Should I start Willis Mcgahee in week one? Or one of my other RBs?

Question

Mcgahee's injuries and crappy o-line and rookie qb are bothering me. Baltimore sucks, and I have a bad feeling he's going to suck too, not just this first game but all season. And apparently a lot of NFL experts agree with me.

I've been trying to trade him away or trade up for another RB, but I have no takers right now, so I'm stuck with him or one of my other options: Darren McFadden, Matt Forte, Ricky Williams, and Ronnie Brown. The RB I will be starting opposite this position will be Marshawn Lynch. Who takes my other starting RB slot this week?!

Please back up your answers. I want sound advice.

Answer 1

Ricky Williams. The 'Phins are playing the Jets. The other two are playing solid defenses and have no NFL experience. Ricky Williams was named the starter in Miami a few weeks ago and there must be a reason. While he probably will split time with Ronnie Brown, I look for Ricky to be the one they use on first and second downs. He'll eat up chunks of yards and most likely get a touchdown or two against an average Jets defense.

Answer 2

Go with willis...he'll get alot of action...The others wont. if he doesnt produce this weak try one of the others next weak

Answer 3

wow, my LONG Axx answer isn't here.  Here it is again.  Two parts this time:  

Miami Dolphins Rushing Offense vs New York Jets Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Ricky Williams has seized the top job in Miami, and was rewarded with a one-year contract extension on August 31st. "You guys see it out there, we see it out there," said Miami general manager Jeff Ireland said. "He's done an excellent job in the weight room, the meeting room, he's come out there and he's jumped out at us on tape. He looks good in the preseason. So everything we've seen since we got here ... he's done everything we've asked him to do." Williams gained 47 yards on 12 carries and added 2 receptions for 8 yards in the first half vs. Kansas City in the 3rd exhibition game and looks strong heading into regular season. Ronnie Brown didn't play in the 3rd exhibition game (a sprained finger stopped him from contributing) and hasn't looked like his old self during preseason as he continues to come back from a knee injury/ACL reconstruction. For now, the Dolphins' offense will rely heavily on Williams to carry the load.

The Jets ended 2007 ranked as the 29th rush D in the land, averaging 134.8 yards allowed per game. They handed over 14 rushing scores last season (23rd in the NFL) - in short, the defensive front wasn't very good. The team added Kris Jenkins at NT in their 3-4 scheme this year, and imported some LB help through free agency (Calvin Pace) and the draft (Vernon Gholston) - so far, the unit is somewhat improved. In the 3rd preseason game against the Giants, the Jets gave up 21/107/1 to Brandon Jacobs and company - not a great showing, but less than the 130+ yards the team averaged last season. We'll have a better idea how much the Jets have improved in this area after a full 60 minutes from the first team defense on Sunday.

Williams has been impressive against vanilla defensive schemes in the preseason, but now the games count and teams won't be playing developmental prospects. The Dolphins are in transition this year and have a lot to prove yet - but so do the Jets. With the home field advantage behind the Dolphins this week, we think this is a fairly even matchup.

Baltimore Ravens Rushing Offense vs Cincinnati Bengals Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Willis McGahee is very shaky to play in the opener (he was running in a swimming pool as late as last week, and hasn't had many reps with the first team this year); meanwhile the Ravens' pass offense is a shambles with rookie QB Joe Flacco the last man standing at the position right now. Further bad news for McGahee owners came out during the final weeks of preseason - rumors indicate the new coaching staff is unhappy with his grasp of the playbook and lackluster effort during the spring prior to his injury. On Monday, coach John Harbaugh commented on McGahee (who did practice): "I wouldn't say he's 100 percent just [from] watching him run around out there. But he was out there. We'll just have to see how he progresses this week. He wants to be out there, I know that." Many signs point to week 1 being a huge opportunity for Ray Rice, the rookie RB who has carried the ball almost every first team snap since McGahee went down with his bum knee. Rice ran for 5/20/0 and snagged one reception for 4 yards in the 3rd preseason game vs. St. Louis. He looks like opportunity may be knocking on his door for week 1 of the regular season.

Cincinnati's rush D was in the middle of the NFL pack last year, averaging 118.3 rushing yards allowed per game (21st in the NFL) with 11 rushing scores surrendered (tied for 12th in the NFL). The Saints rolled over the Bengals for 145 yards in the 3rd preseason game, though (29/145/0 - a 5.0 yards per carry average), which is not what the coaching staff had in mind at all. On some plays, they limited the Saints to a short gain, only to let a runner loose in the secondary on the next. Inconsistency is the key term used to describe the Bengals' rush D this year.

The Ravens' offense is in turmoil and will have a rookie starting at QB and may have a rookie starting at RB on Sunday. The Bengals' defense hasn't established a strong presence during preseason - that sounds like a fairly even matchup between weak squads to us.

Week 1 RB projections (only to 35):

LaDainian Tomlinson - SD vs CAR

Brian Westbrook - PHI vs STL

Joseph Addai - IND vs CHI

Marion Barber III - DAL at CLE

Adrian Peterson - MIN at GB

Steven Jackson - STL at PHI

Frank Gore - SF vs ARI

Marshawn Lynch - BUF vs SEA

Larry Johnson - KC at NE

Clinton Portis - WAS at NYG

Brandon Jacobs - NYG vs WAS

Edgerrin James - ARI at SF

Michael Turner - ATL vs DET

Ricky Williams - MIA vs NYJ

Ray Rice - BAL vs CIN

Willie Parker - PIT vs HOU

Jamal Lewis - CLE vs DAL

Maurice Jones-Drew - JAX at TEN

Earnest Graham - TB at NO

Ryan Grant - GB vs MIN

Selvin Young - DEN at OAK

Thomas Jones - NYJ at MIA

Darren McFadden - OAK vs DEN

Reggie Bush - NO vs TB

Chris Perry - CIN at BAL

DeAngelo Williams - CAR at SD

Laurence Maroney - NE vs KC

LenDale White - TEN vs JAX

Matt Forte - CHI at IND

Kevin Smith - DET at ATL

Ronnie Brown - MIA vs NYJ

Justin Fargas - OAK vs DEN

Jerious Norwood - ATL vs DET

Maurice Morris - SEA at BUF

Fred Taylor - JAX at TEN