Who Will I Place The Franchise Tag On In 2012?

As I have mentioned before, I play in a keeper league in which each team is able to retain one player from the season just finished. The cost of retaining that player is an additional $1, which counts against the team’s $75 salary cap. For example, if Aaron Rodgers’ salary was $6 in 2011, he’d cost you $7 in 2012 if you chose to keep him.

Got it? Good.

For 2012, it boils down to two potential franchise players for Ether: Houston Texan running back Arian Foster (238 fantasy points; 18.1 weekly average) or “do everything” Baltimore Raven running back Ray Rice (285 points; 17.8 weekly average)?

This is like a bachelor having to choose between going on a date with Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian. Neither choice would be questioned.

That pop culture-influenced analogy aside, I am leaning towards Foster.

His playoff performance (24 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD) against the solid Cincinnati Bengal defense this past Saturday in the AFC Wild Card game did nothing to sway my leaning.

Like Rice, Foster is a dual-threat running back, with the ability to dominate the game on the ground or through the air via receiving yards. Unlike Rice, a nice portion of his touches get usurped by his highly-capable running mate, Ben Tate.

However, I believe that Arian Foster will get the nod when it’s time for me to make my franchise player designation. He plays in a better offense, has less mileage on his tires (659 career carries to Rice’s 959), and is a “cheap” $4 based on my league’s salary structure-providing me with substantial salary cap space.

And you just gotta love the haircut.