Ball, Lacy And Bell All Poised For Solid Rookie Campaigns
The 2013 NFL Draft certainly paled in comparison to last season, but there are still plenty of young players who will step in and start right away. From a fantasy perspective, a lot of these starters will be at non-skill positions, which means next to nothing to them. However, three running backs seem poised to have great 2013 seasons as the featured running back for their team. How will Montee Ball, Eddie Lacy and Le’Veon Bell do as rookies?
Montee Ball (Denver Broncos)
After being a workhorse at Wisconsin, Ball will step into a nice situation in Denver. The Broncos, with Peyton Manning at the helm, are always going to be a pass-first team, but Ball can step in right away to provide value on the ground. Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno, the two guys who received a lot of running opportunities for Denver last year, are both injured, so it is Ball’s position to win. Durability for the long term is a concern for Ball, but as a rookie, he should be the top running back option.
Eddie Lacy (Green Bay Packers)
Many thought that Lacy would be taken in the first round by the Packers, but the team took a gamble and it paid off. He lasted until the second round, mostly due to the fact that some teams are worried about his injury history. In Green Bay, he won’t be asked to do a ton, but he can both run and catch the ball with ease for a lot of fantasy football 2013 value. Aaron Rodgers enjoys having a running back who can catch a few passes, so expect him to have a solid all-around campaign.
Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Last season, the Steelers had a terrible time trying to find the right type of running game. Bell will get his opportunity to be a featured back, but if he can’t get it done, it could be a somewhat short stint for the former Michigan State running back. The Steelers, like the other two teams mentioned in this article, have a franchise quarterback, so Bell will not have to do a ton. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman could still earn the starting spot as well, so that is why he can’t be any higher than third right now.
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