The fullback position has undergone an extreme transformation over the course of football history. In the old days of the NFL, players like Jim Brown, John Riggins and Franco Harris were considered fullbacks, though they would most certainly be retroactively labeled halfbacks. In the 1990s, you had guys like Mike Alstott, Daryl Johnston and Sam Gash help shape the definition of what a modern fullback could be. That is, primary blockers who would occasionally carry the football in short yardage situations while running the occasional passing route. Big, bruising backs who would run over defenders for tough yards, often around the goal line.
Sadly, in my eyes at least, fullbacks have become a bit of a lost art in the college and professional ranks. With modern day players oftentimes bigger and stronger than their predecessors, running backs are counted on to do a bit of everything. Some teams don’t even see the need for a fullback on the roster, and many squads only use a player in that role sparingly throughout the course of a game.
The position has always been well-represented in area high school football, however. There’s a long history of strong, physical fullbacks who set the tone for a team’s rushing attack, whether it be blocking or running the ball.
This year is no different.
Despite what has been a big year early for quarterbacks and aerial attacks (shouts to Kyle Dodge and Owen Phelps), let us not forget the fullbacks and their contributions.
“We’re a running team and we need a fullback that can run and block,” said Athol head coach Bill LaRose, a friend to fullbacks near and far. “In our Wing T, you need the kid who can pound the ball on fourth and short. At any level, even in the pros, you need that big, rugged guy. It’s more important, I think, in high school, because it adds another blocker to your offensive line. And in our sets, a lot of times we use our fullback to kick out their defensive end and keep him guessing.”
Fullbacks have made their presence felt in the fantasy realm this season as well. Several players in the position have put up strong fantasy weeks, scoring touchdowns to pad their statistics.
Let’s start in Athol, where senior Dylan Castine has been a key performer through the first three weeks of the season. In fact, he’s gotten stronger each time out, with Week 3’s impressive 14-carry, 85-yard and one touchdown performance on the ground helping the Red Raiders to a 16-0 win over rival Mahar.
“He had a great game against Mahar,” LaRose lauded of Castine. “Toward the end of the game, I thought he wore down their defense. On the last drive in the fourth quarter, we were mostly on his back and he did exactly what you want a fullback to do.”
Castine sets up in the middle of the Athol double wing attack. He’s proven dangerous on traditional carries up the middle, while adding the ability to block for speedsters Mason Barrieau and Keegan Lutz. His versatility was on display against Mahar, as he also hauled in a 14-yard reception from quarterback Caleb Cox. Castine’s 16.9-point fantasy game against Mahar elevated his season-total to 23½ points.
“He’s really effective in the flats,” LaRose said of Castine. “I think he’s had three balls thrown to him this year and he’s caught all three and made positive yards. It’s only his third game at the position — he was behind Robbie Nelson last year — but he’s been a wonderful addition so far.”
In South Deerfield, Frontier’s Corbin Blight is another fullback who has figured into the world of fantasy scoring. Blight, who also sets up inside his team’s double wing between tailbacks Garrett DeForest and Ito McMillan, has 16.6 fantasy points through three weeks. That includes a 65-yard rushing performance on nine carries in Week 1 against Pittsfield, as well as a rushing touchdown to go with 29 yards on the ground in Week 2 against Greenfield.
Another fullback having a nice season resides in Greenfield. Senior Nate Haselton, the lead blocker for star tailback RJ Byrd, has gotten back into the swing of things nicely for his senior year after missing time due to injury a year ago. Haselton is one of several dangerous options for the Green Wave offensively, and he’s been especially dangerous as a pass-catcher this fall. Through three games, he has seven receptions for 80 yards, giving quarterback Owen Phelps a nice security blanket when speedy wide out Danny Vega isn’t open. Haselton was a huge cog in Greenfield’s comeback bid against Frontier in Week 2, as he caught five passes for 50 yards. For the season, he has 15.9 fantasy points.
