RSP Writers Project: CBS Sportsline Analyst Dave Richard’s Team


Can you name this Redskins running back? I appreciate the CBS fantasy football analyst Dave Richard has this hard-running rookie from Florida Atlantic on his RSP Writers team. Based on his depth chart, it makes a lot of sense. Photo by Keith Allison.

Dave Richard is a diehard football fan and lives the dream as one of the few full-time fantasy writers in the business. Richard handles sports news and analysis for Fantasy Football at CBSSports.com and is one of many members of Pro Football Writers of America who I imagine will take cookies and pizza as bribes. The Florida native’s team takes some departures from the trends I’ve seen with most of the RSP Writers’ Teams I’ve seen thus far.

Richard invested in an upper echelon left tackle, took an unusual combination of tight ends, and invested in many rookies that I think will develop into underrated role players within the next few years. Two that come to mind immediately are Redskins ‘tweener Alfred Morris and Browns receiver Travis Benjamin – both players from Florida colleges. Stay tuned tomorrow for Richard’s Q&A where he discusses his team.

Dave Richard’s Depth Chart

Luck better be good, because at least 40 percent of these RSP teams have him as its franchise quarterback. Good thing Dave Richard picked a quality veteran as Luck’s backup. Photo by Angie Six
Quarterback Depth Chart
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
QB1 Andrew Luck 12.5 Going young with the best quarterback prospect since Manning. Arm speaks for itself, football smarts are off the charts and he’s healthy. A no-brainer.
QB2 Matt Hasselbeck 5.5 Important to have quality backup. This one comes with lots of experience to aid Luck in his early development. Worth the money.
QB3 0 No third quarterback. We’ll carry someone on our practice-squad.

Note: Teams were asked to carry three quarterbacks, but due to a miscommunication with an email, I let this slide with a few writers. Three quarterbacks are preferred.

Running Back Depth Chart
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
RB1 Trent Richardson 7.5 Fresh legs, dynamic skill set, forces opponents to pay attention to him, can play 40-plus snaps per game no problem.
RB2 Chris Ivory 2 Physical backup to spell Richardson, also has young legs.
RB3 Alfred Morris 1 Needed a third back, found one with excellent college experience and is in the mold of our first two physical running backs.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart

Hurricane Warning: Get the ball in Travis Benjamin’s hands and conditions will be hazardous for opposing defenders. Photo by Erik Daniel Drost.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
WR1 Tori Gurley 0.5 Fifth receiver with some upside.
WR2 Travis Benjamin 2.5 Deep-ball receiver and return-man extraordinaire. Might be closer to Devin Hester than Roscoe Parrish.
WR3 Demaryius Thomas 6 Star receiver. Unreal skills. Will take the chance he won’t get hurt.
WR4 Golden Tate 1.5 Should battle for No. 2 job.
WR5 Brandon LaFell 3 Should battle for No. 2 job.
Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart

Another writer with appreciation for the underrated Delanie Walker. As for Michael Egnew? I don’t get it the love, but I’ve been slow on the uptake before. Photo by 49ersparadise.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
TE1 WR Coby Fleener 2.5 Had to get Luck’s top target, but he’ll be flexed out in this offense more often than not. Don’t see him as an in-line blocker.
TE2 Delanie Walker 2 Versatile, underrated monster tight end. Very good blocker, deceptive receiving target in the red zone.
Michael Egnew 0.5 Backup for Fleener. Liked his game a lot in college, has the measurables to be a headache for defenses.
Tackle Depth Chart

Quit looking at Tebow and focus on No.78 Ryan Clady, the most expensive selection at left tackle that I’ve seen by a writer. Good pick. Photo by Jeffery Beall.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
LT1 Ryan Clady 10 Must protect Luck. Strong, affordable choice.
RT1 Jonathan Martin 5 Familiar with scheme, young.
RT2 Bobby Massie 3 Swing tackle
Guard Depth Chart
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
RG1 David DeCastro 7 Will work on teaching him left guard but for now he’ll mow people down from right guard.
LG2 Johnnie Troutman 1.5 Backup lineman
LG1 Backup T Kevin Boothe 1 Experienced offensive lineman, will start at left guard and could play tackle in a pinch.
Center Depth Chart
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
C1 JD Walton 1 “Good enough” center who can understand a defensive front.
C2 Backup G Ben Jones 1 Physical backup with some versatility.
Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart

Here’s a guy that can lay the wood…and test the quality of knee braces. Bernard Pollard will be the strong safety in Ricard’s secondary. Photo by Christopher Frier Brown.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
FS1 Earl Thomas 6 Versatile free safety a MUST in our hybrid defense.
SS1 Bernard Pollard 4 Experienced strong safety is good enough to start.
SS2 George Iloka 1.5 Young talent with versatility and size. Might work as a dime back.
FS2 Chris Prosinski 1 Raw but fast
LCB2  Buster Skrine 1 Young backup learning from Jammer.
LCB1  Quentin Jammer 4.5 Starting left cornerback. Last year a mirage after off-field issues plagued his preparation. Should be improved.
RCB2 Nickel CB  Joselio Hanson 2.5 Pretty much a career nickelback, so I don’t mind him for that role with our team.
RCB2  Ras-I Dowling 1 Let’s see what he can do. Good backup, have to make sure he’s healthy. Like him better as a backup.
RCB1  Tracy Porter 3 Starting right cornerback, assuming he can hold off camp competition. Has come up big on the biggest stage.
 DeMarcus Van Dyke 1 Satisfies my need for a young corner and a Miami Hurricane.
Linebacker Depth Chart

In addition to Richard, I know of another writer with some appreciation for rookie MLB Bobby Wagner that you’ll be reading about soon. Photo by Bernie Zimmerman.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
 Von Miller 9.5 Jewel of our hybrid defense: Will never leave the field, will constantly pressure quarterback from all over the place.
 James Anderson 3 Versatile linebacker who’s probably better versus. the run than the pass but can get after the quarterback.
Bobby Wagner 4.5 Loved him in college, and I see him as a capable run stuffer with some versatility.
Sean Spence 3 Loved him in college too. A bit undersized but plays with heart and has some smarts to him.
 Antwan Barnes 3.5 Specifically a backup for Miller. Nowhere near as good but showed some explosion last year.
 Chris Chamberlain 0.5 Special-teams contributor and very capable backup. Had 81 tackles, two sacks last year for woeful St. Louis.
 Kirk Morrison 0.5 Veteran tackler won’t start for us but will participate and help the young players, specifically Wagner.
 Philip Wheeler 1 Another veteran backup who can help vs. the run on the field and tutor young LBs off the field.
Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart

No.95 Kamerion Wimbley will be coming off the edge for Dave Richard’s team. Photo by Jim Harper.
Starting Position Role (optional) Name Value Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
Kamerion Wimbley 7 Needed a second pass rusher to go with Miller, especially when we’re in the 4-3. Wimbley can play anywhere, seems rejuvenated.
Jared Odrick 3 Versatile end probably better suited for 3-4 but will get work in our 4-3 front.
 Isaac Sopoaga 5 Meat in the middle.
 Terrence Cody 1 More meat in the middle.
Ziggy Hood 1 Even more meat on the D-line.
 Corey Liuget 0.5 Big young 3-4 end.
 Thomas Keiser 1 Special-teams contributor and defender in a pinch.
 Jermaine Cunningham 0.5 Meat
 Torell Troup 0.5 Meat
Final Special Teams Roster
Kicker and Punter Depth Chart
Starters Name Value Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
K1 John Kasay 1.5 Made at least 81 pct. of kicks in each of last six seasons.
P1 Pat McAfee 1.5 Averaged a career-best 46.6 yards per punt in 2011.
Kick Coverage Team
Role (optional) Name Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
OU1 Demarcus Van Dyke
OU2 George Iloka
OU3 Sean Spence
OU4 Ras-I Dowling
OU5 Tori Gurley
OU6 Chris Prosinski
IN1 John Kasay
IN2 Kirk Morrison
IN3 Thomas Keisel
IN4 Phillip Wheeler
IN5 Chris Chamberlain
Punt Coverage Team
Role (optional) Name Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
Gunner(SE1) George Iloka
Gunner(SE2) Sean Spence
RG Johnnie Troutman
LS Ben Jones
LG Jermaine Cunningham
SB1 Chris Prosinski
SB2 Ras-I Dowling
RT Phillip Wheeler
LT Kirk Morrison
Backup Chris Chamberlain
PP Thomas Keiser

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: