Giants RB outlook: Gartrell Johnson

[biju]

This week has had Ahmad Bradshaw getting opinions on the cracked bone in his foot. Combine this with the relatively bad year Brandon Jacobs is having and I'm starting to wonder if the sneaky play for folks with an extra roster spot is to grab Gartrell Johnson. With Andre Brown out on IR the Giants grabbed Johnson off the Chargers via waivers and I'm thinking he might be a good short and long term play here.

So because I'm not as familiar with the situation as I'd like to be, I was hoping to get a couple of thoughts on the issue:

1. Does anyone else think Gartrell Johnson might end up with value, or is this too much of a stretch for 2009?
2. Does he have value beyond this year, or does Andre Brown come back in 2010 and take that 3rd string role?

[SameSongNDance]

You beat me to this. It's apparently only a matter of time before the bone in Bradshaw's foot fully cracks. It's actually a given. Coupled with the fact that he has yet another foot injury (ankle I believe), and it's only a matter of time before he out of commission for the year. I don't know much about Gartrell Johnson but knowing how the Giants backfield works, I think he will definitely have some value this season. There is absolutely no way Jacobs gets 20+ carries a game once Bradshaw goes down. It's only a question of when. As for his skill set...

He's 5-11, 225 lbs. He's a totally different player than Bradshaw. He's an in between the tackles type runner and is much, much slower (4.7 40-yard dash ) and is much less elusive. He has however shown great balance and reminds me of a miniature Sjax (he can catch out of the backfield and has dreads ). The fact that he doesn't have much game breaking ability is a huge problem for the type of roll he'd serve in the NYG backfield. Best case scenario for Gartrell is that Bradshaw goes down and he usurps the full chance of pace workload (10-12 carries a game). I'm positive that this rookie cannot do nearly as much with those carries as Bradshaw has/can. Time will tell though. At this time, I'd much rather have Jamaal Charles, Justin Fargas and Darren Mcfadden (popular WW rb's) crowding my roster. I would probably group Gartrell in the same category as Justin Forsett and Jason Snelling (if the opportunity ever arises, these backs could produce).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bJHBLkbfp0 <--- Draftguys video...

[Free Bagel]

Wouldn't Danny Ware be the next to step in if Bradshaw were to go down, not Johnson?

[biju]

Wouldn't Danny Ware be the next to step in if Bradshaw were to go down, not Johnson?

I was wondering about this too and just about to post it when I saw your post. I had forgotten about Ware (I think he had elbow problems earlier?) but he might be the guy going forward as well.

I'm thinking it will come down to pass protection. Anyone know who is the better blocker?

[SameSongNDance]

I totally forgot about Ware. He dislocated his elbow in the season opener but is near 100% now. I'd probably say due to his experience and similar skill set to Bradshaw's gives him better odds at change of pace duty. I don't know about pass blocking though. I think we'll get a hint towards who the Giants expect to pick up Bradshaw's slack against PHI this week.

[bungle613]

I looked it up quickly but could not find why San Diego cut Gartrell in the first place. I liked him alot coming out of college and thought he had a chance to be the next RB in San Diego, then he got cut.

Anyone know the reason?

[ivesaidway2much]

Johnson is inactive today. He has no fantasy value unless Bradshaw or Jacobs gets hurt, and even then his value may be extremely limited.

[biju]

I looked it up quickly but could not find why San Diego cut Gartrell in the first place. I liked him alot coming out of college and thought he had a chance to be the next RB in San Diego, then he got cut.

Anyone know the reason?

I'm pretty sure they thought they were going to slide him onto their practice squad and he was claimed on waivers by NYG.

[iamgregg]

I looked it up quickly but could not find why San Diego cut Gartrell in the first place. I liked him alot coming out of college and thought he had a chance to be the next RB in San Diego, then he got cut.

Anyone know the reason?

I'm pretty sure they thought they were going to slide him onto their practice squad and he was claimed on waivers by NYG.

Inuries on the lines meant San Diego needed depth at those positions and Johnson was a roster casualty.