The flip side of succeeding with value players is failing with overvalued players. These are players that will not put up stats commensurate to their draft spot, and avoiding them is another of the important keys to a successful fantasy team. In an attempt to point out these players, we asked our staff to look through the top 150 players and identify players that should underperform their draft position.
Players Receiving 6 Votes
Zac Stacy, StL
James Brimacombe: As much as I like Stacy and what he did in his rookie season, it is going to be hard to over pay for him. Stacy was an electric and exciting back for the Rams in his rookie season and showed that he can handle a big workload. With the Rams playing in the most physical division in all of football they are going to need to preserve Stacy as much as possible and with them drafting Tre Mason it could be one step closer to a RBBC in St. Louis. The one concern from Stacy last year was his 3.9 yards per carry and with closer to split in carries with Mason that could hopefully push that number to around 4.5 yards a carry.
Heath Cummings: There's at least some chance that Tre Mason is simply better than Stacy. I was much higher on Stacy before the Rams drafted Mason in the third round. The offensive line is much better, so if training camp hits and Stacy is clearly "the guy" then my mind could be changed. But for now I see Stacy as a volume guy that at the least is going to take a hit in volume. It's one thing to beat out Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead...it's another to beat out Mason who may be the most heralded of the four.
Steve Holloway: Zac Stacy, the Rams’ 5th round draft pick a year ago took over the lead role in the backfield in week 5 of his rookie season. After that, he never had fewer than 12 carries and went over 20 carries 5 times, including a season high 33 against Tampa Bay in week 16. He was consistent, but only averaged 3.9 ypc. The team added Tre Mason in the 3rd round this year and the Rams quite likely will shift to more of an RBBC approach. The team gets quarterback Sam Bradford back and finally has some receiving options so the offense should be improved in 2014. Stacy’s value will be dependent on his ability to stave off Mason, which may be difficult and the potential for an improved passing attack that limits the rushing opportunities.
Jeff Pasquino: Zac Stacy may have put up impressive fantasy stats as a rookie last year, but it would be foolish to have similar expectations (or even higher ones) for this coming season. The Rams drafted Tre Mason 75th overall in May and Mason could push Stacy for carries and touches all year long. Stack no longer warrants a high pick with the chance that Jeff Fisher will split his workload, even if Stacy keeps 65-75% of what he had last year.
Jeff Tefertiller: Zac Stacy came out of nowhere to have a strong rookie campaign. But, to have an ADP in the second round is asking way too much, especially with the addition of rookie Tre Mason. Mason will push Stacy for touches and playing time.
Kyle Wachtel: Strictly a volume runner, Stacy averaged only 3.89 YPC. His unchallenged opportunity was looked to propel him to a fine year, but then the Rams brought in the more explosive, Tre Mason, who will be nipping at his heels.
Ben Tate, Cle
Sigmund Bloom: Tate has had so many injuries in his career that our Dr. Jene Bramel recently said he’s done the “hokey pokey” of injuries. Tate is already banged up, and the Browns have three talented young running backs behind him pushing for shares of this backfield. Tate is unlikely to stay healthy or rule this backfield for long and isn’t worth a pick amidst a mid-round group of running backs with more upside or history of sustained success.
James Brimacombe: Tate has had a history of being banged up throughout each of his 4 seasons in the league. After missing his entire rookie season he came back strong the following season rushing for 945 yards and an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Since then he has leveled off at 4.3 yards per carry and has only played in 25 games over the past two seasons in a backup type of role. Tate now gets his chance to be the clear cut starter in Cleveland and will be counted on heavily to start the season. The only problem with that is that he has yet to have a season where he has experienced a full bill of health. Also the Browns added two talented rookie RB’s in Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell and look to have a healthy Dion Lewis in the mix as well. Browns RB depth chart is looking very crowded and it makes it hard to pull the trigger on Tate at his current ADP.
Jeff Haseley: Ben Tate struggled to stay healthy in Houston as the team's second running option. So he should be completely healthy as the Browns starting running back, right? That doesn't make sense does it? Not only are injuries a concern with Tate, but there's some stiff competition with Terrance West, Dion Lewis and Isaiah Crowell filling out the depth chart. In order for Tate to be a Top 20 running back, he will have to score a lot of touchdowns and/or receive the vast number of the team's carries. I don't see either happening.
