Fantasy Football

With two short days until opening kickoff of the Thursday night Colts and Saints matchup, most fantasy drafts and auctions have come to an end. The next 48 hours or so are reserved for fantasy daydreaming. Owners love to envision a 20 TD season from their running backs (not named Tomlinson), even though they know it is far out of reach. For some running backs, the high TD total is simply unattainable. Their future TD total is in serious doubt because of what is known as the fantasy vulture. It is time to take a look at who the possible TD vultures may be, and whose value they may effect.

Heath Evans (NE)- Laurence Maroney owners should not feel safe until they see him punch a few in from a short distance. Bill Belichick is certainly unpredictable, and it has been rumored that Evans is going to get looks in short yardage situations. There is no telling how it will all unfold, but if Maroney gets a chance to take one in week 1, he needs to prove himself worthy.

Najeh Davenport (PIT)- Willie Parker should start the season as the goal line back, but the job is far from safe. Much like Maroney, Parker needs to be successful in early situations inside the 5 to solidify his spot for the rest of the year.

Ron Dayne (HOU)- I believe that Ahman Green will get every opportunity to be the short yardage back, simply because of his past success and his rather large contract. However, Dayne’s size and bulldozing ability make him a strong candidate for looks inside the 5.

Maurice Jones-Drew/Greg Jones (JAX)- The Jaguars goal line situation is an interesting one. If everything remains as it was at the end of last season, Jones-Drew will get all the touches inside the 5. However, Jones is back from a torn ACL and will play FB, and there is a chance he will get some looks near the endzone. I think the Jaguars have given up on Fred Taylor as a short yardage back, and rightfully so.

Mike Bell could be a nightmare for Travis Henry owners.

Mike Bell (DEN)- There hasn’t been too much talk about Mike Bell as the goal line back in Denver, but there should be. If I owned Travis Henry, I wouldn’t be extremely confident that he is going to be in the game inside the 5 come Sunday afternoon. Bell was fantastic in short yardage situations last season, and I don’t think Mike Shanahan has forgotten it. It could go either way, but Henry’s stock as a 1st or 2nd round pick would plummet if he is removed on the goal line.

Marion Barber III (DAL)- The vulture king of the ‘06 season is back for another round in ‘07. There has been some talk that new head coach Wade Phillips would allow Julius Jones to remain in the game on the goal line, but it probably won’t materialize. Barber was just too good in the role last year.

Tony Hunt/Correll Buckhalter (PHI)- Hunt, a rookie out of Penn State, has been rumored as the Brian Westbrook vulture of ‘07. However, I think there is a good chance it is going to be Buckhalter. Buckhalter is the undisputed #2, and he runs with enough power to be successful near the goal line. In a really shaky scenario, it could wind up becoming a mixture of all three RBs when the Eagles penetrate the 5-yard line.

T.J. Duckett (DET)- Whether it is Tatum Bell or Kevin Jones starting at RB, they both have to worry about Duckett vulturing TDs. He has proven success in the role, and that may be enough for the Lions to go with him on the goal line.

Adrian Peterson (MIN)- In the freak occurrence that the Vikings actually make it inside the 5-yard line this year, it will be AP who gets the looks. Despite the fact that he has a straight up running style, he runs with tremendous power. There is little doubt that he runs with more power than Chester Taylor, so this situation won’t leave much to the imagination.

Jerious Norwood (ATL)- Because Warrick Dunn is the official starter, Norwood has to be listed as vulture. With rookie Jason Snelling recently being waived, the job seemingly is going to be Norwood’s. The Falcons could decide to leave Dunn out there in certain short yardage situations, but he just hasn’t been very successful when given the opportunity. The bottom line is that Norwood is going to be more valuable than Dunn however you slice it.

Deuce McAllister (NO)- Because Reggie Bush is being drafted over Deuce, Bush owners will view McAllister as a vulture. Reggie will get a few touches inside the 5, but McAllister will get the majority. Deuce is the better bet to score more rushing TDs again in ‘07, which is why I don’t understand him slipping so far in the drafts I have seen.

Marcel Shipp (ARI)- Shipp is the one RB on this list that is almost assured of goal line looks. He was very good in the role at the conclusion of the ‘06 season, and Edgerrin James has never excelled as a short yardage back. If James doesn’t improve his horrendous yards per carry (3.4) from last year, Shipp could be looking at increased time between the 20’s as well.

Feel free to email me at Joseph.Badalucco@451press.net with any questions you might have regarding your own team.