As he undergoes ankle surgery and will be eaxctly 30 when the season starts, is he still a top 10 in PPR? Last year he had a good year although carries, receptions, and yards were lower than before. He also failed to break the 1000 yd barrier, pretty much standard for above average RBs.

It's really hard to tell right now. I think a big factor will be how McCoy and Booker do during training camp. If they show to be real players then we might see a little more of load share in Philly. Westbrook is definitely on the down side of his career in my opinion so i don't think he will be the guy who can carry a fantasy team to a championship like he could before.

He's a stud when healthy... simple as that. We say it every year.
The odds of his staying healthy decrease every year.
One year, someone is going to take him in the first round, as they should, and their going to be left holding the bag.
I gambled last season and will look to someone else as my lead guy.

A 30 year old RB with a track record of nagging injuries that needs surgery on his ankle just to get ready for pre-season... hmmm... Someone else can take that gamble this season.

More question marks with the ankle, but no rookie can replicate what Westbrook does in that offense. If he's healthy, he'll be the guy. Maybe not the fantasy beast of the past, but still damn good.

While I agree with this, if he falls to late in Round 2 or early Round 3, I'm going to jump all over that.

The talent is undeniable, and yeah he has a knack for getting injured, but something like this can get a player into excellent value range. Westbrook has a knack for getting hurt, but the more occupied backfield is going to help him more than hurt. I'm thinking a DeAngelo Williams like effect, but to a lesser extent. As a RB2/3 which I anticipate Westbrook being now after this surgery, he holds excellent value. But then again, someone could take the reach based on his history, which I wouldn't agree with at this point.

The margin of stupid pick and value pick with Westbrook is extremely slim.

No doubt if he is healthy he will be the guy in Philly but he isn't going to lead a fantasy team to the promise land like years past. Last year i had the second overall pick and drafted Westy over AP (i know i'm stupid) and it bit in the butt. I still won my league championship though so no worries. If West is there even in the second round i might think twice about taking him but he just can't be counted on like he used to be.

Well, he's always been an injury risk. I agree that the ankle spurs are an issue and an immediate one, but like we both said, if he's healthy week one, he's the man. I agree though, much like LT, Westy is falling into that 2nd tier. Guys like MJD, Turner and Chris Johnson are moving up. And,let's keep our perspective. Westbrook was a top 12 back last year even with two games missed. He still outscored Chris Johnson.

If this guy plays, he scores fantasy points.

Didn't this just happen last year? I took him first round and although he had a couple good games, he pretty much sank my season(with alot of help from Colston). By time he turned it on late in the year it was over for my team. I had him in '07 too, and he was spectacular. I certainly won't be taking him for the 3rd straight year unless he falls really far, which he won't.

That was not true at all last year. He had ALOT of stinkers for me. Maybe if you had a PPR league you could've salvaged some decent pts, but in my league those 60 yds rushing, 3 catch for 11 yd games are pretty bad for a #3 pick.

He was a top twelve back statistically. That much is fact.

The man scored 14 times. That's an average of a TD per game played. He averaged about 14 fantasy points per start in non-PPR leagues.

Look it up.

Please try to follow along. I wasn't disputing your statement that he finished top 12, I'm well aware of how many touchdowns he scored. I'm disputing your statement 'If this guy plays, he scores fantasy points'. He was feast or famine last year, had a handfull of monster games and alot of games where he was either out hurt or totally ineffective.

Week 9 : 20 carries 61 yds, 6 catches 35 yds, no tds
Week 10 : 13 carries 26 yds, 3 catches 33 yds, no tds
Week 11 : 14 carries 60 yds, 3 catches 11 yds, no tds
Week 12 : 14 carries 35 yds, 2 catches -5 yds, no tds
Week 15 : 16 carries 53 yds, 3 catches 14 yds, no tds
Week 17 : 13 carries 50 yds, 2 catches 12 yds, no tds

Oh, you want the touchdowns spread evenly now? Adrian Peterson was held without a TD eight times last year.

Michael Turner also had six games where he was held without a TD. MJD missed out seven times as well. The list goes on...

What does Turner or AP have to do with anything? I thought we were talking about Westbrook. And it's not just the no tds, did you notice how pitiful his yardage was in those games? Anybody who states that he was a beast last year anytime he stepped on the field obviously was only paying close enough attention.

Or, maybe what we have here is a guy who got burned by BWB's cold spell and has a bent? Guess what, the teams with Westbrook in all three of my pay leagues were playoff teams. One of them made the bowl and another made the semis. He may have killed your team with a cold spell, but he helped others make playoff pushes. It goes both ways.

I know a guy posting in this thread who rode BWB to the finals.

You are also seem to be basing everything on last year. Westbrook's body of work is considerably larger than last year. He's a stat machine over a long period regardless of a weak month in '08.

