DALLAS COWBOYS RUNNING BACKS

The Dallas Cowboys backfield. Who will be the value pick for 2010?

Personally this is a running back situation I prefer not to get involved in if at all possible. If I draft any of them it’s for running back depth and I don’t jump on any of them too early.

Marion Barber has received the most work over the last two years. His numbers have remained pretty constant since 2007, averaging 213 carries for around 900 yards and 8 touchdowns rushing per year. The part of Barbers game that has been affected the most is his targets and receptions. In 2007 he had 44 receptions for 282 yards and 2 TDs. He followed that up with 52 receptions, 417 yards and 2 TDs in 2008. During the 2009 season he was only targeted 32 times. Of those targets he caught 25 for 207 yards and zero TDs. Did the presence of Felix Jones and/or Tashard Choice cut into Barbers numbers out of the backfield?

I don’t think so. Choice saw his numbers drop in all phases of his game except one. His rushing opportunities dropped from 92 to 64 (-28), rush yards down from 472 to 349 (-123), receptions 21 to 15 (-6), receiving yards 185 down to 132 (-53), and zero receiving TDs in both 08 and 09.

Felix Jones saw his numbers go up but after his 2008 year that would be expected. Jones only had four games during the 09 season in which he received double digit carries and all four games came in the last eight weeks of the season giving rise to the hope he might put his injuries behind him and produce like a #1 or #2 back. Felix did carry the ball 101 times with 64 of those carries in the last eight weeks for 306 yards and a 4.78 yard per carry average. In the first eight weeks he averaged 7.78 yards per carry in limited action and played in five games during that span (37 carries for 288 yards and 1 TD). For the year, Jones’ caught 16 of 19 targets for 116 yards (9.6 per catch) and no touchdowns.

We can safely say neither Jones nor Choice had a negative effect on Marion Barbers’ numbers in the receiving game.

You’re going to be able to wait longer in your draft to add Tashard Choice. I think you’ll be able to add him in one of the last two rounds if you’re interested. His only real value is if Barber or Jones miss extended playing time due to injuries. Still, I would leave Choice in the waiver pool until needed or let some other team owner pay him to be a bench warmer (no more than a #4 or #5 RB).

It won't be as easy to pin point which round the other two running backs will be drafted. Look for your fellow team owners to jump on Felix Jones early based on his performance in the last eight games of 09. If they make the mistake of drafting Jones to early, the 3rd or 4th round, don’t worry about it. Draft Barber one or two rounds later and you’ll get a running back I expect to produce numbers equal to Jones for at least one more year.

If drafting in a single year league Jones has the most value if drafted in round 5 or later because you only get one year of service and he still has question marks. If drafting for the first year of a keeper league you might consider Jones in the 4th round depending on what your draft strategy is for the first 5 rounds. If your part of a total keeper league drafting 5 or more rounds during the off season, then you should draft Jones in the 1st round. He’ll be gone if you wait until the 2nd round. I think Jones holds the better value among the Cowboys running backs.

Fantasy RoundTable opinions: Dallas Cowboys RB's

Article provided by: J. Piatt
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