As every Fantasy Football owner tries to capture lightning in a bottle this preseason. I am still determining what will happen for the upcoming 2019 Fantasy Football season. What do I mean by this? Well, simply put. No season is like the previous season when it comes to absolute unforeseen happenings. We are not going to see a James Conner happen again in 2019 and maybe not ever again. What we have are similar situations in which back up running backs could outperform their ADP with an injury or holdout. League winners in Conner don’t grow on trees and Patrick Mahomes’ seasons don’t either. Unless your Pat himself in which 46+ passing touchdowns is likely in 2019. So drown out the noise and figure out what the nutty outcomes will be for a NEW season.
Every year certain back up running backs offering handcuff upside, this we know. The similarities we see in comparison to 2018 are the holdout situations. The trends we see that we must focus on our the NFL teams transitioning to running back by committees, pass catching running backs and situational usage running backs. The committee approach has historical data while the pass catcher/specialty backs is gaining data year after year.
So what is a specialty running back? It is a running back who lines up as a wide receiver or a goal line back for example(not limited to just these two specialties). Hence David Johnson being my number fantasy back in 2019. DJ’s skillset means he can do anything asked of him. In any situation on any down and is a healthy running back in his prime on an offense that has numerous season scripts leading to his success. Chase Edmonds is a specialty back that will aid in the fluidity of the offense without hurting DJ’s touch/target share.
The Melvin Gordon situation is similar to Bell’s because of the holdout that may last into the season. While Ekeler is a proven back with fantasy value. As is Justin Jackson in my crystal ball. Will either be a league winner? Not on the level Conner was in 2018. Remember Conner was going undrafted. Even in sharp leagues Conner was undrafted!
Ezekiel Elliott is holding out without a proven fantasy back behind him and a ton of risk in Tony Pollard. Mike Weber and Alfred Morris can pound the rock inside behind a good offensive line. Again not James Conner who is a versatile back who beat cancer in real life.
Darrell Henderson is different. Why though? Well because Sean McVay is not the clapper nor is he Kellen Moore. Todd Gurley missed touches/targets in the most important games of his life during the Rams Superbowl run. So the Rams resigned backup Malcolm Brown and added a specialty running back in Henderson. Immense upside with Gurley potentially seeing the IR at some point during the season. With a guaranteed load management approach in order to preserve him in hopes of the Rams winning the Superbowl.
The 10 day forecast for Fantasy Football running back committees is cloudy with a chance of sunshine come week 3 of the preseason. After this semi important week. The 1st two games of the NFL season are crucial in planting your flag. While the 1st 5 games of the season can often determine if your running backs are fantasy playoff worthy. Everything after that is on you as a fantasy coach and general manager of the waiver wire. Damien Williams does not grow on trees, especially the timing of his explosion in the fantasy playoffs. However Damien Williams like production may be on the waiver wire throughout the fantasy season. Every bit of research and time spent analyzing each’s teams committee now. Will pay dividends during this coaching and general managing season long process. The wild thing about Best Ball. Which I started going ham on this year. Is it is relatively new in terms of popularity and one must forecast the weather in advance. Guess Best Ball needs a Farmer’s Almanac to be successful?
Even the Bell Cow running back or unquestioned #1’s are not certain in 2019. We know who these backs are but each situation offers potential questions (outside of injury). Outside of my top 7, the confidence is tempered due to the madness we see on a week to week basis. Want to know my thoughts on a team’s running back situation and why a back is ranked where I have them? Tweet me @FFPmoonman.
