Fantasy Football: Pre-Draft Running-Back Rankings
By Shaun Evans
Fantasy Football – Pre-Draft Running-Back Rankings
10. Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings)
2018 Stats: 615 Yards | 2 TDs | 40 Receptions | 2 TDs
How many bright spots in one offense is too many? Ask the Minnesota Vikings as they have Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph, and Dalvin Cook. While Cook isn’t the most dominating running-back in the league, he is a work horse. Plus his off-season training at the beach is looking promising. Cook averaged 4.6 yards per carry behind a VIkings offensive line that allowed other running-backs last season to average 4.2 yards per carry. Cook only played in 11 games last season which he started 10 of them and with a full season ahead of him, his numbers should shoot up.
9. Nick Chubb (Cleveland Brown)
2018 Stats: 996 Yards | 8 TDs | 20 Receptions | 2 TDs
Give me all of the Cleveland Browns this season, please and thank you! I’ll take Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., and even Nick Chubb. Chubb battled to kick off the season and is now going to be rolling in as the starting running-back this season. He rushed for almost a thousand yards last year while sharing the carries with Duke Johnson. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 7.5 yards per reception. The downside or even question mark of the Browns is with Kareem Hunt and what his role will do once his suspension is over with. If there is a way that you can handcuff both running-backs without throwing away an early or mid round pick on Hunt, I would suggest to do so.
8. Le’Veon Bell (New York Jets)
*Sat Out of 2018 Season Due To Contract Talks With Pittsburgh
Who would have thought that we would be talking about Le’Veon Bell as a New York Jets running-back right now. While he did sit out the 2018 season due to wanting a bigger contract, we know Le’Veon Bell can be dangerous. Now the Jets don’t have the best looking offense or the best offensive line. Bell will have to prove that sitting out for the season won’t affect his play this season and that his legs are truly fresh. The New York Jets ranked 29th last season allowing their running-back to average just 4 yards per carry.
7. Damien Williams (Kansas City Chiefs)
2018 Stats: 256 Yards | 4 TDs | 23 Receptions | 2 TDs
In a somewhat similar situation as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Damien Williams had to step in and step up when the Kansas City Chiefs cut Kareem Hunt due to an off-field incident. In the three games that Williams started he averaged 5.1 yards per carry and 7 yards per reception. He was able to find the end-zone a total of six times also. The Chiefs will be down another weapon also with Tyreke Hills suspension and possibly release once his case finishes up. It’ll leave Patrick MaGOAT to work with what he has with the number one tight end Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and Damien Williams. Williams will have to become the work horse this year but that shouldn’t be an issue.
6. Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys)
2018 Stats: 1,434 Yards | 6 TDs | 77 Receptions | 3 TDs
Ezekiel Elliott doesn’t get the credit that he deserves and he could arguably be considered a top 5 running-back currently in the league. He almost tied his rookie season of yards rushed with 1,434 yards while averaging 4.7 yards. While his running capabilities were pretty top-notch last season, he almost doubled his receiving yards from the 2017 season by receiving for 567 yards and averaging 7,4 yards per catch. The Dallas Cowboys are once again in a spot to be contenders and with Elliott’s All-Star capabilities, they can go deep.