In fantasy football drafting some folks like to secure an elite running back in the first round. Others wait until the second and third rounds choose the position. Whatever the preferred method is, here are some running backs to avoid drafting in 2015.
Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams
The Rams took the surprising route when the selected the projected No.1 running back prospect, Gurley with their first pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He is currently healing from a knee injury and may not be ready to start when the regular season kicks off. Even when he is ready, the Rams still have powerful playmaker Tre Mason along with Benny Cunningham and a slew of other running backs on the roster.
The team could certainly use a running-back-by-committee approach again in 2015 just as they did last year. No Rams’ fantasy running back was a sure thing after the season got underway while the team swapped running backs in and out the door. Remember drafting Zac Stacy with confidence?
Gurley should be avoided because we can’t trust that the Rams will stick mainly to one guy this season. And, there is the injury issue.
Joique Bell, Detroit Lions
Bell’s production began to taper off towards the end of the 2014 fantasy season that saw him produce only one touchdown in his last four games. The emergence of Theo Riddick ate into some of Bell’s action last year as well. That could continue once again in 2015 with Riddick and newly drafted running back Ameer Abdullah competing for touches.
The Lions spent a second-round pick on the rookie out of Nebraska which shows that feel they felt they needed depth beyond the 28-year-old Bell. It looks to be a crowded backfield Detroit especially with a pass-heavy quarterback Matthew Stafford calling the signals. At the most, Bell makes for an RB4 in standard fantasy formats.
Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals
For those who drafted Ellington high last season, he disappointed towards the end of the year. While he tallied over 1,000 yards combined in rushing and receiving, Ellington only scored five total touchdowns. The red zone is where Ellington fell short.
This is surely why the Cardinals spent a third-round draft pick on David Johnson who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 224 pounds and could certainly steal some of the late-down work from Ellington who is a smaller-bodied back.
After last season’s attempt by the Cardinals to have Ellington carry a heavy load, it is not wise to believe this will be the case in 2015. Especially, not as long as Johnson and other fellow running backs such as Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams are there to cloud up the picture.
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Now that veteran running back Steven Jackson has finally moved on, don’t count on Freeman to be the Falcons’ primary rusher. The Falcons drafted running back Tevin Coleman to aid in the team’s rushing game this season. Look for the Falcons to split the carries between their second-year back and their rookie.
Coleman is coming from a college season at Indiana where he totaled 2,036 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry. He was a smart acquisition by the Falcons in the third round of the NFL Draft. Look for the Falcons to take advantage of his size and near the red zone which will not benefit those who draft Freeman at all this year.
Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
Ingram finally had the breakthrough year that any fantasy drafters of him in the past had previously wished for. He rushed for 964 yards and scored nine touchdowns and that was only for 13 games. That would make the perfect storyline to draft him again this season if it weren’t for the team adding C.J. Spiller to the roster for this season.
The team is surely going to use Spiller in certain passing plays and if he proves he can make some bust-out moves the Saints may utilize him on some rushing plays as well. Spiller is already making a favorable impression with the Saints’ coaches, so it would appear he’ll play a key role which will unfortunately take a large bite out of Ingram’s fantasy value moving forward.
DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles
News that the offensive coordinator for the Eagles wants Murray and running back Ryan Mathews to share duties this season is alarming for anyone planning to target the lead rusher from 2014. The Eagles made some questionable moves during the offseason and paid dearly to have Murray join the team. They reinforced their running back depth by signing Ryan Mathews to a cheaper deal.
This report could stem from the fact that the Eagles need to keep their expensive investment preserved for the whole season. Opposite was the situation for Murray in 2014 when he rushed for 1,845 yards with Dallas – a team who knew they were not going to keep him beyond last season.
The Eagles also have Darren Sproles on the roster who actually scored one more rushing touchdowns last season than former running back LeSean McCoy. Look for Murray to get a decent amount of work. However, avoid selecting him with sure-fire RB1 expectations in mind from week-to-week.