Fantasy Fumbles, Part II

Every year, there are those running backs who will supposedly have breakout seasons. Every year, people spend important draft picks on unproven players, for instance by drafting a running back who recently signed with a team with a solid offensive line, or whose team added a veteran quarterback to jump-start the offense. The hype around many players is enormous compared to what it should be, and every year merely average players are hyped as first-round draft picks. Before you know it, you’ve centered your team around a mediocre player on a below-average team, and soon you’re familiar with the routine of praying that he finally breaks out and disproves his “bust” label by having a productive game. Here is a list of running backs who you’ve probably been praying will finally begin to live up to expectations.

Kevin Jones - Det

Jones was highly touted as a first-round pick in many fantasy leagues. However, he has done everything to show that he only deserves to be your third running back and should sit on your bench every week. Jones was supposed to have a breakout year this season, but all of the blame cannot go directly to him. Quarterback Joey Harrington was supposed to finally develop into the player he is capable of being, but Harrington has looked so awful he has lost his starting job to Jeff Garcia. Starting fullback - and Jones’ lead blocker - Cory Schlesinger broke his leg this preseason, and only played in his first game this last week.

The road may have been rocky for Jones, but a first-round running back should be able to handle adversity, overcome unexpected changes, and still be successful. Last year as a rookie, Jones struggled to get anything going in the first half of the season, but by the second half he looked like a whole new player. Will the same hold true for his sophomore campaign?

Jamal Lewis - Bal

Lewis is possibly one of the biggest fantasy disappointments so far this season. Many people thought he would start off slow, but they figured that eventually Lewis would get on the track towards the Pro Bowl. Yet so far, he has failed to rush for over 100 yards in a game this season. In week 2 against the Titans, he rushed for a pitiful nine yards on ten attempts. With seven weeks of the season in the books, he has scored a measly two touchdowns.

Over the off-season, Lewis was arrested for helping a childhood friend acquire cocaine. His season got off to an even slower start thanks to a bone spur in his foot. In 2003, Jamal Lewis rushed for 2,066 yards; last year he didn’t even get half of that. Chester Taylor, Lewis’ backup, has an average of 6.0 yards per carry this season; Lewis has only managed 2.9 yards per carry. Another factor that has hurt Lewis is the fact that Baltimore has had an awful passing game so far this year. For those owners who spent a first-round pick on Lewis, hopefully he’ll get on track.

Ahman Green - GB

Every year Ahman Green gets fewer and fewer carries in the Packers offense because he is getting battered and worn. This year was finally the year where Green snapped and crumbled. Last week, he tore his thigh tendon, ending his season abruptly.

Even before the injury, the 2005 season has been rough on Green. He had been battling minor injuries all year and was never able to really get something started. Green’s best performance this year was week 1 when he had 58 rushing yards on 12 attempts against the Lions. The 2005 season will come to an end without the formerly dominant rusher having scored a touchdown. Green’s only excuse was that the Packers have lost both starting guards, Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle. It also didn’t help that the wide receiving corps has been banged up all year. Needless to say, I don’t think the Packers will be bringing Green, who becomes a free agent this off-season, back next year. The future looks rather dim for Ahman Green.

JJ Arrington - Ari

Arrington, a second-round pick out of the California, was predicted to have the biggest impact of the rookie running backs. In rookie drafts this season, he was picked anywhere from first to about fifth or sixth, and in regular drafts between the fourth and the sixth rounds. However, this season he has played like a mediocre backup running back.

In his two starts, Arrington gained a combined 14 yards on 13 attempts, averaging just over one yard per carry. He has only 71 yards rushing this season in five games, and has yet to score a touchdown. Many people picked him in the fourth or fifth round expecting 1200 total yards with seven or eight touchdowns, a feat he is not even close to. Arrington’s career has gotten of to a rocky start, but with him only being a rookie it is hard to tell what the future has in store.

Honorable Mention: Julius Jones (Dal), Michael Bennett (Min), Kevan Barlow (SF), Cedric Benson (Chi)

 
Corey Chamberlain is commissioner of the Vince Lombardi League. You’ll find him posting in the Cafe’s Forums as PackerAttack84.