RUN THE COURSE
Can’t skimp on rushers in drafts
“T HE Price Is Right” is a game show everyone knows. We watched as children with our parents. Our children watched with us. And every show magically culminates in an epic Showcase Showdown.
Well, maybe it isn’t so epic, especially in today’s times, because the showcase often is a collection of stuff you wouldn’t want and one other thing you do. Maybe the prizes include an oven you don’t need, a Jet Ski you already have, scuba-diving apparel you would never use and … a new car!
That big prize in your fantasy football showcase is a running back. There aren’t enough for everyone. Runni ng backs get hurt mo r e often, meaning you need depth. Many s hare the backf i eld, meaning there are few marquee options. They are highly coveted in free agency, meaning in- season replacements are difficult to acquire.
So landing some in the draft is how to win the showcase. The first couple of rounds are easy.
You grab the best ones available when there isn’t a blockbuster wide receiver still on the board. We aren’t scared off by the holdouts of Melvin Gordon or Ezekiel Elliott, but we will hedge a bit — pushing Elliott to the bottom of our top four and Gordon to the mid-second round.
But it is the later early-tomiddle rounds (think rounds 3-8) when you really need to We focus want on to dependablendabledable snapap up guys ru runners. who others might be soft on but whom we thinknk will provide strong production.on.
Derrick Henryry finished last season on fire. Despite nursing a calf injury in the preseason, we and expect for the himm Titanstans to be to healthy h employ ealthy lessons learned last year.
He often is available in the late third round.
Aaron Jones provided evidence last season he is the best ball carrier the Packers have. With a new offensive coordinator, a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who hasn’t been as dominant in recent seasons, a receiving core that doesn’t scare defenses, and a new offensively-minded coach, Jones is in position to build on the success of his second year. His value has risen into the third round. We still feel comfortable picking him, provided he doesndoesn’tt rise much higher.
We are comfortable with Devonta Freeman, Kerryon Johnson or Chris Carson in the next couple of rounds. But our early favorite value was Bears rookie David Montgomery.
Just over a week ago, he could have been had in the er. Then he went and scored a touchdown in the preseason opener. How rude. Now his value has risen, and he is getting picked as early as t he f ourth round. Root f o r him to have a quiet remainder of the preseason so he could slip back a round or so.
Likewise, Tevin Coleman’s value is reaching its max after being given a bump by the injury to Jerick McKinnon.
Likewise, Royce Freeman. We aren’t sold on Philip Lindsay long term, and expect Freeman to get ample opportunity. He can still be had in the middle rounds. Get him cheap while you can, because the price is right.