As I start my 27th year of
fantasy football competition, I'm always looking for an edge. Some experts say
to have a successful season, a third of the formula is having a successful
draft. While you don't necessary win your championship on draft day, you can
defiantly lose it by having a poor one. So, it is worth it to put in the work
off the top for a better chance at success.
In recent years, one of the
more prevalent strategies that is used is the drafting of a solid and reliable
running back in the first round. Getting one of these guys can give you
stability and help to get your team off to a good start on game day.
It's here where I say that I
don't claim to be the all-knowing expert. But I have won my share of
championships and compete every year.
So, what are some
characteristics in the more successful running backs? Here's a few:
This past year,
running backs that had more than 350 touches finished as a top 5 back. Even if
that number is reduced to 320 touches, that back still finished in the top 12.
In the last nine
years, the RB1 backs, were 25 or younger. In the past five years, the top six
backs were 26 or younger.
These numbers are based on
standard scoring in most leagues. Here are my league's top 5 from last year
(NFL.com):
1- Jonathan Taylor
2- Austin Ekeler
3- Najee Harris
4 - Joe Mixon
5 - James Connor
Just something to think about.
