Fantasy Football Player Notes
2019 Draft Rankings
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1.
Saquon Barkley
NYG (vs . PHI)
During his rookie season, while playing behind a shoddy offensive line and in a low-scoring offense, Barkley overcame all odds and delivered a fantasy MVP-worthy performance. He finished as an RB1 in 75 percent of his games, while hitting at least RB2 numbers in 93.8 percent of his games. Some are excited about his target possibilities with Odell Beckham Jr. gone, but it's likely going to bring more attention to him and the run-game. Still, Barkley showed last year that he's able to overcome a lot, making him a relatively safe top-three selection in every format, but the lack of scoring from this offense can hold him back.
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2.
Alvin Kamara
NO (at CAR)
With Mark Ingram's departure, many are likely wondering what it means for Kamara, though the acquisition of Latavius Murray tells us a lot. He's likely going to walk into the old Ingram role, though it's important to note that it's no guarantee he's able to fit in this offense. You remember Adrian Peterson with the Saints, right? He was able to go to the Redskins and get it done, so maybe Sean Payton's offense just isn't right for everyone. Because of that, Kamara gets a slight bump in upside which was already high to begin with, as he has finished as the RB3 and RB4 in his first two seasons with Ingram on the roster.
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3.
Christian McCaffrey
CAR (vs . NO)
McCaffrey blew up in 2018 and it's got everyone reaching for him as a top-three selection in 2019. It's fair and you shouldn't shy away from the three-down back, but you should know that the Panthers have openly talked about scaling back his workload. He's still likely to finish as a top-five option at the position even if he loses 4-to-6 touches per game, as he's gamescript-proof and it's not as if Cam Newton is rushing for as many touchdowns as he used to.
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4.
Ezekiel Elliott
DAL (vs . WAS)
If you wanted to select Elliott at No. 1 overall, you shouldn't feel guilty or bad about it. In fact, he should probably be the favorite to finish as the top running back considering the lack of competence in the Giants offense. Elliott has played 40 regular season games in his career and delivered RB2 or better numbers in 92.5 percent of those games, which is actually better than Le'Veon Bell's 91.9 percent. Elliott is as safe as they come.
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5.
Nick Chubb
CLE (at CIN)
Some are worried about Chubb due to the signing of Kareem Hunt this offseason, but you shouldn't be one of them. Hunt has an eight-game suspension that will allow Chubb to run with the job as he did down the stretch last year. The Browns invested a high second-round pick on Chubb and he's done nothing but impress. He's the starter and an RB1 in fantasy
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6.
David Johnson
ARI (at LAR)
Now that Steve Wilks is out of town, maybe we'll get back to the normally scheduled programming with Johnson. The air-raid offense that new coach Kliff Kingsbury figures to bring to the Cardinals should give Johnson a lot more work in the passing game. While at Texas Tech, Kingsbury passed the ball on 65 percent of their plays. By comparison, there were just two teams in the NFL who hit that number in 2018. With Kyler Murray presenting elusiveness, it should only help create lanes for Johnson even if his offensive line is still weak
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7.
James Conner
PIT (at BAL)
When Conner wore down at the end of the 2018 season, did the Steelers get a bit worried? They reached for Benny Snell in the fourth-round, highlighting they clearly felt running back depth was a need. With Antonio Brown and Jesse James gone, there are over 200 targets that have vacated the team, so it's possible Conner can build upon his strong 2018 season. The slight risk of a timeshare knocks him down into the second round, though he's got top-six upside
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8.
Le'Veon Bell
NYJ (at BUF)
He's back, but this time it's probably going to be a lot less exciting. He'll be playing behind a much lesser offensive line, with a much lesser quarterback, in a much worse offense. He's going to get plenty of touches, but we can say that about a lot of running backs. The question is - what's his upside in a low-scoring offense? Adam Gase's offenses have been lacking in both overall plays and overall scoring. Did you know that Dolphins running backs scored 10 rushing touchdowns over the last two years... combined? Bell is a relatively safe pick due to the touches he'll get, but he lacks the upside you want out of a high first-round pick
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9.
Dalvin Cook
MIN (vs . CHI)
We've yet to see Cook stay healthy throughout an NFL season, but that's not stopping drafters from taking him with a pick inside the first two rounds. The Vikings are a high-powered offense who upgraded their offensive line this offseason, so the appeal is justified. The Vikings did draft Alexander Mattison in the third-round, so they're obviously concerned about the depth behind Cook, but he's the starter as long as he's healthy
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10.
Joe Mixon
CIN (vs . CLE)
You have to love watching Marvin Lewis walk out the door if you're Mixon, as he was severely underused as a receiver in Lewis' offense. In comes Zac Taylor, who said he's going to start the Bengals' playbook with the Rams offense, which is where he came from as a quarterbacks coach for Sean McVay. Them drafting two running backs is somewhat concerning, but that could be to protect them in case of a Mixon injury, which has happened a few times in his short career
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11.
Todd Gurley
LAR (vs . ARI)
There are real questions surrounding Gurley as we enter the 2019 season. Not only did C.J. Anderson play over him during the playoffs, but the Rams also traded up to the start of the third-round to select Darrell Henderson, an explosive running back out of Memphis. The Rams also matched an offer sheet the Lions submitted to backup running back Malcolm Brown, meaning the Rams are more worried about Gurley than they're letting on. We all know Gurley comes with plenty of upside, but we also know you can't win your fantasy league in the first-round, but you can definitely help lose it.
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12.
Chris Carson
SEA (vs . SF)
There are a lot of reasons to like Carson. Looking at how he finished the season, it's hard to not like him. From Week 12 on, he finished as the No. 4 fantasy running back behind only Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley. While Rashaad Penny is still there (and a former first-round pick), Mike Davis exited town, leaving behind plenty of touches for Penny. While Carson may not have the upside of others who are used in the pass-game consistently, he should be a solid RB2 provided he's healthy. This, of course, is a concern after hearing Carson "had a little work done" on his knee this offseason, so stay tuned for updates
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13.
