2015 Fantasy Football Roundtable

Mandatory Photo Credit: Blogs.timesunion

Mandatory Photo Credit: Blogs.timesunion

Fantasy Football season is upon us. This is where the football fanatics take their skill and intense nature to settle their differences with their friends. The main objective is simple: win. Coming in first place in a Fantasy Football league is crucial to your football respect. You do not want to be the loser and suffer a tragic last place conundrum.

Below are questions provided and several analyst have answered with their opinions.

Sophomore slumps can be worrisome for fantasy owners. Are there any big name second year players that you would be worried about?

Charlie DiSturco: Two players that may experience the sophomore slump are Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry and Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill.

Landry had a solid rookie campaign with 84 receptions for 758 yards and five touchdowns. The Dolphins, however, have been adding threats to compliment quarterback Ryan Tannehill including Jordan Cameron, DeVante Parker, Greg Jennings, and Kenny Stills. With a crowded receiving corp, it seems that regression is in Landry’s near future, as he will likely struggle to get as many targets as he did in a weak Dolphins receiving corp last year.

Jeremy Hill had a breakout rookie season, rushing for 1,124 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 222 carries. He and Giovani Bernard became one of the best running back duos in the NFL, deadly in both the rushing and passing game. With defenses adjusting to the Bengals offense as well as Bernard improving each year, it will be almost impossible to replicate such a dominate backfield in 2015. Hill is a ground-and-pound type running back, which can be stopped with a smart and talented defensive line.

A sophomore year slump is common and with so many rookies having great seasons in 2014, a few will falter while the rest succeed. Expect Landry and Hill to regress in 2015, experiencing the struggle to replicate their rookie campaign.

Alex Covone: The sophomore slump exists, it’s inevitable. The question for numerous Fantasy owners is, “Who can I rely on?” Two enamored names will be put to test with the sophomore slump are St. Louis Rams’ Tre Mason and New York Giants’ Odell Beckham, Jr.

Mason exploded onto the 2014 scene with, now New York Jets’ running back Zac Stacy out of the picture. In 12 games, Mason racked up 765 rushing yards with four touchdowns. Although inconsistent, proven by his 34.4 standard league points one week, followed by his lackluster 6.6 points the next, Mason was expected to step into a larger role for the Rams; that being prior to the 2015 Draft.

As the Rams selected Georgia running back Todd Gurley, it would be safe to say that they could expect the explosive first-round pick out of Georgia to entice the dull Rams offense. Although Gurley suffered an ACL injury, Mason could still have value, especially earlier in the year, as Gurley is uneasy with a timeline thus far. All in all, Mason will have a diminished role by the end of the year.

Beckham, 22, may be an unpopular opinion due to his rapid emergence and popularity in the NFL. Most Fantasy Football players did not have Beckham drafted, if you did, kudos to you. During Week 5, the Giants were prepared to have Beckham on the field; by the end of the game, he ended with four receptions, 44 yards, and one touchdown.

As the weeks progressed, Beckham saw his fair share of looks from quarterback Eli Manning. When wide receiver Victor Cruz fell victim to a torn patellar tendon against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, it was the 22-year-old’s time to shine. Following Cruz’s injury, Beckham Jr. went on to finish the season with 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, a player who started his NFL career in Week 5.

The ceiling looks endless for the young Giants wide receiver, but could he destined to fall to earth? It could be proven that Beckham only gets better, but with the expected draft rate of him going in the early-mid second-round drives several Fantasy players away. With value of similarity of Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, and Jordy Nelson around the second-round, could someone pass up an established veteran for a dynamic sophomore?

In addition, Cruz is back and healthy, as well as developing wide receiver Rueben Randle in the mix; Beckham could see his workload diminished slightly, but can still be a more than capable threat. For a second-round selection and the wariness, Beckham could be a name to pass upon. Keep in mind, Beckham remains off-the-field thus far through the off-season due to hamstring injuries.

Cameron Andrews: I love last year’s rookie class, and many of them helped out my Fantasy team last season. However, some of them are bound to regress this season because that’s just the way it is. There are a couple of names being thrown around more than others when talking about sophomore slumps. Those names are Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry.

