Now that the biggest waves of NFL free agency have passed, a clearer picture of what all 32 teams will look like in 2017 is coming into focus.
Fantasy implications of running back moves in 2017 NFL free agency
Latavius Murray replacing Adrian Peterson in Minnesota highlights the biggest moves among running backs this year in NFL free agency.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
With so many key players changing teams this offseason, it’s time for a look at how some of those moves affected the fantasy football landscape heading into next season.
Adrian Peterson — From Minnesota Vikings to still unsigned
It came as no surprise when the Vikings cut Adrian Peterson this offseason. His massive cap hit made it an easy call after injuries limited the former NFL MVP to just three games in 2016.
Even when Peterson was able to play, he looked like a shell of himself, though losing him is still a big move for Minnesota. After all, Peterson is one of the greatest backs to ever grace a football field, not to mention the best back of this decade.
Not only is Peterson done in Minnesota, but also his days as a fantasy starter appear to be gone as well. He simply isn’t the kind of back you will spend a high pick on hoping he can be a starter.
Regardless of which team Peterson signs with — if anyone signs him at all — he is nothing more than a bench guy on your fantasy team.
Latavius Murray — From Oakland Raiders to Minnesota Vikings
With Peterson out, the Vikings replaced him with Latavius Murray, who had a productive two-year stint as the Raiders’ top back. Murray finished 13th in fantasy scoring among running backs this past season.
Murray’s best season came in 2015 when he finished 10th in that regard. He is not someone you want to be your No. 1 running back, especially behind a bad Vikings offensive line, but he is a quality starter that should make a big impact in Minnesota.
While Matt Asiata may vulture some touchdowns, Murray is still a great option for your second starting back in fantasy football.
Jamaal Charles — From Kansas City Chiefs to still unsigned
Just like the Vikings with Peterson, it came as no surprise when the Chiefs cut longtime starter Jamaal Charles. The All-Pro running back has been limited to just eight games over the past two seasons.
Charles’ last full season as a starter came in 2014 when he finished seventh in fantasy scoring among running backs. But now at 30 years of age, Charles’ best days are behind him.
Now, the Chiefs will rely heavily on Spencer Ware as their top running back. He finished 16th in fantasy scoring among running backs in 2016. He should do better now that the starting job is his and his alone.
As for Charles, it’s possible he earns a starting job with another team this year, but he remains unsigned heading into the NFL draft.
Eddie Lacy — From Green Bay Packers to Seattle Seahawks
One of the biggest fantasy moves of the offseason came when Eddie Lacy left Green Bay to sign with Seattle. The Packers are now without their primary running back of the past four years, though it was clear he had worn out his welcome in Green Bay.
Weight and injury issues helped limit Lacy to just 1,118 rushing yards and three scores over the last two seasons. But with him in Seattle, that muddies up the water there as projected starter Thomas Rawls now must battle Lacy for carries.
That is not even accounting for what C.J. Prosise can do after showing flashes of being a great back in his rookie season. Seattle’s backfield is suddenly one of the hardest to gauge heading into the 2017 season.
As for the Packers, they re-signed Christine Michael to battle Ty Montgomery for the starting gig next season. Montgomery likely has a leg up on winning the job, and not having Lacy there makes this an easier backfield to project for next season.
LeGarrette Blount — From New England Patriots to still unsigned
Despite leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2016, LeGarrette Blount is still unsigned and unlikely to be back in New England. The Patriots already had James White and Dion Lewis getting a lot of touches. Then they went out and signed Rex Burkhead from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.
That is why it looks unlikely that Blount will be back in New England, which is really bad news for his fantasy owners. Blount has been mostly irrelevant in his NFL career with teams other than the Patriots.
Depending on who signs Blount, he could go from a solid fantasy starter to someone who rides the bench for much of 2017. As for the Patriots, expect a committee approach between Burkhead, Lewis, and White that makes starting any of them a risky proposition week to week.
