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Redskins Backfield. Triple Threat or Triple Trouble?
Ryan TorainIcon SMI

Monday, August 1, 2011

The Washington Redskins have been steadily building more and more confusion into the fantasy side of their offense this offseason. At this point, every relevant position is bursting with questions. As we all scout and research in preparation for draft season, it's teams like this that pose the most difficulty.

The latest move is the addition of RB Tim Hightower to Mike Shanahan's backfield, courtesy of the Arizona Cardinals.

Prior to that transaction, the Redskins running game looked a bit closer to predictable. Ryan Torain would have first crack at the lead role and offered plenty of fantasy upside. In the 8 games he started in 2010, he managed 12.5 points per game.

Notice that 8 games started bit? Torain has a history of injury problems. He missed weeks 10-13 last year to keep the trend alive. That kind of history leaves you looking for his backup as a depth player to stash on your bench. This season, that player looks to be rookie Roy Helu. Helu garnered strong sleeper value for his potential to unseat Torain as the lead RB either through injury or by outperforming him.

With Hightower now in the mix, things aren't so certain. The biggest problem he's had over the years has been his fumbling habit. When he's been able to hold onto the ball, he's been able to be productive. He also offers other skills like receiving and pass protection. There's no saying how much playing time he'll get, but he absolutely has potential to steal plenty.

If that's not enough to keep you guessing, don't forget that Keiland Williams is still on the roster and the 'skins also have 6th round pick Evan Royster on the roster.

Fantasy Outlook:
Hopefully you still have plenty of time to let this situation sort itself out. Washington is going to need some time in camp to run this group through their paces and assess what they really have and how they want to use them. Watch this situation closely in the preseason.

At this point, the best fantasy options appear to be Ryan Torain, Roy Helu, and Tim Hightower - in that order, but a single injury or appearance of favor could shake that up in an instant.

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asalladayAugust 24, 2011
I agree.
BeshoreAugust 20, 2011
Stay awaynfrom all three!





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