A Closer (Hunch-Based) Look at Denver’s RB Picture
Each year, owners look to dabble with the Bronco RBs due to Denver’s run-friendly scheme and the fantasy goodness their backfield tends to generate. But 2008 is a particularly tricky year to get a read on this situation because much has happened in the last few months and the pecking order is currently very unclear and extremely volatile.
Here are some recent developments worth noting:
● Travis Henry, who will turn 30 this season, badly pulled his hamstring last week while running 100-yard dashes in workouts and hasn’t suited up since. He also took a substantial pay cut this off-season just so he could stay in Denver. Triple bad vibes anyone?
● Selvin Young pledged to rush for 2,000 yards this season, claiming that injury is the only thing that can hold him back.
● Ryan Torain, a 6’1” 222-pound back coming off a Lisfranc injury, was drafted in the 5th round and is viewed as an ideal fit for Denver’s zone running game.
● Underrated veteran bruiser Michael Pittman signed a one-year deal with the Broncos to add depth to their backfield and presumably to catch some passes.
Throw in the fact that the shifty Andre Hall is still on the roster, and you have one ugly situation brewing in Denver. Who will be the “starter” come Week One? Who will get the goal-line carries? Who will be cut in training camp? Who’s the handcuff to whom? All of these are relevant questions, but unfortunately nobody has the answers right now.
However, you could make the argument that Young and Pittman figure to be the most productive backs in 2008 with Torain possibly making a late-season cameo. After all, it’s a long shot that Henry can stay healthy and keep his nose clean, and frankly, he looked lost in Denver’s scheme last year after storming out of the gates early on. I have this creeping suspicion that he’s on his way out unless he has the training camp of his life.
Ultimately, my opinion really doesn’t matter because Mike Shanahan will determine his depth chart in training camp and presumably during the preseason. But personally, I anticipate Young and Pittman having the most value of this entire crew. Yet don’t overlook the fact that this could spiral into a full-blown RBBC in 2008, in which we see a different guy excel each week. In other words, you’ll either have to grab 2-3 of these guys or none of them on draft day. The call is yours. Just be prepared for yet another a roller-coaster ride, courtesy of Shanahan.
I would feel comfortable at grabbing Young Round 10-12 as a No. 4 RB, and not any others, at least at this point. We’ll know alot more in late August in time for the real drafting to begin.
Comment by hemdilly — May 28, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Excellent point, time will tell everything here, and Young will probably be the sexiest pick of the bunch for sure.
Comment by Zap — May 28, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
This situation is one I stay away from. With my luck, I would draft Henry, Pittman, and Young, and Andre Hall would win the starting job.
Comment by JBeau — May 29, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Good point, it’s always the guy you least expect. I’m just intrigued by Pittman and itching to know where he fits in.
Comment by Zap — May 29, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Pittman was never the type of guy to wiggle in the trenches. He is a downhill bruiser, which I would think fits well with the Broncos scheme. I would not be surprised to see him take the lead role, with Young as a change of pace guy. Henry has become expendable it would seem.
Comment by JBeau — May 29, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Expendable definitely may be the right word for him, and he’s only ever hurt me in the past when I’ve drafted him, so maybe I’m looking at this situation with blinders on. Still, it’s got to be one of the more intriguing RB pictures out there for 2008, besides obvious ones like Houston, Carolina, Seattle, and Detroit
Comment by Zap — May 29, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Absolutely Zap. If you draft the right guy, I think you got fantasy gold. Once they find the next Portis, there won’t be a RBBC in Denver.
Comment by jbeau — May 30, 2008 @ 10:10 am
Nobody had heard of Young or Hall a year ago so that’s why it’ll probably be Torain.
Comment by Gump — May 30, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
yea, but torain’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, so I think he’ll have trouble picking up the scheme…..
Comment by Zap — June 1, 2008 @ 1:11 am
Henry has been released. Guess I was right about him being dispensable Zap. I am considering picking up Pittman in one of my leagues.
Comment by JBeau — June 2, 2008 @ 11:58 am
JBeau, maybe your call on Henry being “dispensable” was influenced by Zap’s “creeping suspicion” that he could be on the way out, no? Let’s give credit where it’s due - good call, Zap.
Comment by LeConey — June 2, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
My bad Coney, not trying to steal anyone’s thunder. I guess you knew all along what I was thinking even before he made the post. Good call Zap.
Comment by JBeau — June 2, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
ha ha, Bill’s just being playful, JBeau, no sweat…..We both were on the right track….right now it looks like Young is the wise pick and Pittman is the handcuff.
Comment by Zap — June 2, 2008 @ 1:58 pm