Why Fred Jackson Needs to Move up Your List of Top Fantasy Running Backs
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Jackson sees his opportunity in '09
So you’ve never heard of Fred Jackson short of the fact that he will be playing while Marshawn Lynch serves a three game suspension handed down by the NFL.
Jackson hasn’t done anything of significance to warrant picking him up in the first few rounds, unless you are a risk-taker, but surely a first or second pick for your fantasy running back.
Last season, the two year undrafted back out of Coe College rushed for 570 yards last year and only scored three touchdowns, in a reserve role with Lynch. Use this as a measuring tape that’s about 500 yards too short to measure his production in ’09.
Jackson has a 4.6 yards per carry average in his 24-game career. He only rushed the ball 130 times on a stagnant Bills’ offense that ranked 23 in overall scoring last year. Now they’ve got a solid group receivers in Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, and speedy Roscoe Parrish in the slot to take attention off of the running game.
As much as T.O.’s off the field issues may cause media melees across the country, in his first year with a new franchise he has helped SF, Phi, and Dal, rank 3, 8, 4, in scoring, respectively.
Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron has said that Jackson will be the starting back while Lynch serves his suspension. He also said that Jackson will share carries with Dominic Rhodes.
Fred Jackson will take over the Bills starting role while Lynch serves suspension the first three weeks
Don’t assume that will spell low carries in Jauron’s traditionally run-first system. Expect Jackson to get 70 percent of the carries for the first three weeks.
The former National Indoor Football League and NFL Europa star is an exceptional receiver. He caught 37 passes last year and was most known for his yards-after-catch average of 8.2 yards.
His big play ability was proven last year in a couple of games towards the end of the season, most notably against the Denver Broncos on a 65 yard catch. Jackson rushed for the winning touchdown in that game.
Jackson should carry some momentum from last season. He scored two of his three TDs in week 15 and 16 of last season. In week 17 he rushed for 136 yards on a windy day versus the Patriots when neither team scored more than one TD.
Freddy won’t be limited to a ‘backup’ role when Lynch’s returns to the field. Expect the Bills to have an explosive offense in which not only those two backs, but also Rhodes will be overtly used. Formations will consist of two-back sets, with Jackson used as a receiver in multiple configurations.
And don’t be fooled by the Hall-of-Fame game, a team is not going to bring out all of their formations in preseason.
Yes, so we all know the Bills will run the no-huddle. They didn’t sign T.O. to be the same stale offense they’ve been for the past couple seasons under Jauron.
The Bills just inked Jackson to a four-year deal in May worth nearly two million a year, plus incentives. This is the underdogs first major signing in his career, and he’s looking forward to showing the Bills they made a right decision in signing him.
He’s also in the prime of his career at 28 years old, and was never fully utilized by the Bills in 2008.
So why is Fred Jackson ranked in the late twenties and even thirties for running backs on most people’s mock draft?
Will he be this year’s sleeper pick?
Only time will tell.
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There is no doubt Fred Jackson will someday be the man. Stat for stat, he out produced Lynch last season. But will I use my round 2 pick for him, probably not. You can get him later on than round 2, even in deep leagues. I guess it might depend if you are talking about a PPR league or not. If you are not talking about a PPR league, then one might want to bump him up a little higher, but round 2? Just for a 3 game suspension? Maybe there are factors I am not considering, like maybe depending on the league format the first 2 rounds may be nothing but running backs getting picked?
Thanks for your comments.
I don’t think that Jackson’s scoring will be limited to just Lynch being suspended. You will see a lot of Jackson TDs this season, remember his three TDs last season were with Lynch in the game. He will be utilized much more this season, think of the ’08 Giants with Jacobs and Ward who each ran for 1,000 + except that the TDs will be more evenly distributed.
He’s got the momentum right now, and will have to have it the first three gamesand carry it through the season where the Bills will play competitive football. Do you think Marshawn is going to come in and Jackson just turns things off? He’s an unproven guy who’s going to come and and shock some people.
Jackson is a receiver and a kick returner as well. I’m thinking his production overall will be impressive. He will catch at least three balls a game, and that’s on the low side, because you’ll see games where he gets 10 receptions, with Lynch in or not. I’d say he’s an option at second running back or a first for those that go WR heavy.
Regardless of my opinion on Jackson, I think the article shows some interesting and true facts that that if you do have Lynch, you need to get Jackson too, vise versa and the presence of T.O. should improve the run game in Buffalo. Good read!
I find it hard to talk myself into drafting Jackson anywhere before the 7th round when there are other proven guys available. That said, I think Jackson is a great sleeper pick and he could be a real asset the first three weeks. When Lynch comes back I don’t expect Jackson to be a reliable fantasy player so he’s like a three week rental.
Well put, a sleeper pick. Sleep on him, or not, chances that he’ll produce are high. Weeks 1-5, vs. the Pats, Buc’s, Saints, ‘Fins, and Browns. He will show up vs. NE again like last season, and score TDs this time. Bucs D is not like it used to be. Saints D is better than last year but not there yet. ‘Fins-Bills always a low scoring affair. Should light up the Browns. 4 out of 5 weeks he will produce, with week four questionable, but that’s fantasy, gotta have a few options at RB.
Fred will come out week 1 – 3 and be money in the bank.. so money that he’ll push for playing time even more when Lynch is back. Great back up RB for your roster that will post solid numbers week one through three. If you miss out on a true number one running back then draft Jackson then wait to find the wavier wire miracle that usually emerges in weeks 2 or 3.
I realize Jackson had limited carries tonight in the Hall of Fame Game, but I was not impressed by him at all.
HAHA YA.. But it was versus the Titans
I agree, in fact the Bills were not impressive offensively at all, short of Xavier Omon, who won’t be getting any time regular season wise. Their offense was run very vanilla. Maybe they are keeping a few tricks in the bag unlike the Titans who already brought out the fake punt. But why wouldn’t you save that for the season?
Anybody still sleeping on Fred Jackson??
I never was.. but once Lynch comes back they will share more for sure