Reuben Droughns vs Willie Parker

[steelers39]

Who do you guys like better in a keeper league??

[Sp_Da_Man]

Some of the early lists I've seen have them pretty close to eachother.

Droughns is solid but it doesn't seem like he's a big play guy plus he doesn't score td's.

I'd take a shot with FWP this season & hope he gets some of the goal line carries that Bettis used to get.

[onnestabe]

I think it's FWP over Droughns in keeper and redraft. Droughns is good, but with Cleveland rebuilding, I just can't get past the feeling that he is an interim starting RB, and they will look to bring in a stud through the draft in the next couple of years.

Also, I think that the Steelers offense is going to move into a passing scheme in the next few years (still hard nosed, just more throwing), which FWP would be well suited for. The Steelers have always done a good job of fitting their scheme to their personnel, and with Roethlisberger maturing as a passer, and the type of back that is good in the passing game, it is only natural that they adjust to exploit those talents.

[GreatestShowOnEarth]

I dont like either one all that much, but if i had to take one i would go for Parker. Hes in a much better offense and in a much better situation. Hes really got no one pushing him, Staley or Haynes may get some carries but i dont see either of them taking over the starting role.

[Twisted Sister]

both are dogs...

[Alkaholik]

Redraft:
Droughns - easy pick for me, he had tons of yards last year but few td's and the Browns have done a good job upgrading this off-season.

Dynasty:
Parker - easy pick here too, much younger, only been in the NFL 2 years compared to Droughns with 6 and he is on a real good team, he can only get better from here.

[Kensat30]

Droughns value plummeted this offseason for me. I liked what he did last year and what he has shown as a player in the past couple seasons, but with all those incidents strung together in the offseason...

And he is on the Brown's after all, who are starting a raw QB in 2006 with no real backup option. JP Losman anyone? Many people are calling Frye the "franchise" QB, but I'm still not buying that 100%, and I'm not buying a Brown's turnaround for at least another couple years.

Talk around town has the Brown's RB position MUCH more open to competition after the Droughn's "incidents" as well. In the end, I think William Green has just as much potential to succeed as Droughns this year, and Suggs is probably the most talented of the bunch, albeit the most fragile as well. After possible cut/trade of one of the 3, and the preseason it will be a little more clear, but I really am not feeling the Cleveland RB position at all this season. The real appeal to Droughns earlier in the offseason was that he was looking like a solid workhorse RB in that offense, but that is no longer the case IMO.

I'll pass on Droughns in all formats at this point, which makes FWP the selection by default. And even though I think FWP is a talented RB, I would have choosen the third option over him if there was a third option. I'm just not sold on FWP as the answer for the Steeler's system both short and long term. For 2006, he seems like a "Cadillac Williams-lite" for me in 2006, and I personally have Caddy slotted as a late 2nd round pick at best in redrafts. I see him losing some serious scoring opportunities to other RBs, including the majority of goalline carries. FWP= Head of RBBC material at best with ~0% of becoming a "featured" RB.

And long term, FWP looks like he could get passed over mighty quick if Pitt can slot in a successfull grinder and work him into the offense more and more over the next couple years. Ideally, I think Pitt seems FWP as a Tatum Bell type specialist, and NOT the 1st and 2nd down horse.

Ulitmately, both of Droughns/Parker are going way too high for my tastes right now in both redraft and dynasty. I'm just not seeing the high upside potential nor the job security that I look for in a RB both long and short term.

[mrblitz]

Willie P for me.

[J2thez929]

This might sound very homerish but I definately like Droughns over FWP. Droughns has proven he can shoulder the full load and he has done it two straight years, for two different teams. The knock on Droughns last year is that he doesn't score a lot of TDs. However, I think that will change this year with the addition of pro bowler center, LeCharles Bentely. Plus, the Browns organization just gave Droughns a new contract extenstion so they fully believe in him and his ability. He by no means is an interim back. They plan to run their offense through him to set up the passing game. Suggs has had his chances and while he does have ability, it seems the guy will never be healthy enough to become the full-time starter. Plus, there was been some rumors of trying to trade him. As for Willy Green, this guy is actually lucky to still be on the team at this point in his career. The guy is chock-full of issues both on and off the field. He will not factor in this equation much, if at all with the drafting of Jerome Harrison to be the change of pace/3rd down back, eventually.
As for FWP, I think the guy has all the tools to be sucessfull but I want to see it on a full-time basis now that Bettis is gone. He just seems like a Tatum Bell type player to me. Plus, Staley and Haynes will definately steal come carries each game.

Just my 2 cents...

[ds209]

I am avoiding both. Neither Parker or Droughns score TDs. Sure the yardage is nice but come on, 2 tds for Droughns and 4 for Parker is pathetic.

But if i had to choose one I would take Parker for sure because of the upside.

Looking at Droughns game log he was not a consistent producer. Most games he would give you 70-80 yards rushing with no tds and little passing yards. 3 or 4 points a week from a running back is not what I want- I will admit he is a great 3rd rb to have though.

Parker on the other hand is in a much better situation and he is more of a gamebreaker. I like him much better than Droughns.