I'm not denying that he's less valuable than last year and the years before, but the posts in this thread saying he's going to split time 50/50 and such compelled me to check in with a different take. My take is that he's still the man when healthy. Did he start a few games last year when they should have sat him? Yeah, probably. Did that hurt your fantasy season? Apparently.

In my leagues, the teams that had him also had Buckhalter and they managed their way through the fire.

I had BWB as my 12th RB before the ankle surgery was announced. Now, he's down in the mid teens pending better info on his availability for week one.

I also had Westy and Colston and I went 14-2 .

Oh, snap! But seriously, this illustrates a good point. Westbrook is still draftable, you just have to have a strategy in place should you pick him. If your season is shot because you lose one or two players, you probably had a rough draft.

I'm concerned.

Wouldn't touch him in the first round for the life of me...

If he falls in the 2nd round, I'm definitely grabbing him there. If he gets healthy and you can pair him up with another first round talent, that's a great start to your team.

How would you guys feel if it somehow went like this:

You have pick 1.09 of a 12 teamer, snake order

You select either Larry Fitzgerald or Randy Moss, since all of the other top RB talents are gone. Would you then select Westbrook as your RB1? PPR league, mind you.

+1, and have been for years. Needless to say, Brian Westbrook will never be on any of my fantasy teams (as he won't fall to the point where I'd take him). I don't want to be holding the bag when the wheels officially fall off...

That's really the issue. Nobody wants to start off a team with this guy right now, but find 12 guys that you like more. That's where it gets tricky. And, to answer your question, I would probably take Westbrook there. A PPR league seals the deal.

A few other interesting factors... Westbrook, because he's in large part a receiver, might be more viable than your basic 30-year old tailback. Also factor in that the Eagles upgraded their O-line for '09.

I'm cautious on Westy too, but once eight or so other RB's go off the board, he's going to be tough to avoid. If you are a late pick, you might go non-RB, but you'll still be staring at BWB, Slaton, Portis or Gore on the other side. Those guys all have their own issues.

I think people are asking for consistency though. Michael Turner averaged just over 78 YPG on the ground alone when he didn't score a TD. AP averaged nearly 108 total YPG when he didn't have a TD (and that's not even including his added receptions). Westbrook on the other hand was quite a bit below then and averaged only 66 total YPG. Another big difference is that both AP and Turner doesn't have any major injury history and played in all 16 games last year.

In terms of those players I don't think consistency is an issue as it's clear what order they should be drafted in at this point in time. But I can see what you mean.

I've never been this perplexed by a players perceived DP before. Thankfully, it's only June.

Not gonna draft him at all. He is 30 years old with loads of injury histories and surgery's. I would not at all draft him in the first round in any FFB Draft , He will go in the second round i think. But you never know who will draft who when it's their turn you feel me.

Yes he is injury prone but if he is there in the 2nd round and its someone's pick and they dont select him, then they should stick with fantasy tennis leagues.
I dont see how anyone can say they wouldnt draft him. He might be an injury question mark but still one of the best at his position fantasy wise.

Exactly. At what point does he become the obvious BAP? Once he is, injuries or not, you harm your team by not taking him.

True that. But if he is still there when it's my pick in round two. i am jumping on it and getting him.

make up your mind

Will pass on the old man.

I don't agree; there are plenty of good backs to be had in the second round compared to Westbrook... You would really look down on someone for taking, say, Steve Slaton, Marion Barber, Clinton Portis, etc. over him? The sad truth about fantasy football is that in most instances your first couple of picks won't win you a title, but they sure as hell can cost you one. Why take the risk on Westbrook when you can get someone else nearly as productive but with FAR less injury risk?

For me, my first few picks are reserved from guys I know I can count on and Westbrook doesn't fit that bill for me.

Injury risk is only one kind of risk. Marion Barber has Felix Jones risk. Slaton has stature (smallish) risk and lack of a proven track record risk. Clinton Portis has pretty much the same risk as Westbrook.

LT has major risk, but, like Westbrook, has high upside. MJD has risk with a new workload level. Forte is still young and may not hold up physically as he was banged up a lot last year but played through it. Chris Johnson shares carries and could get mega-vultured on the goal line.

There are few perfect players - if any at all. It's always a matter of what or which risk you want to assume.

Westbrook had a rough season last year. And, even if you rank him solely on his '08 numbers and throw out his better years, he still outscored all but nine running backs in terms of fantasy points.

To me, if Westbrook is healthy when I draft, he'll be on my board and he could be ahead of those guys you mentioned. Right now, I might take Slaton and the young wheels, but it's close. That said, Westbrook has fallen six spots from where I had him last year and if he's anything less than a sure go for the opener, I'd drop him some more on draft day.

