Now we get to the money picks, literally. If you’re in an auction draft, these guys are going to cost you to get on your roster and for good reason. No position in fantasy football is more important than your running back. Considering that most leagues let you play with two active backs in your roster at once, they become even more valuable. If you pick the right guy, guess right, he can single-handedly (or foot-edly, if you will) carry your team to victory.
A few guys that didn’t make the list below deserve to be talked about, because if you miss out on these top five, there’s no problem is grabbing a member of the next five. And if you can one of the top five guys in the first round and pick one of these in the second, you may be the guy holding the trophy, taking the pot, picking out the tattoo or selecting the appropriate floral dress for the loser in your league.
The reason the “next five” aren’t in the top five comes down to their situation, mostly. The St. Louis Rams didn’t draft Todd Gurley for him to split carries with anybody, but until about the sixth game or so that’s what’s going to happen with Tre Mason as Gurley continues to get stronger from his knee injury and learns the Rams’ offense.
LeSean McCoy is going from a team in Philadelphia with multiple weapons to a team in Buffalo where he’ll be the entire focus of every defensive gameplan. He’ll still get his touches and yards, but it’ll be a lot tougher sledding with the Bills.
Justin Forsett came out of nowhere to star for the Ravens last season, but he’s had health issues that kept him sidelined in the past, so you have to be wary of that. Arian Foster of the Houston Texans has experienced similar injury issues, so if you spend a first-round pick on him, you may be sitting him for four games this season.
Eddie Lacy is never going to be the primary weapon in Green Bay on a team that isn’t concerned at all about his carries or stats when it comes to putting up wins. There could be games were he runs for 200 yards and four touchdowns and there could be games were he gets six carries for five yards. There’s no predicting it.
So who are the best five this season? Here they are in order.
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
2014: 1,038 yards rushing, six touchdowns, 102 receptions, 808 yards, four touchdowns
Forte has been a workhorse and he’s been healthy and the Bears, regardless of who’s coached them, haven’t managed to screw him up yet. New offensive coordinator Adam Gase has never had a weapon like Forte in the backfield before, so you know he’s excited to use him creatively in the passing and rushing game.
Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
2014: 1,306 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns, 37 receptions, 367 yards, four touchdowns
The Seahawks paid Lynch for a reason and that’s because they plan on using him. Lynch is the secret to their offensive success and last season, especially in the playoffs and Super Bowl, it seems they finally learned how to use him in the passing game. While quarterback Russell Wilson will have some improved passing targets this season, led by tight end Jimmy Graham, Lynch’s receiving yards and scores should go up too and his rushing yards, at worst, stay the same.
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
2014: 1,309 yards rushing, eight touchdowns, 83 receptions, 854 yards, three touchdowns
Bell getting suspended for the Steelers’ playoff game was pretty much the reason they lost and while he’ll be dealing with a suspension again, this time for the first game of the 2015 season, that’s no reason not to spend a pick on a guy that will improve every single one of his numbers this season, missed game or not.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2014: 75 yards rushing, no touchdowns, two receptions, 18 yards, no touchdowns
Peterson was forced to sit out last season for his well-publicized beat down of his own son and deserved every single minute of it. Regardless, he’s back this season and is almost guaranteed to rush for 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns just by stepping on the field. With the improvements the Vikings have made at quarterback, receiver and most especially head coach, Peterson will thrive and I expect be more a factor in the passing game with Teddy Bridgewater using him as a safety valve. A safety valve that can take it to the house every time the ball gets in his hands.
DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles
2014: 1,845 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns, 57 catches, 416 yards, no touchdowns
Murray is the downhill runner that Chip Kelly wants in his offense. It’s why he shipped McCoy out and worked so hard to get Murray in the fold. With Sam Bradford’s injury status a question, at least in the beginning of the season, Murray will get his chance to show his worth early. Will he rush for 1,800 yards this season? Probably not, but in Kelly’s offense he’ll still get plenty of touches, so his receptions, reception yardage and touchdown catches will all increase to the point where he should put up similar overall scores, even if he has to split time with Darren Sproles.
