Elliott, Bell could be tough calls in drafts

In a perfect world, fantasy first rounds would not be this complicated.

Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world.

In fantasy football, the players might be names on a computer screen, but they face the same issues we do every day — good or bad.

Enter Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell.

Along with the Cardinals’ David Johnson, they are expected to be the top running backs in fantasy this season.

Issues off the field will likely keep Elliott away from the Cowboys for a while and perhaps Bell away from the Steelers.

How that affects owners on draft day is the burning fantasy football question these days.

Elliott

Elliott was suspended by the NFL for six games after a year-long investigation into his domestic violence case in Ohio.

If the suspension holds, the Cowboys running back won’t be paid or allowed in contact with the team during his suspension.

Elliott was a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in many fantasy drafts, based off last season’s production.

In 15 games, he led the NFL in rushing yards and had 16 total touchdowns. He also had 32 receptions for 363 yards.

After a pedestrian 51 yards in his 2016 opener, Elliott was Mr. Consistency in fantasy. He had seven 100yard games, and never had fewer than 80 in a game after the opener.

Unless there’s a turn in Elliott’s appeal process with the NFL, he’ll be nowhere near that production in 2017.

So the question on draft day is when do owners zero in on Elliott?

The quick answer is not in Round 1. It’s risky to pin your hopes on a player not available the first four games.

If the suspension is four games, begin targeting Elliott in the latter half of Round 2, at the earliest. The third round is the safer spot.

Consider this about Elliott if his suspension remains at six games: Dallas’ bye week is the week of Oct. 15 games, so the earliest he would return is Oct. 29 at the Redskins.

Bell

The Steelers All-Pro running back is holding out for a new contract, and no one knows when it will end.

“I have no idea when he’s going to show up,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan. “I need him here yesterday. Not only for us, but for him.”

Bell goes against the saying in football that the best ability is reliability.

In Bell’s case, he’s usually not there for every game, but when he is the production is off the charts.

In 47 career games, Bell has 6,050 yards rushing and receiving, and 31 total touchdowns. That’s an average of 129 total yards per game for his career.

Bell in 12 games last season had 1,268 rushing yards, plus 75 catches and 616 yards with nine total touchdowns. That’s an averaged of 157 yards per game.

In the four games he missed last season, three were because of a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Bell has also missed time in his career because of injuries.

He’s played a full season just once in his four-year career — 2014.

Unless things really get nasty in Pittsburgh concerning contract talks, Bell is still a definite target high in Round 1 of any fantasy draft.