Laurence Maroney

After showing flashes of stardom during his rookie season, Maroney has done nothing but disappoint, eventually going on the IR last year with a shoulder injury. He’s battled injuries throughout his career, so even a best-case scenario has him in a committee in New England. Although he doesn’t contribute much as a pass-catcher, Maroney does possess nice moves in the open field, and when not holding back because of injury, he has displayed power to go along with quickness. Playing in a Patriots system that figures to rank among the best in football with Tom Brady back and a terrific run-blocking offensive line, Maroney still offers upside. But he’s more likely to disappoint than reach that potential.

Despite playing for the most prolific offense in NFL history, Maroney was largely a bust in 2007, failing to record a touchdown until Week 11 and catching just four passes all season. Offseason shoulder surgery and later a strained groin were partially to blame, but a lack of ability to pass protect was equally a culprit. On a team that was setting passing records, coach Bill Belichick wanted his best blockers playing the most. However, Belichick has also praised Maroney's running ability, and Maroney did record four 100-yard rushing games with seven touchdowns over the final six contests, counting the postseason. Guilty of dancing behind the line of scrimmage at times, Maroney seemed to mature late last season, when he ran between the tackles with decisiveness. He has the physical tools to be a good receiver, but his blocking needs to improve so he can be on the field on more passing downs. While many will be reluctant to pursue Maroney coming off such a disappointing campaign, his last six weeks revealed massive potential, and he enters 2008 as the team's undisputed feature back. The Patriots passing offense set all kinds of records last year, so it’s safe to assume opposing defenses will key on stopping it. Unlike Adrian Peterson and Larry Johnson, Maroney is almost never going to see eight man fronts. Expect him to bounce back.

Maroney burst onto the scene last year, gaining 370 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns in the season’s first month. Things didn’t go quite as well after that for the rookie, but from time to time he displayed flashes of a special back. While the final numbers don’t jump out at you, Maroney was never 100 percent healthy last season, suffering a minor knee sprain late in training camp, missing two mid-season contests with torn rib cartilage and playing the final part of the year with a bum shoulder that required offseason surgery, which revealed fairly significant damage. The good news is Maroney exhibited toughness, sitting out just two games despite numerous maladies. While fighting through the shoulder pain was admirable, it also helps explain his lack of production in December and January, when he was given single-digit carries in four games. Maroney is expected to enter this season 100 percent healthy, and while he’s yet to prove capable of carrying a full load (he didn’t have one 20-carry game last year), there’s significant upside here. There’s no telling how much the injuries held him back, and New England is confident enough in Maroney’s ability that it let Corey Dillon leave. With just Kevin Faulk and Sammy Morris around, Maroney will get all the work he can handle in a Patriots offense that was upgraded significantly over the offseason with the additions of Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker. The Patriots produced 24 goal-line carries between Dillon and Maroney last year, which puts them toward the top of the league in touchdown opportunities, and the offense looks much more explosive this season. Maroney should be protecting a lot of second-half leads and will playing behind an underrated offensive line.

The Patriots’ first round pick, Maroney is in an ideal spot for long-term NFL success. Corey Dillon is the starter ahead of him in 2006, but New England has a proven knack for putting players in roles in which they’ll excel, so expect Maroney to show flashes of his ability while being groomed as Dillon’s successor. Maroney is also used to splitting carries, having done the same with Marion Barber in college, so he should have no difficulty fitting into the Patriots’ plans for him. Should injuries put Dillon on the shelf again however, Maroney – a three-time 1,000-yard rusher at Minnesota despite the timeshare – has the moves and breakaway speed to put up some impressive fantasy numbers.