Making the Correct Decision (L. Johnson or R. Brown)
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by FanProphet
I know, I know, everyone wants to believe that Larry Johnson will be available for the regular season and fantasy team owners will be pleasantly surprised when he decides to suit-up before fantasy draft day. That he will miraculously sign a deal or be traded to a contender (preferably in the NFC where he will dominate) and fantasy team owners who remained faithful will reap the benefits for making such a risky selection. I know, denial is a terrible thing! Reminds me of when I drafted Barry Sanders hoping that he would come out of retirement.
Which leads me to this; There is one of two reasons why Johnson remains in the top three of everyones player rankings. 1) Information is not updated 2) They are in denial just like the rest of us.
We all know that Johnson is a top three back and if he returns it won’t matter where he plays because he will prove why he wants the type of money he’s asking for.
On the other hand, Ronnie Brown is now playing on a better Miami team with an improved passing game, which means opportunities should open up for Brown who is coming off of his second consecutive season of one-thousand yards rushing. Is this the season where Brown shows why the Dolphins drafted him when they already had a proven back in Ricky Williams? More on Ronnie Brown…
Johnson remains in my top 15 backs and the only way he is worthy of a selection that high is if you were lucky enough to draft Tomlinson or Jackson. Or, if you have the ability to master a serious draft and willing to gamble in hopes that Johnson will return sometime early to mid-season.
This scenario should arise early or middle of the second round unless someone is foolish enough to select Johnson in the first round.
If I have a mid-second round draft choice I choose Johnson in this situation because Brown will not play a full sixteen weeks and I don’t expect Brown to hit full stride until mid-season when Trent Green becomes fully accustomed to this Miami offense.
Ronnie Brown has some talent, but the Dolphins look to be a franchise that has no direction.
To be honest with you, I would not draft either of them in the early rounds. In the middle rounds, I would take LJ over Ronnie.