Dude we get the point, you are willing to roll the dice with injury-prone players with huge potential.

Sure, every player has "risk", but to me, injury risk, in particular with a guy who has legitimately carried that risk for years now, carries more weight in my eyes. Further, citing RBBC risk isn't risk as nearly everyone is doing it, so that eliminates Marion Barber and many others for me as having "risk". He's (Barber) been a sharer his whole career (save last year) so that's irrelevent to me. Guys are risky because they're small and/or young? Ok, that's a big stretch to be sure.

The only real comparison player here is LT and considering his lack of historical injury history (by comparison), I'd easily take him over Westbrook given the choice. I've never been a Westbrook guy as every year it's something; I would never want to be holding the bag when that time comes, regardless of the price when I can get a guy who carries less risk (to me) but will be just as productive. Taking Westbrook in the second round vs. the first is still the same sting if he gets hurt; you're f-ed either way if (or when, depending on where you're at with him) he gets hurt...

Every year there is production too.

Dude, don't read 'em if you don't like 'em. And, that wasn't really the point.

Sure, when he plays, which is my point. And, it's always a game time decision, which is even worse.

gentlemen the Eagles drafted LeSean "Shady" McCoy..if westbrook goes down it might be a blessing, trust me this kid is a beast if he is given an opportunity.

How many other people lost there fantasy football league cause of westbrook laying down at the 1 yard line. How cowardaly and what great confidence you have in your defense

That's from 2007.

Not me, but that was a brilliant move on his part (even if someone else did tell him to do it as allegedly happened). It has nothing to do with confidence in your defense; why not 100% shut the door on a team if you can rather than give them a remote chance to win? It sucked for fantasy guys but it was absolutely the correct football decision.

And yes, this happened two seasons ago.

Not me i didn't draft him that year

It also has nothing to do with cowardice or confidence in defense, and everything to do with doing what is in the best interest of his real football team (as opposed to your fantasy team). They could kneel out the clock at the 1, instead of taking the TD and giving the opposing offense another shot.


Edit: Or what rwood said. Gotta remember to refresh before commenting when the window has been sitting open for a while!

That season is also the season the Cowboys scored, on-sided and scored again to beat my Bills. They had the potential to pull off scenarios like that, no way I'd even give them a shot.

Exactly.

The last comment in here was over a month ago, but I think a lot of the questions are still here now. I just did an ESPN (free) league, which really doesn't go too much like my own money league, but I still like to get an idea of where people go. Westbrook was available at pick 30 in that league (non ppr) and I just couldn't see letting him drop any further.


Is there any updated information on his health? At what point do you guys feel he is worth the pick? Personally, if he's sitting there past the middle of round two or somehow drops to round 3 like he did in that ESPN league I just drafted, I'd be hard pressed to let him slip further. Granted, I will probably need to reach for Mccoy, I can't forget the dominance Westbrook has shown on the field.

Per Rotoworld:

"Brian Westbrook (knee, ankle) was running and cutting at full speed with coach Andy Reid observing Wednesday morning.
Westbrook was reportedly "uninhibited" in his running, with Reid and trainer Rick Burkholder gauging his progress. If it's determined that Westbrook passed the test, he could join team drills next week. We don't expect to see him in exhibition action."
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You are really going to have to play the wait and see game with this one.

If he gets back on the field, full contact, and all reports point towards a healthy ankle, then I think a mid-late 1st (7-12) is an appropriate ADP for him and could be pretty good value for the level of production he can provide. If he continues to be sidelined, is held back, misses time into the preseason, I'd weary using anything higher than early 2nd on him.

Either way, that is an ESSENTIAL handcuff situation if you take him. Do absolutely whatever it takes to get McCoy.

3rd round is awesome value for Westy. He will definitely produce just probably not in all 16 games so definitely pick up McCoy. I probably wouldn't touch him middle 2nd or earlier, just seems like there are less risky options with similar upside who don't force you to burn a mid-round pick handcuffing McCoy.

I still love BWB. I hope his stock keeps slipping so I can target him as my 2nd player.

I feel like he won't fall too far in my draft, but I wouldn't mind if he would. Anyway, I am under the impression that Philly has a solid O-line, along with Mcnabb and a formidable passing game to stretch the field. I guess my question is...even if you're scared that Westbrook may get injured (which is always a legitimate worry), if you can pair him with McCoy, is it worth it regardless? I've just been thinking about how down everyone is on BW, yet high on McCoy. I think this could just be the perfect opportunity to secure Westy and just make sure to have his handcuff. I think that regardless of who is starting, there will be production (both receiving and rushing) from the Philadelphia backfield. So basically, is it worth it to use two picks to secure a Philly RB? I am starting to think so.