Must Have Running Backs

29 Jul Must have running backs for the 2020 season

Posted at 04:14h in Fantasy Football by
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Recently, I told y’all about my three must have wide receivers for the 2020 fantasy season. This time it’s going to be all about the running backs. Everyone knows about the top end RBs like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Ezekiel Elliott, but if you aren’t in a position to acquire these guys, I have the next best options. Here are my three must have running backs for the 2020 season.

 

David Johnson

 

David Johnson moves from Arizona and is now the lead running back for the Houston Texans. He replaces Carlos Hyde who had an under-the-radar 1,000 yards rushing last season. After suffering an ankle injury in the middle of the year, Johnson lost lead back duties in Arizona and was never able to retain them. However, prior to the injury in the first six weeks of the season Johnson was one of the best fantasy running backs to start the 2019 season.

Now joining Houston’s high powered offense, he’s in prime position to take on 250+ touches vacated by the departed Hyde. Head coach Bill O’Brien has wanted to be more creative on offense and with Johnson’s ability to run between the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield, he’ll be able to put Johnson all over the field to create mismatches for the defense. The Texans invested a lot to bring Johnson to Houston by trading star WR DeAndre Hopkins for him, so they must see what I see in that Johnson can still be a force in this league.

There won’t be and issue with volume for Johnson; the man has always produced when given the opportunity. He has RB1 potential written all over him. I’m not hesitating to take Johnson for my team and neither should you.

 

Leonard Fournette

 

Can someone please explain to me why everyone doesn’t like Leonard Fournette? The man was an absolute fantasy stud last season. I will be the first to say I don’t expect him to get 100 targets in the passing game but I am positive that he will be a huge positive regression candidate in the touchdown department. Jacksonville needs someone to score for them this season and my money is on Fournette and one of my must-have WRs D.J. Chark.

Jacksonville has the makings of a team that will be in tons of shootouts this season, and they will need their star players to step up even more to keep them in games. The only addition to the backfield this team made this off-season was for Chris Thompson. No disrespect to Thompson but Fournette is on a whole other level of talent. Fournette wasn’t given his fifth-year option for next season, so this is in fact a contract year for him. The man is motivated and determined to showcase the league that he is worth another contract and that he can handle a full RB workload.

Fournette’s ADP is RB18, the same guy who was RB7 last season. Are there really 11 RBs rated higher than Fournette? Not a chance. Fournette is my dark horse for the number one overall fantasy RB. Don’t sleep on Fournette or you will definitely pay the price.

 

Ronald Jones

 

Last season, Ronald Jones went virtually unnoticed in Tampa Bay’s passing attack. Splitting time with Peyton Barber and Dare Ogunbowale for touches never gave him the chance to really showcase his talents. Coming into this season however things are looking good for Jones to take over as the clear lead back for Tampa Bay. Barber is no longer a part of the team and the additions of rookie Ke’shawn Vaughn and LeSean McCoy don’t appear to be legit challengers for touches.

Some experts may worry about Vaughn pilfering touches away from Jones but I see Jones clearly showing that he’s the lead guy right out of the gate. Jones averaged over 4 yards a carry and 10 yards a catch in 2019. That is elite production for today’s NFL. He’s an underrated receiver out of the backfield and his pass blocking has improved these past couple of seasons.

Tom Brady has always loved versatility at the running back position and Jones will give him that. 250+ touches are coming Jones’ way this season, and with that many opportunities to make plays, Jones will definitely cash in. Jones is a high floor RB2 with a chance at RB1 production each and every week.

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