Beckham was spectacular in his rookie season, and unfortunately, that makes him a likely candidate to let people down in his sophomore campaign. Because of his ever increasing popularity, he will likely be taken very early in most Fantasy drafts and it most likely won’t be warranted. This doesn’t mean that he will post poor numbers. I expect him to surpass 1,000 yards yet again while posting good Fantasy numbers, but he will likely produce numbers that aren’t exactly worthy of his average draft position.

Jarvis Landry is an easy choice as well. He showed that he possessed a solid skill set last season, but he never proved to be an elite receiver by any means. The Dolphins also loaded up their receiving corps with lots of new talent in the likes of Greg Jennings, Kenny Stills and rookie DeVante Parker. Both of these factors make it easy to say that Landry will see a drop in production this season. However, I don’t think Landry will decline necessarily. Most of Landry’s time last season was spent in the slot catching short passes. Stills and Devante Parker will be mostly used as deep threats. Jennings is good, but he won’t take too many looks away from a young, developing receiver like Landry. In fact, I think Landry is the second most talented receiver on the Dolphins roster. He is also rumored to be having a great off-season, which leads me to believe that he will put up equal if not better numbers than he did last season.

So finally, I will reveal to you my choice for the sophomore slump this season. I expect Jordan Matthews to see a slight drop in production. Let me clarify, in terms of numbers, I’m not sure that they will dip. However, I do expect him to have less of an effect on the Eagles than he did last season. This is not because of anything that he has done, but rather the off-season moves that his team made. The Eagles acquired quite a few high caliber running backs this off-season and still have Darren Sproles. This leads me to believe that the Eagles could be looking to run the ball even more than they did with LeSean “Shady” McCoy. I believe that Jordan Matthews will develop into an incredible receiver down the line, but expectations for him next season may be too high. So even though he may give similar fantasy value when compared to last year, I see him slumping because I believe people will expect too much out of him and be disappointed by the results.

Justin Hodges: Sammy Watkins. With LeSean McCoy in Buffalo and the likely starting quarterback being Tyrod Taylor (a mostly dual threat QB) or Matt Cassel, don’t expect Watkins to have the ball come his way that much.

Rookies are often some of the best late round or free agent steals for successful fantasy football teams. Which rookie wide receiver and which rookie running back do you see making the biggest impact this season?

Charlie DiSturco: The running back that I see making the biggest impact this year is San Diego’s Melvin Gordon. He will have the most opportunities to succeed, as fellow first round pick Todd Gurley must battle Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham for carries. Yes, Gordon has some competition from Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver, but both backs have not been as reliable as St. Louis’ Mason.

However, if you’re looking for a sleeper, look at T.J. Yeldon, who will assume starting duties for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Denard Robinson did have a solid year in 2014, but Yeldon has already been named the starter and can prove to be one of the biggest steals in Fantasy.

As for wide receivers, the best rookie in the draft will be Oakland’s Amari Cooper. He is the most talented wide receiver and will be targeted a ton in the upcoming year. However, the downside to drafting Cooper is that he will be taken earlier than expected. There’s no question he’s the most NFL-ready receiver, but with that comes him being taken early in the draft.

If you want to take a low risk, high reward late in the draft, look no further than Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman. Perriman is currently slated to be one of the two starting receivers, alongside Steve Smith. He will have a high amount of targets and could break away from the other rookie receivers in 2015. He is by no means the most talented of the bunch, but he can provide a reliable source of Fantasy points week in and week out in 2015.

Alex Covone: 

“Get the best bang for your buck.” Rookies can either be undervalued, or overvalued; there is not a sense of a middle ground a majority of the time.

A wide receiver to keep tabs on throughout the draft would to be fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Amari Cooper. Cooper has the intangibles to become a terrific wide receiver in the league; an additional attractive aspect is that he remains to be one of the most, if not the most, ready and polished wide receiver out of college thus far. Although Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has proven to be inconsistent, there could be an upward trend for the duo come in the 2015 season. If you play points per reception (PPR) you could also hope that Cooper becomes the main target in the Raiders offense, and how could you not?

With Cooper keying in on a high draft stock, for a rookie, you could see someone take a leap of faith early on, but if Cooper were to drop, as many fall wary to the Raiders and company, take a shot on Cooper.

An additional wide receiver to keep tabs on would be Tennessee Titans’ Dorial Green-Beckham. Green-Beckham has had his fair share of off-field issues, but when on the field, he can provide a threat to any opposing defense. With newly drafted quarterback Marcus Mariota redirecting the Titans’ offense, it could prove that Green-Beckham will have a significant role. In addition, Green-Beckham has shifted his focus to football and being a father, as well as developing chemistry with Mariota.

The running back position remains a hot commodity for Fantasy players, especially early. Stocking up on running backs is crucial to one’s team, but if you find yourself in the latter part of the draft, you could take a shot on several rookie running backs. Of course, as mentioned earlier, Gurley could be expected to provide an explosive addition to the Rams’ offense, but if Gurley does go early, look towards San Diego Chargers’ Melvin Gordon.

The constant debate between Gurley and Gordon lasts no more. Gordon is in a more ideal situation pertaining to individual statistics, some may argue. With injury-prone Ryan Mathews out of San Diego, Gordon will be given the three-down back role. In addition to quarterback Philip Rivers’ aerial strike, Gordon could very well be accustomed to grinding out his fair share of yards, as well as goal line work. Keep in mind, running backs Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver remain in the back field.

An additional running back would be Jacksonville Jaguars’ T.J Yeldon, out of Alabama. Yeldon will be given opportunities in the back field due to the lack of solidity for the Jaguars. With Yeldon a low stock, it could be viable to draft him for a low value.

Cameron Andrews: Rookies are some of the biggest mysteries in fantasy football. They can be fantastic, or you can waste a draft pick on them. Some rookies won’t break onto the scene until later in the season and others may trail off as the season moves along. However, there always some who prove to be vital pieces to playoff contenders in every league.

At wide receiver I think the safest pick is Amari Cooper. I know this is a pretty boring pick, but he is in a great situation. Second year quarterback Derek Carr has shown that he possesses potential to be a quality starter in the NFL and Cooper has the most NFL ready skill set of any receiver in the draft. He will get more targets than anyone else on the Raiders and he will get them right away. It’s that simple.

As far as running backs go, I need to agree with the majority of fantasy experts. Melvin Gordon out in San Diego will be the best option when looking to draft a rookie running back. I really do think that Rams’ back Todd Gurley is the most talented, but with Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham still in St. Louis, looks will be somewhat limited. Melvin Gordon, however, will not be challenged as much. Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver will be more useful in the passing game than anything else, leaving Gordon with three down duties. Much like Cooper, Gordon is my pick simply because he will have the largest workload and he has the skill to handle it.

Now just for kicks I will talk about a low key prospect at each position that I believe will end up doing well. I didn’t talk about these guys as my main prospects because there are too many question marks surrounding their situations.

At wide receiver, my biggest boom or bust rookie is Dorial Green-Beckham of the Tennessee Titans. He is the most talented receiver in his draft class. If he can stay on good terms off the field, and Marcus Mariota can play at a starting level, Beckham should be a serious fantasy player. In terms of running backs, Ameer Abdullah is someone to keep an eye on. The Detroit Lions have Joique Bell as their starter currently, but Abdullah is undoubtedly the most diverse and talented runner on the Lions roster. If he can earn significant snaps in the Lions backfield, he will be a solid flex or primary bench option for your teams’ playoff run.

Justin Hodges: Rookie wide receiver: Chris Conley, Chiefs. Conley is a player to watch for, besides Jeremy Maclin there is virtually no second receiver for Alex Smith to throw to, giving Conley a sure fire chance next year. He showed insane athleticism at the NFL combine which greatly improved his draft stock.

Running back: Tevin Coleman, Falcons. Coleman out of Indiana has shown nothing but confidence since being drafted by Atlanta. Claiming that there’s no way he’s not gonna be starting week one. While Freeman may have something to say about that, it’ll still be split snaps with a hard working and passionate Coleman surely getting his fair share of rushing opportunities.

Defense/ST units aren’t talked about much, but which one should be the first off the board come draft day?

Charlie DiSturco: Seattle is the safest selection when it comes to defense / special teams. However, the best defense and special teams unit happens to be the New York Jets. The team already has an astounding front seven that dominates against the run. Despite Sheldon Richardson‘s suspension, the Jets have arguably the most well-rounded player in the 2015 NFL Draft in Leonard Williams to fill that role. One of the reasons the team struggled in Fantasy the year before was their defensive backs who let opposing quarterbacks walk all over them. That need was addressed with the additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Marcus Gilchrist.

With the hiring of new head coach and defensive specialist Todd Bowles, the Jets should improve their already talented defense and control the tempo of the game like 2009 and 2010 – where they appeared in two straight AFC Championships. This defense is scary and should not be taken lightly.

Alex Covone: 

There are two ways to approach the defense and special teams slot in fantasy football. A, drafting an elite defense who seems capable of taking on any team. Or B, streaming. If you are willing to be bold, to an extent, taking a defense earlier than expected should be labeled with caution. Of course, you cannot go wrong with the Seattle Seahawks defense, as well as special teams. But, if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, drafting the New York Jets defense and special teams can prove to be effective.

With newly acquitted Todd Bowles at the helm, and numerous acquisitions through the off-season, the Jets have built their team off of their putrid secondary last year. Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Marcus Gilchrist are all new members that look to make an impact. The front seven remains the same, but with top prospect Leonard Williams joining in, this defense can provide opposing offenses with various, and numerous, issues. Keep in mind, Sheldon Richardson will be facing a four-game suspension. This defense could potentially be the best in the league.

Cameron Andrews: You can’t go wrong with defenses like the Seahawks, Bills, or Jets, but I have someone different for you. I would be willing to take a gamble on the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. Fantasy defenses need to force turnovers in addition to shutting opposing offenses down. The Cardinals have one of the best cornerbacks in Patrick Peterson, and after a down year you can expect him to bounce back. They also play great team defense in the front seven, which will allow them to stifle opposing run games.

Defense/ST units are also responsible for putting up good special teams numbers. The Arizona Cardinals have one of the best special team players in football. Justin Bethel is a perennial pro-bowler and will give a big boost to your special teams unit as not only a return man but as a rusher on field goals and punts.

Justin Hodges: First defense off the board has to be Buffalo. That front seven is just purely scary, with some playmakers that can surely get some turnovers.

Quarterback is a very important position. They score the most points but they can also be hard to predict if they’re outside of the NFL’s elite. Which quarterback do you think could be drafted too high for the value that he will give?

Charlie DiSturco: To me, the most important strategy come draft day is to address the biggest needs first: running back and wide receiver. The top tier running backs and wide receivers are limited, especially with many of the low-end options losing their job in the middle of the year. After filling those needs, focus should shift towards finding a quarterback.

Each year there are many quarterbacks that fall into the later rounds and turn out to be gems; these quarterbacks are usually on the championship teams – especially deeper leagues. Two years ago, I snagged Tony Romo in the seventh round and just last year, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger fell to around 100+ overall. These are the type of players that should be targeted. Any quarterback taken in the first three rounds is too high. Yes, Andrew Luck and other top tier quarterbacks put up monstrous numbers, but the RB2, WR2, and FLEX options are usually weak and struggle to put up double digits week in and week out.

Alex Covone: 

The answer is simple, any quarterback taken early. Yes, Aaron Rodgers will provide your team with significant fantasy points. Yes, Andrew Luck will be taken in the first three rounds, unlike last year. The best advice would be to wait on a quarterback. Unlike at the running back position, the quarterback position has immense depth. As you look towards the latter, drafting quarterback New England Patriots’ Tom Brady, expecting a full season, Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton, San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers, or Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Romo come at immense bargains.

Rodgers, likely to be the first quarterback off the boards, will provide fantasy owners with plenty of trust; Luck could prove to fair the same. Shooting for Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan or New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees can be inconsistent, especially following both of their seasons, expecting better.

Cameron Andrews: While I agree that no quarterback should be drafted too early, they will be. The big names will always be drafted early by fans of their team or people who don’t really pay too much attention to fantasy football. Unless you draft them in a ridiculously early round, Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck will never be that bad of a pick.

However, I will warn you that you should be very wary of Peyton Manning. Yes, he is an all-time great that still puts up good fantasy numbers. However, he is getting older and over the last couple of years he had shown that he begins to decline in the latter half of the season. Considering that Peyton is one year older, I don’t see any reason why Peyton Manning would have a year better than last. Due to his greatness he will always be overrated by some. Just know what you’re getting with him.

Justin Hodges: Cam Newton: the wide receiver core is still not very strong in Carolina, and with his numbers dropping steadily year by year, I doubt Newton gets that many yards up.

Now that Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant have signed their new deals, which one would you draft first if given the chance to choose between the two?

Charlie DiSturco: No question, Dez Bryant. Personally, I think Bryant may be the best receiver in the NFL. He can separate from receivers and is a deadly red zone target. He had 16 touchdowns and 1,320 yards while Thomas put up 11 touchdowns and 1,619 yards. Though Thomas is faster than Bryant, the size, physicality, and athletic prowess that Bryant boasts is incomparable.

Not only that, but Peyton Manning is on the downfall of his career with a weaker offensive line, while Tony Romo is entering his prime with arguably the best o-line. Protection will play a huge factor in opening up opportunities for these receivers to thrive and with multiple Pro Bowlers protecting Romo, Bryant will have more time to get open and convert down the field.

Alex Covone: 

What a glorious opportunity to have. Assuming this would be in the second round of most fantasy draft, drafting either would prove to be luxurious, but inching towards Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant is hard not to do. Bryant is a proven threat, as well in the red-zone. Catching the most touchdowns since 2011, Bryant provided fantasy owners with production at the wide receiver position.

Following his career-high in touchdowns in 2014, could we see Bryant replicate, or go beyond? It’s tough to say; losing DeMarco Murray will be more evident than people think. Sure, the Cowboys’ offensive line is potentially the best in the league, but without an established running game (Darren McFadden?) you could expect teams to load up the box, and/or double cover Bryant.

Given Demaryius Thomas’ abilities to do wonders in the open field, having quarterback Peyton Manning by your side has proved to work to perfection. Manning had played through extensive injuries for one month in the 2014 season, specifically a torn right quadriceps. Perhaps age is gaining on Manning quicker than we had expected, but this is no knock to the Manning himself.

Overall, Bryant would prove to work in fantasy players’ favors.

Cameron Andrews: Let’s just be clear. Neither of these options is bad one. Both are phenomenal receivers that will bring plenty to your fantasy team. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but in my mind one is better than the other.

First we will talk about Demaryius Thomas. He plays with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Peyton Manning. His team is also very successful. Thomas isn’t a huge deep ball threat, but he is incredible on shorter routes. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he becomes one of the most dangerous players in all of football. His open field ability is rivaled by few.

Dez Bryant on the other hand is more of a boom or bust player. He is known as a deep threat as well as a redzone threat. He will score more touchdowns than anyone else in the league but won’t get as many yards as Demaryius Thomas. His team and quarterback are also not quite as high quality as those of Demaryius Thomas.

All in all, since touchdowns get you the most points in fantasy football, I would draft Dez Bryant. His yard differential compared to Demaryius Thomas isn’t large enough to warrant picking Thomas first.

Justin Hodges: There’s no question you choose Bryant. I had him on my fantasy team that started 8-0 last year and he was a huge part of that. Touchdowns are where you score the most points and Dez has the most of those in recent years.

Sometimes NFL veterans can be shortchanged in favor of younger players. Which NFL Veteran over 30 years of age do you think could provide the best fantasy value this season?

Charlie DiSturco: Antonio Gates has been given low expectations for this upcoming season and would be a very nice pick up in Fantasy. His low expectations stem from his four game suspension due to performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), but in reality, he should return to his normal self in Week 5. Gates ages like fine wine and at 35, he still is among the league’s best tight ends. He accumulated 821 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last year, and while his stats will take a dip because of a four game absence, he’ll still be a huge part to a Fantasy team’s success, especially come playoff time. If you can find a four week replacement, I highly suggest drafting Gates. He is one of the most reliable red zone receivers and should be a constant contributor in San Diego’s offense.

Alex Covone: Given New England Patriots’ Tom Brady’s suspension, and the concern of it lingering, Brady would be an absolute steal in the latter ends of the draft. Brady, turning 38 in August, has provided Fantasy owners with consistency following the Kansas City Chiefs game in 2014. Knowing that this is Fantasy value, Manning would be opposed due to his higher draft stock.

At wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts’ Andre Johnson will be utilized with a prolific quarterback in Andrew Luck. Many are aware of Johnson’s new surroundings, thus providing an increase on his draft stock, but if he slips, as he did last year, be prepared to pull the trigger. Johnson, 34, will lead the receivers with skill, but also veteran leadership, especially with first-round selection Phillip Dorsett around.

