2012 NFL Draft "All Bust" List-Running Backs

By:  Bobby Shores

While working on the 2012 "All Bust" List I decided I could do an entire article on just the running back position, so I did. It's not that I necessarily think the running backs will be a bust, I just don't think they have the value anymore. Not only are relative unknowns having tremendous impact on the league, the NFL has also shifted to a "running back by committee approach", meaning touches, yards, touchdowns all go down and the overall impact of a single player continues to decline.

Before you read this, you should read the 2011 "All Bust" List so you know I'm legit and also check out the first 3 articles of Draft Busts already out there this year (1st is here, 2nd is here, 3rd is here)

1st Round Running Backs-Trent Richardson, Doug Martin, & David Wilson - Before I get ripped endlessly for this one, I'm not saying that these running backs will end up like Ki-Jana Carter or Lawrence Phillips, in fact Trent Richardson will probably end up as one of the best RB's in the league along with Wilson if he can fix his fumbling problem, while Martin will be a solid, just not spectacular RB. My reason for putting these guys up here is that the devaluation of the running back in the NFL means that not even a pre-blown out knee Adrian Peterson is worth a 1st round pick in my opinion.

He benched 475lbs & coaches wouldnt let him try more

Not only is the running game as irrelevant as its ever been, teams and fantasy owners are discovering that relative unknowns and unheralded veterans and rookies are seemingly taking the league by storm each and every year. Not only do running back's transition from college to the professional level easier than most (if not all) other positions, I believe that the offensive line, passing game, and play calls have more to do with their success than pure talent.

     -Trent Richardson-RB-Browns(1st Round) - I like, not love Richardson as an all-around back and believe he can and will be successful at the NFL level; unfortunately I believe his accomplishments will be overshadowed by the state of the Browns franchise, both current and future. I have massive respect for Browns fans, and I found out what happens when you anger them by objectively and honestly evaluating their former QB Colt McCoy who has been forgotten (and most of those guys that attacked me on Twitter are now grateful that Colt is no longer their QB) now that Weeden is the next savior.

My problem is that when you look at the teams in their division, and the potential for rapid wear down on Richardson, that by the time the Browns are ready to compete in the playoffs, Richardson will be worn out. I want the Browns to do well, I think their starving fan base deserves it, but for some reason that team is cursed, and it's only exagerated by the teams draft strategy which seems to always fail.

Better learn not to fumble

     -David Wilson-RB-Giants - Wilson was lucky enough to be drafted by a team that will be able to use him more effectively than the other 1st round backs. Not only will he not be required to carry the load or be the focal point, he will be forced to hold onto the ball or lose the limited opportunities he will have as the Giants are fairly deep on the offensive side of the ball. Yes, Wilson has a major fumbling problem and he put the pigskin on the ground 7 times his final year at Virginia Tech, and that is unacceptable at the NFL level. Since he won't be required to carry the load for the offense, he should be able to contribute on special teams, where he excelled in college on kick returns.

One thing I like about this pick is that he is very similar to Ahmad Bradshaw, the incumbent Giants running back. Most people say that you need a "change of pace" back, someone with a different running style than the main ball carrier, you know like having a power back and quick scat back. Me? No, I like having 2 running backs that are similar, why make your offense learn how to block for more than one type of back? It doesn't make sense, have them master blocking for 1 type of runner.

Martin just being average

     -Doug Martin-RB-Buccaneers - This has nothing to do with my pure hatred of everything Boise State. Yes, I do think they are the perennial over ranked team in college football every single year. They schedule one real team to play most years, and they do it early in the season when everyone is still working out the kinks in their game, and then they coast the rest of the year playing teams that wouldn't even make the playoffs in Texas High School football. It's easy for them to "get up" for one big game a year, while most teams in the title hunt have to get up for every game they play, especially in the SEC. Luckily they always blow one of those "gimme" games and take themselves out of the title game talk, unfortunately they still remain highly ranked taking a spot from a deserving team. Now to get onto Martin.

Martin will probably be called upon to do more for the Buccaneers than Wilson as they only have LeGarrette Blount who is a 1-trick pony, but i don't think he does anything spectacular. He will put up good, but not great numbers, and his value will be seen more as a safety valve for quarterback Josh Freeman while also buying him more time by picking up the blitzes. While he will see a lot of action, he will not put up the jaw dropping numbers expected of a first round running back, and that is why he will under perform according to the precedent set by 1st round picks.

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So They Had a Draft? What's That Mean For Yours?

By: Matt Prendergast

Hey kids! Long time no talk....been busy with my macrame sculptures and innovations in the field of 'sitting around', but we're at that time....WELCOME TO THE RELAUNCH OF FANTASY CORNER AT RECLINERQB!

Yes, I know. It's June. And I hear you: 'Why in the good gosh darn would I think about my fantasy football league in June? I have Kobe Beef and British Colombian Salmon on my new Big Green Egg! THESE THINGS ARE GETTING RUINED WHILE I READ THIS! Also, please don't ask why I invested well over twelve-hundred dollars specifically on this get-together with my neighbor who has that kick-ass riding mower. That dude needs to know who's the boss, that's all.'

And that kind of attitude is exactly why you take seventh every freaking year in your re-draft league.

