season.
Top 10 Busts YTD
LaGarrette Blount – Oregon: Based on what I saw against Boise and even against Purdue, it looks like Ducks offense was not committed to running the ball. Meaning, Blount was in for a disappointing season regardless. Getting kicked off the team might have been a blessing in disguise, since now most people feel obligated to start their 1st round pick even if he is a bust.
Andre Anderson – Tulane: As with all fantasy studs from bad Non-BCS teams, it is often slow going at the start of the season when they have tough matchups. A major flu outbreak on the team certainly didn’t help the things either. It is not time to give up on Anderson yet and he should be ready to rock after his bye week.
James Starks – Buffalo: Just a bad break for the kid.
Eugene Jarvis – Kent: Not a complete bust after two weeks as Boston College was a tough matchup for him. But reports are out now that Jarvis will miss the remainder of the season with a kidney injury. Tough blow. Andre Flowers is expected to replace Jarvis and is worth a flyer if you have a roster spot.
Kendall Hunter – Oklahoma State: Hunter has been a major bust thus far and now has a keg injury that some speculate could be serious enough to keep him out a few weeks. I have a sneaking suspicion that when he does come back, the Cowboys split carries more with Keith Toston and Beau Johnson making Hunter someone who will put owners in a tough spot.
Free Agents to grab now who could help you at some point this year…
Delone Carter – Syracuse: The Orange will rely on Carter to move the chains and against teams like Maine, Akron, Louisville could prove to be decent start.
Dwayne Priest – Eastern Michigan: Priest is a major part of the Eagles offense and while he might not be someone you can start every week, he will have some nice matchups throughout the season perfect for when you need a spot starter.
Chris Polk – Washington: Polk is a perfect example of a scrubby free agent pick up in week 2 that could win you an important game later in the season. Polk get 20+ touches a game and is talented enough to put together a few good games against weaker teams when you need a spot starter.
Cam Montgomery – North Texas: Montgomery is a big back playing on a much improved offensive team who likes to spread the field. Coaching staff is starting to figure out that you do need to run the ball from time to time and Cam is seeing 20+ touches and could push double digits on TDs.
Andre Flowers – Kent: Flowers is not Eugene Jarvis and in fact, he has never proven to be even close on the field. However he is running behind a veteran offensive line, playing in the MAC and expected to be the main ball carrying for the Zips for the remainder of the year- making him someone you could start in a pinch.
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