I remember when he came out, I believe Robert Smith was the other top back. I made a deal with a guy in my league that also included the top pick I had in our draft, forfeiting my chance to get LT. But....I put in a stipulation that said if LT scored 10 TD's or more, he would have to give him back to me for Robert Smith if I wanted him. LT did and I stole LT. Giving me running backs of Tomlinson, Priest Holmes and Ricky Williams in a keep 3.....8 team league...juggernaut.
I had LT in one of my leagues when he set the record in 2006. I got him when my computer crashed 15 minutes before my draft and my entire roster was auto-drafted (I had the 1st draft position). I also picked up Tom Brady in the 2nd round. Made it all the way to the Championship and lost because I chose to start Donte Stallworth over Vincent Jackson, whom I picked up off the waiver wire the day before. That was Week 16 in 2006, when the Chargers played the seahawks at Seattle. VJ exploded for over 100 yards receiving and two TD's.
Coming out, the talk was that Smith would have a bigger fantasy impact because of his speed. I figured the stipulation I had in the trade gave me the chance to essentially draft both guys. I also drafted Turner, Gates and Jackson along the way. I still have Turner and VJ.
Lot of talk in my work league who will go #1 overall this season. Arian Foster is a safe bet, but I wouldn't be surprised if Aaron Rodgers takes the top spot. With very few workhorse backs left in the league, it would be a heavy gamble not to take Foster or Ray Rice with picks 1-2. After that, it's a coin flip. The top 6 point producers in our league were QB's, followed by Rice, 2 more QB's and Foster. I think this is the season Michael Turner and Steve Jackson "Portis" and turn in lackluster seasons due to injury and falling production. I'm leery of the Ryan Mathews hype and while I think he will turn in a productive, top 10 RB season, I would have a tough time drafting him with a top 6 pick.
It's shifted to WR and QB these days. There just aren't enough bell cow guys running the ball anymore. I have always built my team around a stable of running backs for the last 10 years, but I am shifting my strategy this year. I had Turner and Steven Jackson for 2 years leading up to last season. I traded Jackson away before last season. Always hurt and never scores. The Rams blow. Turner gets the chance to score more often and Atlanta can score. I think Turner has another year in him. I'm probably protecting Turner and Rivers. I have VJax, but I'm not sure what he'll do in Tampa. My team has turned to crap the last 2 years. I gave up my 1st round pick for 2 consecutive years to get the top pick to take Ryan Mathews his rookie year. Then our league decided to expand from 8 to 10 teams last year and we protect 2 instead of 3. After the year Mathews had his rookie season I couldn't justify holding him instead of Turner or Rivers, so I was forced to drop him into the draft pool last season and I missed him in the second round by one pick. I had traded my 1st round pick in the trade i made the previous year to move up to get him. had I known we were going to expand and only protect 2 I would have never made that trade. It was all predicated on holding 3 guys. I was pissed.
