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When the name Reggie Bush enters a fantasy football conversation, debates can go back and forth for hours on whether or not he is a viable fantasy option. Taking your own personal thoughts on the NFL running back out and simply looking at performance and opportunity, Bush is undervalued for the 2013 fantasy football season. He has the natural ability and explosiveness to bring big points to your fantasy squad.
The first few years for Bush were somewhat of a struggle as he was drafted second overall in the 2006 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He wasn’t the star back the Saints and fans were hoping he would be. Bush was forced to forfeit his Heisman Trophy award due to major NCAA infractions. He gathered all kinds of attention from the media during his days of dating Kim Kardashian, and many wondered if he was “all in” on the NFL.
Focusing in on football, Bush was sent to the Miami Dolphins where he accumulated 1,086 rushing yards and six touchdowns in his first season. Those aren’t bad numbers for a running back who is looked at primarily as a pass catcher. His rushing yardage total was the best of his career, and after spending two seasons with the Dolphins, Bush joined the Detroit Lions after the 2012 season.
The Lions could have the best offensive style of play Bush has seen and are a great fit for the eighth year man. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is prone to throwing the ball constantly during the season including setting an NFL record for pass attempts in 2012 with 727.
Bush is a quick and shifty back who has the ability to catch passes out of the backfield and turn them into major yardage. In his first season in the league, Bush was used as a primary receiving option and hauled in 119 targets with 742 yards and two touchdowns. With an NFL record setting pass attempt quarterback in Stafford, Bush could surpass his rookie season’s receiving marks.
The rushing portion of Bush’s game may not be eye-popping numbers, but they are fantastic numbers when you add them to his receiving totals. In 2011, Bush gave his fantasy owners a combined 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns. For the 2012 season, his fantasy owners saw 1,278 combined yards and eight touchdowns. Either way Bush gets his stats, rushing or receiving, he’s a major fantasy factor.
Many fantasy owners are worried about how much Bush will be used in the Lions’ offense. They don’t want to see him get overworked, yet still want him to be on the field as much as possible. The Lions most likely will substitute in Mikel Leshoure for the up the middle tough run type plays which won’t hurt the fantasy value of Bush who is most effective outside of the tackles.
Bush has never been a big time workhorse for any team he has been on with his most carries, 227, coming during the 2012 season. All fantasy owners need to hope for from Bush is about 200 carries due to his unmatched ability on out of the backfield passing plays.
Bush is currently ranked to be taken in the fantasy draft around the fourth round and is one of the last high fantasy point backs expected to be taken. From the preseason, we saw Bush bring in five passes for 103 yards against the New England Patriots. Those kinds of numbers are deserving of a pick over any other running backs that would be taken in the fourth or even third round. As long as Bush can stay healthy, his potential to bring your team tons of fantasy points is a sure bet.
Tristen Challe is a Fantasy Writer for Rantsports. Follow him on Twitter @TristenChalle or on Google
