Browns RB Jamal Lewis. Looking back in Shula League scoring last year at RBs produced another surprise. We just had a thread about Clinton Portis and now the lastest thread along the subject of WTF are you doing in the top 10 RBs. Jamal Lewis finished up in Shula scoring as the #6 RB in points scored. Lewis had 298 carries for 1,304 and 4.4 yards per carry. Another 248 recieving yards with 2TD.

Being in several leagues when I lose I always look to see how this happened and several times the answer was WTF, Jamal Lewis. So what does everybody think? These are first round pick numbers but what does your gut say for this year. Most will say that Jamal isn't really a big play guy anymore but he did have a 66 yard TD. Will he be able to duplicate these numbers? Looks like a late first round pick....Runs like a late first round pick... Quack?!?!

He makes me nervous.

He proved last year that he still has wheels, has almost no competition, his offensive line is very good as is his surrounding talent.

But this guy has NEVER strung two good years together. Granted injury has often been the reason and that's almost silly to predict, but I'm tempted to do just that.

Late second - early third at best for me.

I agree. If I do look at him, it would be as a #3 rb, in round 4, and we all know he will be gone by then.

I like Lewis for 2008.....beyond that, not so much, but this year I like his prospects for several reasons:

• Limited competition for carries. There is not really a back sitting behind them that will push him for major carries.
• Offense on the rise. This is a rising offense that has balance! They can not afford to stack up to stop Lewis with weapons such as Edwards, Winslow, and Stallworth hanging around.
• Offensive Line is very good. Here is the big key for me, this is a young, aggressive, and improving offensive line that opens up the holes Lewis needs to succeed. As long as this group stays healthy I see a very good year for him.

I would be hesitant to make him my #1 pick, but would not hesitate to take him at the corner or early 2nd.

how do you figure? lewis was great as a rookie on 00, then yes missed the entire year in 01. then he really has been good or great every year from 02 forward with the one exception being in 2005 when he completely stunk. so hes had one year he missed the whole season, where you probably didnt draft him anyway unless you draft too early, and then he has done well for owners in 6 of 7 other seasons. and dont argue about the 04 season either. he was on pace for another 1300+ yards and 9 TD season that year, and coming off a record year when any ninny would've seen a downer / injury year, and performed at that level for 12 games. thats better than most have done after a 2000 yard year.

lewis is about as consistent as they come. he consistently gets about 300 carries -- last year he was top 5 in carries. he consistently gets a lot of TDs -- averages more than 8 per season in his career. he also consistently runs for a very good YPC usually -- 4.3 or higher every year of his career except that last two in baltimore with that team falling apart.

last year he scored 11 TDs and averaged a very good 4.4 YPC. that YPC was behind only peterson, taylor, westy, and tomlinson for top tier RBs. this year cleveland is as good or better at every position and particularly is better on defense and considered a contender such that it makes sense you might run the ball more to control a lead. lewis isnt a superstar like ladanian, and hes not as fun to watch as adrian, but you know what you're going to get unless someone takes out his knees.

i think you can pretty safely look for something like:

310 carries, 1325 yards, 9 TDs... 25 rec, 175 yards receiving

in a standard scoring league, that gives him 204 points. in most seasons that is a sure thing top 15, possibly top 10 RB. and theres potential in there for improvement at literally every stat. i dont know what his normal ADP looks like right now but i'm guessing it will end up somewhere in the 2nd. why not take a perfect RB2 instead of gambling on someone like MJD, barber, lynch, or dmac instead?

Crennell has be busy rebuilding the Browns O Line since he got there. Yet, during this process, the Browns have had major injury problems every year. Which means Crennel has had to pull in more Linemen to fill in. Yet those fill ins have preformed well making Lewis a 1,500 yard plus...10+ TD guy last year They don't grow on trees. Now are the Browns a top 5 line? maybe? a top 10 line, for sure. Now they will has all there best guys available and Healthy. But the one aspect of having to cope with all those injuries is Depth.
Not only will their best O Lineman be back in play but their backups will all have a lot of playing time under their belts. Best O line....maybe, maybe not. But this year their line will be bulletproof!!

His 2006 was a bit better than I initially thought. Still, I said I'd take him late 2nd - early 3rd and I feel I'm being fair to him. He is going to be 29 in August, has had many injuries and doesn't avoid contact. He could easily take a tumble this year.

And I don't know what makes Lynch such a gamble. What's up with that?

Lewis is no spring chicken for sure but there is no reason to think that Lewis doesn't have a couple of good years left. I have to figure that the Browns watched Lewis like a hawk last year. His attitude, his health, how did he perform in practice every day? Did he show signs of wearing down? They had to be watching him all season with long term eyes, do we need to invest now in a future back. Apparently, they liked what they saw and no real attempt was made to invest or upgrade behind him. This is an important aspect in grading him. He is the unquestioned starter. He will be the main focal point of the rushing attack and will get the bulk of carries. This is getting rare in the ever growing RBBC mindset in the NFL.

These people watching him... were they the same guys who decided between Frye and Anderson with a coin flip? Those guys?

I can agree here. The back up back is Wright, who while has shown flashes, is not really a take over kind of guy...just a solid back up type.

And here is where we disagree. Yes the offense was much better last year. The offensive line is much better. However, now we get into the talent portion. What has changed? Winslow is a hold out canidate coming back from ANOTHER surgery. Edwards looks to be solid. I refuse to give Stallworth any credit...since he has done nothing his whole stinking career but flash and die. One half year in philly is pretty much it. Only other Wr of mention is the KR Cribbs. So.....where is the improvement?

Yes, as agreed to above the O-line is good. That however does not take away from the fact you have an aging back, with loads of miles and a very prominant injury history. I am with Orgazmo here where i will be shocked if he makes it through the year.

Cool, lets get in a league so I can get better Rb or Wr value while you do this!!

Said the man with the second worst record in Hired Guns last year.



Sorry....the setup was just perfect.

[quote=Phicinfan;208984][/list]

So youth doesn't improve? And stallworth is not an addition? He is better then what they had. This is a young and improving offense. I don't see how they are not considered a team on the rise.... and this from a guy who hates them....

This is where you underestimate the most important key in football, a great offensive line makes EVERYTHING look better. Makes a RB look quicker, makes a QB look more accurate ,and makes the offense click. You agree with my point then go off on another tangent about his injury history....and that effects the offensive line how? Lewis very well could get injured, so could LT, SJAx, Lynch, Westbrook, and any other RB in the NFL.....


I believe we have been in a few leagues over the years....have you ever finished with a better record??? Just checking You take your "better Rb" and I'll take the better production.....

What youth??? No, stallworth is not better, he takes up space....at least until his hammy's go bad...then he takes up trainer's table space.


Has Lynch, LT, SJax or Westbrook had multiple years where they have had body parts breaking down forcing them to miss whole seasons? Twice? I don't think so. Off line can make a mediocre rb look good, not make a old and soon to be failing rb a "stud". Sorry, don't buy it.



I do believe I have beaten you soundly in SUDFFL. I am not sure we have faced each other all that much...makes Hired Guns alot more fun! And ...before we carry that over from another thread...yes I had issues in Hired guns last year. But lets see what happens next.

i dont know why people refuse to face the facts, but lewis hasnt had body parts breaking down causing him to miss entire seasons. he just hasnt. he tore an acl and missed a full season, played 12 games in one other season, and then played in 15 or 16 the rest.

i cant believe you bring up sjax and westy in your argument either. westbrook has NEVER played a full 16 game schedule. ever! and sjax has done so only once in his career. both of these guys are the king of nagging injuries every year.

In 2004 or 05 he played through a nagging ankle injury that required post-season surgery and his speed hasn't been the same since. In limited viewing last year, he looked like he was walking through the line rather than running. He's got a great line that did wonders for him, but as a talent he's well past his prime and that makes him someone difficult to count on.