Well, this one is gonna be short and sweet. Well maybe not sweet. Might actually be dry. But things can be dry and sweet at the same time, though, right? Think raisins and dates here. So let’s whip out the food dehydrator, make some dried mango slices and see how this new rule is going to affect our 2013 fantasy football season…
Short answer: it won’t do much in theory. There, told you it would be short. Good night folks! But to analyze this a bit further, we need to look at the intents of the rule and how it SHOULD be applied, based on the verbiage. From all accounts, this rule affects open field play. So for those of you worried that a running back on the goal line is supposed to run in standing straight as a board are mistaken. Short yardage plays are fair game where everyone is trying to get as close to the ground as possible. The rule is based on some simple physical principles. The defensive player in the open field is trying to react to the running back. They are not charging him if it’s an open field tackle, they’re waiting for said running back to make a move so they can react. So if the running back goes out of their way not only to make contact but does so by leading with the crown of their helmet, THAT’s when they get the penalty. So a defensive player backing up and on the balls of their feet waiting for the RBs move can no longer get the crown of said running back’s helmet in his helmet or chest as a way for the running back to make a play. Doesn’t mean the RB can’t run at him. Doesn’t mean the RB can’t create contact in open field. It simply means the contact can’t be with the intent of spearing into a defender with your helmet. Cool? Ok, cool.
Now of course, I fully relent that if the officiating crew doesn’t apply the rule as it’s stated, we are going to have a problem. A running back who seeks contact like Marshawn Lynch might get villianized by the officiating crew more often than he should. I’m not saying there aren’t flaws to the rule or the idea but I can only speak to the intent and the wording of what I’ve seen so far and what there is doesn’t speak to the concept of deflating the fantay value of Running Backs for 2013. Though one video of Adrian Peterson that is circulating being called a penalty does bother me, I’m not going to fully buy into the worry surrounding the subject at this time. Alright, we now leave you to get back to your regularly scheduled Fantasy Football Off-Season.
