I have a motto in fantasy football: Don’t draft a Raider. Oakland has had only one 1,000-yard tailback since 2008 and one 1,000-yard receiver since 2005. The team has been in rebuilding mode for the better part of a decade, with no end in sight.
Maurice Jones-Drew fits nicely into this category of “avoid-at-all-costs” fantasy options. A widely viewed top 30-35 running back entering this season, the 29-year-old was ranked 70th on my running back list and 184th overall. The warning signs are clear:
By midseason, Jones-Drew will be, at best, an occasional 10-touch option as the 2-6 Raiders increasingly look elsewhere for an offensive punch. Trade him now, before it's too late.
Maurice Jones-Drew fits nicely into this category of “avoid-at-all-costs” fantasy options. A widely viewed top 30-35 running back entering this season, the 29-year-old was ranked 70th on my running back list and 184th overall. The warning signs are clear:
- Age. A 29-year-old rusher isn’t always on the downside of his career. But let’s face it: few players at Jones-Drew’s position get better past 27.
- Wear and Tear. Not including Jones-Drew’s injury-plagued 2012 season, the Jaguars ran him into the ground from 2009 to 2013, feeding him an average of 297 carries (and 340 total touches) per year. Such a workload is bound to have consequences, which grow more severe with age.
- Competition. The Raiders are one of many teams with other capable backfield options. While Darren McFadden is no lock to stay healthy enough to play in half of this year’s contests, he’s arguably a more formidable option when healthy. Meanwhile, second-year player Latavius Murray is finally healthy after a pair of ankle surgeries sidelined him throughout the 2013 season.
By midseason, Jones-Drew will be, at best, an occasional 10-touch option as the 2-6 Raiders increasingly look elsewhere for an offensive punch. Trade him now, before it's too late.