Detroit Lions RB's Situation

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	Topic: Detroit Lions RB's Situation
Russ Bliss_108 Admin Membership: Starter Joined: September 04 Total Posts: 18355 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 15:05 Jahvid Best/Mikel LeShoure/Kevin Smith: Detroit Lions In the ideal world, Jahvid Best would be the lead RB getting 15 touches (combined rushing and receiving) in a 3 headed attack that also would include Mikel LeShoure and Kevin Smith. Best would be used as a breakaway running threat and 3rd down receiver out of the backfield. LeShoure would be the between the tackles and goal line power RB getting about 15 carries per game. Smith would be the backup to both getting about 5-10 touches per game as he is good both rushing and receiving and can spell both. But it's not an ideal world we live in and all 3 RB's come with injury concerns. It's troubling that Best hasn't been cleared yet by the medical staff despite it being 9 months since his last known concussion. Even if cleared fully, he is a major injury risk and fantasy owners know they roll the dice with Best. When healthy, Best has proven to be able to put up quality fantasy numbers (averaged 14.3 points per game in non-ppr formats last year in 6 games). But when will he be cleared? Even if given full clearance, will the concussion issues pop up again? Can he last a full season? Or is his best chance for staying healthy to play a limited role offensively so he takes less of a pounding? All questions that need answering before I decide to select him in a fantasy draft. Best is a boom or bust pick who has missed too many games and comes with too many questions before I'd think the boom is worth the bust. Meanwhile LeShoure needs to prove he's capable of returning from last season's torn Achilles tendon injury. That's a major injury for a RB and there's no guarantee he'll be anywhere near the level of skill he was at prior to it. He'll need to prove himself as having his power and burst back in preseason. Even then he has to sit out the first two games of the season because of a league imposed suspension for substance abuse stemming from a marijuana possession charge back in spring. I really liked LeShoure's chances of making a fantasy impact coming out of college, but torn Achilles injuries have ended careers. Kevin Smith's story is just weird. Smith was a 3rd round pick in 2008 and showed a lot of promise playing thru a shoulder injury. But a 2009 torn ACL injury ended his season prematurely and by the time he was recovered for 2010, the Lions had drafted Jahvid Best. Smith struggled thru 2010 only to land on injured reserve again because of thumb and shoulder issues that required surgery. Detroit didn't tender him a contract at the end of the 2010 season when his rookie deal expired and no one showed much interest in him as a free agent. Then when injuries started to pile up at the position for Detroit in 2011, the Lions brought him back in November, and Smith looked as fresh and performed as well as he had since his rookie season. He injured his ankle in week 12, but was able to play week 13 against New Orleans before an aggravation of that injury forced him from the game. He would miss week 14 because of the ankle before finishing out the last 3 games of the season as the Lions starting RB. The Lions re-signed Smith as their insurance policy for both Best and LeShoure. And while he has proven to be capable of producing fantasy points when called upon, he also comes with durability concerns considering his history. Three RB's. Three potentially very good RB's. But can any of them stay healthy enough to provide fantasy football help for your teams in 2012? That's the big question. Considering the boom/bust potential of many other RB's, healthy RB's, in other situations, I might be inclined to steer clear of the Lions backfield in my fantasy football drafts unless they sip so far they represent a tremendous value. ---- On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.
Robert The IDP Guru_9600 Moderator Membership: Starter Joined: September 06 Total Posts: 1902 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 15:09 Detroits fantasy RB situation is horrible, but what's worse is Washingtons, every time you get a quality matchup and you think you have a lock, good old coach Mike Satanhan pulls that RB and goes to his backup just to bleep fantasy owners. Hate that guy. ---- Draft: 3QB's 4RB's 5WR's 3TE's 2K 4DL 5LB 4DB. Start: 1QB 2RB's 2WR's 1TE 1K 2DL 2LB 2DB. PPR League: 1PPR, 1 pt 10 yds rush/receive, 1pt 10yds pass, 6 pts TD
Robert The IDP Guru_9600 Moderator Membership: Starter Joined: September 06 Total Posts: 1902 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 15:12 Wow, didn't know you couldn't say that word on here, it wasn't even a cuss word... ---- Draft: 3QB's 4RB's 5WR's 3TE's 2K 4DL 5LB 4DB. Start: 1QB 2RB's 2WR's 1TE 1K 2DL 2LB 2DB. PPR League: 1PPR, 1 pt 10 yds rush/receive, 1pt 10yds pass, 6 pts TD
Russ Bliss_108 Admin Membership: Starter Joined: September 04 Total Posts: 18355 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 15:15 Our filter is very strict. ---- On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.
Buffalo Blzzard_77859 Membership: Starter Joined: August 08 Total Posts: 1163 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 19:20 Lashoure aggravated his hammy today! ---- I can mismanage a team like Norv Turner!!!
Buffalo Blzzard_77859 Membership: Starter Joined: August 08 Total Posts: 1163 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 19:21 If I was the lions, I would look at Benson or Grant. ---- I can mismanage a team like Norv Turner!!!
JG_163962 Membership: Starter Joined: November 11 Total Posts: 68 Offline	Post Date: 07/30/12 20:47 I am liking Smith this year
Russ Bliss_108 Admin Membership: Starter Joined: September 04 Total Posts: 18355 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/31/12 11:47 Ryan Grant would make a lot of sense for the Lions. Comes from another pass oriented offense that doesn't ask it's RB to carry 20+ times a game, has decent enough receiving skills to not be a detriment in that area, ca block, and while not fast or all that elusive, Grant runs hard. ---- On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.
Buffalo Blzzard_77859 Membership: Starter Joined: August 08 Total Posts: 1163 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 07/31/12 18:26 I like benson cause he can run hard, and in the red zone he can power his way in...It just give the team a little grit on the 3 yard line. Benson also may sign for Vet min, making him a great buy. Runs hard, durable, cheap and can pass block...Benson makes a nice addition. I see your take on Grant, Agree either would be a good move. I just cant see K Smith staying healthy, same with J Best. Benson Fits well with two teams. Jets and Ravens. Jets need a guy like Benson, Raven need a back up to Rice. ---- I can mismanage a team like Norv Turner!!!
Throwball Heroes_118522 Moderator Membership: Starter Joined: June 10 Total Posts: 13988 Favorite Team: Offline	Post Date: 08/01/12 08:09 I like Benson as well, but I won't be touching any of the current DET running backs as the situation as Robert said is almost as bad as WAS. They must be banking on one of these three making good progress if they have not gone after someone like Grant or Benson. Glad they are a pass happy team! ---- Stephen http://www.the6thfloor.com/category/fantasy-football-2/ "Bringing confusion and contradiction to YOUR post!" "ISIYBITSI" -Russ Bliss
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