NFL fantasy football: Ranking the 2019 rookie RB’s
NFL Fantasy Football: Ranking the Rookie RB’s
10. Alexander Mattison – Minnesota Vikings
While the opportunity to start for the Vikings will not present itself anytime soon for Mattison with Dalvin Cook fully healthy, there is no doubt that the Vikings are impressed with their replacement for Latavius Murray. Minnesota moved up in the draft to take the 21-year-old out of Boise State at the end of the third round and it looks as though he will start the season as the primary spell to Cook, despite the solid preseason effort of Mike Boone. Mattison rushed for over 1,400 yards and found the end zone 17 times in his junior year and final season in 13 games.
9. Damien Harris – New England Patriots
Harris got some hype a couple of weeks ago in week two of the preseason when he ripped off 79 yards on 14 carries. This was another third-round back who was traded up for, and Harris comes with a slightly better resume than Mattison having played his college ball for Alabama. He spent his freshman year backing up Derrick Henry who is now with the Titans, and after starting for two seasons, he mostly split playing time with Oakland first-round pick Josh Jacobs in 2018.
Harris averaged 6.4 YPC throughout his 4-years at Alabama, and really developed into a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield his senior season as well, catching 22 balls for 204 yards. This is a crowded backfield with Sony Michel penciled in as the one and James White and Rex Burkhead likely seeing the field as well. Therefore an opportunity for Harris may not present itself at all this season unless we see an unfortunate injury to one of these guys.
8. Justice Hill – Baltimore Ravens
Truthfully, I spent most of this draft season avoiding Justice Hill, just more or less excited for what Mark Ingram could do out of Alvin Kamara’s shadow. Hill carried the load for the Ravens out of the backfield for the first two preseason games, and even though he only rushed for just over 80 yards total on 20 carries in the two games, he did find the end zone. While he wasn’t necessarily impressive, the 4th rounder out of Oklahoma State looks to have solidified this third-down back role.
While I think Ingram is poised for a big season behind this offensive line, I do think Hill will be used a bit for his pass-catching ability. Hill caught 31 passes his sophomore season for the Cowboys and 49 total over his three years at OK State. He could be a great back in the near future, but I think we will see a heavy dose of Ingram from the Ravens in 2019.
7. Darrell Henderson – Los Angeles Rams
More of the same as far as the situation goes. However, Henderson is backing up Todd Gurley, and it seems as though Gurley will spend all of 2019 as an injury risk. Cook, Ingram, or Sony Michel could get injured just as easily though because it is football, and we can only rank these guys based on their current situation as a backup or a starter. For that reason, Henderson looks like another rookie who will be mostly observing this season.
Gurley will get some load management as he returns, and will likely get spelled more often early in the season. However, this backup role is not quite Henderson’s yet, and that is why I am not sold here. Yes, the Rams spent the 70th overall pick last April to take Henderson obviously with the status of Gurley in question, but there are two other backs here making noise as well.
John Kelly was a 6th round pick out of Tennessee, and he is having the best preseason of the bunch. 26-year-old veteran backup Malcolm Brown is fighting hard to keep his job as well. Henderson is a great talent and he will be in the mix, but I don’t see much out of him if Gurley holds up all season.