Ryan Hester: Tate enters 2014 with a very clear path to touches in an offense that should lean on the run game. So why does he appear on this list? He has missed 24 of 64 possible games in his four-year career despite being a clear-cut backup player that entire time. His own team’s confidence in him appears lukewarm at best as they drafted another back in the third round and plan to give that back – Terrance West, out of Towson – a “major role” this season. Cleveland also signed the very talented former five-star recruit Isaiah Crowell, who originally played for the Georgia Bulldogs before being dismissed for disciplinary and legal reasons. Tate may have a top-20 situation, but he’s not worth the top-20 price many are paying for him now.
Steve Holloway: Ben Tate was drafted in the 2nd round by Houston in 2011. He has had some success in a limited role with the Texans. He has averaged 4.7 ypc on 421 carries. He caught a career high 34 passes last year as the primary running back once Arian Foster was injured. He signed a two-year $6.2 Million contract with Cleveland and then the Browns drafted not one, but two running backs. Tate may not be the bell-cow running back that many envisioned him for the past couple of years as he performed well backing up Arian Foster.
Jason Wood: Ankle, quadriceps, back, hip, groin, ankle, foot, shoulder, head, toe, hamstring, foot, shoulder, elbow, ribs; that’s the list of maladies Tate has dealt with in his four-year NFL career. Why anyone would presume that he’s going to be able to handle a starting workload in Cleveland is beyond me, and it’s important to remember that Cleveland is not without alternatives. Terrance West has the skill set to be an effective NFL starter, Dion Lewis is a capable part of a committee, and Isaiah Crowell has elite tools (but a questionable off-the-field history).
Players Receiving 5 Votes
Montee Ball, Den
Heath Cummings: I thought I was coming around on Ball until I saw that he was being drafted as the 7th running back off the board. This is a guy that was beat out by Knowshon Moreno last year. I know a lot of people are looking at what Moreno did last year and projecting it onto Ball, but I see two problems with that. For one, it's very unlikely that Denver replicates what they did offensively last year. Secondly, I don't believe Ball is as good as Moreno. He's buoyed by a lack of quality competition, and he could vie for RB12, but this is way too early.
Andy Hicks: Montee Ball is going to cost you a 1st round pick in most drafts this year. He will come with significant risk factors. Despite the departure of Knowshon Moreno, Ball will not be the dangerous receiver that Moreno was. Ball has average hands and struggles with fumbles. He is also a risk in pass protection and was consistently stuffed last year. All will be great if defenses focus on Manning heavily and allow Ball free reign, but in pressure situations can Ball get the hard yards? The schedule isn’t likely to be kind to Ball either with 4 playoff teams, the Jets and Arizona to start the year. 2 of those playoff teams are the Seahawks and 49ers. That 1st round pick may look pretty average by week 7.
Steve Holloway: Montee Ball was the Broncos 2nd round pick last year. However, he was unable to beat out Knowshon Moreno for the starting gig. He played very well in a secondary role averaging 4.7 ypc and catching 20 passes. Ball only had 6 games with double digit runs during the regular season, with the high being 15 carries. He did add 2 more double digit carries in the playoffs. Most project him as the dominant leading running back for the Broncos this year, but if Ball’s pass blocking is suspect or he turns the ball over, the Broncos could employ more of an RBBC approach, also using Ronnie Hillman and C. J. Anderson.
Mark Wimer: Ball has yet to prove himself as a legitimate featured running back in this league. For now, I view him as the top back in a by-committee situation, which keeps him well out of #1 fantasy running back range in my opinion. The offense in Denver runs through Peyton Manning's passing arm, which will further limit the ceiling of Ball as he may struggle to get near 15 touches on the football some of the time.
Jason Wood: Ball benefits from the departure of Knowshon Moreno. But there’s no way I’m spending a first round pick on a guy that has yet to show he can consistently pass protect, hold onto the ball, or catch the ball consistently. The simple fact is the RB in the Broncos offense doesn’t have to be ultra-talented; they have to be able to block, run good routes and listen to Peyton Manning. Ball COULD be excellent if he gets significant red zone looks, but when you have a team with Manning and a receiving corps that is unrivaled throughout the league, why become a red zone rushing team? Ball as a RB2 makes sense, but as a 1st round pick (and franchise cornerstone)…no thanks.
