I have two passions in life outside of my own family – fantasy football and hand tools. I love to work on my own home and build things (other than dynasties) in my spare time. Hand tools come in all shapes and sizes and serve all kinds of purposes. It seems fitting today because this installment of the draft day debate features Brandon LaFell and Dexter McCluster, two very different types of players who are going to be used in very different ways.
Many drafts I’ve seen of late have these two WRs going very close to one another. The vast differences with these two has created a quandary in the minds of fantasy owners across the country. Should you take the guy with a clear path to a starting job, but one who is less than exciting? Should you take the guy with less than ideal metrics, but an “it” factor that can’t be denied? Let’s hammer out some measurables, so you don’t look like a tool yourself on draft day.
Size
LaFell = 6’2 1/2″, 211
McCluster = 5’9″, 172
Like I said, there are some stark differences between the two and there is none bigger than this one.
Brandon LaFell is a tall, rangy WR with good hands and the ability to win a lot of one-on-one jump ball battles with cornerbacks. He has a solid build, with no real weight concerns one way or another. He’s easily tall enough to play the position.
McCluster is making the transition from RB and quite a transition it will be! McCluster’s made in the mold of Darren Sproles or Dave Meggett. His size would normally scare people off, but I have seen the kid play a lot – he’s tough as nails. It doesn’t scare me off as much as most, though he won’t win a lot of jump ball battles unless the cornerbacks have been replaced by fleas. In fact, I’d venture to say if he even finds himself in that position, Matt Cassell is having a very bad season.
Advantage: LaFell
Speed
LaFell = 4.65 40
McCluster = 4.58 40
Let’s face the facts here – neither of these two ran as well as they’d hoped before the draft. While the numbers are a little high for both, neither has top end speed. It’s probably more important for LaFell to improve upon that since he’ll likely have more vertical routes than McCluster. Quickness is where McCluster excels at. He’s shifty at the point of attack and very elusive.
Advantage: McCluster
Situation
LaFell = Carolina (pick #78 overall)
McCluster = Kansas City (pick #36 overall)
LaFell landed in a great spot in Carolina. Steve Smith has been clamoring for another WR to take the load off him and he’ll get it with LaFell. The Panthers have to hope LaFell develops much faster than a similar player they took a few years back in one Dwayne Jarrett. Regardless, the opportunity for LaFell to start in year one is his for the taking.
Many people in fantasy circles were hoping McCluster would fall to a team like the Eagles who love to take advantage of pass catching RBs. Instead, he was taken by the Chiefs, who already have a dynamic runner in Jamaal Charles and a pounder in Thomas Jones. It was a curious choice until the plan to move McCluster to WR was revealed. This revelation makes the team a better fit for McCluster, but ironically, makes it much harder to project how he’ll fare.
Advantage: LaFell
Durability
LaFell has had no real injury issues, while McCluster dealt with a shoulder injury that lingered on a few years back. You can’t really say McCluster isn’t durable with the pounding he took, but it’s equally tough to say it’s not a risk you take when you draft him because of his size.
Advantage: LaFell
Character
There are no serious issues around either, other than the mysterious media ban put on LaFell a year ago. No serious red flags, though.
Advantage: Push
Production
LaFell = 57/792/11 (receiving)
McCluster = 181/1169/8 (rushing)
It’s like comparing a regular screwdriver to a Phillips (not Lawrence) here.
Brandon LaFell could have easily come out in last year’s draft and been a fringe first rounder. His career numbers (175/2,517/25) are pretty good, but nothing that’s says “future #1 WR.” You do have to consider a dropoff in QB play at LSU, however. Overall, LaFell did enough to impress.
With the change in position, it’s tough to gauge what kind of a receiver McCluster really will be. When you take a look at his college receving numbers (44/520/3), they’re pretty impressive. That’s an average of 11.8 ypc, and that was the worst ypc average he had at Ole Miss – pretty incredible when you combine it with his rushing accomplishments.
Advantage: McCluster
CONCLUSION
Hand tools come in all shapes and sizes, just like WRs. In the end, you need to choose the one you feel is going to have the best chance to blossom at the next level.
I compare LaFell to a level. He’s tall, serves a one dimensional purpose, and can be counted on to be accurate and steady. That’s pretty simple. There’s not too much to be excited about, but there’s also something to be said for an element of knowing what you paid for.
Dexter McCluster is like a Swiss army knife. He’s multi-dimensional, can help in a variety of different ways, and always has a surprise in him. Remember when you were a kid and got your first swiss army knife? It was so much fun to use it as a corkscrew, a screwdriver, a knife…then you found the hidden match inside! You have to believe the Chiefs are salivating over the ways they can use their very own McCluster knife in the return game, receiving game, and as a 3rd down RB.
