FANTASY FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON FEATURES

When the Cowboys passed on Kevin Jones and Steven Jackson, it surprised many fans knowing that the Cowboys were looking for an impact runner this season. Instead, Dallas took Julius Jones as the fifth back taken but continue to claim that they saw no difference between the two “front runners” and Julius. Since they received Buffalo’s 2005 first rounder in the trade, they’ll either look like geniuses or be using that pick for another runner. Julius is the younger brother of Thomas Jones (CHI) but did not have as storied a collegiate career since he was suspended for a year as academically ineligible and has been knocked for being lazy and hard to coach. Bill Parcells will determine soon enough how much of that was just an immature player and how much is truly the player. Jones was never a big pass catcher at Notre Dame but Hambrick only had 17 passes last season anyway and Richie Anderson fills the third down role very well. When Jones returned from his ineligibility last season, he had a banner year, rushing for 1268 yards and ten scores for the Irish last year. Jones is slightly shorter than most backs but has a good ratio of weight to height and has very quick feet. He has good shift to the hole and enough power to keep going when it closes. Jones will have a great rushing schedule this season and plays for a team that wants a big runner. His opportunity, talent and practice results so far are all major pluses and lands him as a certain fantasy starter with more upside than most.

Jones falls with the addition of Eddie George to the roster but still will be considered in game plans. HC Bill Parcells has indicated that Jones would receive the heavier use when the Cowboys were on articificial surface and when DAL faced very tough defenses, George would be the main ball carrier. This is a sharing scenario even though it is unlike Parcells to do that. This will more likely be sharing depending on the opponent rather than game situation.

08/22/04 - While Jones has not been spectacular in preseason, he has been very solid and recent statements by the coaching staff supports that both he and George will be getting playing time this year. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it will likely be swapping roles between George and Jones for different games than merely downs.

Thomas Jones had been a big bust during his three years with the Cardinals but resurrected his career with only half a season in Tampa Bay. Pairing and sharing with Michael Pittman, Jones was a solid and yet unspectacular addition. Once he took the reins as the starter, he recorded four games over 100 total yards and scored in three of them. He ripped off 134 yards against the Packers on only nine carries and against Houston again ran for 134 yards using 34 carries. Just as important, he had four catches in both the final games. As a free agent, Jones was scooped up by GM Jerry Angelo who considered Jones as “one of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets”. While Anthony Thomas was the 2001 rookie of the year, the Bears have clearly not been satisfied with him since that season. Jones excited coaches during his initial mini-camps with the Bears and is poised for a heavier role than the last several years has provided. Anthony Thomas will still figure in and has been better in short-yardage situations but Jones is the new kid in a new offense and carries none of the ties to the past. Look for Jones to gain a rebirth for his career on a team that intends to open up the offense and throw to the backs.

08/16/04 - Jones rises in the rankings as one of the dwindling number of runners who have a lock on the starting role for his team. So far, the new regime is very happy with their free agent pick-up this season and he has been fast and strong in camp.

Lewis delivered the goods last season, managing to eclipse the 2000 yard rushing mark in the final game of the season and led all runners with 12 games over the 100 yard mark. His 388 carries easily led the league and his 5.3 yards per rush was second only to Clinton Portis (5.5). The only area he lags other backs is in the passing game since the offense uses the run to set up the run, ad infinitum. This season Lewis faces an easier schedule than 2003, but his durability will always be in question after blowing out a knee in the summer of 2001. With such a heavy workload, no runner can last without getting at least dinged up if not knocked out and Lewis is one of the bigger backs in the league at 231 pounds. Lewis deserves to be one of the first running backs drafted as he is on a team with a great offensive line that likes to run. Lewis will be on trial this summer for drug conspiracy and the trial date is expected to be during August. He claims that it has not been a distraction and even that it is a motivator because, naturally, he believes to be completely innocent and he is being unfairly targeted. Without knowing the outcome of that, this is a big risk pick until he is exonerated.If he is found guilty, his ranking will drop “rather briskly”.

08/16/04 - Lewis remains, appropriately, a tier one back but falls behind Alexander and Edgerrin James with the potential of a court case in November. It could still be delayed or even dismissed and regardless, Lewis claims he will not miss any playing time even if it is held. The slight risk that offers makes him the end of tier one. If it is delayed or dismissed, he goes back to #6 on the board.

Mahe played primarily special teams as a rookie but has been generally impressive to the coaches. He already was most likely to fill the #3 role for the Eagles this year and with Buckhalter's injury, now should be valuted into the #2 spot behind Brian Westbrook barring the Eagle's acquiring another runner. Eric McCoo is the only other running back on the Eagles roster presently. Mahe is little bigger than Westbrook and would have provided a better replacement for Westbrook than Buckhalter. Until another player is brought in, Mahe take the #2 spot behind the less than durable Westbrook.

08/27/04 - Looked good against the Steelers and cemented the #2 role behind the less than durable Westbrook.

McGahee was a scoring machine back in college, rushing 282 times for 1753 yards and scoring 28 touchdowns. That was the third best mark for rushing touchdowns in the history of the Division I-A football, bettered by only Mike Rozier (29) and Barry Sanders (37) in a single season. McGahee was the consensus best runner in the 2003 draft and was a lock to have his name called among the very first in the NFL draft until he tore his left ACL in the Fiesta Bowl. McGahee also only played five games during his senior year in high school due to a knee injury. After signing a four-year deal worth up to $15 million dollars, McGahee flirted with playing time after coming off the reserve non-football injury list and being cleared by doctors. Though activated onto the roster, he never played. This season he has already gone through two mini-camps without any swelling in his knee and is shaking off the rust from his layoff. McGahee is extremely talented; he just has not been very durable and actually has played much less than most other runners his age due to past injuries. The Bills did not cough up the money not to use this first round pick, but they did not release Travis Henry either making the duo both likely to play this season. OC Tom Clements even alluded to using both players in the backfield at times, a common statement when there are two good runners on the roster. Hopefully the end of training camp will yield a more concrete view on the roles of Henry and McGahee.

08/16/04 - McGahee has been impressive in scrimmages and exhibition games so far and is certainly working his way into a rotation at the very least. He's looked good enough to publicly concern Henry and is likely to rise more depending on more work and coaching decisions. If you have Henry, you better have McGahee.

Minor offers a change of pace role for Ricky Williams but at only 205 pounds, he is unlikely to be the full-time starter if Williams is injured. Minor has nice speed and is truly different from the bruiser Williams, but as evidenced last season he is only good for a handful of runs each season and does not act as a receiver on third down. The fullback Bob Konrad fills that role, small as it is. Minor merits only minor fantasy consideration and would need Williams to be out for an extended period of time before he would gain appreciable carries and yards. Even then, the load would most likely be distributed over he, Leonard Henry and Bob Konrad. Minor is the first-line back-up for Williams but that has not meant much so far nor will it if Williams gets injured.

Update: Minor is the primary runner now that Ricky Williams is gone and the Dolphins have not been able to secure any other free agent runner. His analysis still stands - he is too small to handle a full-time load, particularly in the style of inside running by the Dolphins. He may start the season as the primary, but there is little guarantee he will end as one and even less that he will be nearly as effective as even an average running back while he is in there. He will be constantly challenged by Leaonard Henry and Fred Russell.

New 7-25-04: Russell is an undrafted rookie that suddenly becomes of interest once the Dolphins discovered their RB depth would be sorely tested the week before training camp opens. In mini-camps, Russell made strides to making the team and displayed good speed but is a bit under-sized for a significant role. Prior to Ricky Williams dropping the retirement bomb, Russell was being considered for kick return duty along with Travis Minor.

08/20/04 - Russell had a nice run last week but is being primarily considered as a kick returner since he is only 5'7" and 191 pounds. Even in the current mess in Miami, Russell is likely to only get occasional spot duty if that. Leonard Henry has dropped from the rankings.

Scobey enters the picture much more now that Marcel Shipp has been likely lost for the season with a leg fracture. He has been behind Damien Anderson on the depth charts but HC Denny Green has noted that Scobey is likely the fastest back on the roster (with comparisions to Emmitt, not all that impressive). He will battle Damien Anderson for the back-up role behind Smith but Larry Croom has also been catching the coaches eye.

08/20/04 - Anderson is now #3 on the depth charts in Arizona, though eventually they may get there this season.