The Facts:
No NFL running back made for a better punch line than Richardson last season. Despite a meager per-carry average of 2.9 yards and an embarrassing late-season demotion, the Indianapolis Colts still believe they will have the last laugh on a trade that has been lopsided in the Browns' favor to date. Veteran backup QB Matt Hasselbeck is the latest member of the Colts to express confidence in Richardson, relating T-Rich's struggles to those of former teammate Marshawn Lynch while settling into Seattle after a 2010 midseason trade. "Marshawn's numbers weren't spectacular either," Hasselbeck said Monday. "It's very similar to Trent."
Reported by NFL.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Hasselbeck continued: "[Richardson] came in tough circumstances. We say these OTAs matter and training camp matter and preseason matters. To put unrealistic expectations on him after he missed all that with us (was unfortunate). I would definitely expect his numbers to look better this year." Hasselbeck has a point. It wasn't until Lynch's 19th game in Seattle that he cleared the 100-yard rushing mark. He topped 50 rushing yards just twice in his first nine games with the Seahawks. As NFL.com suggests, Richardson has a similarly violent running style with plenty of power. On the flip side, he has also exhibited a startling lack of vision while losing the burst that was evident at Alabama. The Colts believe Richardson will regain his suddenness and confidence now that he has a handle on the playbook. Fantasy football owners shouldn't draft him with that expectation, but hoping he turns into a value play at his current ADP (20) isn't unreasonable.
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