Aaron Jones
GB (at DET)
If you're looking for a running back who comes with top-six upside but also comes with a high-degree of uncertainty, Jones is your guy. He's the most talented running back on what should be a top-five scoring offense, but it appears the Packers haven't given up on Jamaal Williams just yet. He's ideally someone you snag as your second running back due to the risk associated with him
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14.
Leonard Fournette
JAC (vs . IND)
Everyone remembers what they last saw, which is why Fournette is dropping down draft boards. The last time fantasy owners saw him play, he totaled just 126 rushing yards and one touchdown over his last three games. What they don't know is that the Jaguars offensive line was missing 4-of-5 starters at the end of the year. Fournette is locked into 20 touches per week, which is extremely odd to find at the start of the third-round, which is where you can get him 90 percent of the time
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15.
Kerryon Johnson
DET (vs . GB)
Despite having an extremely limited role to start the season, Johnson finished as the RB18 in points per game during his rookie season. The Lions did sign C.J. Anderson, but Johnson has already shown he's able to produce with a veteran on the roster, and he's openly admitted that he doesn't want to be a 20-plus-touch running back. He's not going to offer top-five upside, but Johnson should be an RB2 more often than not
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16.
Derrick Henry
TEN (at HOU)
Are the Titans ready to promote Henry to a workhorse role? That's doubtful considering Dion Lewis is still on the roster and they're not paying him close to $5 million this year to sit on the bench and be a cheerleader. Henry deserves more touches, that much is certain, but what happens when the Titans fall behind in a game? Lewis is far-and-away the better pass-catcher, which means Henry will be gamescript-dependent. If you believe the Titans are contenders and will finish with a winning record, that's a vote of confidence for Henry, though it's hard to say that with any confidence. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust running back, which is why he's best-suited as an RB2
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17.
Sony Michel
NE (vs . MIA)
It was a solid rookie year for Michel, who finished as the RB28 despite missing three full games. The issue with expecting a massive jump in production is his lack of usage in the passing game (just seven receptions in 13 games), and the third-round draft pick of Damien Harris, as he's a threat to steal some early-down work. Still, Michel should provide RB2 value as long as he's healthy
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18.
Devonta Freeman
ATL (at TB)
Do you remember Freeman's rookie year? Probably not, because it had him falling outside the top-35 running backs selected the following year. In that season, he totaled just 248 yards and one touchdown on 65 carries. That's significant because that's the only year he played under Dirk Koetter, who is now back in Atlanta as the coordinator. While Freeman will have a much bigger role, Koetter hasn't been able to boost a run-game during his time in Atlanta or Tampa Bay, so the ceiling has likely dropped for Freeman. And that's not to mention Ito Smith, whose role grew as the year went on in 2018
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19.
Josh Jacobs
OAK (at DEN)
Any time you have a running back drafted inside the first round of the NFL Draft, you'd better consider him in fantasy football. Why? Over the last six years, first-round running backs have averaged 283.4 touches in their rookie season. While the Raiders aren't likely to be a high-scoring offense, they should be improved significantly with the talent they've added on offense. Jacobs should be a low-end RB2, at worst
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20.
Marlon Mack
IND (at JAC)
Now that Andrew Luck is retired, most expect Mack to be on the wrong end of negative game scripts, but the Colts have insisted that he will be on the field on third downs like he was as a rookie. If that is the case, Mack still has RB1 potential to go with a safe floor thanks to an incredible offensive line ahead of him.
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21.
David Montgomery
CHI (at MIN)
It's clear the Bears didn't think Jordan Howard fit their offensive scheme after sending him away for a sixth-round pick, right? So, what does that say about Montgomery, who they traded up into the third-round to get? Howard finished as the RB20 in his first season under Matt Nagy. Montgomery was likely the best pure runner in the draft who's already shown the ability to handle a workhorse role, and offers more in the passing-game than Howard did, though most of that work will go to Tarik Cohen. Montgomery was drafted on a team that's built to win right now, which means he'll have big value immediately
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22.
Mark Ingram
BAL (vs . PIT)
Leaving the nest of the Saints' offense is something Ingram has never had to do, so life may seem a bit more difficult in Baltimore. It's a good thing that they'll be a run-first team with Lamar Jackson under center, but it's also a bad thing around the goal-line, as Jackson is more of a threat to score than Ingram. The Ravens drafted Justice Hill, and still have Kenneth Dixon and Gus Edwards on the roster, so it may be more of a timeshare than some believe, though Ingram should be the leader in the clubhouse. His lack of upside drops him below some of the other options in his range
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23.
Damien Williams
KC (vs . LAC)
It's never a bad thing to have the running back attached to Andy Reid's offense, though Williams shouldn't go inside the top few rounds due to his question marks. He's still yet to have more than 13 carries in a regular season game, so what makes us believe he's going to stand up to a full workload? The Chiefs just snagged LeSean McCoy when he was released by the Bills, making the situation even more sticky. Not to mention the performance by Darwin Thompson in the preseason. It's possible that Andy Reid moves to somewhat of a timeshare, though Williams should be the starter out of the gate.
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24.
Phillip Lindsay
DEN (vs . OAK)
It's pretty rare to see a running back who finished top 12 his rookie season despite missing a game fall down draft boards the following year, especially when the team didn't add another running back. That's precisely the case with Lindsay, who will share some touches with Royce Freeman, but Lindsay has proven to be much more capable in the pass-game than Freeman, which gives him the nod as the starter. While there is some built-in risk, it's not enough to knock Lindsay out of solid RB2 territory
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25.