Marshawn Lynch, Sea
Joe Bryant: Few running back situations draw more heated discussion than the Lynch / Michael combo in Seattle. Marshawn Lynch plays the role of the ultra productive veteran who marches to his own drum while Christine Michael is the youngster with a world of potential and supporters ready to put him into the Hall of Fame. The Lynch supporters point to the stat sheet and say Michael's unproven. The Michael supporters say it's time to move on from Lynch and his high salary and the team won't skip a beat with the young RB. Like always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Which means the bottom line for us is that both players are likely over valued in a great many drafts. Lynch likely will see Michael cut into his production. But not enough to make Michael a star barring injury to Lynch.
Heath Cummings: I'm all about Marshawn Lynch as a RB1 in standard scoring leagues, but you can't take him as the 6th running back in a PPR league. He's a 28 year-old running back that has taken a lot of hits, and hasn't topped 36 receptions since 2008. Lynch has been a beast since that 2011 playoff game but has to be reaching the point in his career where Seattle starts thinking about the future. He's reportedly unhappy with his contract situation and Seattle is reportedly uninterested in negotiating. That doesn't make a huge difference to me, but it's enough to drop him out of the top 12 running backs in PPR leagues.
David Dodds: I love Beast Mode as much as the next guy. Marshawn Lynch just takes over games and it completely fits the Seattle blueprint (run hard and play great defense) that led the Seahawks to the title. The problem with Marshawn Lynch is Seattle has a stud in the making with Christine Michael. The Lynch ADP suggests Michael won't have much of a role at all. I don't see that being the case as the Seahawks could save a lot of money by moving on from Lynch in 2015. I expect this RB situation to be more of a committee than the Lynch supporters believe.
Jeff Pasquino: I have some concerns with Marshawn Lynch as a top running back this year. Seattle loves to feature the ground game, but both the coaching staff and Lynch himself are sending out some red flags. First, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell hinted at a committee run game for this year, while Lynch has threatened to hold out (or even retire) because of his contract. The truth is usually between these extremes, and I think Seattle is going to check out both Robert Turbin and Christine Michael whenever they can this year to see if they can cut Lynch loose after this season. That means fewer chances for Lynch, and I don’t want that kind of threat behind my first round running back selection.
Jeff Tefertiller: While we are still very high on Marshawn Lynch, there are several factors for not considering him in the first round of fantasy drafts. The buzz around the Seattle media is that the team wants to utilize youngster Christine Michael often, and love the second-year ball carrier. Add in Lynch's large workload the past few years and you can see why a committee approach might be used. The defenses of the NFC West are strong and will be difficult to run on. Let someone else take Lynch in the first round. There is too much risk at his current ADP.
Doug Martin, TB
Sigmund Bloom: Between new running back coach Tim Spencer’s comments, new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford’s preference for RBBC, and the team drafting pass catching specialist Charles Sims in the third round, the Buccaneers appear to be moving on from Doug Martin as a “do everything” running back. There are too many questions about the size of this role to justify a premium second-round pick.
Joe Bryant: I'm always fascinated by what fantasy owners remember. Doug Martin turned in one of the more memorable seasons in some time two years ago lighting the fantasy world up and carrying owners to the title. Last season was ugly as he just didn't look like the same player for 6 games and then ended his season with a shoulder injury. I'm not worried about the shoulder for 2014 but I am worried that 2012 might have been an outlier for him. The team seems to be shifting away from a workhorse type situation for Martin with other RBs looking to see time plus an increased focus on the passing game.
Jeff Haseley: Even if you believe the Buccaneers will still give Doug Martin the same role as the team's bellcow running back, the offense is going to be different under Lovie Smith and Offensive Coordinator Jeff Tedford. I don't see Martin reaching a high number of receptions, which will lower his fantasy value, plus rookie Charles Sims is good enough to see a fair amount of touches this year, which also will diminish Martin's production.
Bob Henry: The demise of Doug Martin is premature and overstated. He won’t return to his 2012 production levels, but he also won’t be thrown into a full-blown running back by committee either. Martin remains a solid receiver out of the backfield, a capable 3-down back and a solid RB2 in every format, but at RB10 is simply too rich for me when there are better players at other positions with less risk and higher relative value. The Bucs drafted Charles Sims and intend to use him. He’s a gifted pass-catching back with good running skills to boot. He’ll inevitably eat into Martin’s carries, but not enough for him to fall out of the RB2 range. If Martin falls into the third round, jump on him, but in the second round you’re better off taking a top WR1, an elite TE like Julius Thomas or even Peyton Manning if he’s there.
