If you need a refresher on the rules for the series, here is the original thread:
http://www.sportsoutlaw.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.
Today's Match-up:
LaMont Jordan - RB - Oak *vs* Steven Jackson - RB - St. L

Last Year's Stats:
Jordan - 14 gms - 1025 ru yds - 9 TD's - 70 rec - 563 rec yds - 2 TD's
Jackson - 15 gms - 1046 ru yds - 8 TD's - 43 rec - 320 rec yds - 2 TD's

Today's match-up is a interesting battle of 2 RB's that will likely be chosen in the later part of rd 1. Jordan had an impressive season last yuear in his first in a feature role. He had an amazing 70 receptions to aid his decent rushing totals. Jackson took on the role as feature back in St. L's offense last year as well, and while he posted decent numbers, many fdeel he is capable of doing much more. Expect the new coaching staff to find this out as he should carry much more of the load in this offense. So will Jackson take advantage of the heavier work load, and can Jordan build on last year's break-oput season? These are the questions you will have to answer in Today's Close Call."

Jordan, because im banking on Aaron Brooks being able to complete a pass, and Moss staying healthy.

another great matchup. Cant wait to hear the pros and cons on each player.

I think the move of Gallery to his natural left tackle position makes the Raider ol better than last season. Pace and maybe Stuessie (is he collecting social security yet?) could be a solid left side. I like Jackson as an athlete but was pleasantly surprised at how well Jordan caught the ball out of the backfield. He did the kind of work some of us thought Jackson would get with the move of Faulk to a situational back.

So in the final analysis if both fell to me at the end of the 1st I'd take Jordan for a better season.

Give Jackson a couple years of injury free playing time and he will be a monster. Hes not there yet though

Jordan is my pick here
Art Shell will run, run, run... pass deep... then run, run, run

Lenihan (sp?) will use JAckson better then Martz and was productive in the run game last year with Brown and Williams, but I would go Jordan.

Not a big Jordan fan and his 3.8 YPC scares me. He did get quite a few receptions, but is Shell going to enable him to catch that many again?

I went with Jackson because I think he is a better runner while still being a pretty decent target out of the backfield. Overall, I just think his upside is a bit greater.

While I agree that Jackson has more upside, I will have to go with Jordan until Jackson proves otherwise.

The other thing is that Jackson needs to learn how to hold onto the ball better. In the Giants game last year, St Louis was down by 10 and was driving towards the goaline when Jackson fumbled at the 13, and the Giants recovered and drove the length of the field to put the game out of reach. Instead of a possible 27-24 score, it was then 34-17. Thats a big turn.

In the Indy game in week 6, the Rams had the lead and the ball and were driving out of thier side of the field and Jackson once again fumbled, which lead to the score that gave Indy the lead. They never looked back. Score at time of fumble Rams 20 Indy 17, final score 45-28.

In the Arizona game in week 11, they were tied and the Rams were driving only to have Jackson fumble and Arizona drove to a go ahead FG.

Until he learns to get this under control and stops doing it at crucial times, there will be a limit to what he can accomplish.

I also think that the yards per carry average by Jordan was as much the fault of that lousy offensive line as his. I look for their o-line to improve this year( Hard for them not to). If it does, then his average should get back into the mid 4's.

I'll add my actual vote and thoughts on Jackson later, but wanted to add general comments on Jordan from another thread for discussion's sake:

Finished 7th overall although missed 2 games (supposedly injury, but was ok'd to sit b/c of tanked season, could have played if needed).

Quality numbers considering he had 20+ carries only 6 of 14 games, 25+ carries only 4 of 14 games (a pt that Shell made note of during interview after taking over reigns of HC...<paraphrasing> '3 of 4 times he went over 25 carries Raiders won...need to get him ball more consistently')

With Shell(and OLC Jackie Slater)infusing some discipline and fire with OL, more mobile qb and commitment by staff to run the ball to set up deep ball downfield, can only see improvement for Jordan.

Ideal at this spot: feel confident will do no worse than top8, so safe pick in 1st, with upside for top5

OK, my pick went to Jackson. I haqppen to be in the camp that Jackson is a budding RB Stud. Jackson put up very comparable numbers to Jordan last year in an offense that used him to about 65% of what he is capable of IMO. I think he can be the workhorse back you can win a fantasy championship with. And his downside are numbers similar to what he did last year, not terriable numbers. I'll take that.

Now for Jordan, sorry, just not sold. i know NAn is going to tear me up on this one, but that 3.8 ypc scares me and while the OLine should be better, I'm not sure how much better it will be. All the common sense facts point to Jordan having another very good year and being a solid top 10 back, but for some reason my gut is saying be careful with this guy, he may just break your heart. For that reason, I'm trusting my gut, Jordan can be someone elses in the 1st.

I am taking Jackson with this close call. I think they will both do well, but I have to go with the guy I feel has more talent, and who will benefit from carrying the ball more.
I wasn't a big fan of Jackson when he first came into the NFL, simply due to his running style. He hit the hole like a bull in a china closet. He had absolutely no patience, and it appeared that lacked any vision at all. He has developed that patience and became a very nice running back now, however, he needs the ball more than the Rams have been giving it to him to truly succeed. This year it will happen.

Gonna leave this open till at least tomorrow night since it didn't go up till Tuesday. Still time to break this tie guys!!

my vote is strongly for jordan on this one.

1) bigger TD threat
2) bigger receiving threat -- had 70 receptions and 600 yards last year
3) excellent schedule this year
4) sjax, for all his potential, has yet to really reach it at all
5) jordans new coach wants to emphasize run even more. sjax's new coach uses run to open the pass, and also has a history of using 2 RBs often

sjax has a better line and also a very good schedule, so he should be a good pick as well. but in the end, jordan is just a safer pick with as much upside or more. and if this was PPR, it wouldnt even be that close.

Damn Miller, you couldn't have picked a better matchup that this. The tie was broken for only a few minutes.

I know we have to have some more opinions on this matchup. Let's here them folks.

I voted Jackson. I believe that Martz did not use him properly and his game has suffered. If the new coaches use him right, and I believe they will, he is in for a monster season. Top 5 caliber....