Musical Backfields

by Nick Traicoff
Editorial. Photos by AP News

As the opening waves of free agency begin to settle, running backs have easily experienced the greatest fluctuation of any position.  

Faces of franchises, former Pro Bowlers, and backups oozing with potential were released into the wild, the majority of them questionably lodging in already crowded situations. In doing so, they have passed over many vacant jobs of promise--openings that continue to exist.  

Let’s take a look at the many meaningful fantasy implications free agency has held for four specific plowhorses—two of which are former first-round stalwarts who’ve fallen from grace, the other two hoping to find themselves among this prestigious crowd in the near future.

Thomas Jones:

The 31 year-old Thomas “Biceps” Jones provided the offseason with one of its first big splashes. 

Playing in 2009’s most run-heavy offense, the Jets’ veteran was fed the ball a whopping 331 times.  He feasted royally behind arguably the top run-blocking offensive line in the league, amassing a career best 1402 rushing yards while breaking the franchise rushing touchdown record (13) which he had set the year prior by crossing the plane 14 times.  

Rushing for over 1,000 yards in 5 consecutive seasons, one of only three active backs to do so, Jones now ranks second in rushing yardage totals over that span, trailing only a man who will be discussed later.  So how did the Jets re-pay their yardage-raking, history-making, and record breaking plowhorse? By refusing to pay his bonus and sending him packing.

But backs of Jones’ pedigree don’t tend to last too long in the open market, and given the many muddied backfields throughout the NFL, Biceps unsurprisingly found work rather easy to come by.  Where he decided to settle, however, proves quite surprising.

Offseason Fantasy Manifesto: Part II

by Nick Traicoff

Editorial. Photos by AP News

I am sorry.

For all those wasted hours you spent feverishly clicking The Last Call, anxiously awaiting Part II of the Offseason Fantasy Football Manifesto during the past two weeks. For all those sleepless nights I have caused, as you wondered, drenched in a cold sweat, if “To be continued…” would ever actually be answered. I am sorry.

It has been barbaric, but please do not let that word resound. I had good reason to wait.

That’s because the third and final thing that all fantasy owners must follow during the offseason is the NFL draft, and this past weekend marked its 75^th anniversary. While more important for keeper leagues than seasonal, the draft still needs to be monitored closely by all.

Whereas college quarterbacks and wide receivers tend to have more difficulty adjusting to the complex schemes and increased game speed of the NFL initially, the transition to the professional level for runners tends to be much smoother.

The early successes of Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, and Shonn Greene in recent years highlight this trend. Given the amount of vacant backfields, and a talented, depth-filled pool of backs to match, the potential for rookies of immediate value to emerge following the weekend was evident.

Remember carefully the three factors—offensive scheme, role, and surrounding talent—in addition to talent that dictate fantasy success. They remain strongly in play here. Keeping these in mind, I propose to you my runaway, #1 Ranked Fantasy Football rookie for 2010. Drum roll please… (R-rated language warning)

Offseason Fantasy Manifesto: Part I

by Nick Traicoff

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Miles Austin, not a starter opening the season, finished with more fantasy points than the preseason number one rated receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Ray Rice, generally selected in the 6^th round or later, finished with the 4^th most points among running backs; meanwhile L.T. and Westbrook, perennial first rounders, plummeted with old age.

Most unsurprising development last season? Brett Favre coming out of retirement. Very surprising development? That he bested Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, and every other quarterback in the league other than five in fantasy points. Yes, another crazy fantasy season has come and gone, and now both winners and losers of leagues are on the same playing field.

And now, we are all returned to this cold, unforgiving world known as reality—a disturbed place without the last-minute Sunday morning line-up changes, neck-in-neck matchups hinging on the final play of Monday Night Football, and relentless trash-talking while your buddy pursues the epic winless season. Unsure of how to spend those 4-5 “fantasy” hours at work, we are left aimlessly wandering around without direction or purpose as Daniel Pewter’s “Bad Day” serves as our daily soundtrack.

Revisiting a blast from the place, just like Romolicious, One Giant Step, and the Boston T.D. Party, all we have left to do is sit around and mope while we endure the long, chilling, football-less months ahead, right? Wrong!

Take your day to whine and mope. Make it therapeutic. Release it all in those salty tears of misery. Now, are you done sucking your thumb and hugging your blanket? Good, because lucky for you, I know a way for you to productively spend those 4-5 hours at work. Doing fantasy football.