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Which running back in the NFC North could jump up to RB1 status in 2018 fantasy football leagues? Martin Konstantinov examines four RB who could outperform draft day ADP and be valuable sleepers in fantasy leagues.
Each year, elite running backs are a necessity for fantasy football rosters. With guaranteed touches each game, these consensus top-tier running backs are some of the first names off of draft boards and consistently perform well throughout the season.
However, there is also a good amount of unpredictability at the position, with breakout players appearing from out of nowhere year-in and year-out. Whether they dominate for stretches over the year or end up as top-level talents themselves, unproven or underrated running backs represent a very good opportunity for fantasy owners entering drafts due to their lower draft capital and high production premiums.
In this series, we will go through each NFL division and point out one running back on each team in that division that is currently ranked outside of the top-12 at the position who could finish among the league's best when all is said and done. Today, let's look at the NFC North and see who could be that next elite fantasy ballcarrier.
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Running Backs - NFC North
Latavius Murray, MIN
It's no secret that Latavius Murray will likely play second fiddle to fellow running back Dalvin Cook in the 2018 NFL season. Cook, who was drafted to be the team's franchise running back and replacement for Adrian Peterson, exploded onto the scene last year. However, injuries derailed his season, leaving Murray with the task of heading the backfield alongside Jerick McKinnon. Murray demonstrated his rushing ability and nose for the endzone, with 842 rushing yards and eight touchdowns for the season. Although he was only able to truly become a lead back at the end of the season, Murray still demonstrated his ability to fight through short-yardage situations and also bust open a big play. Should something happen to Dalvin Cook this season, it will be Murray's backfield as a result of McKinnon's free agency move to the 49ers. Murray has what it takes to be a workhorse; if he is given the opportunity, he can produce RB1 returns in 2018. At his last round draft price, Murray is an absolute steal as a handcuff with heavy upside should Cook fall prey to injury once again.
Kerryon Johnson, DET
Despite only having one truly successful season in college for Auburn, Kerryon Johnson still did enough in the SEC to warrant a second round selection by the Detroit Lions in the 2018 NFL Draft. It has certainly been a long time since the Lions had a dominant rusher in their team; now, with several running backs on the roster, it seems difficult for one of them to break away from the pack. Theo Riddick provides a proven receiving presence, Ameer Abdullah (who has very much fallen out of favor) is a do-it-all back, and LeGarrette Blount has proven to be a short yardage machine. Despite the plethora of backs at the team's disposal, there is a reason why Kerryon Johnson was selected so highly by the team. The young running back truly possesses a three-down skillset and has impressed greatly in the offseason thus far.
With Detroit looking for a running back to take over the reigns, Johnson fits the mold of a prototypical workhorse back who can be successful in all levels of the game. That ability makes him a dangerous asset for the Lions and is an ability that should keep him on the field early and often. Johnson has the potential to be a premier back in the NFL from the first game of the season and on, making his 6th round ADP more than palatable for a player who is at worst a leader of a committee backfield and at best a bonafide workhorse running back with serious upside and potential to perform each week.
Aaron Jones, GB
Although he is suspended for the first two games of the 2018 NFL season, Aaron Jones is still probably the best bet to take over the Packers backfield in 2018. Despite the presence of Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery, both of whom have shown the ability to produce in the NFL, Jones had the best display of the bunch when he was given a chance to play last year. On just 81 rushing attempts, Jones produced 488 rushing yards and four scores. Although it will inevitably be difficult to determine who will be the team's leading running back, fantasy owners know that whoever earns that role will be playing alongside Aaron Rodgers and should benefit from the All-Star quarterback keeping defenses honest. The best bet might be to grab both Jones and Williams, who should both be available in the 8th round of drafts. Whoever is able to win the starting job should be guaranteed a spot as a consistent RB2 with a ceiling of RB1 performances in favorable matchups.
Jordan Howard, CHI
After a very impressive 2016 season that saw Jordan Howard accumulate 1,313 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 298 receiving yards and another score through the air, there was a lot of anticipation over what Howard would be able to do in 2017. After starting in all 16 games, Howard came up with a very respectable stat line - 1,122 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground along with 125 yards through the air. It is clear that Howard is a talent at the running back position, even if his receiving skills have been a bit below par thus far in his NFL career. With Chicago getting a new head coach in Matt Nagy, Howard will have to prove that he deserves to continue being a workhorse back at the NFL level. Additionally, with gadget player Tarik Cohen sitting right behind him in the depth chart, Howard should still have the opportunity to take the majority of the carries out of the backfield. This makes him a very good option at his second round ADP; he is being drafted as a high-end RB2 and has demonstrated his ability to finish as an RB1 regardless of the format. Unless fantasy owners believe a drastic shift in how the Bears use their star running back under a new head coach, they shouldn't be afraid to select Jordan Howard during this year's draft season.
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