Sometimes when you gamble, you win. Most of the time you lose. In your hopes to draft the next Alfred Morris, you might end up with a Donald Brown.
There’s nothing worse than gambling on a running back, only to see them do absolutely nothing for your team. Luckily, I have your back.
Here are five running backs to avoid when you’re on the clock.
Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburgh Steelers
Traditionally, picking a Steelers running back is a good choice but Dwyer had a sub-par season last year. The Georgia Tech product had a less-than-good fantasy season with 623 yards and only two TDs and a total of only 84.9 points. Anything below 100 is just bad.
In addition to sub-par numbers he won’t be the main guy in Steel Town. Pittsburgh drafted Le’Veon Bell from Michigan State this year, a three-down back who shouldn’t lose carries to Dwyer.
Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts
Like Dwyer, Brown had a bad year last season. Again. In his four years in the NFL, Brown hasn’t tallied more than 650 yards or five total TDs. He had 103 points in 2012 and that was his BEST season.
Also like Dwyer, it looks like Vick Ballard will get most of the carries in Indy, but Brown will see some carries. Just not enough to make him draftable.
Ryan Williams, Arizona Cardinals
The stars seemed to have aligned completely against Williams. Since being picked in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, Williams has only carried the ball 58 times for only 2.8 yards per carry with zero career touchdowns. That was all in 2012 after missing the entire 2011 season due to injury.
Now the Cardinals have added a coach in Bruce Arians who likes to chuck the ball down field and a QB in Carson Palmer who’s capable of doing it. The scheme is against him and so are the other RBs.
Arizona brought in Rashard Mendenhall from Pittsburgh to be the featured back. 2012 draftees Stepfan Taylor of Stanford and Andre Ellington of Clemson will compete with Williams for backup carries.
Mikel Leshoure, Detroit Lions
Leshoure had a good year in 2012. His 798 yards, nine TDs and 155 fantasy points are the best of anyone on this list.
The problem is he’s being replaced by a better, more versatile fantasy running back.
The Lions added Reggie Bush from the Dolphins during the offseason. Bush had 175 fantasy points in 2012 both on the ground and through the air. The USC alum had 986 rushing yards and six rushing TDs in 2012. Add his 292 receiving yards and two receiving scores and he’s a much better option on a Lions team that threw the ball more than any NFL team last year.
Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers
Mathews is the one RB on this list that might be worth drafting, but not until late. He had a great 2011 where he scored 190 fantasy points but injuries continue to plague him.
Also, new head coach Mike McCoy likes to rotate RBs, meaning if you do take the inconsistent Mathews you might have to handcuff him with Ronnie Brown or Danny Woodhead.
Eric Smith is an MMA and fantasy football contributor with Craveonline.com. Follow him on twitter or @EricSmith_SP or email him at ejmith7@asu.edu.
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