Don't Trust Shanahan in 2013

Alfred Morris Owners: Tread Lightly

Alfred Morris. 1st Round Fantasy Pick. Your team's most important piece of the championship puzzle. It's almost too easy, you say?

The former Florida Atlantic star and NFL rookie crushed opposing defenses last season and even endeared the nation with his fetching nickname "Alf". The kid was killing them while rocking a nickname from an 80's sitcom about an alien. No team was more fun to watch than the Redskins in 2012 due to their young and explosive offensive talent. How many playoff teams can say in the history of the NFL can say their two best players were rookies? And while I've been impressed with Morris' talent, tape, and yards per carry production in his first year, a dark cloud potentially looms over the Washington Redskins backfield for his fantasy owners. 


[Related: FanDuel is hosting a $100,000 Fantasy Football Contest in Week 1. It's $25 to join and first prize is $15,000. Here's the link to register.]

Roy Helu, Jr.

The third year running back from Tonga is now fully healthy and is hungrier than a fat kid a birthday party for touches in 2013. A player who was once thought of as the prototype back for Shanahan's zone blocking scheme is now quietly lighting up the preseason and impressing the man with the playbook.

I was real excited about Roy," "He’s looked healthy since he came back and he showed that to all you guys vs. Tennessee. Roy is a legit back. He can help us a lot."

- Kyle Shanahan


It's easy to brush past these comments as merely words in a press conference, but let's dig a little deeper into the Redskins current situation.

Catching Fire

Alfred Morris: 

• 11 receptions in 2012

Roy Helu: 

• 49 Receptions, 379 Yards Receiving in only 5 starts (2010)
• 14 receptions in one game (2010)

These numbers are alarming for anyone, especially those in a PPR league . Morris is exceptional at running downhill(5th in the NFL in yards after contact), but still struggles catching the ball out of the backfield. He is a quicker Michael Turner for the next generation.  But even Turner's upside was always capped by his inability to stay on the field on third down. Morris has reportedly worked vigorously on his receiving skills this offseason, but his matchup with Helu has already proven too much to bear.

Roy Helu dominated Big 12 defenses as a Nebraska cornhusker, and caught the eye of the Redskins front office upon the 2010 draft. The skins even traded up to snag him, which was a shocking deal from a team that values running backs less than any franchise. Shanahan saw something in Helu. And that something was the rare explosive ability to get up the field vertically, and more importantly an amazing pair of hands. With the exception of Jamaal Charles, Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, and LeSean McCoy, Helu might boast the best receiving skills of any running back in the league.

The Washington Times' Rich Campbell has already stated Roy Helu will be the team's 3rd down back. Plain and simple he is much better in pass protection, and a vastly more dangerous threat out of the back field. So for all of you math heads out there, Helu will already be on the field for 33% of the redskins offensive snaps. Robert Griffin III looks likely he will be ready to go week 1, but he will be less likely to take off for yards on the ground. A less explosive Griffin will be looking to check down to his backs more on third and long, leaving even more yards for Helu.


You were expecting a Hunger Game's reference were you? My apologies for the cruel mislead. Tell Jennifer Lawerence I said what's up. 

Never Trust a Rat

“I got this rat, this gnawing, cheese eating f****' rat and it brings up questions... You know, see, Bill, like you're the new guy. Girlfriend... Why don't you stay in the bar that night I got your numbers. Social Security numbers. Everybody's f*****' numbers.”

Frank Costello

The Departed (2006)

If there’s anything Martin Scorcese’s 2006 crime-drama masterpiece taught us, it’s things are not always as they appear. Matt Damon's character, Colin Sullivan(a wealthy and esteemed police chief) vs Billy Costigan (an extremely poor wannabe cop with a troubled past). One was a man of power, and the other was worthless white trash destined to the drug trade.

Alfred Morris guaranteed to be the team's lead workhorse, and Helu a former failed draft pick destined to ride the bench and fulfill the scout team role all season long.

But things aren't always as they appear, are they?

The Washington Redskins offense is dominated by one man who controls the keys for fantasy greatness for many owners this season. Throughout his 15 year career as an NFL coach, Mike Shanahan's zone blocking scheme has transformed many random dudes off the street into fantasy superstars. Using more athletic lineman who are more adept at cutting down defenders, running backs are more free to hit the hole quickly and get to the next level. The one cut and go system produced monster seasons for Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Clinton Portis, Tatum Bell, Rebuen Droughns, Selvin Young, and Peyton Hillis. What do all these names have in come with the exception of Portis? Each of these players is AVERAGE. None of these backs had any real tangible success outside of Denver's system. Shanahan is a wizard at taking seemingly mediocre talent and creating offensive magic in the running game.

And if there's one thing fantasy owners invested in Shanahan's backfields have learned before, it's that you can't trust a rat.

Below are Mike Shanahan's rules given to every tailback in training camp.

-RUNNING BACKS-

1. FINISH EVERY PLAY FULL SPEED WITH/WITHOUT THE BALL. (RUNS & RECEPTIONS 40 YDS DOWNFIELD) (BLOCKING & FAKES).

2. OMIT FUMBLES – PROTECT THE BALL (SQUEEZE BALL/PRESSURE POINTS).

3. BLOCKING IS A MUST! (RUN & PASS) (ATTACK & STRIKE).

4. NO NEGATIVE YARDS – GET BALL UP FIELD IN A HURRY – (YOU GET ONE CUT).

5. STAY IN BOUNDS – OUR RB’S DON’T RUN OUT OF BOUNDS!!! (ATTACK & STRIKE DEFENDERS).

Each of the requirements are in ALL CAPS for a reason. There are more exclamation points on this list than a published work from Elaine Benes. These are not merely suggestions, but demands from an offensive dictator. It's Shanahan's way or the bench, and it's been that way for almost two decades. The coach is infamous for his dealings with his running backs(Shanahenigans), sometimes benching his players for entire games after turnovers. Fumbling drives him up the wall, and he almost always rides the hot hand at tailback.



Morris has built up credibility as the Redskins workhorse, and no one is suggesting one fumble or misstep by #46 will make Helu the team's lead back. But the "Shanarat" is infamous for having absolutely zero loyalties. If Helu were to get hot any point this season, he could easily reach 10-15 touches a game and push for a 65-35% time share. Or worse.

Shining in the Preseason

It's the preseason. I get it. It's a disgrace to real football everywhere. But as analysts and football enthusiasts, to neglect it entirely is to miss out on future break outs. Miles Austin, Victor Cruz, Chris Ivory, and numerous other stars first burst onto the scene in the games that do not count.

Roy Helu has been nothing short of productive this preseason.

Week 1: 13 Rushes for 57 yards (4.4 YPC)
Week 2: 1 Rush, 30 Yards and a TD.

There is no greater handcuff than Roy Helu this season for fantasy owners. If anything were to happen to Morris, Helu would instantly become a top 10 back with top 5 upside(especially in PPR). Alf is tremendous talent who should top 1,000 yards rushing in 2013. But spending a top 12 draft pick on a player in Shanahan's scheme always poses risk.


Morris Owners: Please handcuff the young player. Over pay for Helu in round 7. I beg of you.

For those of you that draft Alf with no plan to secure Helu , tread lightly.

Reservations for Roy Helu in 2013: 

580 yards rushing, 290 yards receiving. 5 total touchdowns.