Fantasy football: 5 running back busts in 2017

4. Danny Woodhead

NFL fantasy pundits are way too high on Danny Woodhead’s value this season. Woodhead, 32, only played in two games a year ago after missing most of the season via a torn ACL. Counting on a running back in his 30s to bounce backdoesn’t seem too promising. This was also the second time in three years Woodhead missed at least 13 games. The Ravens have already been hit hard with the injury bug. Woodhead’s inevitable injury seems like a foregone conclusion by the way the Ravens’ season is starting out.

Baltimore also wasn’t able to get much going on the ground last season. The Ravens were 28th in the NFL in rushing yards (91.4 per game), a mark that doesn’t seem to improve after the Ravens lost some darn good offensive lineman this offseason. Right tackle Rick Wagner is off to Detroit, Jeremy Zuttah was traded to the 49ers, and John Urschel retired during camp.

Woodhead does come with some receiving value. Then again, do you really trust Joe Flacco to get him the touches in the passing game he needs? Regardless, the Ravens are expected to utilize a running back by committee interchanging Woodhead, Terrance West, Buck Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, and Bobby Rainey. West or Taliaferro will handle the goal line touches.

The other thing to keep in mind is trying to project Baltimore’s offense. Right now Joe Flacco can’t be counted on as he hasn’t been the same since Gary Kubiak left. Flacco has undergone constant turnover at the offensive coordinator spot as the Ravens are always tinkering with their offense. Besides for a few check downs to Woodhead, I’m not sure how valuable he really is in terms of fantasy production.