Young Horses: Stampeding or Temporary Crossing?

[KMA]

So much has been made about who is better, Gurley or DJ. This thread is the opposite. I am curious to know which running backs do you see as true young horses (the Priest Holmes, LT, Shawn Alexander, Steven Jacksons) and who you view as situational backs who will likely be short lived starters until someone better comes along. Feel free to include college players possibly coming out this year and next.

No doubt about it:

Bell
Gurley
DJ

Excluding aging backs of course... AD

Does EZE fit the mold? Who else is worthy of carrying the torch?

Fournette?
Chubb?

In other words...who is for real? Who are your elite backs?

Thoughts?

[ImaRounder]

EZE fits the mold as a true horse.. three down back right out of college. Matt Forte-esque.
Fournette is the truth. When people compare TG to AP I just shake my head, my comparison, if any to AP, is Fournette.
The most under the radar work horse coming to the league is Dalvin Cook. If there is ever a comparison to LT, it's this guy.
Chubb is a guy that will flame out, IMO.

[sloth8u]

im having a hard time giving you an honest answer here if your looking for elite ppr backs. im just not sure there is an answer to be honest. explosive rb's are going to get touches and in turn steal touches from the "bell cows". teams are going rbbc and while some teams may lean on just 1 guy...the pts received in receptions by the guys in time shares seems to make up alot of the difference on a week to week basis. im not sure i see a big week to week diffence in a guy who averages 17 and a guy averages 14. both players are going to have up and down weeks. i believe ap only finished as a top 5 rb three times this season...some guys did that a few more times and im sure you wouldnt consider them elite...yet they were the better start, more weeks. i believe gurley finished there 3 times aswell. not going to list who else fell in this category or who had more games...but you get the idea.

[Factory of Sadness]

Hi,
Good question. Going to be some short lists! Once we're outside of the top 2 - I don't count DJ - and Zeke we're guessing/speculating/pissing into the wind so some of these guys are highly, highly unlikely to get there, but if we're imagining those that could just maybe...

LeVeon- yup
Gurley-yup

DJ-Got to say I don't really understand how we have all anointed DJ already. Do we even know he's any good as a runner? Great receiving threat and good in space, but I haven't seen much to make me think I'd put money on him getting through a crowded box. I'm amazed how highly he's rated to be honest.

Melvin-I wouldn't be surprised if Gordon is a bust, but to me he's probably the likeliest of any back currently in the league to get all the way up to elite status. He might be nothing and I'm all over the map with him and nervous where I own him, but I can see him getting here.

Zeke -looks like the likeliest guy from the draft.

Henry- I wouldn't write off Henry either. I know he lacks some lateral agility, but the DBs are going to be digging foxholes on the edges and I think he's got the speed to rack up some big gains.

Don't know if he'll ever get the touches, but Lamar Miller's pretty damn good.

Doug Martin played brilliantly last year. Watched every snap of his games and he was fantastic in traffic and in space. Backs get hurt, but it seems like Dougie got injured and because he bounced back in a contract year we're all suspicious.

Yuk it up at this one - especially if you're a draft spot snob - but I can see CJ Anderson as a long-shot option here.
(Pauses for scornful laughter)

Don't give up on DeMarco if he moves.

In the ridiculously unlikely eventuality that he stops getting hurt, Ryan Mathews could do it.

OK, maybe I'm pushing it now...

[Phaded]

All of these guys are far too young and inexperienced at this point.

Literally any one of those 6 young guys you mentioned could be basically irrelevant in 3-5 years.

All it takes is repeat injuries or a bad situation.

[DrNoish]

All of these guys are far too young and inexperienced at this point.

Literally any one of those 6 young guys you mentioned could be basically irrelevant in 3-5 years.

All it takes is repeat injuries or a bad situation.

That is literally exactly what the OP is asking. Who, in your opinion, will be irrelevant in 3-5 years and who would you put money on lasting to 30 in the top tier.

[KAT]

Jerrick McKinnon

Buy now. Price is much lower than last year this time. And AP is headed to "just a guy" status soon.



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[Cameron Giles]

Jerrick McKinnon

Buy now. Price is much lower than last year this time. And AP is headed to "just a guy" status soon.



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McKinnon doesn't strike me as an every down back, though he could have PPR appeal

[maxhyde]

^ That and there are going to be a few very solid and perhaps true 3 down workhorses available in the draft next year...McKinnon may never even get the opportunity to show he can be more than a PPR back

[Hawks Nest 12th Man]

The only back I am staking claim to be workhorse stud with 1 year experience or incoming rookies is Gurley. I LOVE L Bell but his height and running style open him up to a lot of shots to knees. If he comes out on fire I may trade him.

Rawls > DJ for me. DJ has 2 things over Rawls receiving ability and finished rookie season w/o injury. I weigh the latter heavily with RBs but 5.6 YPC over 100+ touches borders on elite for any rookie. But neither can I give stamp of approval for future elite RB over next 3-5 seasons.

Incoming rookies Elliot, Fournette, Chubb, Cook all have potential.

Sorry my answer is so cookie cutter but I just don't feel great about any RB except Gurley. Own zero shares of Gurley but wish I did with scarcity of position

[Phaded]

All of these guys are far too young and inexperienced at this point.

Literally any one of those 6 young guys you mentioned could be basically irrelevant in 3-5 years.

All it takes is repeat injuries or a bad situation.

That is literally exactly what the OP is asking. Who, in your opinion, will be irrelevant in 3-5 years and who would you put money on lasting to 30 in the top tier.

I wouldn't put money on any of them - but then again, I invest in cheap RB options rather than paying a premium for an RB.

[Dingram]

I believe Yeldon is a young horse. Love what Jacksonville is putting together, & I believe he showed enough in his 1st year to be encouraged by. His price is slightly lower than where it was last year and have been buying where I can. He'd easily be the #2 rb in this class and be the 1.02/1.03 imo.