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Runningback Travis Henry of the Buffalo Bills has gotten permission from the team to seek a trade, and the first suitor his agent lined up appears to be hated division rival, the Miami Dolphins. First to jumpstart what should be a busy offseason for the position, Miami has a golden opportunity here to dramatically improve their running game in a sellers market.
Here are just some options:
1) Shaun Alexander is a free agent and wants to play in Miami, although he would cost a lot;
2) Edgerrin James wants to play in Miami, but I would think the Colts would have to tag him rather than lose him for nothing. I think the Colts would be better off improving their defense with all that money, but if Peyton wants Edge back, management will tag him;
3) Travis Henry wants to play in Miami, but there are two stumbling blocks. The Bills want a 2nd round pick, which the Dolphins do not have. PLUS since the Dolphins are a hated division rival, you would think the price would be higher for the Dolphins than for the Bucs or Raiders, so I don't see Henry talking about the Fish as anything more than posturing for other teams to enter the trading pool. BTW, that worked because as soon as he spoke publicly about Miami, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Oakland all jumped into the ring. If Miami could get it done though, it would be great because Henry has one year left at a relatively low cap number, and would not cost nearly as much as Alexander or Edge if they wanted to extend his deal.
4) Draft a rookie. If the RB options are too expensive (cash and/or picks) for Miami, then they could just say screw it and draft a RB in what looks to be a very solid year at the position.
- A multitude of various options also include Lamont Jordan-NYJ, Rudi Johnson-CIN, Anthony Thomas-CHI, Derrick Blaylock-KC, Reuben Droughns-DEN or even one of the Vikings RBs. Through free agency, the draft or by trade a skilled runningback is there to be had.
Back to the issue at hand, as far as Travis Henry is concerned, the talk from Tampa about his fumbling problems is just posturing, either trying to lower the price to acquire him or to convince other suitors not to go after him.
He HAD a fumbling problem, which he has pretty much corrected. In his first two years, he had 16 Fumbles and 10 Lost Fumbles, compared to 7 F and 3 LF the last two years. Pretty much cut them in half on a fumbles per carry basis.
Being able to watch him on a regular basis, I can honestly say that this guy leaves everything out on the field. He is a warrior, and a talented player who excelled behind a horrible O-line with an even worse quarterback, and paid for it physically, though he didn't miss any time until this year.
As far as the teams chasing after him, from a fantasy standpoint, he would do very well to land on any of those teams.
Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman, despite being suspended and with fumbling problems, had a stellar year, averaging 101 total yards per game, and scored 10 total TDs in 13 games.
Carolina's 3rd string Nick Goings averaged 130 total yards along with 6.
The Raiders, despite having to throw more often due to falling behind in games, had a RBBC (Zeroue, Wheatley, Crockett, Fargas, Redmond) that combined for 1979 total yards and 10 total TDs on 414 touches.
Emmitt Smith is no longer under contract and his retirement is imminent, but the Arizona Cardinals got great numbers from the running game. Emmitt and backup Troy Hambrick combined for 349 touches, gaining 1341 total yards and 11 total TDs.
And Miami, well, we know what they did with Ricky Williams, but even with their RB mess, they combined for 1541 total yards and 10 TDs on 402 touches.
As long as Henry goes to one of these teams, is healthy and is the unquestioned starter, he will be fantasy gold once again. Even more so after the horrible season he just had, meaning he can be had quite late in redraft leagues, and will come relatively cheap in keeper or dyansty leagues.
As an aside, while Willis McGahee may prove to be the superstar Buffalo thought he was, I feel bad for Travis Henry getting the shaft here. He grew up as an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills, and worshipped Thurman Thomas. So then the Bills draft him, and he gets to live out every boy's dream. To play for his favourite pro team at the position of his favourite player. And over the last four years he gave the team his blood, sweat and tears and this is how he is rewarded.
I don't blame him for wanting to play for the Fish, although it must be killing him on a personal basis.
John Siskos
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