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MARSHALL FAULK
RB - Rams
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6/10 Update: Faulk missed work at the Rams minicamp
and given his knee surgery, he's said to be dealing with
some bigger issues - namely retirement.
Comments from DJ Boyer - 6/9
FANTASY UPSIDE
Faulk had a reduced role with the offense in 2005 and as a result he played in all 16 games, the first time that has happened since 1999. Even though Faulk wasn’t the starter at running back his 44 receptions still ranked 4th among NFC running backs. In Scott Linehan’s last two stops (Minnesota and Miami) he has shown that he likes to use more than one running back in his offensive scheme. Linehan has publicly said he would like to get Marshall Faulk more involved with the offense by getting him at least “12 touches per game.”
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
Faulk is 33 years old and this is usually the time when running backs start to see a sharp decline in their yardage totals. Steven Jackson is the starter and only had one less reception (43) than Faulk did last season. Despite handling the ball over 100 times last year, Faulk only had 1 touchdown and clearly is no longer the touchdown machine he once was earlier in his career. The three teams in the NFC West with St. Louis all ranked in the top 8 against the run in the NFC so it is a little tougher to get yards on the ground against division foes.
MY BOTTOM LINE
I believe Marshall Faulk is certainly still worth a look in your fantasy league. If Steven Jackson falls to injury, Faulk has enough in the tank to take over for a few weeks and post respectable numbers. If you want Faulk you could risk not drafting him and hope you find him on the wire when needed. Still, that’s risky. In any case, don’t even think about Faulk until late in your draft - ADP data shows Faulk is not getting drafted among the top-200 picks in 2006.
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Comments from Scot Berggren - 6/9
FANTASY UPSIDE
This year I really don’t have a lot of positives to speak of when it comes to one of the greatest all-around players in NFL history. Faulk will again backup Steven Jackson at RB for the Rams. Last year he did increase his yards per carry average to 4.5, the highest it’s been in three seasons; but, unless Jackson is injured, Faulk will be relegated to third down and spot duty, at best. Last December against the Eagles, he showed signs that he still has something left in the tank, rushing 16 times for 87 yards. He enters this season with 12,279 career yards rushing, just 34 behind Jim Brown for eighth place in NFL history.
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
This year I really don’t have a lot of positives to speak of when it comes to one of the greatest all-around players in NFL history. Faulk will again backup Steven Jackson at RB for the Rams. Last year he did increase his yards per carry average to 4.5, the highest it’s been in three seasons; but, unless Jackson is injured, Faulk will be relegated to third down and spot duty, at best. Last December against the Eagles, he showed signs that he still has something left in the tank, rushing 16 times for 87 yards. He enters this season with 12,279 career yards rushing, just 34 behind Jim Brown for eighth place in NFL history.
MY BOTTOM LINE
The rule usually is that you can never have too many RBs on your fantasy roster, but there are several other backups RBs worth looking at before drafting Faulk. While Marshall has played some of the best all-around games ever in the NFL, you’d be better off drafting other backup RBs like Mike Anderson of Baltimore, Michael Pittman of Tampa Bay or J.J. Arrington of Arizona, even if they cost you a little more on draft day.
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What Next?
Be sure to check out the following...
a)
Full Impact Draft Simulator
b)
Full Impact Customized Cheat Sheets
c)
Ultimate Cheat Sheets
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