Mahar’s Joey Brozell, a great name for a fullback, has proven to be a load to take down when he’s had the ball in his hands this fall. Brozell’s breakout performance in Week 2 saw him carry the ball 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown, good enough for a tidy 12.4-point fantasy week. He’s also hauled in three receptions on the year, and has 21.4 fantasy points in total, behind only Castine in that department as far as fullbacks go.
QB: 1. Kyle Dodge, Turners — 68.7 points; 2. Owen Phelps, Greenfield — 50.5; 3. Shawn Davenport, Mohawk — 49.1; 4. Jared Bergmann, FC Tech — 17.4; 5. Caleb Cox, Athol — 14.4
RB: 1. Wyatt Keith, Turners — 79.8 points; 2. Mason Barrieau, Athol — 76.9; 3. Garrett DeForest, Frontier — 76.1; 4. Evan Shippee, Mohawk — 69.6; 5. RJ Byrd, Greenfield — 68.3
WR: 1. Danny Vega, Greenfield — 39.2 points; 2. Andy Craver, Turners — 33.7; 3. Jaden Whiting, Turners — 33.1; 4. Charlie Barnes, Mahar — 25.1; 5. Cam Lococo, Mohawk — 24.8
QB: 1. Shawn Davenport, Mohawk — 23.9 points; 2. Kyle Dodge, Turners — 20.1; 3. Owen Phelps, Greenfield — 15.5; 4. Matt Hildreth, Frontier — 7.9; 5. Jared Bergmann, FC Tech — 6.6
RB: 1. Wyatt Keith, Turners — 41.5 points; 2. Garrett DeForest, Frontier — 32.2; 3. Mason Barrieau, Athol — 21.4; 4. Dylan Castine, Athol — 16.9; 5. Evan Shippee, Mohawk — 15.9
WR: 1. Danny Vega, Greenfield — 20 points; 2. Matthew Pollen, Mohawk — 14.7; 3. Lucas Upham, FC Tech — 7; 4. Andy Craver, Turners — 6.8; 5. Hunter Campbell, Greenfield — 6.5
QB: 1. Kyle Dodge, Turners; 2. Owen Phelps, Greenfield; 3. Matt Hildreth, Frontier; 4. Caleb Cox, Athol; 5. Owen Bashaw, FC Tech
RB: 1. Wyatt Keith, Turners; 2. RJ Byrd, Greenfield; 3. Mason Barrieau, Athol; 4. Garrett DeForest, Frontier; 5. Keegan Lutz, Athol; 6. Bailey Young, FC Tech; 7. Jon Gariepy, Mahar; 8. Corbin Blight, Frontier; 9. Nate Haselton, Greenfield; 10. Joey Brozell, Mahar.
WR: 1. Danny Vega, Greenfield; 2. Jaden Whiting, Turners; 3. Andy Craver, Turners; 4. Charlie Barnes, Mahar; 5. Hunter Campbell, Greenfield.
Frontier tailback Ito McMillan missed his team’s Week 3 game against Palmer with an injury. I picked Ito as my fantasy running back in Week 3. Without weekly injury reports, a la the NFL, sometimes these things fall through the cracks. Alas, I can’t dwell on the past. On to Week 4, as my friend Bill Belichick would certainly say in this instance.
Just a reminder that we are only able to use a player once for the season, so strategic picking based on matchups is vital.
JEFF LAJOIE (Week 3: 14.7 points; season total: 57.2 points)
QB — Caleb Cox, Athol
RB — Garrett DeForest, Frontier
WR — Charlie Barnes, Mahar
JAY BUTYNSKI (Week 3: 23.4 points; season total: 112 points)
QB — Matt Hildreth, Frontier
RB — RJ Byrd, Greenfield
WR — Andy Craver, Turners
Jeff Lajoie is a Recorder sportswriter who probably wouldn’t tackle a fullback. Email him at jlajoie@recorder.com.