Kyle Wachtel: Tedford's lead backs at California only averaged 28 receptions per 16 games. Combine that with the increased usage of change-of-pace backs and Martin's ADP will be tough to live up to in PPR.
Player Receiving 4 Votes
Ray Rice, Bal
Sigmund Bloom: Rice is likely going to have a multi-game suspension after an ugly offseason incident caught on camera when he knocked his fiancee (now wife) unconscious. He has shed weight in an attempt to reinvent himself, but the chance that early career overuse has caught up with Rice is too great to spend a pick in the top 50 - or maybe even top 60 right now. Bernard Pierce and rookie fourth-round pick Lorenzo Taliaferro should cut into Rice’s workload and knock him from the perch of “feature backs” in 2014.
Adam Harstad: Rice (as well as the rest of the Ravens’ running game) was absolutely horrendous last year, and he’ll likely be facing a suspension to start the season. Who knows if his job will even be waiting for him on his return, as Bernard Pierce is very talented and much younger. At their current prices, I’d much rather gamble on Rice’s teammate.
Bob Henry: It’s hard to justify taking Rice at his current ADP when we know he’s going to miss multiple games due to suspension and he might never be the player he was prior to sustaining a non-contact hip injury last year. Rice lost his balance, elusiveness and his on-the-field performance was utterly unimpressive save for one big game against a horrible Bears run defense. Rice shed some weight, but after five straight seasons with 280 or more touches, it’s easy to think that at 27 years old, it will be difficult for Rice to regain his form, especially with the looming presence of Bernard Pierce. In Gary Kubiak’s offense, Pierce seems like a better fit, he’s younger and he’s more physical. Rice will continue to add value in PPR leagues, but he’s unlikely to deliver enough points to warrant his current ADP as a low-end RB2.
Chad Parsons: With a looming suspension, Ray Rice also must overcome a steep decline in 2013. Rice had a Trent Richardson-like 3.1 yards-per-carry and totaled just four touchdowns. In addition, Rice plain looked like a back that has logged a high volume of touches since his early days at Rutgers. Considering the rock-solid wide receiver value available in the middle rounds, Ray Rice is a poor choice in the mid-40s.
Players Receiving 3 Votes
Knowshon Moreno, Mia
Adam Harstad: Even ignoring the fact that he showed up to Miami out of shape, Moreno isn’t really any more talented than Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas, so I wouldn’t expect better results this year than they achieved last year.
Jeff Tefertiller: Knowshon Moreno took the money from the Miami Dolphins, just like Mike Wallace. A fifth round ADP is way too high. That would have been his ADP in Denver. In Miami, expectations should be lowered. Moreno showed up for offseason activities out of shape. The lack of success for the Dolphins running the ball in past years and Moreno splitting carries with Lamar Miller only limit the upside of the ex-Bronco.
Matt Waldman: At this point Moreno is the No.2 RB on the Dolphins’ depth chart, but fantasy writers are framing the stories as if he’s the obvious choice as the 2014 starter. Not so fast. Moreno had a top-five season with Peyton Manning under center—otherwise known as “six-man football” to running backs in such a coveted position. When Moreno played 11-man football like most NFL backs he wasn’t nearly as good. In terms of athletic talent and base skills as runners and receivers, Lamar Miller has a lot more to offer than Moreno. Miller hasn’t been horrible during his first two years—just inconsistent. Miami wants to run the ball more and Miller has been the first-team back in OTAs for three weeks and earning first-team red zone opportunities. Moreno is still rounding into shape. Talent sometimes takes a couple of years to transition. Miller has plenty of it for guy available after the 10th round—better value than Moreno in the fifth.
Alfred Morris, Was
Joe Bryant: It's hard for me to put Morris on this list as he's a guy easy to cheer for. From his underdog position to the "Bentley" he drives (what he calls his 1991 Mazda). But the hard reality is that Morris, like many before him, benefitted from Mike Shanahan's running back friendly scheme. With a new system and new coach Jay Gruden, his outlook is way less clear. It's not so much that Gruden's system isn't running back friendly. It's that few coaches can push a running back to the top more than Mike Shanahan and his departure feels like a giant red flag for Morris.
David Dodds: He does not catch the ball. And that was when the team had poor WR options. The team is stacked at pass catchers now so I have little reason to believe Morris will all of a sudden improve on his career high 11 receptions in 2012. In PPR leagues, this guy is significantly over-priced.
