"Don’t be shocked if the Rams spend one of their first-day draft picks on a running back because of concerns about 2004 first-round draft pick Steven Jackson’s durability."
Thanks for the tip. It also appears Faulk will continue to steal some of Jackson's value with his patented catch out of the backfield and as a change of pace back. I had Faulk and Jackson last year and it wasn't the best of situations FF-wise. I'm not sure I'll even look their way next year if any better options are available. JMO
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Guttpuppy wrote:From PFW's Whispers a few weeks ago...
"Don’t be shocked if the Rams spend one of their first-day draft picks on a running back because of concerns about 2004 first-round draft pick Steven Jackson’s durability."
I wouldn't sweat that. The Rams did the same thing with Trung Canidate when Faulk was the man and it didn't really amount to much.
As expected, SJ is gradually becoming the sucessor and very worthy feature back he was drafted to be. Faulk's days of fantasy relevancy are all but over, he'll mostly be relegated to 3rd down and change of pace duties.
I wouldn't look too much into that PFW comment. Given the fact that Faulk's career is waning and Gordon is gone, I'm sure we'll target a serviceable backup, but there are other problems to worry about early in the draft.
Jackson to start ahead of Faulk next season By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer February 16, 2005
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Marshall Faulk is about to begin the second phase of his career -- as a backup.
St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said Wednesday that next season Faulk, the NFL MVP in 2000, will be a change-of-pace running back behind Steven Jackson. Jackson was the Rams' first-round draft pick last year and the two essentially shared first-string duties this season.
Faulk helped the Rams go to two Super Bowls in a three-year span from 1999-2001 and was the first player in NFL history with four consecutive seasons gaining a combined 2,000 yards rushing and receiving. But he has been slowed in recent seasons by numerous knee operations. His last 1,000-yard rushing year was 2001, and last year he totaled 774 yards and a 4.0-yard average to go with 50 catches for 310 yards.
In the last two years of his 11-year career he has had his lowest rushing totals since 1996.
Jackson, the first running back taken in the 2004 draft, had 673 yards and a 5.0-yard average.
Martz said sharing the position last year will allow Faulk to enter training camp essentially injury-free, and his best value to the team might be as a receiving threat.
``It gives him the best opportunity to go in there and have a terrific impact on the game,'' Martz said. ``Because now you've got him unencumbered, so to speak, where he's fresher throughout the game.
``Then you've got the young guy who is the big physical guy who carries the load, so I think it's a terrific 1-2 punch.''
Jackson alluded to the move during the playoffs when he mentioned the Rams were in the process of ``passing the torch'' from Faulk to him. Martz said Faulk had no problem with making this transition.
``Marshall was probably ready to do that during the season,'' Martz said. ``He's so excited for Steven, he really is. He wants to be there for Steven and help him and still have his role.''
Faulk is in the final year of his contract, and Martz believes being a backup could extend his career. He has missed 12 games the last three seasons.
``How long this is, I don't know,'' Martz said. ``We'll see how this year goes.''
Jackson missed two games with a bruised knee, an injury the Rams believe was caused by the rock-hard artificial surface at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams are trying to get the dome landlords to install a new rubberized surface for next year to protect their investment in Jackson and others.
Faulk is fourth on the career touchdown list with 135 and 12th in rushing with 11,987 yards after passing O.J. Simpson and John Riggins last season.
Martz also said that Jeff Smoker, a sixth-round pick last year, would be the backup quarterback behind Marc Bulger. Chris Chandler was the backup last season, Smoker was the third quarterback and had no game action. But Martz said he did a good job of picking up the system.
``He's really progressed,'' Martz said.
I think this news on Jackson was conventional wisdom, but it's nice to hear it "officially."
Rams: Marshall plan altered by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com Thursday, February 17, 2005
News Rams head coach Mike Martz announced on Wednesday that Stephen Jackson has surpassed Marshall Faulk on the team's depth chart and will be their primary running back next season, reported the Associated Press. "It gives [Faulk] the best opportunity to go in there and have a terrific impact on the game. Because now you've got him unencumbered, so to speak, where he's fresher throughout the game. Then you've got the young guy who is the big physical guy who carries the load, so I think it's a terrific 1-2 punch," Martz said. "Marshall was probably ready to do that during the season. He's so excited for Steven, he really is. He wants to be there for Steven and help him and still have his role." Faulk, 31, has missed 12 games over the last three seasons because of injuries and has undergone multiple operations on his knees. He ran for 774 yards last season, his lowest total since 1996. Jackson, St. Louis' first-round pick in last year's draft, ran for 673 yards and four touchdowns in 2004.
Views If Jackson performs well in training camp and holds on to the top spot, it will mark the end of an era for Faulk, who was fantasy football's top performer earlier in the century. Jackson averaged five yards per carry last season and ran for over 100 yards in both of the games that he received at least 20 carries. Their fantasy values next season will depend on how their roles are defined by Martz and if the mad scientist/ head coach can actually commit to the run, but Faulk's value will likely be at its lowest since he was a rookie in 1994.
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by mutantseabass » Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:28 pm 
