Who's Your Top Choice? Top Players for 2019 Fantasy Football Drafts
As we gear up for fantasy football drafts and NFL kickoff, the conversation surrounding who should be the consensus top choice still comes with debate.
Just a couple weeks prior, the Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott was our runaway favorite to hold down the top spot, but recent holdout concerns have forced us to re-evaluate. As it stands today, selecting a top tier running back first overall appears to be the only question we can confirm. Outside of that, many opinions continue to flood the landscape which can leave some rather confused about who they should select. For the purpose of securing the safest choice with pick one; a few front runners could be the answer.
Ezekiel Elliott
While there’s no question in our minds, the Dallas Cowboys have a glorious opportunity to assert themselves as a front runner in the NFC with how this club is constructed. With a defense ready to take shape in providing their offense more snaps for productivity, Elliott would be a steady weekly earner for his owners. However, as we watch the displeasure rise from Elliott and his camp, no quick resolution looks to be on the horizon in terms of a new contract.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones has gone on record to suggest no NFL club requires a league-leading running back to reach or win the Super Bowl, but with how this offense is built, we aren’t buying what he’s selling. Even as Dak Prescott has proven to be a dependable passer in the NFL, his shortcomings would be greatly realized without the fortitude of his world-class runner behind him. Dallas made attempts to become more pass-happy last season to which came with uneven output.
While it’s clear this offense starts with Elliott and he should be considered as a top choice for all formats, this contract situation could drag into the first few games of the season leaving owners immensely frustrated. Unless a new contract is given or Elliott finds his way back to Cowboys training camp, we must recommend passing on him until more detail comes to pass.
Alvin Kamara
The more we look at this New Orleans Saints roster, the more we feel inclined to lift Alvin Kamara up the ranks. Holding steady as our number two choice regardless of the Elliott situation, the time has come to promote Kamara as the potential lead dog for fantasy football top rank.
When the Saints allowed Mark Ingram to jump ship and find new pastures with the Baltimore Ravens, the role for Kamara instantly saw an uptick for production as the teams lead back. Granted, New Orleans did sign Latavius Murray to the fold in hopes to recreate something of a one-two punch to resemble the Ingram-Kamara show, but we aren’t overly convinced. Kamara will receive the bulk of the workload and should manage to secure career numbers in the process.
Truly, with how this offense has come together, Kamara should find his way to being at worst a top-three finisher. At this point of the offseason, we completely endorse Alvin Kamara as the top pick for fantasy drafts.
Christian McCaffrey
While it appears we have set in stone our choice for top pick with Kamara, we can’t have an evaluation without discussing the Panthers Christian McCaffrey. For all things tangible, McCaffrey should warrant top consideration this season after his supreme showing in 2018. Carolina continues to house virtually the same offense they held last season, making McCaffrey a sure-fire selection and potential top pick in 2019.
Even as his 5.0 yards per carry helped lift him over the 1000-yard mark for this first time in his career, McCaffrey was an absolute machine in the passing game racking up 107 receptions and falling just 35 yards short of the illustrious 2000-total yard mark club. There is literally no question that McCaffrey proved his doubters wrong that he , in fact, could be a trusted three-down back in this league.
Recent reports have suggested that the Panthers would like to have another running back on the roster to help aid in goal-line responsibilities this season, but we aren’t concerned. McCaffrey is nearly bust-proof at this point and could hold the top spot with zero disappointment.
David Johnson
Before you read this and scoff or turn away, allow me to educate you on why David Johnson warrants top pick consideration for the upcoming season. Clearly, we understand that the NFL is a league of “what have you done for me lately”, but we can’t overlook the elite level talent of the Cardinals running back.
Truly, Johnson has endured two seasons of lesser production then what was expected, but circumstances dictated those terms and shouldn’t cloud your judgement. Losing virtually all of 2017 to injury, Johnson came back last season to showcase his ability on a team built to fail. Vanilla play calling teamed with subpar quarterback play completely derailed this offense last year. With a new outlook and revamped offensive approach, Johnson is prime to provide that star-studded presence once again.
With rookie Kyler Murray set to make waves in his first NFL season, the dynamics of this offense have us licking our chops. With any rookie passer looking to get his feet wet in the league, having a safety valve to remove pressure is extremely valuable – enter David Johnson. Barring health issues, Johnson could easily find his way to the 2000-total yard mark, making him a candidate for the top pick in 2019.
Todd Gurley
While we completely understand the fear attached when discussing Rams running back Todd Gurley, we can’t discount his ability and the offense he plays for. The Rams are returning to defend their NFC championship and we have no doubt that Gurley will again be a very big part of the scheme.
Obviously, we get the frustration Gurley gave his owners late last season when that knee condition limited the overall output at the most important time. With a full offseason of rest and recovery, Gurley dropped pounds on his frame which should ease the strain on his body. The conundrum most fantasy owners face when viewing the prospects of Gurley this season rests with rookie Darrell Henderson being drafted by the Rams. This move has first indication that a potential timeshare could be on the docket, but again, if healthy, Gurley shouldn’t give way much in the form of workload.
Something to consider when debating Gurley as the top choice, he still amassed a whopping 372.1 total points with a generous 26.6 points per game last season, all with missing two contests to injury. While there’s a red flag attached to him as we enter this season, taking a chance as the top pick could become a slam dunk. Far too much worry for such a sound producer.