Jason Wood: Alfred Morris has done nothing in two seasons to suggest he’ll be easily replaced as the Redskins feature back. Yet, I’m concerned about his future with the team thanks to the loss of the Shanahans and insertion of Jay Gruden. The Shanahan zone-blocking scheme has been notorious for strong RB play regardless of the underlying talent of the runners. Morris was perfect in the one-cut-and-go system but will now have to contend with an offensive system that requires a lot more of its runners. It’s quite likely Jay Gruden will use a committee approach, and that hurts Morris who is a volume runner (and a subpar pass catcher).
Players Receiving 2 Votes
Le'Veon Bell, PIT
Jeff Pasquino: Pittsburgh is going to throw a lot this year, and I do not see Le’Veon Bell being a feature tailback this season. Drafting Bell like he is a lock for 1,000 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns is fool’s gold, especially with LeGarrette Blount now on the team. Blount could steal goal line duties and Pittsburgh could be throwing in 3- and 4-wide formations often in a pass-first offense.
Mark Wimer: I know that the Steelers SAY that LeGarrette Blount will only touch the ball six-to-eight times per game (which remains to be seen), but what if he's plugged into the short-yardage/goal-line role for those six-to-eight touches? I'm in wait-and-see mode on Bell and Blount until I get a clearer picture of how the Steelers will employ both backs during the upcoming season. Right now I view Bell as overvalued at eighth running back off the board.
Andre Ellington, Ari
Ryan Hester: How many times last season was it clear to casual NFL watchers and fantasy players alike that Ellington was the best running back on Arizona’s roster? And how many times was it said by his coaching staff that his 5’10” 199-pound frame couldn’t handle the rigors of being a full-time ball-carrier? While both of those questions are rhetorical, they prove a point that Arizona was never sold on him being a featured back. He didn’t surpass 15 carries in any game last season, and that could very well be the case this season as well. Stepfan Taylor (216 pounds) and Jonathan Dwyer (229) will help Ellington carry the load and likely take goal line carries. If PPR is your pro-Ellington argument, that’s logical to a point, but consider that he only caught four or more passes in a game three times last season. Head Coach Bruce Arians prefers the vertical game, rarely using his backs as primary receiving options.
Steve Holloway: Andre Ellington, the 6th round Arizona selection in 2013 had a successful rookie season. He was by far the most successful Cardinal running back with 118 carries for 662 yards (5.5 ypc) and he had 39 receptions for another 371 yards, but only scored 4 TDs. The team’s leading rusher, Rashard Mendenhall is no longer around so Ellington should be their main back. Stepfan Taylor, last year’s 5th round pick also returns and should more playing time. The Cardinals will continue to pass the ball much more than they run, limiting Ellington’s carries but giving him opportunities catching the ball out of the backfield.
Frank Gore, SF
Ryan Hester: Every year in the preseason, many (including me) deem the upcoming year to be “the year Gore falls off the proverbial cliff.” While he has defied those prognostications many times, he’s still a 31 year-old running back with over 250 regular season carries in three straight regular seasons. He also played six additional postseason games over the past two years, further decreasing the amount of tread left on his tires. San Francisco also used a second-round pick on Carlos Hyde, a “bruiser” type of back that fits their mentality. Hyde is very likely to spell Gore often during the season, cutting into Gore’s fantasy value.
Jason Wood: Call him Timex because you can set your watch to Frank Gore. Or, at least you could until last season. Gore’s full season numbers looked reasonable, but consider that over the 49ers final 8 games he averaged less than 4 yards per carry (3.9) and only managed two touchdowns. At 31 years old, with a lot of tread on the tires, Gore seems destined for more of a committee approach. The 49ers used a 2nd round pick on Carlos Hyde (who could be a 20-carry back from Day One if given the chance), and have Kendall Hunter and Marcus Lattimore in the mix. Add to that QB Colin Kaepernick’s mobility and threat as a red zone vulture, and Gore is someone best left to another owner at his current ADP.
Steven Jackson, Atl
Joe Bryant: I didn't like Jackson last year and I like him even less for 2014. He's another year older (soon to be 31) and coming off a season where he missed significant time with a hamstring injury. He did finish better than he started but I'm still very leery of old running backs. Especially those who run with Jackson's physical style. Not to mention the worry of young RB Devonta Freeman who could easily cut into Jackson's production.
