Fantasy Football Dynasty 2017: Top Five Second Year Running Backs

Following up on our Fantasy Football Dynasty second year quarterback article, we’ll review the top 2016 rookie running backs for your dynasty/keeper leagues.  Grabbing the right rookie running back from last season for your Fantasy Football Dynasty league, can land you a fantasy football championship for several years.

Last year’s rookie running back’s class had some amazing results.  Dallas Cowboy rookie tailback Ezekiel Elliott lead the NFL in rushing, with 1,631 yards and was third in rushing touchdowns with 15.  Jordan Howard was second in total rushing with 1,313 yards and had six touchdowns.  Howard’s year likely would’ve been a big story, if not for Elliott’s complete dominance of the ground game in his rookie season.

But, as we all know, things can change.  The 2015 rookie class looked like last years, with some surprises like Todd Gurley rushing for over 1,100 yards and ten touchdowns.  Many fantasy football players drafted Gurley early or he was an easy keeper decision.  But Todd disappointed in his sophomore season, under 900 yards rushing and only six touchdowns.

On the flip side of Gurley, is Melvin Gordon who had a lot of hype coming into the 2015 season, but only had 641 yards and never found the end zone.  Melvin then bounced back his sophomore season to pile up just under 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns.  Gordon was a bargain pick later in fantasy drafts and for anyone who risked the keeper spot on Melvin.

So, who are the top five 2016 rookie running backs you should consider for this year’s fantasy football dynasty draft?  Let’s start with number five…

Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year RB Pick: No 5

During the 2016 NFL draft, if Derrick Henry had gone to a team with less depth at running back, he would have been an immediate starter.  At first, the Tennessee Titans seemed like the perfect landing spot for Henry.

The Titans grabbed Derrick in the 2nd round, a signal he’d get a shot at leading the backfield.  But then Tennessee took a shot at signing DeMarco Murray, making a bet Chip Kelly misused the former rushing leader in Philly, and it turns out they were right.

Murray was the lead back in 2016, and will continue to lead the team in rushing for 2017.  But Henry is a very close second, getting 110 rushing attempts, sixth among all rookie running backs last year.  Derrick was also sixth in rushing among all rookies, with 490 yards, and had five touchdowns, fourth among rookie running backs.

While we likely will see similar numbers from Henry in 2017, the Titans may begin to increase his workload, with Murray approaching the 30-year-old mark next season.  And beyond the 2017 season, Henry should take over the lead spot in Tennessee, and has potential for a top five rushing spot behind a solid offensive line.  You’ll have to be patient with Henry, but if Murray ever gives up the lead role, he immediately becomes an enormous value.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year RB Pick: No 4

I’m probably higher on Paul Perkins than most fantasy pro writers.  The New York Giants offensive line has been horrendous, and they did little to improve the line during the offseason so far.  But there’s still time to adjust, and the Giants know what they have.

One great upside the Giants do have on offense is a good quarterback in Manning, with an eye-popping number of talented options running routes.  The passing game could really open up the run game this season, especially if the Giants improve on the O-line, even if marginally.

Another reason I give Perkins more interest for fantasy football dynasty drafts, is that Paul is very likely leading the Giants running back corps this season.  The Giants have a solid rookie in Gallman joining the team, and Vereen is a great pass-catching back.  But Perkins is the workhorse now.

Paul had 112 rushing attempts last season, two more than Henry.  But 8 rushing attempts per game and that number should climb significantly in 2017.  Perkins only had 456 rushing yards and never saw the end zone on the ground, but like Gordon last year, Paul is now entering his second year and will be carrying the workload of running duties.  Perkins seems to be flying under the radar so far this summer, don’t let him get off yours.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year RB Pick: No 3

Last season, there was a lot of buzz during the summer around the Washington Redskins camp about Matt Jones.  Matt was drafted in the 3rd round by the skins in the 2015 draft.  This was his year to emerge as the starter.  The only problem is, rookie Rob Kelley fit into the offensive system better than Jones.  Ian Rapoport’s tweet last November sums up why Kelley is now waiting to be traded or cut by the Redskins.

Quickly emerging as the starting RB for the Skins last season, Kelley was able to pile up rushing attempts, 168 or 11.2 per game.  Rob had the their most rushing attempts last season among all rookie running backs and will likely replicate that result among second year running backs in 2017.  With 704 rushing yards and six touchdowns, we can at least expect Kelley’s rushing yards to climb over the 1,000 mark in 2017, and his rushing attempts may climb as well.

The only risk to Kelley’s future now is Perine.  Rob has to avoid what Jones did last season, allowing a rookie to overcome his potential on the team.  Kelley is becoming an RB3/RB2 in many fantasy leagues, and he should be drafted somewhere in the middle of most fantasy football dynasty rounds.  Snag him earlier if you get the chance.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year RB Pick: No 2

If it wasn’t for our number one pick (you should already guess who that is by now), Jordan Howard would’ve been quite a story in 2016.  Jordan started the season as the Chicago Bears backup running back, giving the lead role to Langford.  Fortunately for Howard, Langford botched his opportunity.

After only 12 rushing attempts in the first two games, Howard burst onto the scene in the third game with 111 yards and 23 carries.  It wasn’t until game five Jordan found the end zone, but he’d score five more times, totaling six rushing touchdowns, include three in one game against the 49ers.

Howard has seven 100-year rushing games last season, impressive considering he was a starter for only 14 games.  Jordan totaled over 1,300 yards on the ground, and had 298 yards receiving, along with a receiving touchdown as well.

Along with the 252 rushing attempts, Jordan was targeted 50 times in the air.  So the Bears have confidence in Howard’s running and passing game.  It’ll be interesting to see what Howard can do with a better performing quarterback under center in Chicago.  That may not happen this season.

But solely looking at Howard’s rushing game, he’s clearly one of the top five running backs in the NFL this season, and could challenge Zeke for the top spot with a better Bears passing game.  If you have Howard, plan to hold onto him for years.

Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year RB Pick: No 1

I’ll admit, the top pick of the fantasy football dynasty second year, or any year, running back is a no-brainer.  Ezekiel Elliott exploded into the NFL last season, after enormous hype about his potential, surrounded him during training camp last summer.

The 6′ 225 pound fourth overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft landed in the perfect spot.  The Dallas Cowboys had all the components of a strong rushing game, but were missing a running back who could quickly find the holes, burst in open space, and break tackles downfield.  Elliott does all of those things.

Zeke only had 51 rushing yards on 20 attempts in the Cowboys first game against the Giants, but he also scored his first NFL touchdown.  That game didn’t seem to faze Elliott.  He followed that up with seven 100-yard rushing games, 14 more touchdowns, 40 receiving targets, 363 receiving yards and an extra touchdown in the air.

Elliott is fantasy football gold.  Unlike Gurley’s second year, there is no reason to believe Ezekiel takes a step back.  The Cowboys have one of the best offensive lines in football, a young talented quarterback, plenty of receiving talent, and solid coaching around Elliott.  He should be a top fantasy football pick for years to come and is the top dynasty pick for 2017.

Next: Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Top 20

With the second of our four-part Fantasy Football Dynasty Second Year series, we’ll now turn our attention to the wide receiver position.  Look for the sophomore WR article soon.  In the meantime, follow us on twitter, @fantasycpr, for updates.