Cecil Lammey's Thoughts

Few teams have as many talented RBs on their rosters as the Panthers do. DeShaun Foster has an elite skill set, although durability is a big concern. DeAngelo Williams was one of the top RB prospects in this year’s draft, and can be effective any number of ways. Eric Shelton is a bruising power back that is out to prove that the Panthers didn’t waste a pick on him. Even a ‘tweener like FB Nick Goings can be effective running the ball with that team. Stephen Davis is no longer on the roster, and many expect DeShaun Foster to take over the starting gig. But how many expect that Foster will play the entire season? Not many one could predict. The Panthers have been drafting RBs the past 2 years (Shelton in 2005, Williams in 2006) with the assumption that they would need to be deep at the RB position. Injuries are a concern with any RB, but arguably none more than Foster. That assumption may come into fruition at any time and the team needs to be ready. This upcoming season the Panthers are expected to be a contender once again. With all that talent lining up behind Jake Delhomme it won’t take but a little slip for a RB to be replaced by a hungry, skilled, and determined backup.

Questions about the Carolina RB Corps coming into 2006:

First and foremost, who will be the starter? As aforementioned, it is expected that DeShaun Foster will win the starting job. He has a new 3 year contract in hand, and is the incumbent. However, he is coming back from a broken ankle that caused him to miss the end of the Panthers playoff run in 2005. DeAngelo Williams is a player that the Panthers have coveted for quite some time. They were thrilled to get a player like Williams with a late first round pick. He also has an elite skill set, but Williams is a more of an effective receiver than Foster can be. Eric Shelton and Nick Goings will only be starting if injuries ravage this team’s RB corps. I believe the more important question is who will end the season as the leading rusher?

Can DeShaun Foster stay healthy? History would say no. Dating back to his days at UCLA, Foster has hardly ever stayed healthy. With Carolina he has played 14, 4, and 15 games respectively. And this is after missing the entire 2002 season (his rookie year) due to an injury. Unlike Ricky Watters, who also missed his entire rookie campaign, Foster has not bounced back with a vengeance. He has shown flashes here and there, like his 70 yard TD run last year in the final regular season game against Atlanta. There is no doubt that Foster is an elite talent, and could be very productive if he stays healthy. The fact of the matter is that Foster is an injury risk of the highest level, and should not be counted on as a starter for the entire season.

Can DeAngelo Williams be a feature back? Yes, Williams can be a feature back. He was the feature back for Memphis and ended his college career as the leader in 100 yard rushing games (34 in 44 games). DeAngelo has a smaller build, but that has never stopped him from being an extremely effective runner. He also showed in the Senior Bowl that he is a devastating option on a screen pass. He is very shifty, and has a good 2nd gear in the open field. While he doesn’t wow you with any part of his game, he is very consistent and has been productive throughout his entire career. Vic Carruci of NFL.com has stated that he feels Williams will end up being the starter by the end of training camp. That is very much a possibility, but Foster can’t be written off so quickly just yet. Williams can definitely be a feature back (he had almost 1,000 carries in college). The real question is when will he get the opportunity in Carolina?

Does Eric Shelton have any value? Shelton does have value, however it is very minute at this time. He is a power back in the purest sense. And like most power backs he has little speed in the open field. He is a very big back, but doesn’t have the initial quickness that one wants from a feature runner. The Carolina system is run heavy, and Shelton could be effective, but in a more limited role than DeShaun Foster or DeAngelo Williams. He is not a very good receiver out of the backfield, and he is not a capable blocker. He missed his entire rookie season and there were rumors of him having difficulty picking up the playbook. If the RBs are dropping like flies once again in Carolina then one could see Shelton get his shot. If he’s ready we’ll get to see exactly how much value this former 2nd round pick has.

Is Nick Goings the Dark Horse at RB once again? Nick Goings was quite a nice pickup for fantasy owners back in 2004. Both Foster and Stephen Davis went down with injury. Brad Hoover was given a shot at RB, and did perform nicely, but then he was hurt as well. Finally, little known Nick Goings stepped in and put up some decent numbers (821 rushing yards, 394 receiving yards). So there is no question that John Fox and company would feel comfortable handing him the rock extensively once again. They would perhaps feel more at ease with him in the starting role then Eric Shelton. Goings is very versatile and can also play at FB. So yes, Goings could be labeled a Dark Horse. Not because fantasy owners aren’t familiar with him, but more because it would take quite a bit for him to see the field in a starting role once again.

Positives

• Plenty of talent on the roster with one 1st round pick, and two 2nd round picks
• Carolina is a team that loves to pound the rock
• The RBs are used frequently in the passing game

Negatives

• Too many players to handcuff if you draft the starter
• Injuries are the order of the day for this corps
• If Williams comes along slowly it could be full blown RBBC

Final Thoughts

This team is blessed with many talented runners on the roster. However, there is an injury history for each one of them, and they have all bounced back from major injuries with varying results. The real question that needs answered for fantasy owners is who the starter is going to be. If you draft early, before a starter for the regular season is determined then you might be best served to just draft Foster and hope to handcuff Williams. DeAngelo is a hot prospect, and fantasy owners almost have to draft both if they draft one at all. There is certainly going to be some nice numbers put up from somebody on that roster. It’s just unclear at this time who that player is going to be. If Foster is healthy, and Williams comes along slowly, then Foster will be the guy. In that scenario William’s role would be reduced to that of a change of pace RB. If Foster is injured and Williams develops into the type of pro runner that many think he could be then DeAngelo will take off with that job and never give it back. If both are injured then you will see Shelton and Goings take most of the carries. As you can see, there are many scenarios that may play out this season. Everything comes out in the wash, and fantasy owners will have to be tuned into their magic eight balls to get this one right.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

To view the entire Player Spotlight thread (there's a ton of fantastic commentary in there), click here.

sholditch:
Deshaun Foster should have the starting job handed to him, but everyone knows he's one injury away from losing it. I think that once DeAngelo Williams proves doubters wrong and shows his height is not a disadvantage for being a feature back, Foster will again be a backup/change of pace back. William's talent is undeniable, and this will be his team by season's end.

Warpig:
I think Foster has proven that, WHEN HEALTHY, he can be a very productive back when given the carries. He has also proven thus far that he can't stay healthy and he hasn't received the lion's share of the carries. I do think that Williams will cut into his carries some but I look at it as a good thing...to help preserve Foster's health for the play-off stretch.

jurb26:
I used to be high on Foster looking at his talent. I've learned now though. The guy is just a walking injury and even his ability has started to diminish because of it. Williams should have very little problem taking this RB1 job by week 4 in my opinion. He is more durible and more talented at this point as well.

Football Jones:
I think Fox will feature Foster this season if he remains healthy, but sooner or later, even though Foster is talented, Williams will overtake him sometime in the next two years, IMO (with or without a Foster injury).

DeShaun Foster Projections

SOURCE	RSH	RSHYD	RSHTD	REC	RECYD	RECTD
Cecil Lammey	0	700	5	40	325	2
Message Board Consensus	252	1135	9	40	313	1