Lastly, at the running back position you could keep your eyes on the Colts again. Frank Gore, newly acquired, is an upgrade over Trent Richardson, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Daniel Herron. Fantasy value for Gore is similar to Johnson, that being his draft stock trending upwards. Gore will not be the workhouse he was in San Francisco, but will provide the Colts offense with additional needs, as well as leading the pack behind the offensive line.

Cameron Andrews: This one is easy. Andre Johnson is sure to far outplay his average draft position. I’ve always believed that he is one of the most talented veterans in the NFL. Now he will be playing with Pro-Bowler Andrew Luck which should finally give him a chance to showcase his true skill. Luck and Johnson will surely make a lot of fantasy owners happy when they decide to use a late round draft pick on Johnson.

Justin Hodges: I think Roddy White has a big comeback season next year. Injuries may be an issue, but I have a feeling that he’ll be able to put up big numbers once again.

Running backs are the most vital position in Fantasy Football. Who is the #1 running back on your draft board going into the season?

Charlie DiSturco: Each year the first overall pick for me is Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. He is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. Whether it be storming out of the backfield and evading defenders with ease or curling and looking for a short pass, Charles can do it all. Last year, the 28-year-old accumulated 1,033 and nine touchdowns on the ground, missing just one game all season. He also posted 291 receiving yards and five touchdowns, showing he is a threat in both the run and passing game.

Of course Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, and Eddie Lacy are all other viable candidates. But with Peterson missing time from the domestic violence case, he may not be in the best shape entering the year. Bell will serve a suspension from the marijuana case back in 2014, lowering his projections and adp (average draft position). Lastly, Lacy, the power back from Green Bay. Both running backs are talented and though Lacy posted 106 more rushing and 136 more receiving yards, I trust the more reliable back here: Jamaal Charles.

Alex Covone: Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson would be my, personal, running back off the boards first. You could make the argument that Kansas City Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles earns that right, especially in PPR leagues.

When was the last time Peterson returned from an extensive absence? The answer is following his ACL injury. The following year Peterson would provide NFL fans with something that has not been witnessed for an excessive time; that being threatening Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Of course, the situations are not the same, as Peterson was, first, placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, followed by a suspension due to, what the league specified as, “an incident of abusive discipline.” You can secure your top tier running back position, if granted, with Peterson with no worries.

Charles, on the other hand, has been consistent over the past several years. Aside from a few injuries, Charles has been a fan-favorite in PPR leagues, as well as standard. Being capable of catching passes in the backfield and having a nose for the endzone bodes well for the 28-year-old. Adding wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to the Chiefs’ offense increases the dynamic level of the offense as a whole; keep in mind, Travis Kelce is developing into a tremendous tight end for the Chiefs as well.

In ends meet, you cannot go wrong with either running backs with the first selection.

Cameron Andrews: The answer is Adrian Peterson. He missed last season, but he’s missed time before and he came back better than ever. If AP is even close to the player he was before he was suspended then he will be the best all-around running back in the NFL.

Sure, there are plenty of other players that should be considered, but I believe that Adrian Peterson will have the best season. Some are making a case for Le’Veon Bell as the #1 pick in the draft, but to those people I say, suspension. Bell will be a spectacular player, but missing some games early in the year will hurt his production and there’s no arguing with that.

Some could argue Eddie Lacy, but I am wary of his experience. He has shown that he can be an elite NFL running back. However, what has he done to prove that he is worthy of the #1 overall pick in fantasy? Having the first pick is a spectacular opportunity to have, I just don’t see why you would use it on someone who hasn’t earned it yet.

The only player that I would consider choosing first besides Peterson is Kansas City’s Jamal Charles. Charles is supremely talented and is much better at receiving out of the backfield than Adrian Peterson. However, Charles also has more problems with staying healthy than Peterson and simply isn’t the all-around runner that Peterson is. AP brings a rare mix of speed, agility and strength that no one else in the NFL can. That is why he should go first overall.

Justin Hodges: There is no clear cut favorite to choose from IMO. AP hasn’t played in a year, Le’Veon Bell is suspended two games, Eddie Lacy is debatable. McCoy and Charles started off extremely slow last year. Murray in Philly is a big question mark. If I have the number one pick, I have no idea who I’m picking.