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Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:18 am EDT

Exhibitionist: Tim Hightower will break your plane, and you can't stop him

By Andy Behrens

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__4/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-645839851-1219150704.jpg?ymofXrADFfTXLMYWThe Arizona Cardinals have played two exhibition games, and rookie running back Tim Hightower has scored first-half TDs in both of them.

Touchdowns are clearly his specialty. Last year at Richmond, Hightower found the end zone 23 times and he rushed for 1,924 yards. He's quickly emerged as a serious threat to Edgerrin James' goal-line work.

Hightower is a powerful runner, built to gain tough yards (6-1, 225 lbs). Entering the NFL Draft, these were the big worries about him according to Rivals:

Competition (in college) wasn’t the best. His speed is only adequate and may force a move to fullback.

The competition he's faced lately is pretty good, and Hightower has shown enough speed to sprint outside and beat starting NFL defensive backs to the pylon (see Bernard Pollard above).

Given the likelihood that he'll continue to poach TDs from James, you'll want to consider him something more than a handcuff or a dynasty option. Hightower is a back to target in the late rounds in most formats. His current ADP at Mock Draft Central is 188.1, which is TJ Duckett/Michael Pittman territory. At that point in your draft, there's really no risk.  

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Photo by Getty Images

Related: Fantasy Football, Exhibitionist

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66 Comments

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  1. Griffin
    1. Posted by Griffin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    Ok so Brandon Marshall is suspended for at least two games. Darrell Jackson is now on the Broncos. He is always injured, but when healthy he has been great in the past. Am I crazy for thinking Jackson will step up when Marshall is gone and be a decent Rod Smith-esque presence in Denver. Why isn't anyone talking about him and is he worth a late round flier?
  2. Griffin
    2. Posted by Griffin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    Behren's your my favorite fantasy writer. Your blogs are always filled with great insight and surprisingly funny. I just don't understand that when you do those videos your voice is flat and you're boring. For God's sake, Funston is more lively than you on camera. Add some of your outstanding writing charisma to the video segments.....In related news isn't Tim Hightower the whitest name you've ever herd..the picture really surprised me...he is the Howie Kendrick of football.
  3. T.J.
    3. Posted by T.J. Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    ewwww word
  4. scubs
    4. Posted by scubs Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    your crazy
  5. pdirdy
    5. Posted by pdirdy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    The edge has a pride thing going on this season, he has something to prove and this will be a make or break year. Last year he was too unpredictable for my team, but this year i might take a flyer on him.
  6. blenn
    6. Posted by blenn Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    ok calm down c rizzle
    and i was amazed khalil greene, the shortstop was white
    i had heard about him, and when i finally saw him play i was really surprised
  7. norrisou
    7. Posted by norrisou Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Another rookie RB being highly touted??? C'mon "experts".....
  8. sir long and thick (BEAST MODE)
    8. Posted by sir long and thick (BEAST MODE) Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    griffin rnt u tha first guy?
    8THHHHHHHHHHHHHH
  9. Jeremy
    9. Posted by Jeremy Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    but D'Brickashaw Ferguson left no mysteries
  10. norrisou
    10. Posted by norrisou Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    Hey Behrens, do you have any hot sisters I could date?
  11. sam_nathan_rob
    11. Posted by sam_nathan_rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Speaking of rook's tennessee's chris Johnson seems pretty good. But how come his back up, second year man chris henry, is getting no attention? The dude is one of the most explosive/quickest running backs ive watched. He was the star of the combine and is always a 20 yrd run threat. Is there something im missing about him?
  12. tha truth
    12. Posted by tha truth Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    he had a very good point although a little redneckish
  13. Jack Burton
    13. Posted by Jack Burton Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    Griffin your an idiot, Jackson is old and at best was a number 3 WR.
  14. *Clark 22*
    14. Posted by *Clark 22* Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    Hey Griifin can you read? This is about Tim Hightower, not 10 years ago good D-Jack. Heres an idea for you dont draft garbage and try to get us tell you it was a good idea, because its not. Nice try Jackson is old, slow, un-motivated and wothless. If I were you I run into my league as soon as yahoo adds Chris Henry of the Bengals maybe you can salvage your season after week 5 but I doubt it.
  15. Griffin
    15. Posted by Griffin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    Reggie Willits is actually the best example of a name that doesn't really fit. Yes I am the first guy and yes I know that Jackson is old, but if you draft Marshall and you need somebody to fill in for him for the first 2 or 3 weeks and its a deep league, why not?
  16. Xobai
    16. Posted by Xobai Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    I don't know why we're posting about D-Jax, but my money's on Schleffler to make up for Marshall, at least in the red zone.
    To get closer to the actual topic of the blog, Hightower looks like a decent bench guy. I know I'll be looking at him, Ray Rice, and Pierre Thomas late in my draft to round out my RBs, though I'm kind of partial to Rice.
  17. B FUK
    17. Posted by B FUK Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    They should be blogging Denvers #2 pick WR Royal
  18. diezel261
    18. Posted by diezel261 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    griffin why r u talking about the broncos here?..anyway, the man in denver is gonna be rookie wr eddie royal...hes starting with marshall and when marshall starts his 4 gm suspension, royal shoyld be the go to guy
  19. yankees_r_gr8
    19. Posted by yankees_r_gr8 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:54 pm EDT

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    Because he isn't the starter numb nuts! Royal is!!!!!!
  20. Tony Zendejas
    20. Posted by Tony Zendejas Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    Edge has one more decent year left in him, maybe two. But, if he doesn't score from outside the ten, and we know long runs aren't his thing, he won't be scoring much with Hightower there.
  21. diezel261
    21. Posted by diezel261 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    3 gm suspension for marshall.....whatever
  22. Orca
    22. Posted by Orca Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Darrell Jackson is 29 years old.
    If that's ancient, I am dead.
    I'm 34.
    Perhaps we could call him "mediocre" Darrell Jackson, or "inconsistent" Darrell Jackson, or "often-injured" Darrell Jackson.
    T.O. is 35, in comparison. It's how well someone plays, and how consistent they are over the years that influences what we think of them. Maybe because DJax is hurt so much, we think of him as being old.
    That being said, not a bad option as a WR5, 13 round at the earliest.
  23. Pokerface
    23. Posted by Pokerface Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    I had been looking in my shallow FA pool (16-team league) for a sleeper RB all morning. After scouting players for several hours came up with some names among them Tim Hightower. In fact, I was more inclined in taking him over the others when I finally decided to hang on for one more day in hopes to hear more news on little-known backs or possible comebackers like Shaun Alexander. Then all of the sudden Behrens comes out with this article highlighting Hightower. Hey... I don't think Behrens is a football guru but maybe there's really something there. After all, I don't have anything to lose. My best RB is Chester Taylor... another back up! I guess I'm counting on an awesome season from the rest of my team...
    I dropped Bears Forte's backup AP. Not the 1st-rounder AP though... the other one. Was this a mistake.. anyone?

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