Now. Right now. This is when you begin to plan....and that's why ReclinerQB.com is here today; to lovingly take care of you. So let's get to the point of caressing of your wondering mind in regard to the newly christened 'changers of the game'!  Specifically, how should you be approaching the big-named players that scattered throughout the league in last month's NFL Draft?

THAT WHICH YOU DO NOT EXECUTE:

'I may not even put on my helmet the whole year'

1) DO NOT DRAFT ANDREW LUCK - Certainly deserving of his destined position as 'first pick of the whole entire draft OMG!'. Also certainly not deserving of any of your picks in your fantasy draft. And by that I mean: you'd be much better off using your eighth round pick on Alex Smith, or Blaine Gabbert, or possibly a punter.

Did you see the Colts last year? I'm being serious, did you watch ANY of their games, even for five minutes? That is a HORRIBLE team. In one of those 'maybe if we close our eyes for seven years it'll be all right' definitions of 'horrible'.  Peyton Manning might get my vote for 'All-Time MVP of the NFL Ever' for the fact that he clearly covered a nearly-incomprehensible number of holes on that team. And those holes? This year with even more gaping power.

Oh yes, and to welcome Andrew in? They let everybody even halfway decent go. Except for Reggie Wayne, who passed by the deserved 'I just want to win another ring' exit strategy in lieu of choosing the 'I won't get hit the next two years because this guy won't have time to find me' route. Smart choice. Oh, and Dwight Freeney, who doesn't catch footballs.

Vintage Double D:
Sure hands across the middle for victory.

2) DO NOT DRAFT ANY OF THE ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS -  But you're saying 'remember AJ Green last year'? Yes I do. I also remember two other things: a) he was available in 80% of my leagues in week 2, and b) He didn't do one god-freaking thing to help out during the playoff run.  Now granted, I play primarily in Non-PPR leagues, so I may have a grudge against dudes that only score one touchdown the last six weeks, but that's me. (Don't come at me with your Julio Jones nonsense, btw, that was an aberration of a rookie WR season).

Who's the biggest impact from-out-of-nowhere WR this year? Some dude you didn't even think about, that's who. (See: Cruz, Victor) Truth being truth, you should easily pick up ANY of the rookie WRs before week three, so use that draft choice you're thinking about in round eleven on  Donald Driver (the only GB receiver to actively participate in 'catching' during their last playoff game), or Santana Moss (yes, I said that out loud) or even Whatever Bears' Cast-off Ends Up the #3 Wideout on the Vikings (This year it's Jerome Simpson! Wait, he's not a former Bear! Tricky, Vikings....). I still prefer any veteran in a situation where they can maybe shine early to a rook with breakout potential at the start of the season. Because the best rookie receiver will have been either taken way too high, or not taken at all.

THAT WHICH YOU DO EXECUTE:

'I said: Where's. My. GATORADE. AT. REX?'

1) DRAFT RGIII - Okay, I say this with a caveat emptor: where you should take him, you won't get him. The absolutely perfect 'Cam Newton Part II' selection, but because the Redskins have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he'll be taken in the fifth or sixth round of your draft, and by a guy who's intending on starting him. Let that go.

But on the off-chance that Robert Griffin the Third is still there in the ninth round: just do that thing. And then sit back and be patient, for his time will come, maybe even early and often.

The 'Skins brought a lot of hungry receiving talent in - rather than break the bank on one marquee dude (like Vincent Jackson), they went with a couple of young guys that have shown some flash, but still have big axes to grind in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan - with Santana Moss still hanging around to provide the veteran stability, and the critical re-upping of Fred Davis (plus Cooley's still hobbling about), Washington put a lot of little pieces together nicely to help aid RG3 in his quest to make Cam Newton 2011 look like a chump.  Good luck to you.

Has Hillis beat in hat/hair/glasses category already

2) GO AHEAD WITH THAT TRENT RICHARDSON IDEA, AND PLAN ON STARTING HIM - Let's think about this, rationally. The Browns have next to nothing going for them. Still. A QB Battle between  Colt Malt Liquor and Red Wheeden? There's no winners there, not this year. There's losers, though, namely Greg Little and Mohammed Massaquoi (who, let's be honest, has looked like a potentially shiny diamond ring the last two years primarily because you're viewing him inside a giant box brimming over with dung).

But the one thing the Browns can kinda do is block, son. Ask Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty - in the last two years, both had flashes of world-conquering magic as Cleveland Freaking Browns. Barring a catastrophic leg injury between now and week one, they've got a headlining act in Richardson - and even if he's somehow healthy this year, Montario isn't going to be cutting in on those carries much.

An additional plus point here: since he is a rookie on the Browns, unless you're playing in a dynasty or die-hards league, he'll be there in the fourth or fifth round. That's solid value for what should be a weekly starting 2nd RB with minimal time-sharing. Just hope to god he doesn't get injured like every other Cleveland RB draft pick in the last six years.

NOTE: This is advice for your 2nd RB only. If you decide to go 'all in' on any Brown BEFORE the fourth round, at the VERY earliest, I wish you a tremendous day at your job taste-testing used gum for 'flavor retentionability'.

So there you have it: Four early rookie questions answered....come early August, when the other league owners are just picking up their Pro Football Weekly preview mags, you'll already be winning the draft.

More soon.....

Follow Matt on Twitter:  @amazingmattyp.  He is filled with jolly things

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