2009 Fantasy Football rookie scouting report on LeSean McCoy – RB – Philadelphia Eagles. Includes player profile, fantasy football outlook, keeper league incentives, draft rankings, and 2009 expectations and stat projections.
Player Profile – LeSean McCoy:
Height: 5-10
Weight: 198
Born: July 12, 1988
Draft: 2009 – 2nd Round (21st pick) Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Running Back
Fantasy Football Outlook:
Entering the 2009 season as a backup to fantasy football great Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy offers essentially the same type if fantasy football package as Westbrook. Combining excellent vision, speed, great hands, and a nose for the end zone, LeSean McCoy could potentially be the second coming of Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia.
After tallying a combined 2,816 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, 549 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown during his two year college career at Pittsburgh, LeSean McCoy could be fantasy football gold for teams during the prime of his career. Built somewhat like 2008 rookie running back Steve Slaton, LeSean McCoy has the potential to put up Slaton-like rookie stats in 2009 if given starters playing time if Brian Westbrook can’t bounce back from injury. During the prime of his career, LeSean McCoy could be a 1,100 rushing yard, 500 receiving yard, and 14 touchdown running back in the NFL.
Keeper League Incentive:
In fantasy football keeper leagues, LeSean McCoy is an excellent mid to late round running back choice. With the starting RB job clearly Brian Westbrook’s to lose because of injury in 2009, LeSean McCoy may be limited to a max of just 10 touches per game during his rookie year in 2009. However with Westbrook entering his thirties, LeSean McCoy could be the feature back in Philadelphia by 2011. Entering the 2009 season, LeSean McCoy is worth of being ranked as a top 35 overall keeper league running back option.
2009 Expectations:
Much like fellow rookie running back Donald Brown, LeSean McCoy’s playing time will be solely determined by the health of the current #1 running back ahead of him. If Brian Westbrook continues to deal with knee issues during the 2009 season, McCoy’s playing time will increase dramatically. However tempering your expectations for LeSean McCoy to begin the 2009 season is advised, unless of course Brian Westbrook shows absolutely no improvement with his knee problems as the 2009 season begins. A realistic expectation for LeSean McCoy in 2009 would be that he receives up to 10 touches per game with a healthy Brian Westbrook joining him in the Eagles backfield, and the potential for up to 25 touches per game if Westbrook has to miss any games. All in all, LeSean McCoy is someone to take a flyer on late in your draft if you are in a mixed one-year redraft league, or earlier if you were the lucky team to draft Brian Westbrook. In my mind, LeSean McCoy is a must have handcuff for all Brian Westbrook owners.
2009 Stat Projections:
Low End: 300-500 rushing yards, 100-200 receiving yards, 1-3 touchdowns
High End: 600-900 rushing yards, 200-400 receiving yards, 3-6 touchdowns
2009 Fantasy Football Draft Ranking:
Entering the 2009 season, LeSean McCoy is worthy of being ranked as a top 45 overall fantasy football running back in traditional one year re-draft leagues.
In fantasy football keeper league, LeSean McCoy should be ranked as a top 35 overall fantasy football running back.