Football has definitely changed into a passing league
everyone close to the game knows this. However in the fantasy world the running
back has regained value in a different manner than in the past. RB’s used to be
the most sought after position based on talent and point production. It wasn’t long
ago that the entire first round of the Fantasy Football Draft would be consumed
with runners. In 2017 the value of the Running Back is again extremely high but
from a different perspective. The value is higher because they’re extremely rare.
Elite Running Backs:
David
Johnson
LeVeon Bell
Zeke Elliott
Shady McCoy
DeMarco
Murray
Since most teams employ a multi-back system and feel that
running backs can be easily interchangeable, there is a major drop off from the
traditional bell-cow three down back. Not many teams have the elite three down
type of player aside from Arizona (David Johnson), Pittsburgh (LeVeon Bell),
Dallas (Zeke Elliott), Buffalo (Shady McCoy), and Tennessee (DeMarco Murray). These
elite players shall receive the majority of the carries plus all five backs (just
mentioned); can catch extremely well along with having the ability for Pass-Pro
thus keeping them on the field. The value to obtain one of the super-stud
players is through the roof! Knowing you have the ability week in week out to
start one of these elite backs and not worry about production is invaluable.
Honorable Mention for high producing potential bell-cow
backs that haven’t obtained elite status, as of yet: Jay Ajayi, Lamar Miller,
Melvin Gordon, Jordan Howard, and Todd Gurley. Though I firmly believe Gurley
is in the elite conversation, he didn’t have much to work with last year.
Multi-Back Systems:
Devonta
Freeman/Tevin Coleman (I believe Freeman
is very close to elite but Coleman is a TD vulture)
Mark Ingram/Adrian
Peterson/Alvin Kamara
Joe Mixon/Jeremy
Hill
Kareem
Hunt/Charcandrick West
Eddie
Lacy/Thomas Rawls
Ameer
Abdullah/Theo Riddick
Leonard
Fournette/Chris Ivory /TJ Yeldon
Dalvin
Cook/Latavius Murray
With only twelve backs to crack the 1000 yard rushing mark
in 2017, it’s apparent teams that don’t employ this elite level talent are
trying to make up for it in the aggregate with a multi-back system. The theory sounds
ok on paper, but the offensive system is severely compromised as defence’s key
on the skill-set of each back and adjust. This is what hurts fantasy owners the
most. It’s simply not just the loss of carries or the missed opportunity for receptions,
it’s the production level! Take into account Jacksonville and their situation.
Fournette is a fantastic runner with massive trucking ability that struggles to
catch the ball. Defenses will adjust whenever Leonard is on the field, stack
the box (limiting his yards) and dare him to catch out of the backfield, thus
equating to his loss of potential production. Aside from Devonta Freeman the
rest should be involved in a tug-of-war battle for carries.
Knowing this, how can one adjust during the draft so they
can obtain the best running back without compromising the rest of the team? My
advice;
·
In standard leagues I believe the RB is the most
important position to capture before rounding out the rest of your team. There
is no substitute for having one of the highest producing backs in the NFL.
·
In PPR leagues you can perform a balancing act by
mixing and matching RB and WR depending on value. Of course, if the opportunity
to grab one of the top five running backs presents itself, do it and don’t look
back.
I’ve seen others that form the opinion that loading up on
running backs is the approach to take. Let me revoke that theory as it is
something I can’t support nor endorse. Yes obtaining a feature back is extremely
important, but DO NOT compromise the rest of your team filling your bench with
runners that won’t help you week to week.
Good Luck for the Drafts this weekend! Can’t wait for the
season!
*VIEW THE ALL DAY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT FOR THE UPCOMING DRAFTS*
Follow on Twitter @chris_ADF1
Email: alldayfootball2@gmail.com
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