Getty ImagesPeyton Hillis‘ stock may never be higher. The Madden cover boy is a fan favorite, but he may not get the same chances to rack up big stats in 2011 like he did last year.
Browns G.M. Tom Heckert appeared Wednesday on PFT Live and said he has “high hopes” for second year player Monterrio Hardesty. Heckert also said it was his fault they didn’t get Hillis more help last year.
“He can do it, but in the long term we’re rather him not carry the ball that much,” Heckert said.
Adjust your fantasy football expectations accordingly.
Right now my fantasy football expectations are that I won’t be playing fantasy football until 2012.
Not much fantasy adjustments needed. He’ll still get all goal line carries
The fact he’ll don the cover of the new Madden should be enough of a warning for fantasy owners!
He was spent towards the end of the year last year so this could actually help his overall numbers if he’s not losing redzone touches.
I automatically rule out the Madden Cover-boy from Fantasy Football every year.
It’s paid off big time
So far, Heckert has done a pretty good job, but drafting Hardesty was a mistake. Ravens took him off their draft board last year due to knee issues and they were right because he didn’t last through the 2nd Q of his first pre-season game. I certainly wouldn’t hang my hat on this guy being healthy for any extended time next year. Too bad, because he looked really good his senior year in Tennessee and I think he’s got a very cool name!
That’s it, I’m not buying Madden now.
Well that is one way to reduce the impact of the “Madden cover jinx”
The Great White Buffalo.
Get my boy Colt some help STAT! That’ll take some of the load off Hillis, no doubt about it.
High hopes. Now that’s funny. He reached for a guy with 3 knee surgeries under his belt before he even signed a contract, he was injured in the first pre-season game he played in with ( wait for it,) A KNEE INJURY. Heckert may have done a decent job last year and maybe even this year( time will tell), but he needs to close the book on old Montario, admit his mistake, and move on.
Who is this guy?
THIS IS RACIST… cant a white guy get some burn @ RB.. damn .
hows he ever gonna get to be “young white and rich” so he can get hassled by the police too..
so disappointed in America right now.
Since he averaged around 30 yards per game at the end of the season they decided to rotate him over to backup fullback and special teams.
They are taking carries away from him because they already know he was a one year wonder. Now the people of Cleveland actually have an excuss when he sucks this year (Madden Cuse).
Not much fantasy adjustments needed. He’ll still get all goal line carries
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And he should continue to be used heavily in the passing game. When they were both in Denver, Shanahan said Hillis had the best hands on the team– and he backed that up this year with 60+ receptions, second on his team.
As long as they don’t reduce his workload TOO much (and why would they? he carried that team for stretches last year), his production shouldn’t drop significantly. If anything, keeping him a little fresher for the stretch run might actually increase his value if it prevents his production from tailing off so badly at the end of the season.
The Browns should trade Hillis for picks. Alstott-lite won’t come close to those numbers again.
I’ve given up on the browns and their runningbacks. It seems they always have one that’s really productive but the coach is convinced a scrub on the bench/broken down veteran is the answer.
It is also reported that Heckert, right after wiping out his third footlong meatball sub, swore the Clowns would also try something new this year, like actually trying to play football like professionals.
I have always loathed The Browns (from Cincy) but I have a soft spot for Hillis.. Hope he continues to do well – against The Steelers and Ravens anyway..
@texline
Didn’t the Ravens draft a different UT Running Back with a previous ACL Surgery as well? I think they did, his name was Jamal Lewis. Then, in the 01′ Preseason, he tore his ACL again.
I wouldn’t be so quick to pull the trigger on cutting Hardesty. He may not ever be worth where he was selected, but could still carve out a niche with the Browns & still have a productive career. Or, like JLew, he could still have a damn fine career!
@oneshot386 one year wonder??? puh-leeeze, hillis was a beast in denver too until the mcdumbass came along and drafted “no show” and benched hillis for no reason. i’d trade all of denver’s running backs (maroney = bum, no show = glass, buckhalter = old, white = fat/slow) for hillis.
It’s the curse!!!
Actually – more touches doesn’t equate to better production…all the time…maybe in fantasy – but the real world; having more effective touches could be huge for the Browns
You don’t “play” fantasy football. it just happens, and then you write it down. How exciting. It’s like D&D for jocks, except you don’t have to use your imagination. w00t.
Let’s give the Bulldozer a chance to show what he’s made of
Is that really a surprise to anyone? Hillis almost died on the field last year with all the carries he was taking and with his running style. If Hardesty doesn’t hurt himself in preseason again this year they will be a damn good combo this season…..of corse, assuming there will be a season
They didn’t get Colt any help either. With Hillis running less it’s just more detriment to the development of a very good QB. What’s wrong with these people?
OMG. You gotta be KIDDING ME! Now Gregg Rosenthal doesn’t even spell players’ names right!!!
Who in the world is MONTERRIO HARDESTY?
Do you mean Montario Hardesty???
Another example of holdin the white man down
ps Blowsenthal will sleep with your young boys
I love when people call Hillis a one year wonder. The guy was just as good in Denver. That’s why he got benched. I mean, why else would Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall be let go too? Funny thing is, Hillis was never supposed to be the key running back in Cleveland but Jerome Harrison whined his way off the team leaving Hillis to carry the weight since Hardesty got hurt. Either way, Browns are switching to the west coast offense anyway so Hillis will be catching passes more than running from the backfield this season anyway (at least in the Madden game, since there isn’t a “lockout the players” option).
He will probably be injured this season because of the Madden curse. Just ask Troy Polamalu.
Goldsteel—If he gets hurt this season it WONT be because of a Madden curse, it will be because he probably should have gotten hurt last year with how he was either lowering his head and dumptrucking LB’s or hurdling DB’s. Either way Hardesty has his back this year and the Hillis/Hardesty double punch is gonna be sick, and you sound like a worried Steelers fan, and you very well should be. Go hide
All the whiners and moaners claiming “one year wonder” etc. would be ecstatic if Hillis was dealt to *their* team.
FACT.