Empty the Bench

The Baltimore Ravens have traded for running back Willis McGahee. McGahee has all the physical tools to excel in the NFL, and the Raven’s offense is geared toward ball control and grinding games out. That’s a recipe for fantasy success, so this could be a great fit for Willis. With Jamal Lewis no longer in Baltimore, and Chester Taylor leaving before last season, there are a ton of carries to be had.

Willis is a strong runner with good athleticism and speed, so as long as he can stay healthy he could be in line for a career season. In exchange for McGahee the Bills received a third-round selection in both 2007 and 2008 and a seventh-round selection in 2007. That’s a fairly meager return for the former first-round pick, but word is that the Bills coaching staff was fed up with McGahee’s attitude and refusal to learn the blocking schemes.

In related news, the Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms with former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis. Though it seems like his 2,000 yard season was a long time ago, Lewis is just 27 years old. He doesn’t play like it though, so this isn’t as big of a signing as it sounds like. Lewis has trailed off significantly in the time since that massive season. He has gone through legal troubles and numerous injuries, and he simply doesn’t run as hard or well as he used to.

“He has shown us that he does have the ability, that he can be a productive runner for us,” Crennel said. “I expect him to get back to that form that he had. That 1,200-yard form. That’s what I’m looking for.”

The Browns have been searching for a player who can solidify their running game since the NFL brought football back to Cleveland, and Lewis will be motivated playing on a one-year deal, so there could be fantasy relevance. Lewis should go in the middle rounds of your fantasy drafts, but only after you have fielded your starting backfield.

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