The 2017 Fantasy Football season had its share of disappointments in wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Adrian Peterson, Derek Carr and Jordy Nelson. A wonderful thing about Fantasy Football is that its a new year with new Fantasy Sleepers for you and new draft busts for your competition to draft. Lets take a look at the 2018 running backs.
Adrian Peterson was a bust in 2017. Especially if you were high on him like myself. Saints offense and a running back by committee seemed like a no brainer. Snag All Day as a flex option and watch him take off. Welp, I was definitely wrong. Although in Daily Fantasy Sports, Peterson put together a couple great games for his cost in Draftkings. So its safe to say he redeemed himself in my book. As for 2018? Lets just stay away from him all together.
2017 Stats
156 rush attempts, 529 yards with 2 touchdowns.
11 receptions for 70 yards.
Odell Beckham Jr. who got hurt in week 5 vs the Los Angeles Chargers (https://youtu.be/p0ogSiPC7GU) will be drafted in round 1 of many leagues. Moon Man will fade him in 10 and 12 team leagues. If he is there is round 2? Then maybe I will select him. The reasoning behind this is mainly my belief that running backs will return to prominence in 2018! Last year was a foreshadowing for what will happen this year. The True Running Back 1 is back in Fantasy Football!
Sure Bet #1 Running Backs are Ezekiel Elliot, Todd Gurley, David Johnson, Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy, Jordan Howard, Kareem Hunt and Le’Veon Bell.
Dalvin Cook will be back in Minnesota, Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram produced #1 running back stats, Devonta Freeman when healthy produces multiple touchdown games like no other and Joe Mixon is set to build off of last year’s end of season momentum.
Alex Collins was a waiver wire gem in 2017 and is in line to be the #1 back in Baltimore. Jerick McKinnon is now the head dawg in San Francisco. Carlos Hyde is the lead back in a strong committee with rookie back Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson in Cleveland.
Derrick Henry is set for a breakout year with Dion Lewis as the change of pace 3rd down back. C.J. Anderson is rising in my rankings with what appears to be the perfect fit for his skill set in Carolina. Christian McCaffrey will still get his due to his ability to catch the ball. The Miami Dolphins saw Kenyan Drake show out the second half of 2017 as did I in my fantasy leagues. I expect much more of the same from him in 2018.
Will Saquon Barkley live up to the hype? He is in line for 20+ touches per game his rookie year with an aging Eli Manning. A viable round 1 draft pick in real NFL and Fantasy Football.
That leaves multiple running backs with questions on the board in the consistent Lamar Miller. Marshawn Lynch in a revamped Oakland Raiders offense? Chris Thompson in Washington and Bilal Powell in New York have big game potential but are definitely not in the running back #1 conversation. Will Jay Ajayi stay healthy or will Corey Clement make New Jersey proud an become the lead back in Philadelphia?
Rookie running back Rashaad Penny is the lead back in Seattle yet Russell Wilson was the top Fantasy Quarterback in 2017. Curious to see how training camp plays out with their offense before I calculate Penny’s risk. The Patriots drafted Sony Michel and I’m thinking that he may just be that 20+ touch running back. Why not? Tom Brady isn’t getting any younger, Michel has fresh legs and the backs on their depth chart are pass catchers. All signs point to Michel being what many thought Mike Gillislee was going to be in 2017.
Ronald Jones II could easily be the guy in Tampa Bay. He has to beat out Peyton Barber, Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers. Can you say Fantasy Sleeper! Ameer Abdullah is old news with the second round draft pick of Kerryon Johnson in town. Derrius Guice will be the 1st and 2nd down back in Washington. Guice is another back I’m curious to see in training camp.
Royce Freeman, Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson all have talent in Denver. Take a swing, claim on the wire and see what happens. Indianapolis has its own questions with rookies Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins competing against Marlon Mack.
As for wide receiver Jordy Nelson in Oakland? He certainly isn’t an elite #1 receiver. He will will deliver wide receiver #1, #2 and Flex options games. This means he is worth drafting as a #2/Flex option on your squad. Anyone who knows me, knows I’ve been a fan of Derek Carr since his rookie year. Gunslingers either make or break you in fantasy football throughout the long season. This year Carr will make your team better more often than not.
As Always,
(Teams Going Off + Thoughts Flexed In) = Combination Lineups
May the Fantasy Force Be With You.
Follow Moon Man on Twitter @FFPmoonman
Check out how Martavis Bryant and the Raiders new look offense will light up Fantasy Football in 2018:
FFphilosophy 
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