Jeff Curry-US Presswire
Are you a fantasy owner that has drafted players high and have come away disappointed, thus far?
Well, here’s a player who might be “agitating the gravel” with some owners already.
Jamaal Charles, RB for the Kansas City Chiefs, is a former track star turned football player. In his four seasons, up to this point, he has ‘razzle dazzled.’
In fact, in his four seasons, he has only completed two of them as a starter. In 2009 and 2010, he was starting while splitting carries with Thomas Jones. In his first year as a starter, Charles rushed for over 1,000 yards without registering 200 carries – he also rushed for a blistering 5.9 ypc. He backed it up the next year with nearly rushing for 1,500 yards and a 6.4 ypc – just when one thought he couldn’t get any better than that.
Because of his ability to get yards with ease – combined with his sprinting style – I dubbed him the Chris Johnson 2.0.
Let’s forget what has happened in the past year and a half for Johnson….remember how valued he used to be in fantasy? There were times when it was mentioned that he was better than Adrian Peterson.
Charles hasn’t reached the status of Johnson – at this rate, that’s a good thing. But in his performance against the Buffalo Bills last week, he was putting up a stinker Johnson-like performance before tweaking his ACL again. He finished the day with six carries for three yards. That’s not even a yard per carry. Coach Romeo Crennel said Charles told him he was fine and wanted back in. Perhaps he saw what his stat line was.
But then I ask myself, am I overreacting?
In the opener, he had a solid outing with his 87 yards on 16 carries. Maybe it’s because i’m threatened that he’ll lose carries to Peyton Hillis more so than he did to Jones, especially if his knee continues to tweak on him.
I have Charles in both of my fantasy leagues. I selected him in the third and fifth rounds, respectively. It’s quite unusual considering experts had him as an second rounder, possibly late first rounder. I had wondered why people were passing him up. My senses pointed to individuals forgetting about him because he missed all of last season, but maybe it was something deeper than that.
Nonetheless, the Chiefs visit the New Orleans Saints next. Considering the Saints are in the 0-2 danger zone coming home, I’m not sure if the timing is quite impeccable for him and the rest of the team.
The ACL isn’t an issue, from what I’ve been hearing and reading. It is all about the level of the Saints’ run defense.
The Saints have already allowed five rushing touchdowns this season, two of which are to unknown Washington Redskins RB Alfred Morris. They are clearly vulnerable, and that’s the sign Charles and his owners needed.
Unfortunately, I’m not wavering the green light to start him. The only way anyone should is if he is really one of the best options on their team- for this week. Other than that, I say no because Crennel will likely limit Charles’ carries due to concern of the re-aggravation of his ACL. He will be hesitant to put his feature back at risk, despite his wishes.