Tevin Coleman
SF (at SEA)
If anyone outside of Kyle Shanahan tells you what to expect out of the 49ers' backfield, they're lying to you. Don't forget with even less talent on the roster last year, you couldn't figure out if it would be Matt Brieda, Alfred Morris, or Raheem Mostert. We now add Coleman, who had his best years under Shanahan, and Jerick McKinnon, who will be returning from a torn ACL. It's likely to be a timeshare, though there will be valuable weeks among them, and Coleman figures to lead the charge
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26.
Miles Sanders
PHI (at NYG)
There are many who believe Sanders' three-down skillset will make Doug Pederson change his ways, though you shouldn't be so sure about that. During his three years in Philadelphia, there has been just one running back who has topped 42 snaps in a game, and that was Darren Sproles, who is more of a scat-back than a traditional one. They also traded for Jordan Howard, who is likely to steal some goal-line work, as he was really good in that role with the Bears. Sanders is likely to end the year as a top-25 fantasy running back, but it'll likely be a bumpy road, similar to how it was with Jay Ajayi
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27.
Duke Johnson
HOU (vs . TEN)
In case you missed it, Johnson was traded to the Texans. You also may have missed the fact that Lamar Miller tore his ACL during their third preseason game. Unless the Texans trade for a running back, Johnson is walking into a 15-plus touch role on one of the league's best offenses. He could post RB2 numbers if they don't add anyone of significance. *UPDATE* The Texans traded for Carlos Hyde, which bodes well for Johnson considering Hyde has been among the least efficient running backs over the last two years.
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28.
Austin Ekeler
LAC (at KC)
He's never going to win you a fantasy league, but Ekeler can play a role if you're in a league with a lot of starters. Even with Melvin Gordon healthy, Ekeler touched the ball between 7-14 times from Week 1 to Week 7. It seemed as if the Chargers were okay with Justin Jackson as the primary workhorse if Gordon went down, but knowing Ekeler should total anywhere between 120-200 touches in the Chargers offense carries value
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29.
Melvin Gordon
LAC (at KC)
He's not going to win the rushing title or anything, and it's very unlikely that he finishes as a top-three fantasy running back, but he's about as safe as they come considering he's been a top-eight running back in each of the last three seasons. There were just four running backs who delivered RB2 or better performances in at least 90 percent of their games: Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, and Gordon. His holdout is starting to get a bit concerning, as we have no solution in sight, making him a risky pick inside the top three rounds.
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30.
Latavius Murray
NO (at CAR)
If Murray lands in the Mark Ingram role, everyone is too low on him, as he'll offer RB2 numbers more often than not. It's hard to imagine that someone just walks in and fills Ingram's shoes, but the Saints didn't waste any time locking Murray up in free agency, so they clearly viewed him as someone who could do it. You might want to expect a slight bump in touches for Alvin Kamara, while Murray gets slightly less than Ingram did. He's going to be a bit touchdown-dependent, but he's able to fill the RB3 slot on your fantasy team
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31.
James White
NE (vs . MIA)
How are we devaluing White's role on the Patriots again? With Rob Gronkowski, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Chris Hogan gone, Tom Brady is going to be looking for some familiar faces, and it's not like they've used Sony Michel in the passing game. White should have a similar role to last year, you know, the one that had him wind-up as the RB8 on the season. We're all still probably too low on him
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32.
Derrius Guice
WAS (at DAL)
There are a lot of questions surrounding Guice's health right now, as he's said to be doing well in his rehab, but everything the Redskins are doing screams he's not. They re-signed Adrian Peterson to a two-year deal, still have Chris Thompson, and then drafted Bryce Love at the top of the fourth-round. He's someone who can move up draft boards if we're able to see him in the preseason, but this backfield is starting to look like a messy timeshare.
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33.
Kenyan Drake
ARI (at LAR)
With a new offense, it is anyone's guess how large of a workload Drake will be given. Frank Gore is out of the equation so perhaps Drake will take over as a true three-down back. That could be fire if Ryan Fitzpatrick wins the starting job, but if it is Rosen, there won't be much upside in the Miami running game. Just recently, it has been Kalen Ballage who is running with the first team so this is a situation to monitor.
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34.
Matt Breida
SF (at SEA)
Now that McKinnon is out and potentially headed to the IR, let's not forget how efficient Breida was when he was healthy, nor that he is the fastest ball carrier in the NFL. There is risk here, but also upside for a shocking breakout campaign if he can end up getting consistent touches in Shanahan's offense.
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35.
Tarik Cohen
CHI (at MIN)
We all believed Cohen was underused in John Fox's offense, and while he did finish as a top-15 running back in PPR last year, his touches didn't increase all that much under Matt Nagy. He finished the year with 20 more targets and 12 more rush attempts, which definitely helps, but the additions of David Montgomery and Mike Davis aren't going to help him add much to that number so he'll have to remain ultra-efficient. Think of Cohen as a younger James White who may not see as many targets, but will get more carries
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36.
Devin Singletary
BUF (vs . NYJ)
With the Bills cutting LeSean McCoy, you might be tempted to take Singletary much higher than you previously were, but he is unlikely to be a three-down back with both Frank Gore and TJ Yeldon still there. And even if he was, this is not an offense you likely want a piece of.
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37.
Rashaad Penny
SEA (vs . SF)
It wasn't the rookie season that many expected of Penny, who was drafted in the first-round by the Seahawks, but 2019 is looking up. Not only did the Seahawks let Mike Davis walk in free agency (he received 146 touches last year), but Chris Carson had some work done on his knee. The Seahawks are clearly a run-first team, meaning it's possible we see both Carson and Penny fantasy relevant. Worst case scenario, you have what might be the best handcuff in football
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38.
LeSean McCoy
KC (vs . LAC)
McCoy is no longer a member of the Bills, as they released him. McCoy was picked up the same day by the Chiefs, as he's played for Andy Reid before. While it seems like Damien Williams is still the starter, McCoy will be nipping at his heels. There's a short leash for every running back in Kansas City, as Reid won't hesitate to go to the next man up.
