By John Sarianides
Remember a few years back when people were saying that the running back position was dead in fantasy football? Not anymore. Six of the top twenty scorers of 2016 in a standard scoring format were running backs. Cardinals running back David Johnson was the leading scorer in ESPN fantasy football.
As many as five running backs could go in the top ten in fantasy drafts this season. Here are my top twenty fantasy running backs.
1. David Johnson, Cardinals: Johnson reminds me of Priest Holmes and LaDainian Tomlinson back in the day. Both were super productive three down backs who averaged 20 plus points per game. Johnson averaged 25.5 points per game in standard scoring last season. I think he is the best player in fantasy football and should go number one overall in most drafts. Projected Round: 1st
2. LeVeon Bell, Steelers: Bell is healthy and available to play a full season. The Steelers get Bell the ball in a variety of ways and they use him a lot in both the screen game and in the passing game. The master of studder cut averaged 19.8 points per game last season in a standard scoring format. Don’t worry about James Connor. I don’t think he’ll cut into bell’s touches. Connor will spell him on occasion but that’s it. Bell is a top five pick in my opinion. Projected Round: 1st
3. Ezekiel Elliot, Cowboys: Elliot is the guy in Dallas and should get around the same amount of touches as he did last season. Sure, the Cowboys would like to throw the ball more but when you have a back like Elliot and an offensive line like the Cowboys do, you ride them. Look for Elliot to get more touches in the passing game as well. Projected Round: 1st
4. Devonta Freeman, Falcons: It will be interesting to see how the Falcons offense changes under new OC Steve Sarkisian. I think Freeman will get his touches but owners still have to worry about Tevin Coleman because he vultured scores away from Freeman last season. If you take Freeman in the first round, make sure you handcuff him with Coleman and start Coleman as a flex if you have to. Projected round: 1st
5. LeSean McCoy, Bills: McCoy had a much better 2016 season than most people think. He was hampered by injuries and inconsistent quarterback play but still averaged 18.6 points per game in a standard scoring format. With Mike Gillislee gone off to New England, McCoy could see even more touches in 2017. New coach Sean McDermott will want to run the football and play good defense. He knows what McCoy can do from their time in Philadelphia. McCoy will touch the ball plenty of times. Projected Round: 1st or 2nd
6. Melvin Gordon, Chargers: New coach Anthony Lynn is going to want to run the football more. Gordon got off to a strong start last season scoring six touchdowns in his first four games. Gordon did miss the last three weeks of the season and injuries are a concern but he is the man in San Diego and he will get all of the goal line touches. Gordon is not a three down back however so there is very little value there in a PPR league. Projected Round: 2nd
7. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins: Adam Gase wants to run the football in Miami. We saw this first hand last season. Ajayi had three 200 yard rushing games last season. Ajayi will get all of the carries and he will finish drives but it would be nice to see the Dolphins use him more in the passing game. He was good out of the backfield at Boise State and can certainly do it in the NFL. Projected Round: 2nd
8. Jordan Howard, Bears: Jordan Howard burst onto the season last season and established himself as a top ten running back. He is the man in Chicago and will get the majority of the carries but I would like to see more out of him as a receiver before I commit a second or third round pick on him in my draft. Projected Round: 2nd
9. Marshawn Lynch, Raiders: I can’t believe Lynch came out of retirement to play for the Raiders. Then again, it is Marshawn Lynch. Nothing should surprise us. I think he will actually be productive again from a fantasy standpoint. I know a lot of folks out there will draft him as an RB1 but I think he is better suited as an RB2 if you could get him in the third or fourth round. Projected Round: 2nd or 3rd
10. DeMarco Murray, Titans: Murray had 1,664 yards from scrimmage last season and scored 9 rushing touchdowns. Murray will still be the guy in Tennessee but if the end of last season was any indication, Derrick Henry is going to cut into his carries in 2017. Not only that, but Henry will vulture some goal line opportunities as well. I like Murray right where I took him last season in one of my drafts, in the third round. I will not touch him before that. Projected Round: 2nd or 3rd
