Don’t sleep on Devonta Freeman

Is last year’s highest scoring fantasy back, Devonta Freeman, actually being undervalued in drafts this year?

2015 was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year for running backs in fantasy football. There were injuries, there were busts and there were combinations of the two. After all was said and done it was one of the strangest seasons in recent memory, which has led to the widespread implementation of the zero RB draft strategy.

Start preparing for your draft now with our NFL Draft Simulator

For those unfamiliar with zero RB the strategy, it advocates for drafting elite wide receivers early and often due to the high bust rates of running backs. It’s a solid strategy, but it isn’t bulletproof. Those owners looking to zig when everyone else is zagging should take a long, hard look at Devonta Freeman.

Let’s start with Freeman’s ceiling, which is the No. 1 RB in fantasy. How do we know this is his ceiling? Well, he did it last year.

Yes, I just referenced how crazy of a season 2015 was for running backs, but that doesn’t diminish what Freeman accomplished. In 15 games he rushed for 1,065 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 73 reception for 578 yards and three touchdowns.

When given the opportunity Freeman showed what he was capable of. Atlanta is returning the same head coach and offensive coordinator, which means his ceiling remains intact.

Now let’s focus on his floor. The concern surrounding Freeman right now is offseason coach speak about how Tevin Coleman will be given more work this year. Freeman detractors point to the fact that he averaged 5.3 yards per carry in an insane five-week stretch covering week three to the seven last year, while in the rest of his career games has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.

However, even if Coleman does eat into Freeman’s early down work he should still possess the third-down job and goal line carries. Coleman has never been much of a receiver and last season caught just two passes.

He also only converted one of five goal line opportunities inside the five-yard line while Freeman converted on five of 11. There is no guarantee that Coleman takes work from Freeman and even if he does Freeman has a strangle hold on all hurry up and red zone snaps.

Lastly, the presence of Coleman should be looked at as a plus for those drafting Freeman. There is only a handful of running back situations worth handcuffing in fantasy, and this is one of them. Coleman looked good in his two starts last year, rushing for 80 yards on 20 carries in Week 1 and 110 yards on 18 carries in Week 12 in a game Freeman missed with a concussion.

Despite the impressive Week 12 performance by Coleman, Freeman was placed right back in the starting role in Week 13 and for the remainder of the season. The combination of owning the third down role, goal line carries, and having a clear handcuff make Freeman a safe early round running back selection. In previous years he would be a potential top five draft pick but due to the craze that is zero RB he can be had for a value in the middle of Round 2.

Check out undervalued fantasy players