NFL training camps are well underway, with the preseason games kicking off in just a week from now. As the preseason games play out, many people will also be starting their fantasy football drafts.
With the running back always a key position to secure depth in, some players are worth monitoring in their preseason games in order for us to determine whether they have proven worthy of drafting in 2014. Here is a look at five running backs entering 2014 who need to prove themselves during the preseason.
5. Chris Johnson, New York Jets
Johnson was the big man on campus while playing with the Tennessee Titans. However, not able to agree to Johnson’s inflated salary terms, the Titans let him go to the free agency, where he found a new home with the New York Jets this past spring.
Johnson has plenty to prove during the preseason with his new team in order to show he is worthy of his pricey salary for starters. For fantasy football potential drafters, Johnson will need to prove his dominance on the field and edge out his fellow running back competition for us to trust drafting him this season. With an average of 1,327 yards per season while with the Titans, Johnson, entering his seventh year in the NFL, and first season with a new team. He must secure the lead back duties in New York during the preseason in order to retain his worth of drafting as a higher end running back option.
If Johnson stumbles out of the gate and finds himself splitting carries with Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell or even Daryl Richardson, those who draft him will be in trouble.
4. David Wilson, New York Giants
Wilson, pending clearance to return to practice due to a neck burner he just suffered, will be an intriguing back to monitor in the preseason to see if there is any value in drafting him at all as a fantasy player in 2014. He was all the hype at the beginning of last season, going off draft boards as a solid RB2 choice. However Wilson’s hype was short-lived as costly fumbles in the beginning of the season landed him in Coach Tom Coughlin’s comfy doghouse.
When eventually given the opportunity to play, Wilson sadly suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 5 last year, and that was the end of Wilson as a fantasy football option as well.
Since Wilson’s injury, the Giants have signed Rashad Jennings during the free agency period for extra depth to the team’s depleted veteran running back crew. Wilson, providing he is once again cleared practice fully, will certainly be worth monitoring if he is able to participate in the preseason games.
In order to be considered for any type of fantasy running back depth, Wilson will have to prove he can hold onto that football, and remain healthy on the field. While Jennings appears to have secured the lead duties ahead of him, Wilson, who is incredibly talented, stands to earn more work if he can prove his reliable.
3. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
Speaking of running backs who have issues with fumbling, is Ridley starting his fourth year with the Patriots. Four fumbles last season caused Ridley to be ejected mid-game, and omitted entirely from a couple of others. Fantasy owners of Ridley definitely had their ups and downs with his production last year.
Additionally, Ridley faces competition with fellow back, Shane Vereen in the picture. Where Vereen is utilized more in the passing game, he still produces a threat to Ridley’s carries. During this offseason, Ridley clearly needs to work on his ball security, in order to retain his duties as the lead rusher for the Patriots. What potential fantasy drafters must monitor is how much the team is utilizing Ridley to see where he should be drafted in 2014. Seven rushing touchdowns on 773 rush yards are hopefully numbers Ridley will build upon this season.
2. Montee Ball, Denver Broncos
Ball, starting his second year with the Broncos, has the world to prove during the preseason as he earns the trust of the team as the lead ball carrier in 2014. Gone is running back, Knowshon Moreno, who was so dominant last year that Ball did not have much opportunity to dazzle on his own. Ball, who had three fumbles on 120 touches last year has his work cut out for him during the preseason.
Already being selected by some as an RB1 in fantasy football mock drafts, Ball has just six weeks to live up to that ambitious draft status. He is a must-watch as the preseason games roll out to see if he proves worthy of a first-round RB1 fantasy choice.
1. Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Talk about having everything to prove in the preseason is Richardson, starting his first full year with the Colts. Richardson is likely the most questionable fantasy football running back this season. Do you draft him hoping for his rookie year numbers he put up in Cleveland, or do you keep your distance and hope one of your fellow fantasy football nemesis drafts him and he fails royally.
Richardson, whom Indianapolis traded a 2014 draft pick to obtain from the Browns early last season, was a tremendous disaster on the field as a Colt. In Richardson’s 14 games with his new team, he only managed 458 rush yards and three rushing touchdowns. Additionally, his 2.9 yards per carry were horrific. Those who drafted Richardson for their fantasy teams last year surely stopped bothering to even use him in their lineups or dropped him all together.
To add to Richardson's pressure to perform adequately in the 2014 preseason is the unfortunate season-ending injury of his fellow running back Vick Ballard, who recently tore his ACL in practice. This puts Richardson under the gun to step up his game even more than ever. Therefore, watch Richardson carefully during the preseason games to see if there is any shred of evidence to prove that he is worthy on any level of fantasy drafting in 2014.