Bob Henry: It’s safe to question just how much Jackson has left in the tank. When healthy, I believe he’s a solid RB2 with the same all-around skill set that made him a versatile, PPR-friendly back for many years. That being said, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and his ability to play through injuries or return quickly from them is seemingly gone. Simpler said, I have no trust in him at all – not with a younger, very capable back like Devonta Freeman in the stable now to go with Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons run blocking is sketchy at best and Jackson has more competition and less room for error. I’d much rather pass on Jackson at his ADP and take a chance with Freeman at his. Moreover, there are other players like Trent Richardson, Stevan Ridley or Fred Jackson that I prefer with similar ADPs.
Christine Michael, Sea
Joe Bryant: See my comments in the Marshawn Lynch section.
David Dodds: The Christine Michael supporters are some of the most rabid fantasy fanatics out there. Their expectations though seem to discount how dominant Marshawn Lynch has been the last two years. The truth is between these extremes. Both are very good backs. Michael will see a bigger role this year before likely taking the starting job in 2015 (as Lynch goes somewhere else). But his ADP is ahead of him right now. Let someone else pull the trigger at this price as it will likely take a Lynch injury for Michael to get enough looks to justify his current draft position.
Players Receiving 1 Vote
Arian Foster, Hou
Andy Hicks: Arian Foster and the Houston Texans had a season they’d rather forget last year. Unfortunately Foster is going to be a dangerous fantasy option for a lot of people this year. Bill O’Brien will be rebuilding the Texans and Gary Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme that brought Foster and his fantasy owners much success will be gone. Sure there have been 28 year old running backs that have bounced back from an injury riddled season, but the majority don’t. Add in a new offense and a serious problem at quarterback and Foster is going to need to be a very special back to help his fantasy owners this year.
Rashad Jennings, NYG
Andy Hicks: Rashad Jennings has had a successful 8 weeks in a 5 year career. That was at the end of the 2013 season and got him a free agent contract with the Giants. Unfortunately the rest of his career has been injury riddled or disappointing and those that expect to be getting a starting running back in the 4th or 5th round are going to end up disappointed. The Giants have several question marks at the position with David Wilson, who may or may not play and 4th round rookie Andre Williams who is expected to be a significant contributor. At age 29, Jennings is unlikely to continue his hot streak on his 3rd team in 3 years.
Eddie Lacy, GB
Mark Wimer: I love Eddie Lacy's talent and if he were on a run-first team like Seattle he'd be a prospect to finish as an elite fantasy running back. However, in pass-happy Green Bay (around 400-430 rushing attempts in a season (2010-2012) when Aaron Rodgers is healthy, compared to 540-560 passing attempts per season for Rodgers from 2010-2012), Lacy simply won't get enough work for much more than 320 total touches on the football (he had 319 last season). Meanwhile the top four fantasy running backs last season averaged 349 touches as a group (LeSean McCoy led the top four with 366 touches; Jamaal Charles was lowest at 329).
Khiry Robinson, NO
Alex Miglio: He has been a popular sleeper this offseason, but Kirhy Robinson might be severely overhyped. Robinson has flashed his ability with the Saints, and he very well could cash in on his promise. There is just one problem—well, rather, two—Pierre thomas and Mark Ingram are above him on the depth chart.
C.J. Spiller, Buf
Matt Waldman: The No.15 RB on this list, Spiller has exactly one season out of four where he has met or exceeded that expectation—a No.7 fantasy ranking among RBS in 2012. The rest of his career he hasn’t come close. Fred Jackson has been enough of a factor that Spiller has failed to score more than six rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns as a pro. Although Spiller has played in all but three games in four years, he has suffered enough bumps and bruises to see limited touches. Spiller’s ability to perform well when hurt remains a question mark—and issue since his days at Clemson. Spiller is also at his best as a space player and it’s not a commodity he consistently earns in Buffalo. There are too many questions for me to let his athleticism seduce me into picking him as an RB2. It’s too risky for me in the third round.
David Wilson, NYG
Alex Miglio: David Wilson may not ever play football again. He wasn’t cleared to play after his most recent MRI, and the Giants went and grabbed Rashad Jennings in free agency and Andre Williams in the draft. A career on life support and competition eating up all the practice reps in the meantime—why is Wilson being drafted at all?