Tag: Jahvid Best

ADP Watch- Mikel Leshoure

With Jahvid Best on the PUP list, Mikel Leshoure just may get his chance to carry the bulk of the load for the Detroit ground game.

Analysis: While Kevin Smith may be ahead of Mikel Leshoure on the depth chart, Leshoure will finish the season as the more productive back. Leshoure is a 227 pound power back in the mould of a Rashard Mendenhall. He’s in a similar situation to Houston’s second round pick Ben Tate who was injured in his rookie season only to burst onto the scene in 2011. Like Tate, Leshoure is a second round pick who missed his rookie year and like Tate he has first round talent. After Leshoure is to serve his two game suspension to begin the season, expect the bulk of short yardage carries and the ever important goal line touches to go to Leshoure over Kevin Smith. Smith is a fine low end PPR back this year but the Detroit tail back situation is rather murky and needs to be monitored to ensure a solid draft.

Leshoure is actually going undrafted in many leagues but the earliest he is going is as the 48th back around picks 120-130. If he stays healthy he’s a great under the radar sleeper who will certainly outperform his ADP.

Value Up- Jahvid Best

Detroit rookie running back Mikel Leshoure tore his left Achilles tendon Monday at practice. With Leshoure set to be Detroit’s 1-B option in the backfield it now appears Jahvid Best may be getting a few more touches this season.

Analysis: The 230 pound Mikel Leshoure was going to receive the bulk of the goal line carries this year but with the injury we may see second year back Jahvid Best a bit more involved in short yardage situations. Yes, backs like Mike Bell and Laurence Maroney may still be available but they do not possess the kind of explosiveness the Lions were counting on this year in goal line situations. Despite a relatively disappointing rookie campaign plagued by turf toe, Best still managed 58 receptions and over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and is now primed to set the league on fire. With the Leshoure injury we’ll see a bit more of Best in the Detroit ground game and on goal line carries. Best’s ADP in PPR leagues right now is in the 36-40 range but do not expect for him to be around by then on draft day in intelligent leagues.

Projection: Sixty receptions is a possibility for Best this year and so is 1,500 yards from scrimmage. If he stays healthy he doesn’t disappoint as a RB2 in PPR leagues.

Draft Impact- Mikel Leshoure

One of the best picks in the second round of the NFL Draft was the selection of Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure by the Detroit Lions. Jahvid Best is a great back to have in PPR leagues but he isn’t a twenty carry per game back.

Analysis: The only knock on Jahvid Best last year was his lingering turf toe injury. Besides battling with that injury for more than half of the season Best still caught a staggering 58 balls and put up 1,042 total yards. Best is still the most talented back in Detroit but the addition of 230 pound bruiser Mikel Leshoure makes the Lions one of the deepest offensive teams in the NFC. Best is still the man in passing situations but Leshoure will become the go to goal line back of choice. We also cannot ignore 31 year old back Maurice Morris who scored five touchdowns in the final six games of the 2010 season but he will drop to third on the depth chart. With Leshoure you have a poor man’s Rashard Mendenhall and that’s not a bad thing. Leshoure will pound the rock and hit pay dirt nearly as much as Jahvid Best.

Projection: Jahvid Best seems to be a lock for 60 receptions and 1,200 total yards this year. Mikel Leshoure will be the short yardage workhorse and should receive 150-180 carries. Expect 700 rushing yards with six scores from Leshoure in 2011. In the long term he may well develop into a borderline RB2/RB3. This year he makes a great insurance policy on Best in the later rounds.