Quote:
Originally Posted by Hog Farmer
HE'S NOT ****ING INJURED !
|
NFL.com on why Charles will probably be OK:
Here's the data on RB performance drop-off after ACL surgery:
http://www.nfl.com/fantasy/story/090...ing-back-stats
"The older a running back is at the time of an ACL tear, the worse his chances are to be productive the following season. We have also learned that suffering the ailment early in a season can be an advantage, as it allows more time to rehab and recover. That's the reason I'm not as worried about Charles. While a decrease in production should be expected compared to his 2010 totals, he'll have had far more time than Peterson and Mendenhall to come back.
Charles is also just 25 years old, so he clearly has youth on this side.
Mendenhall, who tore up his knee in the Steelers' regular-season finale, will have a long road ahead. The fact that he's young at the age of 24 is an advantage, but he suffered his ACL injury so late that he could be in danger of missing the start of the 2012 campaign. Based on the fact that his numbers were already down compared to his 2010 totals, it's going to be tough to consider the Illinois product more than a low-end No. 2 fantasy runner or flex starter at this point. He could move up a bit as the offseason rolls on, but he's not a No. 1 option.
In the case of Peterson, I think he's going to be hard pressed to be the elite fantasy back he's been -- at least in 2012. Remember, he ripped up his knee in the next to last week of the regular season, meaning he's in danger of landing on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. When you also consider the huge workload he's endured over the last four years, I'd struggle to build an argument for Peterson being ranked as a No. 1 back in fantasy land next season. Instead, barring setbacks in his rehab, he'll be more of a No. 2 option across the board.