Jahvid Best Boom or Bust…

Posted by Scott Pashley in SPIN News & Views No Comments »

NEWS

Jahvid Best has a tough time staying healthy but he’s one of the players that will probably give fantasy owners fits on draft day. Despite all of his injuries there is a lot of hype coming out of the Lions organization regarding Best and a potential breakout season. He will have a prime opportunity to stake his claim to the Lion’s share of Lion’s carries and catches out of the backfield because Mikel Leshoure is an idiot who will watch the first two games from home (or be behind the wheel of a car plastered off his rocker, either the way, the point is he won’t be on the field), and also-oft-injured Kevin Smith is reportedly viewed as more of a supporting player and insurance policy.

VIEWS

NFL.com has Best ranked as the 30th best option at RB in PPR leagues in the 2012 rankings.

Anwar Richardson of MLive.com compares Best to the rest of the RBs in the NFC North and points out that Lion’s GM Martin Mayhew has predicted a breakout year for Best.

According to MyFantasyLeague.com ADP data, Best is being selected with the 84th pick overall and is the 28th RB coming off boards.

FANTASY FOOTBALL SPIN

We’re torn on Best. He is a high risk/high reward type of selection who could be a complete waste of a pick or a guy that we look back and call the best value pick of drafts. As a RB#3, which is where he is being taken now, we like him, but we suspect that he will shoot up draft boards to mid-level RB2 range and that may be too risky for us.

When you take a look at the running backs being drafted just before Best, he seems more attractive. They all have question marks; CJ Spiller (shares carries), Mark Ingram (shares carries), Shonn Greene (one dimensional), Roy Helu (Umm, Mike Shanahan), and Beanie Wells (hard to tell how things will shake out there).

Watch this situation closely in camp and preseason. There is a clear path for Best to fantasy stardom if he can stay healthy.