Last year wasn’t a great one for individual fantasy football achievement at the running back position in the NFL. Only seven running backs crossed the 1,000-yard mark and of those, only three (Todd Gurley, Doug Martin and Adrian Peterson) put up more than 1,100 yards.
And while the yardage numbers may have been down, the touchdown numbers were outstanding. And for fantasy football players, nothing racks up a bigger score than a guy that can get it into the end zone. It’s an easy call to grab Gurley or Peterson with your first round pick, but who is your sleeper this season, your DeAngelo Williams? I have some suggestions.
Matt Jones, Washington Redskins
2015: 144 carries, 490 yards, three touchdowns, 19 catches, 304 yards, one touchdown
With Alfred Morris gone in free agency to the Dallas Cowboys, Jones is all alone in the Redskins backfield and should get most, if not all, the significant carries. More than that is Jones’ ability in the passing game, something Morris never really got the hang of in his four seasons in Washington.
Ryan Mathews, Philadelphia Eagles
2015: 106 carries, 539 yards, six touchdowns, 20 catches, 146 yards, one touchdown
I know, I know. Matthews is as injury prone as Darren McFadden, but look at what McFadden did for the guy that got stuck with him late in your fantasy draft. Matthews became the feature back in Philly by the end of last season and delivered, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. They didn’t really draft anybody to take his job this season, so if he can stay healthy (and that’s a big if), he could be a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown guy.
Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers
2015: 184 carries, 641 yards, no touchdowns, 33 catches, 192 yards, no touchdowns
Gordon’s rookie season was a disappointment for a guy who basically ran around the Planet Earth his senior year at Wisconsin. The Chargers should be better this season and so should Gordon. The Chargers didn’t bring in anyone to push him this offseason, so if San Diego is going to have a running game, Gordon is going to be it.
Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
2015: 187 carries, 758 yards, three touchdowns, 20 catches, 188 yards, two touchdowns
I know you guys who took Lacy high in the first round last year got burned. But this is a new year and much trimmer Lacy. He’s dropped some weight this offseason and should bounce back to his 2013-14 production.
Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions
2015: 143 carries, 597 yards, two touchdowns, 25 catches, 183 yards, one touchdown
Like Gordon, Abdullah was a disappointment in his first year in the league. The Lions are sticking with him and, just like the Chargers, didn’t really bring in anyone to push him. The key for Abdullah is more carries, something the Lions weren’t able to give him last year. He still averaged 4.2 yards per carry and if they get his carries up to the 200 mark, that’ll be a solid season.
Jeremy Langford, Chicago Bears
2015: 148 carries, 537 yards, six touchdowns, 22 catches, 279 yards, one touchdown
While Abdullah and Gordon stumbled in their rookie seasons, Langford ended up running the Bears starter (Matt Forte) out of town. The backfield is his now and nothing keeps Jay Cutler out of trouble like a solid running game. He’ll get his chance to carry the ball and produce in the passing game too, piling up the fantasy points.
Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
2015: 151 carries, 641 yards, two touchdowns, 31 catches, 153 yards
The Ravens lost Forsett in the same game they lost Flacco. Luckily for the running back it was a broken arm. And while it cost him the end of a crappy Baltimore season, he should be fresh, healthy and ready to rack up the yards when the 2016-17 season begins. Forsett averaged 4.2 yards per carry and was headed for another 1,000-yard season before he went down.
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
2015: 125 carries, 581 yards, eight touchdowns, 36 catches, 457 yards, four touchdowns
Those numbers alone should make sure Johnson is in your queue on the day of your fantasy football draft. The only reason to be wary of him is that the Cardinals brought back Chris Johnson, but the job should be David’s job to lose after the way he finished last season. He’s a better red zone runner too so even if he and Chris do split carries, David is the one getting into the paint.
