Sponsored Post: The fine folks over at DIRECTV invited me to participate in a live web chat with Falcons wide receiver Roddy White and Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew to talk a little fantasy X’s and O’s (no, not the Orioles).
As the dynamic in the NFL has changed and the league has become more pass-happy, the value of running backs seems to have increased as they provide the biggest separation in points between players with the same job titles. Given that I had the chance to speak to some notable players on fantasy draft boards, I let Jones-Drew and White try to plead their cases for their respective position.
“As much as we try to make it a passing league, and I know Roddy won’t want to hear this, but if you want to win fantasy, you definitely need multiple running backs,” Jones-Drew said. “It’s a much lower risk turning around and handing the ball off to playmakers versus throwing the ball 60-yards down the field. Especially if you don’t have guys like Roddy who can get it.”
Jones-Drew has a point. Out of the top 20 average selections according to Fantasy Football Calculator, 16 are running backs. The numbers show that running backs are a hot commodity, and MJD agrees.
“You have so many teams like the Green Bay Packers who are going to go to a running back by committee versus work-horses,” he said. “That’s why I feel like running backs are a high commodity right now.”
Both White and fellow receiver Julio Jones are within the Top 10 of fantasy wide receiver rankings, but given the influx on the draft boards, he understands why there is such a run on running backs.
“I think the wide receiving position is so deep this year,” Jones said. “You can get so many guys that can be productive. Just alone, we had 10 or 12 guys that can go over 1,300 yards, we have a ton of guys who can get between 8-10 touchdowns.”
White continued to plead his case.
“Any time you can get that many guys – like 10 to 15 guys in that range that can score points week in and week out – you can drive wide receivers before running backs,” he said.
Within the past week, Jones-Drew has been averaging the 18th-overall pick (15th amongst running backs) in 12-team leagues; White has been 33rd (10th amongst receivers).
DIRECTV was promoting this event because they’re trying to change the way fantasy football is consumed on Sundays. While the NFL Sunday Ticket and the Red Zone channel are already considered great innovations for fans, you can now also combine them with Player Tracker for up-to-the-minute fantasy player stats right on your television.
If you don’t find yourself at M&T Bank Stadium on most Sundays, please get yourself a comfortable recliner, because DIRECTV has made it almost impossible – and unnecessary – to move yourself away from the TV while watching the NFL.
