Chicago Bears Hall-Of-Famer Running Back Walter Payton
Walter Payton was arguably the greatest running back to ever lace them up in the National Football League. I wonder how Sweetness would fair in the Fantasy Football world that we live in today? Our experts dive into the current pool of NFL Running Backs that you should have on the top of your draft board.
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The best of the rest that could have easily been in the top 5:
Ezekiel Elliot
A powerful run slasher with fantastic breakaway speed. He’s a rookie but will be playing behind the league’s best offensive line. If a washed up Darren McFadden rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, Elliot should have no problem rushing for much more than that.
Doug Martin
Arguably the best player on Tampa Bay’s offense, Martin finished second in the league last year with 1,402 yards on the ground. Quarterback Jameis Winston will be entering his second season, and improved vision and playcalling will undoubtedly improve the running game for Martin.
Carlos Hyde
Hyde looked promising last season until an injury caused him to miss the remainder of the year. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry and finished with 470 yards on the ground. If Chip Kelly can get his quarterback situation figured out, expect Hyde to carry the ball a lot and become much more active in the passing game in Kelly’s fast-paced offensive system.
Dion Lewis
If the Patriots have proven anything it’s that they can be effective on offense without running the ball. However, they are known for immensely using their running back in the passing game. If Dion Lewis can come back healthy he will have an immediate impact catching the ball out of the backfield. Before injury ended his season, he had 36 receptions for 388 yards.
LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy still has the elusive ability to be “Shady” McCoy when running healthy. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry last season and will look to build upon his numbers in his second season with the Buffalo Bills.
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