11. Todd Gurley, Rams: Gurley had quite the fall from grace last season. Thousands of fantasy footballers took him in the top five and paid a steep price as a result. Gurley did not rush for 100 yards in a single game last season and only scored six touchdowns. The hiring of whiz coach Sean McVay could help Gurley’s stock but I don’t think fantasy footballers want to get burned again. I would be surprised if Gurley went before the second round. I wouldn’t take him until the second round at the earliest. Projected Round: 2nd or 3rd
12. Leonard Fournette, Jaguars: Right now I like Fournette over Panthers rookie Christian McCaffery but that could change throughout the summer. The Jags are going to commit to running the football but don’t forget, Chris Ivory and T.J Yeldon are both still in Jacksonville and could cut into Fournette’s carries. Fournette will be drafted higher than he should because of his ability and people hoping they get the next Ezekiel Elliot. That’s fine but right now I don’t think he should go before the second round. Projected Round: 2nd or 3rd
13. Carlos Hyde, 49ers: The additions of veteran Tim Hightower and rookie Joe Williams add depth to the Niners backfield but Hyde will still be the guy. I like Hyde as an RB2 but keep one thing in mind. He has never played in a multiple offense in his career. He is used to operating out of the spread. It could take him sometime to get acclimated. Hyde could be a steal if you are willing to draft him in the 3rd or fourth round. Projected Round: 3rd or 4th Round
14. Isaiah Crowell, Browns: Crowell averaged 12.8 points per game in standard scoring last season and scored 7 touchdowns. If you are in a PPR league and decide to go quarterback and load up on receivers, Crowell could be an option as an RB1. Otherwise, draft him as an RB2 or Flex. Projected Round: 4th or 5th
15. Lamar Miller, Texans: Miller is an RB1 on paper but he needs to be much better than he was last season. Miller had a disappointing first season in Houston averaging 4.0 yards per carry. If he can put it together this season, Miller could have value if Deshaun Watson ends up the starting quarterback for the Texans because Bill O’Brien will try to protect him early on by running the football. I view Miller as an RB2 or as a flex. O’Brien likes to rotate his backs so as a result, Miller will suffer from a little Patriotitis. It will be like he is playing for the Patriots and losing carries in a senseless running back rotation. Projected Round: 4th or 5th
16. Mark Ingram, Saints: Ingram will still be a big part of the Saints offense but there is no doubt that Adrian Peterson will cut into his touches, especially in goal line situations. Ingram will be a bigger factor in the Saints passing game this season which means he has value in PPR leagues.Ingram went in the first round in many leagues last season but I don’t see that being the case this season. Projected Round: 4th or 5th
17. Eddie Lacy, Seahawks: Eddie Lacy could be a mid-round steal in drafts. He will be reinvigorated with the change of scenery and as long as he can keep his weight down, he could have a big bounce back season in Seattle. The Seahawks want to run the football more and take the pressure off of Russell Wilson and their defense. They will and Lacy could get those touches if he beats out Thomas Rawls and C.J Prosise. Projected Round: 5th or 6th round
18. C.J. Anderson, Broncos: Anderson missed time with a knee injury last season and the Broncos running game suffered as a result. Forget about Deonte Booker. Anderson is the guy in Denver. If he is healthy, he will carry the ball 20 plus times a game for the Broncos. New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is familiar with Anderson from his previous stint with the Broncos so he trusts him and he will call his number. Projected Round: 6th or 7th
19. Frank Gore, Colts: Mr. Dependable is still a great fantasy value but rookie Marlon Mack will cut into Gore’s carries. Gore will still start for the Colts and get the bulk of the carries but there is no doubt the presence of Mack will limit his touches. I still like Gore as a Flex or back up running back. He is still a tremendous mid-round value. Projected Round: 8th or 9th
20. Spencer Ware, Chiefs: People will forget about Ware but and that is when you should step in and scoop him up at some point between rounds eight and ten. Ware is not an RB1 but he could be a highly productive RB2. Rookie Kareem Hunt will cut into his carries but Ware will still play a big role in Andy’s Reid offense and he will get goal line carries. Projected Round: 9th or 10th