What's the deal with Benson?

[darjarbinx]

Here's the deal. I play in a keeper league and basically you can keep one player you drafted from rounds 4-10 last year in place of this season's third round pick. The only player worth keeping this season is Cedric Benson, but all this crap in the preseason is worrying me. I plan on draft halfbacks my first three rounds so Benson would be a backup anyway, and I don't necessarily care if he doesn't see any playing time until the sixth week. I know there are a lot of Bears fans and maybe you have seen stuff on the news?

My main question is Cedric Benson too risky to spend a third round pick. He's got a boatload of upside, but he could also bomb and be a waste of a keeper where I could have snagged Jamal Lewis or someone who will start, but has been injured.

[darjarbinx]

Keep in mind I do not have to keep any players, but these are my selections from last year's draft.

4. TE – T. Gonzalez
5. QB – T. Green
6. RB – D. Foster
7. WR – A. Lelie
8. WR – D. Mason
9. RB – C. Benson
10. QB – B. Leftwich

[darjarbinx]

Ha, Leftwhich in the third round? Thanks but no thanks. And way to answer my original question.

Anyone who actually follows football want to help me out here.

[Gary]

As of now the runningback position is a toss up in Chicago between Jones and Benson, albeit Benson is nursing an injury, but is expected to challenge Jones spot, and if Jones were to slump early this season Benson would take over the starting roll. It's really a straight win or lose situation, if Benson does become the starting half back and you decide to keep him you have the best 3rd runningback in the league, but if you do keep him and hes benched for the year your screwed there, so I think it's a big risk considering all the possibilities.

Personally I would keep Mason, if you saw anything him an McNair did when they were Titans you would understand, they have an explosive chemisty.

[Bearsbacker]

See...the problem with every player up there outside of Benson is that they are old as dirt. Mason has seen better days. I'm sure he'll have a good year this year, but that may be it. Tony Gonzalez is not getting younger. Herm Edwards hasn't been known to use his TE that often in the past, and I don't expect that to change all that much now.

Benson is hurt now, but he will be useful as the season goes on. Thomas Jones is a good back, I love him to death as a Bear but he is fragile and could fall into 1000 pieces on any given play. If Benson can actually become a team player, he'll be a good one.

I would say lose a 9th round pick and keep Benson in that spot.

[IXI B@CkSt0P IXI]

They just stated last night that Benson would be the starting halfback for the Bears this year...

[Gary]

You believe everything you hear?

How can an injured runningback be starting? Besides Benson has done little to prove he is the starting back, on top of that there were no realeases stating it, not ESPN.com, NFL.com, ChicagoBears.com, SI.com, anything.

[dkgojackets]

buffsbacker said:

See...the problem with every player up there outside of Benson is that they are old as dirt.

Foster is?

And he wouldn't be giving up a ninth round pick for Benson, it would be a third round pick.

As seemingly the only one here who actually understands your situation, I don't think any of those guys are worth a third round pick. The way I read it is each team has the option to keep one player, and that player must have been drafted in the fourth round or later last year. That team gives up its third round pick to keep that player.

None of those guys are worth that pick.

[Gary]

^Very true I read it as you had to use your 3rd pick on one of them.

[darjarbinx]

Luckily my draft isn't until September 2nd so hopefully this issue would be all resolved by then. I pose another question now.

If Benson gets over his injury and is announced the starter, would he be worth the third round pick that I'd have to give up?

[TJFOR3]

No.

[DaBears54]

We have a solid line with Krutz, Brown, Tait, Garza, and Metcalf, Bryan Johnson is a solid fullback, we all know the Bears can't throw the ball, so you can see a lot of running plays, and Benson is a very good back.

The only downside is that he may not start and i dont know how healthy he will be. I would see him as a 4th or 5th round pick.

Overall, it's 50/50.

[Bearsbacker]

Since I can't read, my apologies, and I agree wholeheartedly that you should not keep any of those guys out there....none of them are worth a third rounder.

I now sound intelligent again..

[darjarbinx]

That's okay bearsbacker, it was my fault for not posting a notice that required you had to be literate to answer the question

[IXI B@CkSt0P IXI]

garygb said:

You believe everything you hear?

How can an injured runningback be starting? Besides Benson has done little to prove he is the starting back, on top of that there were no realeases stating it, not ESPN.com, NFL.com, ChicagoBears.com, SI.com, anything.

Well it was ESPN's people that said it when I heard it so, im just going by what I heard...

[Bearsbacker]

Benson is not the starter going into the season...I promise you that.

1) He has done nothing to prove he deserves it
2) Jones had a hell of a season a year ago and deserves it
3) He has done nothing to prove he deserves it
4) Jones had a hell of a season a year ago and deserves it
5) He has done NOTHING to prove he deserves it.......etc

ESPN says alot of stuff, the "experts" aren't always keen on everything.....

Not saying you're wrong, just saying that there is no way he'll be the starter in week 1.