When I go to this hardware store, I’m walking out with McCluster. I can find a level just about any year, but the potential to hit a home run with a very unique hand tool is just too much to pass up.
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I can’t really disagree with any of this, but the big question is how a guy like McCluster fits into fantasy football. I liken him to Percy Harvin, whose numbers last year were decent, but hard at times to work into your starting lineup. Not sure McCluster will be much different unless we look back on the 2009 and 2010 drafts as the first of a larger trend towards these hybrid-type players. You could be ahead of the cusp…or you could be riding an NFL fad.
thanks, Ken – very enjoyable read! I like the analogies. I’m probably not going to take a chance on either of these guys, though I do find McCluster intriguing, as Z-A pointed out, in that “hybrid-type players” way.
-oo-
I think the one big thing McCluster has in his favor is Charlie Weiss. With Weiss calling plays, he will find a way to get this kid involved. That 2-3 yard slant pass was made for McCluster. He gets by the initial tackler and it’s off to the races.
McCluster is very intriguing and while I haven’t been able to get him in a league yet, I wouldn’t hesitate doing so. However, I wouldn’t spend a 4th round rookie pick on LaFell. He isn’t fast, has poor hands and doesn’t run good routes so in my eyes he is a less experienced Dwayne Jarrett
Just my 2 cents though
you break the players down saying lafell has the advantage 3-2 then you say take mcluster.what was the piont of breaking them down?
The breakdowns aren’t an exact science where 3-2 or 4-1 would automatically make someone the winner. To most, the metrics themselves aren’t even. You’re assuming that size, situation and durability are “one better” than speed and production. Some may argue production should be worth “2 points,” character worth “1/2 point,” etc.
The breakdowns are essentially just a way to distinguish unique strengths of two very closely ranked players, to be used as discussion points, not a scorecard, per se.
i agree that a player like mccluster has never been a successful fantasy player. it sounds good in theory that he is a “swiss army knife” type player that can do a variety of different things. but those type of players are much more valuable to an actual nfl team then to fantasy teams. there has never been a player that has been a rb/wr/kr that has had any real value in fantasy circles. i would be very interested to hear your rebuttal to this argument ken.
Hey Chad!
There isn’t a huge argument to be had, really. The debate is about two guys being looked at closely in the mid-to-late 2nd round of most rookie dynasty circles. In no way am I saying either of these two players are going to be studs. In fact, the bust rate on 2nd round picks in a rookie draft is somewhere around 70%, receivers even higher.
With McCluster, I see him as a guy who can score points in return yardage leagues, PPR leagues and bring an added dimension to a team (which could result in lots of scoring chances). Reggie Bush and Leon Washington are very similar, and while not stars by any means, they still have value to a team, both in fantasy and reality.
I’m just not overly impressed by LaFell. He seems very ordinary to me, but he’ll have his chance as well.
We’re talking about 2nd round guys who are realistically flyer-type players. I’ll take the one I see as having more talent.
Great read Ken. I picked McCluster at 1.10 in our recent dynasty draft simply because I wanted immediate production and with Crabtree and Britt on my roster from last year haven’t been able to justify another 2-3 year project at WR. The point has been made that a player of his size and position hasn’t become a valid fantasy option, while this may be true I thoroughly believe the NFL is an evolving animal and the day is coming. I’d say for a rookie, Harvin’s numbers were above average. If the top 5 RB are gone along with WR1 & 2, I feel rookie drafts are a grab your guy scenario. Sure you can look at value, estimated time to develop, etc. but if you don’t pick again until 2.10 you have to take your guy.
It has been a pleasure watching McCluster slowly crawl up draft boards after our draft. I’ll admit when I took him I felt it was a reach, however there was nothing else there I wanted and no one would trade into the spot, so you have to go with your gut. In all of my years playing fantasy I’ve finally decided that if they can do it in college (and their game translates) get the man you want. This makes it easier to hold on to that player if the first year doesn’t pan out and the trade offers start flying in. I drafted Rice after watching him destroy the Big East for years. After McClain took off their rookie year I was looking to deal him all summer. Well summer went and I couldn’t get the value I wanted, no I sit with a backfield comprised of 2 of the best 4 backs in football with MJD.
My opinion would be, if you watched Lafell and fell in love with his game, grab him. If not and you have ever seen McCluster play ball, well there isn’t much of an option.
Great piece.
McCluster will be the next chris johnson