- David Johnson (Cardinals)
- Christian Mccaffrey (Panthers)
- Alvin Kamara (Saints)
- Saquon Barkley (Giants)
- Joe Mixon (Bengals)
- Le’Veon Bell (Jets)
- Nick Chubb (Browns)
- Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
- Marlon Mack (Colts)
- Derrick Henry (Titans)
- Dalvin Cook (Vikings)
- James Conner (Steelers)
- Kerryon Johnson (Lions)
- Aaron Jones (Packers)
- Chris Carson (Seahawks)
- Joshua Jacobs (Raiders)
- David Montgomery (Bears)
- Leonard Fournette (Jaguars)
- Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
- Todd Gurley (Rams)
- Tevin Coleman (49ers)
- Damien Williams (Chiefs)
- Mark Ingram (Ravens)
- Sony Michel (Patriots)
- Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
- Latavius Murray (Saints)
- James White (Patriots)
- Jordan Howard (Eagles)
- Darrell Henderson (Rams)
- Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
- Lamar Miller (Texans)
- Kenyan Drake (Dolphins)
- Peyton Barber (Buccaneers)
- Tarik Cohen (Bears)
- Royce Freeman (Broncos)
- Justin Jackson (Chargers)
- Rashaad Penny (Seahawks)
- Damien Harris (Patriots)
- Miles Sanders (Eagles)
- LeSean McCoy (Bills)
- Phillip Lindsay (Broncos)
- Adrian Peterson (Redskins)
- Jaylen Samuels (Steelers)
- Ronald Jones II (Buccaneers)
- Kareem Hunt (Browns)
- Kalen Ballage (Dolphins)
- Nyheim Hines (Colts)
- Ito Smith (Falcons)
- Devin Singletary (Buffalo)
- Carlos Hyde (Chiefs)
- Darius Guice (Redskins)
- Duke Johnson (Texans)
- Justice Hill (Ravens)
- Dion Lewis (Titans)
- Matt Breida (49ers)
- Alexander Mattison (Vikings)
- Gus Edwards (Ravens)
- Qadree Ollison (Falcons)
- Gio Benard (Bengals)
- Tony Pollard (Cowboys)
- Frank Gore (Buffalo)
- Ty Johnson (Lions)
- Jamaal Williams (Packers)
- Darwin Thompson (Chiefs)
- Ryquell Armstead (Jaguars)
- Mike Davis (Bears)
- Malcolm Brown (Rams)
- Chris Thompson (Redskins)
- C.J. Anderson (Lions)
- Dontrell Hilliard (Browns)
- Benny Snell Jr (Steelers)
- Jalen Richard (Raiders)
- Chase Edmonds (Cardinals)
- Ty Montgomery (Jets)
- Alfred Morris (Cowboys)
- Myles Gaskin (Dolphins)
- Andre Ellington (Buccaneers)
- Jerick McKinnon (49ers)
- Rex Burkehead (Patriots)
- Kenneth Dixon (Ravens)
- Kyle Juszczyk (49ers)
- Alex Barnes (Titans)
- Doug Martin (Raiders)
- Theo Riddick (Broncos)
- Jordan Wilkins (Colts)
- Bilal Powell (Jets)
- T.J. Yeldon (Bills)
- Darrell Williams (Chiefs)
- Karan Higdon (Texans)
- Mike Weber (Cowboys)
- Travis Homer (Seahawks)
- Corey Clement (Eagles)
- Wayne Gallman (Giants)
- Mike Boone (Vikings)
- Brian Hill (Falcons)
- Rodney Anderson (Bengals)
- T.J. Yeldon (Bills)
- Dexter Williams (Green Bay
- D’Onta Foreman (Colts)
- Devine Ozigbo (Saints)
- Damarea Crockett (Texans)
- Jordan Scarlett (Panthers)
- Dwayne Washington (Saints)
- Wendell Smallwood (Eagles)
- Paul Perkins (Giants)
- Rod Smith (Giants)
- Detrez Newsome (Chargers)
- T.J. Yeldon (Bills)
- Cameron Artis Payne (Panthers)
- Trayveon Williamson (Bengals)
- John Kelly (Rams)
- Devontae Booker (Broncos)
- Samaje Perine (Redskins)
- Elijah McGuire (Jets)
- Jeffery Wilson (49ers)
- Elijah Penny (Giants)
- Trey Edmunds (Steelers)
- Raheem Mostert (49ers)
- Josh Ferguson (Texans)
- Josh Adams (Eagles)
- Zach Zenner (Lions)
- Jay Ajayi (Free Agent)
As Always,
(Teams Going Off + Thoughts Flexed In) = Combination Lineups
May the Fantasy Force Be With You.
Follow Moon Man on Twitter @FFPmoonman
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