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39.
Royce Freeman
DEN (vs . OAK)
There are many who've written off Freeman as just a backup, while others are expecting his talent to shine through and earn a bigger role under the new coaching staff. The issue is that Phillip Lindsay is a better pass-catcher, which means he isn't going away. Still, Freeman will have a role in the offense, even if it's in a timeshare. He can deliver low-end flex numbers with RB2 upside if something were to happen to Lindsay
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40.
Jordan Howard
PHI (at NYG)
If you've been hibernating since the end of the football season, you may have missed Howard being traded to the Eagles for a measly sixth-round pick. While some saw this as a value, Howard is an afterthought now that the Eagles spent a second-round pick on Miles Sanders, the more complete running back. Doug Pederson has allowed one running back to play more than 42 snaps in a game during his three years in Philadelphia: Darren Sproles, a do-it-all running back. Howard topped that number five times while with the Bears in 2018 alone with absolutely zero competition for the early-down role. He's more likely to be on waiver wires than he is returning to stud status
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41.
Kalen Ballage
MIA (at NE)
Ballage is currently running with the first team in Miami's offense under the new Head Coach. He may end up like Chris Carson and flat out win the starting job, but it still seems more than likely that Drake will end up with the lion's share of the running back touches.
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42.
Darrell Henderson
LAR (vs . ARI)
Are there concerns with Todd Gurley? Yes, but let's not pretend he's no longer on the team. Henderson takes the place of John Kelly, who was drafted last year to fill this role. Some have suggested the Rams love Henderson, but a third-round pick doesn't scream "love him." Whatever the case, Henderson would likely share backup duties with Malcolm Brown should something cause Gurley to miss time. Henderson does offer much more upside than Brown as the superior pass-catcher
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43.
Peyton Barber
TB (vs . ATL)
Barber may be boring and might not be your first choice to start for the Bucs, but it is entirely possible he leads this high-powered offense in carries once again and if he does, it should end up much better than last season because Bruce Arians is magic for running backs.
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44.
Justice Hill
BAL (vs . PIT)
The Ravens clearly wanted to revamp their run-game this offseason, bringing in Mark Ingram in free agency, then drafting the versatile Hill. His game is comparable to Reggie Bush, which is great for the timeshare role he's slated for. Despite weighing in at just 200 pounds, Hill is able to handle a large workload, too, as he tallied 632 carries and 49 receptions in just three years at Oklahoma State. He'll likely start in the passing-down role and can earn more touches as the year goes on
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45.
Justin Jackson
LAC (at KC)
If Melvin Gordon is on the field, Jackson will have zero value outside of a darkhorse handcuff. He can be quickly released if that scenario plays out. With that said, the Gordon holdout threat is legitimate and if it happens, Jackson may overtake Ekeler as the primary back and could be a superstar in this offense if given the opportunity.
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46.
Dion Lewis
TEN (at HOU)
With the display Derrick Henry put on at the end of the season, there is no chance Lewis leads the Titans' backfield this year unless Henry's injury is a bigger deal that it currently appears. That isn't to say Lewis won't have games where he splashes but predicting which week it will be is a difficult task so he should merely be thought of as a handcuff.
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47.
Adrian Peterson
WAS (at DAL)
With the recent news coming out about Derrius Guice dealing with a setback, it seems likely that Washington will run AP into the ground, at least until Guice returns at full strength. That, of course, doesn't mean AP will be efficient or score touchdowns for this lousy offense, but touches do lead to fantasy scoring so don't be ashamed if he is your RB3 entering the season.
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48.
Jaylen Samuels
PIT (at BAL)
The Steelers have talked about sharing the workload in the backfield, and they reinforced that when they drafted Benny Snell in the fourth-round of the NFL Draft. Samuels was never meant to be a 20-plus touch back, but he's likely going to be involved much more, even when James Conner is healthy. The issue is that Snell is a threat to his upside and would likely be the primary back if Conner were to go down with an injury. Because of that, Samuels may be locked into a Chris Thompson/Giovani Bernard type role, which doesn't do much for your fantasy team. Unless we hear he's the primary backup, he's not someone you should roster
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49.
Ronald Jones II
TB (vs . ATL)
The Bucs told us all we needed to know in the draft and free agency - they don't feel like they need to add another running back. No one is suggesting they're confident Jones will tear the league up, but you should be confident that he's the starter in Bruce Arians' offense, which has historically netted great results. Peyton Barber isn't the long-term answer, so look for them to find out if Jones is, which requires more than the 30 touches he got as a rookie
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50.
Carlos Hyde
HOU (vs . TEN)
The Chiefs traded Hyde to the Texans on August 31st, which wasn't all that surprising considering they were likely to cut him. The Texans obviously felt the need to add a workhorse type back alongside Duke Johnson, so Hyde is likely to have a role of 10-12 touches per week, though most will be carries. He's nothing more than a mediocre RB4 in fantasy drafts.
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51.
Nyheim Hines
IND (at JAC)
We already saw the role Hines will have on the Colts, as he's not the lead back but rather the passing-down back. He tallied 85 carries and 81 targets last year, which is more than enough volume in that high-scoring offense to be fantasy relevant. The Colts have said they want Marlon Mack to carry most of the workload, but think of Hines like the Duke Johnson of their offense. He should offer RB4 numbers regularly in PPR formats, though he doesn't offer much upside, even if Mack were to miss time, as they'd share the workload between him, Spencer Ware, and Jordan Wilkins
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52.
Ito Smith
ATL (at TB)
After an impressive rookie campaign where he played more than expected, Smith will look to build on his 117-touch, 467-yard rookie season. He'll play alongside Devonta Freeman who's dealt with some injuries as of late and is now 27 years old. The Falcons may choose to employ a timeshare, but it's likely it's a 70/30 split between the two. Smith would offer weekly RB2 potential if Freeman were to miss any time, making him a valuable handcuff who has some standalone value even without injury
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53.
