If you need a refresher on the rules for the series or a run down of previous match-ups? Here is the rules and history thread:
http://www.sportsoutlaw.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.
Today's Match-up:
Domanick Davis - RB - Hou *vs* Brian Westbrook - RB - Phi
Last Year's Stats:
Domanick Davis - 11 gms - 976 ru yds - 2 TD's - 39 rec - 337 yds - 4 TD's
Brian Westbrook - 12 gms - 617 yds - 3 TD's - 61 rec - 616 yds - 4 TD's

Today's "Close Call" comes by request and places 2 backs that do about as much damage in the air as they do on the ground. Dom gives you a little more on the ground while Westy is going to give you a little more through the air. The biggest question with both these guys comes down to durability. Which one can make it thought the season??? Well your answer to that will go a long way in helping you decide today's "Close Call."

Im going out on a limb and going with the maligned Westbrook. WHEN HEALTHY this guy is actually a fantasy machine. His ability to catch the ball makes him just as dangerous as his running. Hard to judge by last year because the situation in Philly last year but I have always liked Westbrook. Philly needs to start limiting his receptions across the middle to prolong his shelf life alittle but I like him over MR Davis.

is there a choice C for torry holt?

what does Torry Holt have to do with deciding between these teo RB's?

Both are showing some injury risk, but I think that injury risk is obviously higher with Westbrook. They are both very nice players to have on your team though when healthy.

I am going to take Domanick Davis on the assumption that the blocking will be better in Houston this year, and the offensive production overall will be better. Also, while both may be on the bench with injuries at some point, the trend shows Westbrook to be there more often.

This one is pretty easy for me, DD all the way. DD may be an injury oncern, but I fel Westy is a far greater concern in that department. DD should also get more opportunities IMO to put up a top 10 fantasy season.

because theres absolutely no way i would ever draft one of these guys over torry holt or randy moss or marvin harrison or terrell owens or any of the other WRs that go around that area. its ludicrous really. so i will pass on both unless they fall well into the 3rd, and even then only for trade bait.

but if i eventually had to pick one, it would be davis because he is actually a good runner out of the backfield, while westbrook just catches a lot of passes. plus, both of them have new offensive coordinators in town. westbrook lost his pass-happy coordinator who allowed him to catch 5+ passes a game, while davis gained gary kubiak who is known for producing stud after stud in denver's running game. easy choice.

But I didn't ask you if there was anyway you would draft them, I asked if you were going to take on of them who would it be. And now you answered that.

WOW...this is a tough choice. I love Westbrook, and I think he will be even used more this year with TO gone. However, DD is a proven runner and reciever, and if they can run this offense like Denver's..the the sky is the limit. I will go with DD here.

SD+TG=DD. Not a big Westbrook fan. The Texans passing on Bush is a big endorsement of Davis this year. That and the fact that The Texan's schedule is full of rushing defense back markers, makes him a better choice.

Davis: Westy is money but I'm thinking DD gets more looks on the ground. Lack of ground looks drove me nuts as a Westy owner last season. Most games he made up for it in receptions.

This season might be a good one for DD. It should be better in ff numbers than westy. DD all the way.

I am going to say DD too. I think Houston's entire offense will be more productive this year, and DD will carry most of the load.

Also I am still not sold on this whole rejuvenation of the Eagles offense now that TO is gone. They will need to prove it to me first.

Way to early to tell on DD.

His knee is a big question mark. Some say Kubes is saving him for real training camp. Some say his rehab is behind schedule. Some say all this auditioning for more depth at RB is because he is hurt, but some say it is because a Denver system requires more than 1 RB and Kubiak doesn't want to play rookies. (Though if you look at the Denver system, one back does get the majority of the carries if he is The Man).

I watched an OTA a couple of weeks ago and DD was doing drills by himself on a nearby field. He looked pretty good but it's not like playing. They haven't had DD talk to the media about stuff--I guess keeping some leverage if they are going to trade for someone like Bennett (not looking like it is going to happen right now given Deuce question marks and Bush not signing yet--it would screw NO's leverage).

I think whoever ends up being The Man running the ball for Houston is gonna be good. The problem is whether The Man will be identified before the season, or whether it will end up being The Men.

The Texans run blocking has been pretty good given the fact that the defense didn't have to respect anything 10 yards downfield. Everybody last year could run--DD, Wells, Morency.

Kubes plan is to make the defense have to play the entire field. Hopefully, this will open up the run even more. The Texans WR are fast, strong, and tall, and with the Texans actually using a TE for something other than maxprotect, I think this will open up the run game a bunch.

What are your thoughts on the Texans not pursuing Wells? The guy did very well for the Texans last year.

I hope to see good thinks out of Kubiak, but I get a little concerned when players are sent packing because they dont fit the size/mold that is ideal for a "system". I fear the Andy Reid mentality here, in which it is all about the system and not about working to the strength of the players that you have.

I liked Wells a lot--met him and he was a bright spot last year and good on special teams. All the talk was that he was a hard worker and did whatever the team wanted.

I'm not sure what the deal is with him. The knock on him is that he is a big guy that didn't play big. Sometimes guys that can do a lot of things, can't do any one thing well enough.

I've heard some reallllly vague rumors about him being a little grumbly, but geez, after last season it would be hard not to be.

As for the system stuff, the Denver style running back is pretty important for their system to work, so they musta really seen something they didn't like on film.

I do know of a number of veterans that were let go partially because they were lazy trainers. I didn't hear Wells name in that.