From the Mailroom: Beating Around the Reggie Bush

The fantasy football landscape in 2007 is littered with questions. Everywhere you turn, there is uncertainty. And it seems that answers, unfortunately, are hard to come by.

We here at TJI Fantasy Sports do our best to personally answer every email request for advice. Whether it's who to draft, who to start, a trade evaluation, or just an overall analysis of your lineup, if you write, we will answer. And if your question is especially poignant or one we think the masses could benefit from, we'll publish it here in our "From the Mailroom" segment.

This week's question comes to us from Gregg in Portland, Maine. He asks: How much can we expect from Reggie Bush this season? Is he worth a first round pick?

Gregg isn't the only one with Bush on his mind. More people write to us about Reggie than about any other player in the NFL. The problem with Reggie is that his rookie season gave us only a glimpse of his true potential. In 2007, Bush is at a crossroads. A repeat of his underwhelming 2006 totals is certainly possible. On the other hand, now that he has the offense mastered, his superstar talent might take over and help him to become a top-5 fantasy running back.

One thing certainly working against Bush is the fact that he must split carries with Deuce McAllister. This is sure to inhibit Bush's rushing totals, possibly keeping him from coming anywhere near 1,000 rushing yards.

But keep this in mind as you ponder where to draft Reggie--it's very possible that he's just warming up. He did, after all, have 7 TDs in his last five games. Saints' coach Sean Payton is no fool; he knows Bush is a rare talent. More importantly, he knows Bush has the ability to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. He will find a way to get Bush on the field, whether it's in the backfield solo, in a 2-back set with Deuce, or split wide. And more importantly, he'll make sure Drew Brees gets him the ball.

Bush totaled just over 1,200 total yards last season, with 8 TDs. Not awful, but not exactly what you need from a RB1. Look for him to improve upon those totals, perhaps eclipsing 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bush has the skills to become a Brian Westbrook-type of back, one who can rack up big numbers on the ground and through the air. He's got a great QB in Brees and he's lightning-quick, making him able to rack up those valuable yards-after-catch.

As for where fantasy football owners should draft Bush, we say go for it in the late 1st round or early 2nd. You're going to be choosing between Bush and players like Travis Henry, Ronnie Brown, and Laurence Maroney. While none of them, including Reggie, qualifies as a sure thing, Bush's upside is unmatched in the fantasy realm. He's the type of player that the more you talk about him, the more you imagine him making cuts, juking linebackers out of their Reeboks, and breaking away for long TD run after long TD run. His talents are tantalizing. We're drooling just writing about him.

So what it boils down to is this: What are you waiting for? Go out there and make Reggie Bush the cornerstone of your championship fantasy team. Letting him slip past the 15th pick in your draft would be a terrible mistake.

We hope we gave you a satisfactory response, Gregg. And we hope that all you other TJI fans out there will continue to email us at tji.fantasy@gmail.com with your fantasy football questions and comments.