Damien Harris
NE (vs . MIA)
We're not advocating Harris as a starting running back in the Patriots offense, but rather saying that, at the very least, he's one of the best handcuffs in all of football. His price doesn't reflect that. In fact, the Patriots taking him in the third-round when they're clearly in win-now mode says a lot, so don't be surprised if he has a role even if Sony Michel is ahead of him on the depth chart
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54.
C.J. Anderson
FA (BYE)
After watching C.J. Anderson carry the Rams offense at the end of last season, he settled for a one-year deal with the Lions to play alongside the up-and-coming Kerryon Johnson. The Lions do want to use a timeshare, so it's likely Anderson inherits the LeGarrette Blount role in the offense, which netted 164 touches last year, though it helped that Johnson missed time at the end of the year. If you combined Blount and Zach Zenner's roles from last year, they netted 209 carries, 683 yards, and eight touchdowns on the ground. Anderson is going to clog upside on your bench as long as Johnson is in the lineup. If Johnson were to miss time, Anderson would likely be considered a low-end RB2
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55.
Frank Gore
BUF (vs . NYJ)
With McCoy now out of Buffalo, everyone seems to think Devin Singletary will automatically step into the three-down role, but it is just as likely that Gore leads this team in touches. Granted, his ceiling is merely an RB3, but he isn't the worst late-round flier.
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56.
Alexander Mattison
MIN (vs . CHI)
It is easy to get excited about Mike Boone but the fact of the matter is that Mattison is the clear-cut handcuff to the frail Dalvin Cook, as evidenced by his draft capital and the touches he received with the second team all preseason. This makes him a high-end backup worth targeting.
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57.
Darwin Thompson
KC (vs . LAC)
Now in the role that appears to be the backup to Damien Williams, Thompson has a lot of value in fantasy drafts. While many are concerned about Williams holding onto the role, investing a 2nd or 3rd round pick on him, then a 10th round pick on Thompson doesn't seem to bad for the Chiefs starting running back. There's been more uncertainty added to the mix now that the Chiefs added LeSean McCoy, who used to play for Andy Reid. As of now, Thompson is nothing more than a stash on fantasy benches.
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58.
Tony Pollard
DAL (vs . WAS)
If Zeke holds out, Pollard is the favorite to lead this Cowboys' backfield in touches. It seemed like he wasn't anything more than a third-round back coming out of college but the Cowboys have been using him every single snap with the first team so he may be a workhorse and a surprise league-winner if Zeke does continue his holdout.
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59.
Giovani Bernard
CIN (vs . CLE)
He's on the final year of his deal with the Bengals, so it makes sense they'd draft a running back. But two of them? Trayveon Williams is likely his replacement next year, while Rodney Anderson presents workhorse ability when healthy. This is looking like an ugly mix behind Joe Mixon in 2019, meaning you should just let someone else take Bernard in your drafts
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60.
Chris Thompson
WAS (at DAL)
Thompson doesn't come with much upside since he will never be anything more than a third-down back and because Washington's offense is dreadful but he is among the best pass-catching backs you'll find and he still has big-play ability.
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61.
Kareem Hunt
CLE (at CIN)
There's no easy way to put this, but DO NOT DRAFT Hunt in your redraft league this year. It doesn't matter if he's there in the 13th round, let someone else take on that burden. Not only is he suspended for the first eight games of the season, but he's behind a guy who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards despite not starting until Week 7. Did I mention that running back was also drafted by the Browns at the start of the second-round in 2018? The first four weeks of the season are the most important weeks of the season for the waiver wire, so why hold yourself hostage with a guy who's not even a lock to play once his suspension is over? Not to mention bye week issues you'll have. On top of that, you've never seen him outside a Chiefs offense, where every running back put in the lineup succeeds. I'm not saying he's not a good player, but Chubb is better
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62.
Jamaal Williams
GB (at DET)
He's had his opportunity to shine in the starting role, but has clearly been surpassed by Aaron Jones as the superior running back at this point. Williams can handle a large workload if something were to happen to Jones, which gives him good handcuff value in the high-scoring Packers offense. There's been some whispers of a light timeshare, which may give you value without injury, but you shouldn't bank on it
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63.
Mike Davis
CAR (vs . NO)
When the Bears signed Davis, it appeared he was taking over the Jordan Howard role in the offense. That was until they moved up in the third-round and drafted workhorse David Montgomery. The Bears were lacking depth behind Howard and Tarik Cohen last year, and although Davis is high-priced depth, it's hard to imagine him getting more than 5-8 touches per game with Montgomery and Cohen healthy. He is, however, one of the better handcuffs, as he's a capable three-down back who'd walk into RB2 production with an injury in front of him
|
|
64.
Malcolm Brown
LAR (vs . ARI)
Coach Sean McVay has made it clear that both Henderson and Brown will be plenty involved this season which makes sense considering they used a tender to ensure Brown remained on their roster. He may not quite be the second option, but absolutely has some upside in this high-powered offense.
|
|
65.
Jalen Richard
OAK (at DEN)
|
|
66.
Chase Edmonds
ARI (at LAR)
Edmonds is clearly stuck behind David Johnson, but he should be useful as an RB4 or even RB3 even with Johnson healthy since Kingsbury will force this team to play uptempo. Imagine, too, what Edmonds' upside would be if Johnson did suffer an injury as we've seen before.
|
|
67.
Ty Montgomery
NYJ (at BUF)
Le'Veon Bell hasn't exactly been the most durable starting running back and while it is rumored that the Jets are looking for additional help at the position, it is Montgomery now who is the clear backup if anything were to happen, and believe it or not, he has looked terrific this preseason.
|
|
68.
