Ranking
2019’s Second Year Running Backs (Not Named Saquon Barkley)
2018 was one of the better years for
overall rookie running back fantasy production. Despite the fantasy busts like:
Royce Freeman, Rashaad Penny and Derrius Guice (missed entire season due to
injury), it still turned out be a deep rookie running back class.
Heading into 2019, here are my top five
rookie running backs that are not-named Saquon Barkley counting down in order
from 5 to 1.
5.) Derrius Guice
(Washington Redskins)
I put Guice 5th on this list mainly because he hasn’t a
played an NFL regular season snap. Guice missed all of the 2018 season with a
torn ACL injury that he suffered in the preseason. It was especially
disappointing to a lot of fantasy owners because he was projected as one of the
top fantasy RB’s in his rookie class. Even though the Redskins offense remains
underwhelming this year, Guice has enough talent and enough upside to deliver
for fantasy owners.
4.) Sony Michel (New
England Patriots)
A lot of people might think Michel is too low on this list. For me,
the reason he isn’t higher, is simply because at this point he is touchdown
dependent. Last season, in 13 games Michel caught only 7 passes (which despite
his goal line usage and post season production), is a disturbing sign for
fantasy owners. Until Michel becomes an average pass catcher and demonstrates
he can at least catch between 20-30 passes a year, he going to be slightly boom
or bust based on touchdowns.
With James White assuming most of the pass catching work from the
running back position and the Patriots willingness to go with the hot hand and
stick to a matchup based approach, Michel has a lower fantasy ceiling than the
top 3 RB’s on this list.
3.) Phillip Lindsay (Denver
Broncos)
Lindsay comes in just a notch ahead of Michel but perhaps a month
from now, I might swap this ranking. For starters, he was tied for 2nd
in the NFL at the RB position in yards per attempt (5.4) and finished with 9
TD’s. Lindsay also demonstrated his value in the passing game catching 35
passes. I am worried about the offense taking another step backward with Flacco
as the starting QB, but tend to think that the 9TD’s might not be sustainable
given his size and the presence of Royce Freeman.
Having said all of that, Lindsay looked like the real deal in his
rookie season and I think his pass catching ability and elusive running style
will be enough to make him a fantasy factor again in 2019.
2.) Kerryon Johnson
(Detroit Lions)
In the interest of full disclosure, I am far from unbiased when it
comes to Kerryon Johnson. I own him in two different dynasty leagues and I am
rooting hard for him in 2019. Regardless, he might be the most balanced fantasy
RB on this list. In just 10 games last season, Johnson was able to catch 32
passes and rush for 641 yards. He spent the first few games battling with LeGarrette
Blount for early down carries but got injured just as he began to separate
himself from the pack. I believe he will establish himself in 2019 as the
workhorse RB in Detroit.
I think Johnson has the TD upside of Sony Michel with the ability to
catch up to 75 passes. Johnson was on pace for 51 receptions last season as a
rookie with a workload that grew as the season went on. If he starts 2019 the
way he left off in 2018, I think he has the potential to be a fantasy stud.
1.) Nick Chubb (Cleveland
Browns)
Chubb was arguably the most surprising rookie RB in 2018. He started
out in the shadow of Carlos Hyde and didn’t receive more than three carries
until week 7. From that point on, he was a beast. In the final ten games of the
season, he had seven games with 18 or more carries and tallied 8 total TD’s in
that span. His only real weakness was the lack of receptions (only 20), but
with Kareem Hunt suspended for the first eight games and Duke Johnson most
likely on his way out (via trade), I think Nick Chubb could be in for an
expanded role on what could possibly be a top five offense.
Chubb’s upside doesn’t rise to the level of a Saquon Barkley, but is
the class of the second tier and will make a lot of fantasy owners happy in
2019.
Guest Article - courtesy of nfltalkingheads.com
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