2019 NFL Draft: Ideal Fantasy Homes for Sanders, Love, and Hills

The wait is almost over. With the NFL Draft right around the corner, there’s a lot of buzz surrounding this year’s class. The running back position, in particular, provides an interesting case for the fantasy football community.

While there’s no obvious front-runner in the 2019 class like we’ve seen in years prior, the position is shaping up to be one of the deepest of this year’s draft. As a matter of fact, there’s a legitimate chance that we see the first round come to a conclusion without any RBs off the board, a phenomenon that’s occurred just twice in the last 14 years (2013 and 2014).

Don’t be alarmed, however, as there’s plenty of mid/late-round talent that could be fantasy difference-makers this Fall. Here are three intriguing ball carriers and their ideal landing spots that would lead owners to glory in 2019.

"DISCLAIMER: These picks are NOT who I believe will be the top running backs of this year’s draft class. These picks are players that, I believe, are the most interesting of the bunch and could have a bigger rookie-year impact (some more than others) than many may think if selected by the right organization."

NFL Draft: Bryce Love, Stanford

One of the most highly-coveted prospects following his dominant 2017 campaign with the Cardinals, Bryce Love‘s draft stock took a severe hit last season due to a barrage of injuries and a struggling o-line after deciding to return for his senior year.

The former Heisman winner was magnificent in his junior season before an injury-riddled 2018. Love put up a gaudy stat line of 2,118 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 263 carries (8.1 YPC).

It was, without a doubt, one of most memorable seasons a collegiate RB has put together in quite some time. This claim is further backed up by Pro Football Focus.

Love’s numbers took a dip in 2018, managing just 4.5 YPC on 166 carries. Although these numbers may be an eyesore, where Love really began to develop was in the passing game. He more than doubled his 6 receptions from his junior season, ending with 20 catches for 99 yards.

General managers across the league have been skeptical of Love throughout the draft process after the once-rising star tore his ACL in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. If not for the injury, we’d likely be talking about him as an early Day-2 pick right now.

On Monday, Love put the league on notice when claiming to be the best running back in the draft, despite his injuries, in A Letter to NFL GMs posted on The Players’ Tribune. In the letter, he states the following:

"“I know that some people are wondering about my durability, but let’s dig in and really examine that. In four seasons at Stanford, I only missed four games total. I tore my ACL in the very last game of my collegiate career, giving everything I could to score and help my team defeat our biggest rival. That desire to win is coming with me to whichever franchise drafts me.”"

Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers

After losing Antonio Brown this offseason, Love brings the home-run ability that the Steelers’ offense could use. His pairing with James Conner would make for a formidable one-two punch in the Pittsburgh’s backfield, as both players a different skillset to the table. His dedication and work ethic that sets him apart could immediately make him a fan-favorite in the Steel City.

With the ‘workhorse’ role already nailed-down by Conner, Love’s primary usage would be as a pass-catcher. This would allow him to focus on a specialized role in which he could thrive instead of trying to should too heavy of a load. With his sheer speed and big-play ability, Love’s got RB3 potential PPR formats in year-one provided that he can carve out a sizeable role wherever he lands.

NFL Draft: Miles Sanders, Penn State

After living in the shadows of Saquon Barkley for two years, Miles Sanders emerged as “the man” for the Nittany Lions in 2018. The junior halfback was efficient both on the ground and through the air, putting his versatility on full display.

Sanders played in all 13 games last year, rumbling for 1,274 yards on 220 attempts (5.8 YPC). He also added 24 catches to his resume, which he took for an additional 139 yards.

Additionally, the backfield vision Sanders possesses may be his best trait. As a patient runner who waits for plays to develop, he uses a quick burst to get to the second level where he often makes defenders look silly in the open field.

As it shows in this video, Sanders is tough to take down and is a nightmare for opposing defenses once he gets some space.

His combination of footwork, burst, and agility make him a perfect fit for a West Coast-style offense that works primarily out of the gun, which leads me to his pairing with the Chicago Bears.

Best Fit: Chicago Bears

Without any first or second-round picks in this year’s draft, the Bears would be lucky to have Sanders slip to them. Luckily, GM Ryan Pace has a proven track record of moving up in order to get “his guy.”

While the Bears already have Tarik Cohen as a big-play threat, his lack of size (5’6″, 180 lbs) makes him best suited as a situational ball-carrier than can move throughout different formations as a receiver. Sanders would step into the Bears’ locker room as an every-week RB2 in PPR leagues right from the get-go with an RB1 ceiling.

Sanders would made for a seamless fit on a Chicago offense that needs an every-down RB after shipping away the plodding Jordan Howard to the Eagles earlier this offseason. Head coach Matt Nagy desperately needs a “jack of all trades” kind of back in order for his offense to take a big step forward in year-two, and what better fit than Sanders, a player that can do it all?

NFL Draft: Wes Hills, Slippery Rock

I know what you’re thinking: Who? (I promise he’s a real person)

As the only player on the list that didn’t get an invite to the 2019 NFL Combine back in February, Wes Hills very well may be the biggest sleeper candidate in his class. He may be flying under-the-radar, but make no mistake about it: this is a name you’ll want to keep your eye on this weekend.

Perhaps the biggest reason fans may not be aware of who Hills’ existence is because he played ball last year at the Division II level. After spending two seasons at the University of Delaware, Hills transferred to Slippery Rock University in Butler County, PA.

Playing against a lesser-level of competition, Hills dominated to a tune of over 1,700 yards on the ground (a school record) while crossing the goal line 17 times. While there are still concerns that his production will translate to the NFL, Hills proved his merits in this year’s Senior Bowl, taking home the MVP trophy while opening the eyes of numerous scouts.

In the video below, he shows adept ball-carrier vision and elusiveness that allows him to bounce the play outside and take it 23 yards to the house on his team’s opening drive.

While he might not have faced the stiffest competition in 2018, his 6’2″, 200-pound frame profiles well for the next level. He doesn’t have the speed or quickness as some of the others in his class, but could potentially be a force in an offensive scheme that pairs well with his downhill run-style.

Best Fit: Oakland Raiders

Although the team just signed ex-Jet Isaiah Crowell to a one-year contract this off-season, there is no true “alpha” at the position for the Raiders currently. Crowell may be a serviceable fill-in for the Marshawn Lynch, but Hills has the talent to overtake him for the early-down gig if he has a strong summer.

Jalen Richard is still in the picture as the team’s current number one RB on their roster, but like Cohen, he is best-suited for a change-of-pace/scat-back role due to his below-average size. Enter Wes Hills.

Hills would make for a nice pairing with Richard as a bruiser who can eat up yards on first and second down. Assuming he would account for most of Oakland’s goal-line work, he’s got RB3/FLEX potential in his rookie season.

Honorable Mentions: Myles Gaskin (Washington), Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma)

Do you have anyone else in mind that could make a name for themselves in 2019? Drop a comment below and share your opinion!