T.J. Yeldon
BUF (vs . NYJ)
Yeldon was someone who had limited option in free agency, but he may have chosen the worst landing spot. Not only do the Bills have LeSean McCoy on the roster, but they signed Frank Gore, then drafted Devin Singletary in the third-round of the NFL Draft. While Yeldon might have a three-down skill-set, he's going to have a hard time being fantasy relevant in that crowded backfield
|
|
|
69.
Gus Edwards
BAL (vs . PIT)
Edwards did absolutely nothing in the Ravens passing game last year, but piled up the rushing yards and if anything were to happen to Mark Ingram, he would be expected to do it again in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson under center.
|
|
70.
Ryquell Armstead
JAC (vs . IND)
We all know Leonard Fournette has had issues staying on the field, right? Well, the Jaguars have taken notice and drafted Armstead to back him up at the start of the fifth round. He's a big-bodied running back who doesn't avoid contact and may be an injury risk himself due to that. If you're looking for Fournette's handcuff, he's the one you should grab
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|
71.
Rex Burkhead
NE (vs . MIA)
Burkhead has been unable to stay on the field the last two seasons for New England but while he is healthy, he has produced as a strong RB3 thanks to his receiving and goal-line production. That shouldn't change this year with the receiver corps being virtually non-existent.
|
|
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72.
Dare Ogunbowale
TB (vs . ATL)
|
|
73.
Corey Clement
PHI (at NYG)
|
|
|
74.
Benny Snell Jr.
PIT (at BAL)
Snell was a workhorse in college, though not many saw enough explosion in his game to translate to the NFL. The Steelers obviously felt otherwise, as they selected him to back-up James Conner in the fourth-round of the draft. He'll have to compete for touches with Jaylen Samuels, should anything happen to Conner, but Snell is likely the one who'd handle most early down work in that scenario, giving him a lot of opportunity. Without an injury to Conner, though, it's unlikely Snell sees many touches
|
|
75.
Wayne Gallman
NYG (vs . PHI)
|
|
|
76.
Dontrell Hilliard
CLE (at CIN)
|
|
77.
Jordan Wilkins
IND (at JAC)
It's tough to have a gauge on the Colts running back situation behind Marlon Mack, though it appears as if Nyheim Hines is in the same role no matter what, while Wilkins and Spencer Ware fight for the handcuff role. As of now, you should gravitate towards the younger Wilkins who has experience in the offense and really got it together after a slow start in 2018. After just 136 yards on his first 38 carries (3.58 yards per carry), he totaled 200 yards on his next 22 carries (9.09 yards per carry). It's a small sample size, but it's an explosive offense that only got better as the year went on
|
|
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78.
Dexter Williams
GB (at DET)
|
|
79.
Devontae Booker
DEN (vs . OAK)
|
|
80.
Theo Riddick
DEN (vs . OAK)
Is Riddick going to fall by the wayside with both Kerryon Johnson and C.J. Anderson healthy? We're talking about a guy who's averaged 72.2 targets over the last five years despite missing 10 games. If so, it probably means we're undervaluing Johnson. Riddick is still likely to be involved, but he's not someone who'll help you win a fantasy title, even if there's an injury because he wouldn't walk into a workhorse role. He's a guy to help fill bye weeks in PPR formats, but not much more
|
|
81.
Brian Hill
ATL (at TB)
|
|
82.
Bilal Powell
NYJ (at BUF)
|
|
|
83.
Qadree Ollison
ATL (at TB)
|
|
84.
Alfred Blue
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
85.
Myles Gaskin
MIA (at NE)
|
|
86.
Elijah McGuire
FA (BYE)
He's the direct handcuff to Le'Veon Bell, which should carry some value considering Bell hasn't played football in over a year. The issue is that the Jets aren't a very high-scoring offense and have a shoddy offensive line, meaning he'd still be just a mediocre RB3 play even if Bell missed time
|
|
87.
Darren Sproles
PHI (at NYG)
|
|
88.
Alfred Morris
FA (BYE)
Most are speculating that Tony Pollard would be the replacement for Zeke if he holds out, but the Cowboys coaching staff has been raving about Morris and how his running style is ideal for their offense. Don't sleep on the chance that he starts Week 1 behind this great Cowboys' offensive line.
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|
|
89.
Jordan Scarlett
CAR (vs . NO)
|
|
90.
Josh Adams
NYJ (at BUF)
|
|
91.
Ty Johnson
DET (vs . GB)
|
|
92.
Wendell Smallwood
WAS (at DAL)
|
|
|
93.
Trayveon Williams
CIN (vs . CLE)
|
|
94.
Ameer Abdullah
MIN (vs . CHI)
|
|
95.
Mike Boone
MIN (vs . CHI)
|
|
|
96.
Darrel Williams
KC (vs . LAC)
|
|
97.
John Kelly
LAR (vs . ARI)
|
|
98.
Doug Martin
FA (BYE)
As soon as Isaiah Crowell went down for the year, the Raiders knew they needed to fill the backup role, so they went out and re-signed Martin, who played well for them last year. He's most definitely the backup to Josh Jacobs, but we mustn't forget that Jacobs never carried the ball more than 100 times in a season while at Alabama, and that the workhorse role is something he may not hold up to. Should he struggle, Martin will have a bigger role than most think
|
|
99.
Mark Walton
MIA (at NE)
|
|
100.
Spencer Ware
FA (BYE)
After leaving Kansas City, Ware didn't seem to have many suitors, but landed in a spot where he'll compete with Jordan Wilkins for backup duties behind Marlon Mack. Ware's success was large in-part to do with Andy Reid's offense that continually produces top-end fantasy running backs, though landing behind the dominant Colts offensive line isn't bad. He's someone to keep on your radar in the preseason
|
|
101.
DeAndre Washington
OAK (at DEN)
|
|
|
102.
Devine Ozigbo
JAC (vs . IND)
|
|
|
103.
