If you draft Todd Gurley, should you draft Brian Hill?
By John Buhler
Will Brian Hill be the perfect fantasy football handcuff for Todd Gurley?
It is a bold proposition to double-down on some Atlanta Falcons at the running back position in fantasy football this season, but it’s certainly something you may want to consider. Atlanta has signed former All-Pro back Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams to a one-year. The former Georgia Bulldogs standout in back in the Peach State, ready to turn some heads once again.
The Fantasy Footballers are intrigued by who could serve as his primary backup in Atlanta this season. Gurley will get his carries, catch a bunch of balls out of the backfield and hopefully do a better job in pass protection that Devonta Freeman ever did. However, who is the guy best suited to back him up with the Dirty Birds? Will it be Brian Hill, Qadree Ollison or Ito Smith?
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Smith had been Freeman’s backup in Atlanta last season. Ollison was used more as a punishing runner in goal-line situations. While Atlanta drafted Hill out of Wyoming a few years ago, he was used sparingly in Dirk Koetter’s offense last season. Though running the ball is never Koetter’s forte, who sure are we Hill isn’t best suited for an expanded role backing up Gurley in 2020?
Is Brian Hill the actually second best running back on the Atlanta Falcons?
Many Falcons teammates argue Hill is the most talented back outside of Gurley on the roster. He was a terrific player at Wyoming in the Mountain West before coming to Atlanta. While he didn’t get all that much playing time with Smith getting more of the carries and Ollison being worked in there as well, that all could change in 2020.
See, the Falcons have push for a playoff spot if Dan Quinn and his staff want to keep their jobs. Even though Koetter will quickly abandon the run in his offense, he may need to lean on it a little more than before to have balance. Plus, Gurley isn’t the same player he was even two years ago starring for the Rams. He’ll play a bunch, but look for more of a rotation in the Atlanta backfield.
For that reason, yes, you might want to look at Hill as Atlanta’s No. 2 running back. When it was Smith a season ago, they Falcons had one of the worst rushing attacks in football. Ollison will still be an important piece for the position group going forward, but Hill seems to be trending up while Smith is trending down. Maybe Hill gets to play second fiddle in The Todd Gurley Show in 2020?