The NFL Network has been asking its analysts to give their lists of top 5 RBs for 2018, with Network analyst Michael Robinson being the most recent analyst to drop their list of top 5 RBs for 2018. Here’s the link to the video post on the NFL Network Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/nflnetwork/videos/10156647596849171/
After watching the video I thought to myself “that looked like fun” so I decided to come up with my own top 5 RBs for 2018 list (which I posted to the Fantasy Football NZ Facebook page. Here’s the link to the post – https://www.facebook.com/FantasyFootballNZ/posts/1975807002438559).
You’ll notice on that post that I simply dropped the names of players but didn’t break down my reasons why I chose who I chose. I felt that it would be good however if I gave the reasons why I chose those particular players. I mean, we all want to know “the why” right? And, by doing that it allows me to explain to the folks at home my choices and either give them food for thought, or add fuel to their “why not David Johnson?! You’re a moron!” fire.
So, here’s the list again below with a breakdown on why I chose who I chose.
TK’s Fantasy Sports NZ Top 5 RBs for 2018:
1. Le’Veon Bell (Steelers) –
Even after sitting for 4 games in 2016, Le’Veon Bell managed to make it to 2nd on ESPN’s standard scoring RB rankings. AFTER SITTING FOR 4 GAMES!! That’s just ridiculous.
He’s the RB1 on a high-scoring Steelers offense. Change, either through player movement or coaching, usually upsets team consistency and the status quo, but nothing has changed in 2018 as far as the Steelers offense is concerned.
Bell should crack the top 5 once again in 2018, and could possibly take the number one spot away from…
2. Todd Gurley (Rams) –
His rookie season was solid. He carved things up on the field rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 10 TDs. But then 2016 came along and with it better preparation from Rams’ opponents and a bit of box stacking thanks to Jared Goff. Exit Jeff Fisher. Enter Sean McVay. Under McVay in 2017 Gurley rushed for 1,305 yards and 13 TDs. You’re probably going “pfffft doesn’t sound like all that much!” but… if we add the 788 yards and 6 TDs he also got through the air, anyone watching you reading this will be wondering “why are they nodding their head like that looking like a deer in headlights?”.
3. Alvin Kamara (Saints) –
“WTF?! Why?!”.
That’s basically what I was saying when I remembered that after being high on this guy pre-draft (like the REAL NFL Draft, not Fantasy Draft) my team – the Detroit Lions – decided not to get him in the second, instead drafting Teez Tabor who they could’ve realistically got in the third. I guess though (and fortunately for Kamara) he fell in the best place for him – Sean Payton’s toybox. Kamara ended up ranking 4th on ESPN’s Standard Scoring rankings for RBs in 2017, even though he was the RB2 on his team. THE RB2!! He now gets the first four games of 2018 all to himself, which could end up being a bad thing – but after such an impressive start to his NFL career and on that high octane Saints offense I’m backing that Kamara will put up another impressive season in 2018.
4. Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) –
I’d say most, if not all, of the comments on the Michael Robinson video post were of Cowboy fans who were absolutely livid that Zeke didn’t crack Robinson’s top 5. (I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a spike in the purchase of replacement smartphones, tablets, or PCs in Dallas in the near future)
I empathise with Cowboys fans. Robinson’s snub – and although he did have Zeke as #5B on his list – was a bit harsh, especially when you consider that last year Zeke sat out for over a third of the regular season – OVER A THIRD!! – and still ranked ninth on ESPN’s Standard Scoring list for RBs. Like Le’Veon, that’s ridiculous! But unlike Le’Veon’s situation, there has been A LOT of change in Dallas. Zeke is still Zeke though and that Dallas O-line is for the most part still that Dallas O-line. So with a FULL 2018, and whispers that he’ll carry more of the load, Ezekiel should have another solid season.
5. Saquon Barkley (Giants) –
I kinda went out on a limb here – choosing to snub guys like David Johnson, Leonard Fournette, and Kareem Hunt – simply because when you have almost every analyst and living person in the world saying that Saquon Barkley is the best RB to hit the NFL since Adrian Peterson then you gotta show that guy some love, right?
Obviously it remains to be seen how Barkley will go in his first season as a NFL running back, but if rookie seasons from guys like Fournette, Hunt, and Kamara are anything to go by, coupled with the additions to the o-line the Giants made in the off-season and the draft as well as factoring in that he’ll be taking hand-offs from Eli Manning, you gotta like Barkley’s chances to have a monster season this year. Well, I’m liking them at least 🙂
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