Damarea Crockett
GB (at DET)
|
|
104.
Raheem Mostert
SF (at SEA)
|
|
105.
Rod Smith
FA (BYE)
|
|
106.
Trenton Cannon
NYJ (at BUF)
|
|
|
107.
Mike Weber
DAL (vs . WAS)
|
|
108.
Cameron Artis-Payne
FA (BYE)
|
|
109.
C.J. Prosise
SEA (vs . SF)
|
|
|
110.
Travis Homer
SEA (vs . SF)
|
|
|
111.
Karan Higdon
HOU (vs . TEN)
|
|
112.
D'Onta Foreman
FA (BYE)
Foreman was cut from the Texans but apparently it had more to do with maturity issues than performance or his achillies recovery. He can safely be avoided even if he signs with another team.
|
|
113.
Bryce Love
WAS (at DAL)
|
|
114.
Dwayne Washington
NO (at CAR)
|
|
|
115.
Jeff Wilson
SF (at SEA)
|
|
116.
Jay Ajayi
FA (BYE)
|
|
117.
Kyle Juszczyk
SF (at SEA)
|
|
118.
Paul Perkins
DET (vs . GB)
|
|
|
119.
Bruce Anderson
IND (at JAC)
Bruce Arians is tremendous with running backs and while most seem to think Ronald Jones or even Peyton Barber, again, will be the starter, Anderson was the one Arians picked himself. He is the classic mold of an Arians back, and he certainly hasn't been shy to avoid unheard of RBs in the past. Don't rule out Anderson winning this job like Alfred Morris did in Washington his rookie year.
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|
120.
J.D. McKissic
DET (vs . GB)
|
|
|
121.
D'Ernest Johnson
CLE (at CIN)
|
|
|
122.
Zach Zenner
ARI (at LAR)
|
|
123.
James Develin
NE (vs . MIA)
|
|
|
124.
Reggie Bonnafon
CAR (vs . NO)
|
|
125.
Andre Ellington
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
126.
Elijah Holyfield
CAR (vs . NO)
|
|
127.
Samaje Perine
CIN (vs . CLE)
|
|
|
128.
Boston Scott
PHI (at NYG)
|
|
129.
David Fluellen
TEN (at HOU)
|
|
130.
Marcus Murphy
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
131.
Detrez Newsome
FA (BYE)
|
|
132.
Jonathan Williams
IND (at JAC)
|
|
|
133.
Buddy Howell
HOU (vs . TEN)
|
|
|
134.
Elijhaa Penny
NYG (vs . PHI)
|
|
135.
T.J. Logan
TB (vs . ATL)
|
|
|
136.
Kerrith Whyte
CHI (at MIN)
|
|
|
138.
Tyler Ervin
JAC (vs . IND)
|
|
139.
LeGarrette Blount
FA (BYE)
|
|
140.
Alex Armah
CAR (vs . NO)
|
|
141.
Brandon Bolden
NE (vs . MIA)
|
|
|
142.
D.J. Foster
ARI (at LAR)
|
|
143.
Javorius Allen
NYG (vs . PHI)
|
|
144.
Alex Collins
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
145.
Troymaine Pope
LAC (at KC)
|
|
146.
Zach Line
NO (at CAR)
|
|
147.
Kenjon Barner
ATL (at TB)
|
|
148.
Patrick DiMarco
BUF (vs . NYJ)
|
|
149.
Chris Ivory
FA (BYE)
|
|
150.
Corey Grant
FA (BYE)
|
|
151.
Andy Janovich
DEN (vs . OAK)
|
|
152.
Taiwan Jones
HOU (vs . TEN)
|
|
153.
Jeremy Hill
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
154.
Darius Jackson
IND (at JAC)
|
|
155.
Jacquizz Rodgers
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
156.
Dalyn Dawkins
TEN (at HOU)
|
|
|
157.
Alex Barnes
FA (BYE)
|
|
158.
Jamize Olawale
DAL (vs . WAS)
|
|
|
159.
Shaun Wilson
WAS (at DAL)
|
|
|
160.
Josh Ferguson
WAS (at DAL)
|
|
161.
CJ Ham
MIN (vs . CHI)
|
|
162.
Anthony Sherman
KC (vs . LAC)
|
|
163.
Trey Edmunds
PIT (at BAL)
|
|
|
164.
Tra Carson
FA (BYE)
|
|
165.
Taquan Mizzell
NO (at CAR)
|
|
166.
Dan Vitale
GB (at DET)
|
|
167.
Roosevelt Nix
PIT (at BAL)
|
|
|
168.
Marcus Green
PHI (at NYG)
|
|
|
169.
James Williams
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
171.
Roc Thomas
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
172.
Alec Ingold
OAK (at DEN)
|
|
|
173.
Derek Watt
LAC (at KC)
|
|
174.
Benny Cunningham
FA (BYE)
|
|
175.
Charcandrick West
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
176.
Patrick Laird
MIA (at NE)
|
|
|
177.
Khalfani Muhammad
DEN (vs . OAK)
|
|
|
178.
Justin Davis
ARI (at LAR)
|
|
|
179.
De'Lance Turner
MIA (at NE)
|
|
|
180.
Nick Bawden
DET (vs . GB)
|
|
|
181.
Tony Brooks-James
PIT (at BAL)
|
|
182.
Keith Smith
ATL (at TB)
|
|
|
183.
David Williams
FA (BYE)
|
|
184.
Thomas Rawls
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
185.
Byron Marshall
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
186.
Devontae Jackson
FA (BYE)
|
|
187.
Devante Mays
JAC (vs . IND)
|
|
|
188.
Kenneth Farrow
FA (BYE)
|
|
189.
Elijah Hood
FA (BYE)
|
|
190.
Cethan Carter
CIN (vs . CLE)
|
|
|
191.
Ricky Ortiz
FA (BYE)
|
|
192.
