Younger RBs will have their ups and downs
I will say all three of my Boom-Bust: Running Backs were a hit last year.
New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson (Boom) and Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco (Sleeper) made me proud as both had outstanding seasons. Stevenson finished Top 10 in PPR, while Pacheco became the Chiefs’ starter in the second half of last season.
My Bust was Arizona’s James Conner. He had a solid season but could not repeat his Top 5 2021 season. He finished 19th last season in PPR.
For my Boom-Bust: Running Backs, it hard to ignore the NFL’s younger group, especially for their ups and downs.
Boom
James Cook, Buffalo
Cook currently sits at 24th in FantasyPros ERC, but I believe he has RB1 potential in the Bills’ explosive offense.
His efficiency metrics point to a possible big breakout. He was Top 20 in true yards per carry (No. 2), breakaway run rate (No. 1) and fantasy points per opportunity (No. 17).
And Cook should be No. 1 option in the receiving game out of the backfield. For running backs, during the past 10 seasons, a target has been worth 2.74 times as much as a carry in PPR leagues, according to PFF.
Add in Damien Harris is more a bruising between the tackles back, and Latavius Murray is on the wrong side of 30 (he’s 33 years old).
Bust
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle
This one was a tough, but Walker is set up to fail this season.
Walker finished last year with more than 1,000 yards rushing, including 5 100-yard games, and nine TDs and a respectable 27 catches on 35 targets.
But the Seattle went offensive with their draft picks in the spring, drafting WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round and RB Zach Charbonnet in the second. One of Charbonnet’s best skillset is his receiving out of the backfield.
It appears head coach Pete Carroll is finally allowing the Seahawks to become a pass heavy attack, and Walker’s production may suffer with the addition of this year’s first two draft picks.
Sleeper
David Montgomery, Detroit
The hype this preseason in Detroit has surrounded rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs, but Montgomery was signed away from division rival Chicago for a reason.
Jamaal Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing TDs last season, and Lions offense has one of the best offensive lines in the league. The unit is ranked No. 5, according to PFF.
Montgomery’s size (5-foot-10, 225 pounds) gives him the advantage over the smaller Gibbs (5-9, 199), which should allow him see the majority of short yardage attempts. Montgomery is also no slouch in the passing game, averaging 38.8 receptions a season in his four-year career.
Plus, if the production is similar between the two RBs, I would rather take Montgomery at his much later draft position. He’s currently ranked 27th in FantasyPros ECR, while Gibbs is 11th.
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