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Friday, September 4, 2015

Rookie Running Back Breakdown


The 2015 NFL draft class is considered to be one of the better ones in recent memory when looking strictly at the running back position. There were two guys taking in the first round, but others should be able to emerge as well. People playing in weekly fantasy football leagues might be hesitant at first to go with rookies, but they will start to show what they're capable of by the middle of the season. As of right now, here are the top three options to consider.

Melvin Gordon

At Wisconsin, he was a workhorse his entire career. Now, he is going to step in as the featured running back for the San Diego Chargers right away. He has the ability to make big plays, but he is also somebody who can be very dependable getting a lot of touches. The touchdown total will be average, but 1200 yards or so should be expected out of him in his rookie year.

Todd Gurley

How healthy is Gurley? That seems to be the big question before the season. St. Louis is optimistic that he will be able to play quite a bit this year, and that is good news for anyone thinking about drafting him in weekly fantasy sports leagues. He has the most pure talent out of all the rookies, but coming off a major knee surgery is scary. His ability to find the end zone could make him very valuable by the end of the season. For now, it might be best to wait and see.

TJ Yeldon

Since Jacksonville needs him more than Atlanta needs Tevin Coleman, Yeldon gets the edge for the third choice. He had a very productive career at Alabama, some wonder just how good he can be in the NFL. He had some fumbling issues in college, and he is hoping the adjustments have been made. Jacksonville does not really have the best offensive line, so that could work against him as well. Despite all the negatives, people need to remember that he could still easily get 1000 yards on the ground and 5-8 touchdowns.