I think the talk that Leon is too small is silly. It is one of the big football cliches. It hurt Barber early in his career who almost was not given the chance. Warrick Dunn, Payton, Barry Sanders were all small too. Leon looks like he might break one every time he runs. He is decisive and elusive and does not seem to get super hard and is durable. I really think we may have our every down feature back already in Leon. We need big offensive guards, nose tackle, and pash rushing OLB in the early parts of next years draft
I've said it before, Leon reminds me of this guy. Willie Parker Position: RB Height: 5-10 Weight: 209 Born: 11/11/1980 College: North Carolina NFL Experience: 3
This is off my fantasy website Playing the Waiver Wire: Gotta love Leon Oct. 10, 2006 Jamey Eisenberg Senior Fantasy Writer Leon Washington is not someone who is going to save your Fantasy season. But the New York Jets rookie running back might be helpful now during the bye weeks and maybe down the road. Washington proved in Week 5 against Jacksonville that he's the Jets best running back. He had 23 carries for 101 yards in a 41-0 loss against the Jaguars. Even though most of his yards came in the second half with Jacksonville coasting, it was the first 100-yard rushing game for the Jets this season. "I thought he made some people miss, I thought he ran through some arm tackles and I thought he was physical," Jets coach Eric Mangini told the New York media Monday. "I liked the way he handled the ball. That's a positive for him and for us." Mangini wouldn't commit to Washington being the starter. But Washington is already proving to be more productive than Kevan Barlow. Barlow only had four carries for minus-1 yard against the Jaguars and was barely seen in the second half. "Maybe it was scheme-related, maybe it was production-related. I really don't know, to be honest with you," Barlow said. "Whenever Leon touched the ball, he did a good job running it." Through five games, Barlow has 14 more carries than Washington (54 to 40), but Washington has 17 more yards (159 to 142). Washington is averaging 4.0 yards per carry and Barlow only 2.6. But Barlow has four touchdowns, and Washington has yet to reach the end zone. That could all change if Washington is given more of an opportunity. And now is the time for Mangini to find out, with Miami, Detroit and Cleveland the opponents for the next three games. Cedric Houston (knee) is expected to miss a few more weeks and Curtis Martin, who is trying to return from a career-threatening knee injury, is eligible to start practicing next week. But if you need help right now with Cleveland, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Minnesota and New England on a bye this week, Washington is available. He is only owned in 18 percent of leagues on CBS SportsLine as of Tuesday morning.
only problem with this is I think Leon is closer to 5-7 than he is to 5-10. I still like him though, and think he could be our feature back.
Yes he should start, best RB on the roster and he is showing a big play ability. He is very quick and can make defenders miss, start him.
Remember Tiki didn't become a feature back until his 6th season in the league and his lack of carries early on is a major reason he's still so productive at an advanced age for RBs.
Washington might be answer to Jets' running back woes By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. Associated Press Sports Updated: 4:50 p.m. ET Oct 10, 2006 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -Leon Washington zipped through one hole after another, showing off some elusive moves, and got the New York Jets' struggling running game on track for the first time this season. Shedding his image of being no more than a change-of-pace back, the rookie from Florida State had a breakout performance Sunday at Jacksonville. He ran for 101 yards on 23 carries and provided the only bright spot in an otherwise embarrassing 41-0 loss. "I thought Leon ran the ball well with the chances that he had,'' coach Eric Mangini said. "I thought that he made some people miss. I thought that he ran through some arm tackles. I thought he was physical. I liked the way he handled the ball.'' That was the first opportunity Mangini had to truly praise his running game, which ranks 25th in the NFL. Derrick Blaylock started the first two games and was ineffective before being benched. Kevan Barlow, acquired from San Francisco just before the season, started the next two and had only 66 yards on 25 carries, so Mangini mixed things up in Week 5. Quarterback-turned-receiver Brad Smith lined up behind Chad Pennington as the starting running back and ran for 5 yards on the opening play, and for 3 more two snaps later. "I never thought that,'' Smith said of being a starting back. "We got a positive play out of it, though, so I'm happy about it.'' After the Jaguars started catching on, Mangini inserted Barlow, who had four carries for minus-1 yard. His day was over before the first quarter ended, Mangini benching him in favor of Washington. "Maybe it was scheme-related, maybe it was production-related,'' Barlow said. "I really don't know, to be honest with you.'' Washington came in, kept his legs churning and opened a lot of eyes. It was a bittersweet homecoming for a guy who grew up blocks from Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium. "I don't think it was a big game at all,'' he said, downplaying his performance. "We lost 41-0, so I don't get anything personally gratifying out of it. It was just good to be back home, playing in front of my family.'' Washington had six carries in the first half, but had 17 for 70 yards in the final two quarters - mostly with the Jets staring at a huge deficit. His 19-yard run midway through the second quarter was the longest for the Jets this season. "Whenever Leon touched the ball, he did a good job running it,'' Barlow said. Washington nearly ended the shutout early in the fourth quarter, when he got the ball on fourth-and-goal from the Jaguars 1, but was hit by Gerald Sensabaugh before he could push himself into the end zone. "I think my hip hit the ground before the ball reached over the goal line,'' Washington said. "It felt kind of weird, but I was just trying to get in and make a play for the team. Unfortunately, it didn't happen.'' It was the first 100-yard rushing game by a Jets player other than Curtis Martin since LaMont Jordan ran for 115 on Nov. 1, 2004, against Miami. "Most running backs don't pay attention to yards while you're running the ball,'' Washington said. "You just want to go out there and make plays to keep the ball moving. Whatever it adds up to at the end of the game, just let it add up. I just want to go out there and get a chance to run the ball and have the opportunity to make a play.'' Those chances might be available more often for Washington. The fourth-round pick projected to be little more than a third-down back because of his size - 5-foot-8, 202 pounds - but already leads the Jets in rushing with 159 yards, 17 more than Barlow, who has 14 more carries. Blaylock might have already run out of chances to be the starter, while Cedric Houston will likely miss a few more weeks with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Martin's status is up in the air as he tries to come back from a career-threatening knee injury. Even if Martin returns after Week 6, there's no guarantee he'll be effective. So, for now, it could be Washington's job to lose. "They said we couldn't run the ball and he got 100 yards,'' Barlow said. "That's good. It's one of the positives. We saw some production in the run game.''
