YAFFT: Help me choose my RB

[49erinnc]

I have the 2nd and 19th pick in our draft. I have Cedric Benson (RB) and Reggie Brown (WR) as my keepers. I've already made up my mind to take Manning with the 2nd pick. But unless a WR that is simply to good to pass on is there at 19, I'm 99.9% certain I'm going RB.

I've ran several mock drafts and based on keepers, draft trends in my league and gut feelings, I think the following guys will be there for me at 19:

C. Portis
E. James
M. Jones-Drew
B. Jacobs

What are your thoughts? My initial thought is to take Portis but I'm really concerned about injuries. He's already dinged up and has a history of missing time. James I like a lot but I've yet to see him break out in that offense. Could this be the year?? Jones-Drew was a TD machine last year but if you look at his overall stats, there were a slew of games where he was mediocre at best. I think he's a bit overrated just because he had a few big TD games last year. Jacbos is intriguing but I think he may lose too may carries to Droughns.

Who would you guys go with? I'd like to think Benson can develop into a #1 RB for me but I can't go into our draft on the 26th assuming that so I have to draft a guy who will be my #1 RB to start the season.

 

[wyvrn]

Drew has the biggest upside. Portis is gold if he can stay healthy, which he never has. James is still good I think, and AZ has improved their offensive line with draft picks and a respected line coach in Grimm. Jacobs is the unknown backup who could be LJ or could be a scrub.

I would pick James because he should increase his yards per carry. But his major downside is touchdowns, their receivers are going to get a lot of those. Drew has the biggest upside, but it depends on how consistent he is in his second year. I wouldn't pick either Portis or Jacobs unless they were my 3rd RB.

 

[49erinnc]

Portis is already battling some tendonitis in preseason so that makes me worry. My biggest issue with James is that I'm not sold on the Zona defense. I think they will give up a lot of points and find themselves in games where they have to throw a lot to play catch-up. That could take a lot of carries away from Edge. I think I'm leaning to Jones-Drew right now at 19th and if Portis is still there at 22nd, he'll be too good to pass up. That would solidify my RB depth and I think there are a slew of quality WR's that can be had later in the draft this year. I think the only way I'd take WR at 22nd is if Reggie Wayne falls that far. With me having Manning, it would be hard to pass up on that combo.

 

[vi edit]

I think that Edge will have the most value due to a poor performance last year. He'll have a lower ranking that he really is so could be a good pickup if AZ finally gets it's blocking down and turns the running game around.

Portis is a walking health risk.

Jacobs is a 6'4 bullseye that will have his shoulder destroyed in the first 5 games of 20+ carries.

MJD is probably the most exciting pick, but still shares time and might have been a bit of a freshman phenom and won't produce the same this year. I think he'll go high in the draft with the hype coming off last year.

 

[Elbryn]

personally i'd avoid MJD. he's still in a running back quandry with fred taylor in the mix. he is a dynamic player no doubt but i cant see making the pick on a guy who depends on breaking the big play to score points.
i like portis as a pick this year but you have to be prepared to spend the pick in round 5,6,7,8 to make sure you grab betts as well as a handcuff.
edge- i think he's the safe pick of the group. you know he's going to get at least 1000 yards and at least 6 tds. his downside is that he's doesnt have a huge upside.
jacobs has big upside and if he stays healthy and carries the load will score points.. uncertain though.

my thought is to take edge or portis/betts. benson was prone to injuries last year with thomas and is in his first year of carrying the load alone. dont know if he'll wear down or not. he could turn into something bigger or he could not so you have a fair degree of volitility there in performance. edge gives you a pretty well known quantity and if either portis or betts gets hurt, you've got a good situation.

 

[dbk]

James, Portis, Jacobs, Jones-Drew,

 

[FoBoT]

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