Lynch Suspension Upheld

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was served a three game suspension this March for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Like most star players, Lynch appealed the suspension, hoping to get his sentenced reduced to just one game. However, the NFL announced on Monday that they were upholding Lynch's suspension, making him ineligible for play until week 4 against the Miami Dolphins.

How much does a three game absence hurt Lynch's value?

Last season, Lynch was a borderline first round draft pick. This year - he is getting taken towards the end of the third round.

But, Marshawn Lynch might as well be worth a late second round pick this year because you know what he is going to give you; take a look.

Marshawn Lynch thrives as a running back in Buffalo. Once the weather takes a turn for the worse, Lynch improves significantly.

In September and October of last season, Lynch only managed 3.66 yards per carry. In November and December, he had 4.61 yards per carry.

But despite the fact that Lynch is a great second-half player, he is still missing a quarter of the regular fantasy season.

However, Fred Jackson, who has averages 4.6 yards per carry in his short career, will serve as Lynch's undisputed replacement for the first three games. Dominic Rhodes is supposed to help out; but expect Jackson to make Rhodes a non-factor. In week 17, Fred Jackson ran for 136 yards against the New England Patriots; he could even fight for Lynch's job when he returns.

Once Lynch returns, he will return to the starting line up and once again be a dominant fantasy force. In two seasons, he has ran for at least 1,000 yards and scored at least 7 times. While those numbers aren't likely to be replicated, we still rank him higher than his average draft position.

Fred Jackson can be acquired in the final rounds of the draft where you might be getting your back-up defense, or your first string kicker. Spend a late pick on Jackson, and you have a player who will serve as a starting running back for the first three weeks of the season.

And come week 4, that late fourth round pick you spent on Marshawn Lynch suddenly turned into a high end No. 2 running back for the remainder of the year.

In games against the Patriots, Buccaneers and Saints, the Bills will need extra input from Lee Evans and Terrell Owens in the passing game, increasing their respective values.

Even if you don't secure Lynch, Jackson is a good running back to secure until more guys open up on waivers.

Bills' Lynch Appeals Suspension

Marshawn Lynch has filed an appeal with the NFL contesting the suspension that he received last month.

Lynch was suspended for three games without pay in April when he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge, a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Lynch was arrested on February 11 when police searched a parked car carrying Lynch. The police found a.9 mm handgun, and four marijuana cigarettes, although no drug charges were filed.

After meeting with Goodell in March, Lynch publically expressed that he expected a suspension from the league’s front office.

This suspension was Lynch’s second encounter with the law, as he was charged with a hit-and-run last year in Buffalo.

If Lynch remains suspended for the three games, his stock as a running back plummets from top 10 RB to barely within top 20. The Bills have a solid backup in Fred Jackson, thus the Bills’ passing attack should remain fairly unchanged in Lynch’s absence.

Lynch Tears Up San Francisco

Worry not Marshawn Lynch owners. Lynch had his third straight respectable performance today, recording 16 carries for 134 yards against a weak 49ers defense. This brute-force back thrives during the second semester of the season. In '07, Lynch's YPC was 1.0 more during the months of November and December. Lynch's running style is based off of breaking tackles, which tends to be more difficult when the weather turns for the worse. Impact: Marshawn Lynch has three of his final four games on the east coast, which instantly automatically makes Lynch a must-start in all formats.