Fantasy Football Draft: 2019 studs, sleepers and busts

Running Back – Studs

David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals – ADP of 7th overall, RB6 

Yes, I am all in on the Arizona offense this season, at least for the running back/quarterback combo. We’re not going to spend a ton of time here since DJ is going so early in drafts, but I cannot be more excited for him in an offensive system like this.

Johnson somehow ground out a top 10 finish in half point PPR settings, even though he set career lows in about every category last year. The fact he only had 50 receptions remains absolutely criminal and will not be repeated this season.

Kingsbury is smart enough to use his primary weapon in some creative ways. He still found pay dirt 10 times and with an actual offensive mind(Mike McCoy does NOT count), Johnson is ready for a monster year like 2016 when he was the RB1.

Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts – ADP of 33rd overall, RB17 

Mack only played 12 games last year but was still a top 24 running back, in part due to 10 total touchdowns. He ripped off almost 5 yards a carry and had a top three offensive line in run blocking in 2018 and a top five unit coming into the season, according to Pro Football Focus. Let’s be honest, Quenton Nelson could likely block two or three defensive lineman all by himself.

Mack finished 10th in red zone rushing attempts, ahead of names like James Conner, Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb. In fact, he averaged nearly three such attempts a game. That pace would have had him third in the league over the course of the full season.

Indy was actually right around league average in rushing attempts as a team, which is a little bit of a surprise with quarterback Andrew Luck. The fact that you can get a potential top 12 running back so late in the draft(relative to his position) is a big plus and I’ll plan on having a large share of Mack in drafts this year.

Other Fantasy Football Draft Targets – Damien Williams, Chiefs – Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns – David Montgomery, Bears