James White 2019 Outlook: Don't Pass Him By
6 years ago94 rushes for 425 yards and five touchdowns is not a running back you want to draft for fantasy. Especially when he is in contention for playing time with young sensation Sony Michel and rookie Damien Harris. So why are we still going to draft him? And why is this a good move? Simple. Michel can’t catch the ball. But boy, oh boy can James White.
Despite only having 94 rushes in 2018, he added 87 receptions for 751 yards and an additional seven touchdowns. If there is one thing to be certain of it is when Tom Brady gets any pressure, he is going to dump down to James White. This has not only made him a valuable fantasy commodity. With Sony Michel taking most of the rushing work, and with Rob Gronkowski still playing, White was still the RB 11 for fantasy in 2018. There is a chance his passing game usage will only increase this season after the retirement of Gronkowski, and Tom Brady getting another year older. No, he is not likely to finish as the RB11 again, although it is possible. But going in the sixth round as RB29 is not bad value.
If you are in any form of PPR league format, White should be a mid-round target to bolster your group. If you still play in standard leagues? Do not draft him with nearly the same level of confidence and not nearly as early. In standard leagues, he is more of a late-round dart throw in hopes something happens, or in the case that a bigger role opens up. However, in those PPR leagues do not let him pass by thinking the value is not there in 2019.