FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 11/17/2009 6:55pm et

The Boston Herald reports the New England Patriots still have confidence in RB Laurence Maroney after his costly fumble in the red zone against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. 'Offensively and from a coaching standpoint, we have a lot of confidence in Laurence and his ability and I'm sure he's anxious to bounce back this week. The next opportunity that arises, he'll look to step up to the challenge,' director of player personnel Nick Caserio said.

The Huddle Take: Maroney will probably still get his normal amount of carries this week, even though Sammy Morris is expected to return Week 11 against the Jets. New York did an effective job bottling up the Patriot offense in the two teams' prior meeting this season, but the Jets have been in a downtun since and the Patriots will be foaming at the mouth to redeem themselves after last week in Indianapolis. If you're in a deeper league, Maroney could be a solid Fantasy start. In leagues with fewer teams, however, there are probably many better options.

Posted: 9/2/2009 11:14am et

Karen Guregian, of The Boston Herald, reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney still looks tentative at the line, but has made a positive impression with his improved skills as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

The Huddle Take: Sounds as if Maroney is competing with Kevin Faulk for playing time rather than with Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris for a significant share of the Patriots' running game workload.

Posted: 8/18/2009 11:02pm et

The Associated Press reports New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said RB Laurence Maroney has had a productive training camp and improved in the passing game. Maroney made it through training camp without suffering any injuries.

The Huddle Take: Maroney isn't even being drafted in some leagues this year, but he could have a bit of a comeback and would make for a great late round flier. With all the backs in the fold, he won't be a stud, but he's worth stashing away on your roster for a possible sleeper surprise.

Posted: 8/3/2009 12:42pm et

Jeff Zillgitt, of USA Today, reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney wasn't upset the Patriots added RB Fred Taylor during the offseason. Instead, he has looked at it as a "blessing." Maroney said he has learned a lot from Taylor, who also dealt with frustrating injuries throughout his career. Taylor didn't play a full season until his fifth year in the league. RB Kevin Faulk said Maroney has spent a lot of time this offseason working hard to rehab his shoulder. "He wants to be the first guy," Faulk said. Maroney, who feels more comfortable in the offense now, said he feels like he is due for a healthy season and is looking to prove he can avoid injuries. "I feel like the best I've been in a while. Everything's feeling great. Legs feel good. Shoulders feel good," Maroney said.

The Huddle Take: The Taylor/Maroney comparison is an apt one, though Freddy got in at least one good season before the injury bug started biting while LoMo is at this juncture largely unfulfilled potential. There are too many backs in New England to consider one a viable fantasy starter, not to mention their track record of fielding RBBCs, but of the options Maroney has the most talent and thus the most upside.

Posted: 5/18/2009 3:24pm et

Christopher L. Gasper, of The Boston Globe, reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney said that the shoulder injury that limited him to three games last season was because of a broken bone. Maroney said, "I had a broken bone and I was trying to play with it. It's kind of hard to sit here and play and not tell people what is going on. Everybody is going to think one way because they don't really know what's going on." Maroney added, "Doing it the second game and still trying to play, I feel like it still shows my toughness and my dedication to the team and how much I really want to contribute. The shoulder is great. Not good, great."

The Huddle Take: The Patriots weren't entirely forthcoming on an injury report? What next, the sun will rise in the east tomorrow? New England did nothing wrong here, as Maroney was trying to play through the injury and there's no rule requiring them to state the exact nature of the injury—just whether he participated in practice and his availability for the upcoming game. However, if you hadn't already been taking the Patriots injury report with a grain of salt... well, now you will.

Posted: 1/22/2009 11:43pm et

Patriots Football Weekly reports New England Patriots RB Laurence Maroney (shoulder) did not lead the team in rushing any single game during the 2008 season. While he has shown flashes in his first three years, questions surrounding his durability and consistency are high entering a critical fourth-year with the team.

The Huddle Take: Maroney has been a disappointment at this point in his career as he has had trouble staying on the field and contributing to the Patriot offense. Look for Maroney to share carries with Lamont Jordan and Sammy Morris in New England next season. He should be considered no better than a No. 3 running back in 2009 unless he lands the starting job.