Daniel Lasco
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
193.
Quinton Flowers
FA (BYE)
|
|
194.
Senorise Perry
BUF (vs . NYJ)
|
|
|
195.
Ralph Webb
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
196.
Glenn Gronkowski
FA (BYE)
|
|
197.
Kapri Bibbs
FA (BYE)
|
|
198.
Tommy Bohanon
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
199.
Brandon Wilds
FA (BYE)
|
|
200.
Jonathan Stewart
FA (BYE)
|
|
201.
Michael Burton
WAS (at DAL)
|
|
|
202.
Ryan Nall
CHI (at MIN)
|
|
203.
Ryan Hewitt
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
204.
Mark Thompson
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
205.
Josh Caldwell
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
206.
Austin Walter
FA (BYE)
|
|
207.
Aaron Ripkowski
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
208.
Wes Hills
DET (vs . GB)
|
|
|
209.
Dontae Strickland
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
210.
Trayone Gray
FA (BYE)
|
|
211.
Akeem Hunt
FA (BYE)
|
|
212.
De'Angelo Henderson
PHI (at NYG)
|
|
|
213.
A.J. Ouellette
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
214.
Chris Warren III
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
215.
Jeremy Cox
FA (BYE)
|
|
216.
Matthew Dayes
FA (BYE)
|
|
217.
Jeremy McNichols
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
218.
Elijah Wellman
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
219.
Russell Hansbrough
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
220.
Dimitri Flowers
FA (BYE)
|
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| Christian McCaffrey (CAR) | RB | |
| Dalvin Cook (MIN) | RB | |
| Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) | RB | |
| Josh Jacobs (OAK) | RB | |
| Leonard Fournette (JAC) | RB | |
| Melvin Gordon (LAC) | RB | |
| Tyreek Hill (KC) | WR | |
| Nick Chubb (CLE) | RB | |
| Michael Thomas (NO) | WR | |
| Alvin Kamara (NO) | RB | |
| View all Flex Rankings |
| James Conner (PIT) | RB | |
| DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) | WR | |
| Marlon Mack (IND) | RB | |
| Le'Veon Bell (NYJ) | RB | |
| Mike Evans (TB) | WR | |
| Tevin Coleman (SF) | RB | |
| Julio Jones (ATL) | WR | |
| Damien Williams (KC) | RB | |
| Mark Ingram (BAL) | RB | |
| Brian Hill (ATL) | RB |
| Devin Singletary (BUF) | RB | |
| Chris Godwin (TB) | WR | |
| Amari Cooper (DAL) | WR | |
| Todd Gurley (LAR) | RB | |
| Cooper Kupp (LAR) | WR | |
| Joe Mixon (CIN) | RB | |
| Julian Edelman (NE) | WR | |
| D.J. Moore (CAR) | WR | |
| Keenan Allen (LAC) | WR | |
| Travis Kelce (KC) | TE |
| Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) | LF,CF | |
| Nolan Arenado (COL) | 3B | |
| Mookie Betts (BOS) | CF,RF | |
| J.D. Martinez (BOS) | LF,RF | |
| Trevor Story (COL) | SS | |
| Justin Verlander (HOU) | SP | |
| Cody Bellinger (LAD) | 1B,CF | |
| Trea Turner (WSH) | SS | |
| Alex Bregman (HOU) | 3B,SS | |
| Jacob deGrom (NYM) | SP | |
| View All Rankings |
| Max Scherzer (WSH) | SP | |
| Francisco Lindor (CLE) | SS | |
| Gerrit Cole (FA) | SP | |
| Freddie Freeman (ATL) | 1B | |
| Javier Baez (CHC) | 2B,3B | |
| Charlie Blackmon (COL) | CF | |
| Aaron Judge (NYY) | RF,DH | |
| Juan Soto (WSH) | LF | |
| Anthony Rendon (FA) | 3B | |
| Bryce Harper (PHI) | CF,RF |
| Jose Altuve (HOU) | 2B | |
| Xander Bogaerts (BOS) | SS | |
| Starling Marte (PIT) | CF | |
| Walker Buehler (LAD) | SP | |
| Manny Machado (SD) | 3B,SS | |
| Anthony Rizzo (CHC) | 1B | |
| Kris Bryant (CHC) | 3B,RF | |
| Whit Merrifield (KC) | 1B,2B | |
| George Springer (HOU) | CF,RF | |
| Paul Goldschmidt (STL) | 1B |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | PF,C | |
| James Harden (HOU) | PG,SG | |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) | C | |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) | SF,PF | |
| Kevin Durant (BKN) | SF,PF | |
| LeBron James (LAL) | SF,PF | |
| Stephen Curry (GSW) | PG,SG | |
| Russell Westbrook (HOU) | PG | |
| Damian Lillard (POR) | PG | |
| Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | SG,SF | |
| View All Rankings |
| Joel Embiid (PHI) | PF,C | |
| Nikola Jokic (DEN) | PF,C | |
| Victor Oladipo (IND) | PG,SG | |
| Paul George (LAC) | SF,PF | |
| Kyrie Irving (BKN) | PG,SG | |
| Chris Paul (OKC) | PG | |
| Jrue Holiday (NOR) | PG,SG | |
| Kemba Walker (BOS) | PG | |
| Ben Simmons (PHI) | PG,SF | |
| Jimmy Butler (MIA) | SG,SF |
| Kyle Lowry (TOR) | PG | |
| John Wall (WAS) | PG | |
| Donovan Mitchell (UTH) | PG,SG | |
| Andre Drummond (DET) | PF,C | |
| Rudy Gobert (UTH) | C | |
| Bradley Beal (WAS) | SG | |
| Khris Middleton (MIL) | SG,SF | |
| Kevin Love (CLE) | PF,C | |
| LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS) | PF,C | |
| Draymond Green (GSW) | PF,C |
