Michael Ivins-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy has good things to say about running back Danny Woodhead. McCoy has praised Woodheads versatility and expects to use him in different offensive packages this season. Initially it looks like Woodhead will get the lion’s share of Chargers third down and two-minute situations. That alone makes him a very relevant consideration in 2013 Fantasy Football drafts.
Throw in the fact that he is a Ryan Mathews injury short of starting for the Chargers and you’d be crazy not to consider the former Chadron State Eagle a serious sleeper contender this season. If Woodhead remains number two on the Chargers depth chart, there is a high probability he will start games in 2013. In his three seasons as an NFL running back, Mathews has yet to play all 16 games.
In 2012, Woodhead was a member of the crowded New England Patriots backfield where he generally only garnished a portion of the third down opportunities. Woodhead did make the most of his chances ranking in the top 25 of scoring fantasy football running backs with a combined yardage total of 746 yards and seven touchdowns.
Given the opportunity, this guy simply produces. He may not be flashy and he certainly isn’t a giant, but style points get you a giant goose egg in Fantasy Football.
What you do get with Woodhead is a tough and determined runner who will put a “charge” in the recent San Diego woeful rushing stats. In addition as noted above, he is a versatile back with great hands. He grabbed 40 balls for 446 yards a season ago. Oh, and those knocks you always hear about Woodhead’s size? In four years, he’s missed two games and has only lost one fumble.
Here’s something else to consider, McCoy has made his living designing game plans tooled to his playmaker’s abilities. The Denver Broncos Offensive Coordinator McCoy had Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning; three diverse NFL talents with completely different skill sets. Yet, he made it work.
There is one constant you can count on in a McCoy led offense — the importance of the ground game. McCoy’s offenses ranked in the top 10 in attempts and yardage consistently including the number one ranked NFL rushing offense in 2011. Bottom line, McCoy loves to pound the rock and loves those who can do so even more. It almost seems like fate that Woodhead and McCoy join forces.
In Fantasy Football sleepers are sleepers, some work out and others do not. But here’s the thing, you rarely invest much in a sleeper pick and if they don’t work out you’re out nothing. But when they do work out you look like a genius. Draft Woodhead this year, you’ll look like Einstein come playoff time.
Jim Heath is a Fantasy Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_heath, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
