There wasn't a single running back selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2013 or 2014. Two running backs managed to go off the board in the first 15 picks this year. Is the position shifting again? Maybe not, but these two guys taken in the first round are going to make a lot of fantasy football owners happy. Let's find out what we can learn about their value right now.
2015 NFL Draft results: Fantasy football fallout for first-round running backs
Two running backs went in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. We break down the fantasy implications, and where they might be available.
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Todd Gurley, No. 10 overall, St. Louis Rams
Todd Gurley was everyone's favorite dynasty pick heading into Thursday night. The hope was that he'd land with a team like the Dallas Cowboys, putting him in the perfect position to take over the rushing duties behind a premier offensive line.
His landing spot was a bit of a shocker. The Rams jumped on the opportunity at No. 10 overall to draft one of the best running back prospects the draft has seen in years. So much for Tre Mason’s value.
Mason played well last year after taking over the starting gig, but Gurley is a rare player the Rams didn’t want to pass up. Given Jeff Fisher’s history of run-heavy teams, Gurley won’t struggle to find touches in this offense. If he’s healthy, it won’t be a competition for carries. Gurley will take over as the No. 1 back.
Fisher admitted he might be “conservative” with Gurley to start his rookie season. The former Georgia Bulldog is still going through rehab after tearing his ACL last year, and some reports indicate he could be out for at least the first month of the 2015 season.
It wasn't the ideal fit for Gurley, as the Rams still have work to do in improving their offensive line. Nick Foles isn't the future of the franchise at quarterback, but he's serviceable and easily an upgrade from last year's string of passers. Even with that in mind, if you have pick 1.01 in your rookie or dynasty draft, you're still taking Gurley. The Rams drafted him to be their featured back. He's a dominant runner with great receiving skills as well. He's a rare breed.
If you’re drafting in an MFL 10, you need to keep an eye on Mason’s average draft position (ADP). Considering Gurley might be placed on the PUP list, that would leave you with at least six weeks of Mason as the No. 1 back for the Rams. Mason’s value is going to plummet, but smart drafts will monitor his ADP and pick up on the value if he falls enough.
Melvin Gordon, No. 15 overall, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers traded up to find their replacement for Ryan Mathews. Gordon was already a highly-coveted option for fantasy owners, but his stock improved with this move to San Diego.
Gordon put together ridiculous numbers in college at Wisconsin, rushing for 4,915 yards, 45 touchdowns and averaging 7.79 yards per carry. Mike McCoy must be excited about adding a player of Gordon’s talent to his backfield.
The biggest knock on Gordon is his ball security. He had the second-highest fumble rate in this year’s class of running backs. That’s a correctable issue for young players, though, so it’s not something to worry too much about.
Gordon also didn't do much in the receiving game for the Badgers. He caught 22 passes in college, and he still needs work in pass protection (like every other rookie running back). Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver will rotate in to handle third-down duties. I'd expect Woodhead to be the more valuable of the two. That's his bread and butter.
Two years ago (McCoy’s first year with the Chargers), Mathews rushed for 1,255 yards on 285 carries. Woodhead finished with 76 receptions and 106 carries. We could see a similar dynamic with Gordon.
The Chargers moved up to use Gordon often, so he should be a viable RB2 for 2015. Dynasty owners will want to grab him at the top of the first round. The 1.03-1.05 range should be the common trend for Gordon.
As Graham Barfield of numberFire noted, Gurley and Gordon both scored on close to 29 percent of their red zone carries in college. These two running backs are explosive and know how to find the end zone. Buy now.
