RADIO
The free-agent signing period only opened about a week ago in the NFL, but most of the available running backs with any fantasy value have already signed with new teams.
Trading during the offseason in dynasty leagues is trickier than hiding your "magazine" stash from your spouse, especially if your deals involve a running back who is on a new squad. If the RB you trade for signed with the right team, his fantasy value could double or triple. If the RB you trade for signed with the wrong team, then he could be stuck as a backup who gets 5-10 touches per game or part of a situational system where his weekly workload could be harder to predict than the weekly weather.
Here are three running backs to trade for now in dynasty leagues who are on new teams!
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Undervalued Dynasty RB Targets
Isaiah Crowell, New York Jets
All Crowell has done during his career is run for 1,805 yards at a 4.4 yards per carry clip over the past two seasons (on a 1-31 team), improve his pass-catching skills to the point where he can catch 35-40 balls out of the backfield, and never miss a game in four years. We should all be happy that Crowell finally escaped Cleveland!
It is obvious that while the Jets think Bilal Powell is an offensive asset that they do view him as a No. 1 tailback, nor should they. Meanwhile, Crowell has shown he can flirt with the 1,000-yard mark when given an ample amount of carries and can contribute on all three downs now because of his upgraded receiving ability. Crowell can run for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns and add another 300 yards on receptions as long as the Jets quarterback situation does not dissolve into a terrifying mess that drags down the entire offense.
It will be interesting to see what Crowell can do on a non-Cleveland team. While he will not have All-World offensive tackle Joe Thomas opening holes for him anymore, he will undoubtedly have a better supporting cast around him and probably be in an offense that runs the ball more than the Browns did (Cleveland was 28th in rushing attempts in 2017, 31st in 2016). Go after Crowell now and you could be blessed with the best year of his career and several solid seasons to follow.
Jeremy Hill, New England Patriots
Jeremy Hill ran like someone who is over the hill last season. He averaged a career-low 3.1 yards per carry and was so bad that he dropped to third on Cincinnati’s depth chart behind Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard, which put him into fantasy oblivion in most leagues.
While Cincinnati really lost its way when it came to using Hill correctly, New England might use him properly. Do not have a short memory when it comes to Hill. The guy ran for 2.757 yards and 29 touchdowns over his first three years in the league. Hill does not provide anything in the passing game, but there is no reason to think he cannot be a younger version of LeGarrette Blount or a better version of Mike Gillislee if he has Tom Brady and Bill Belichick egging on his career comeback.
Hill can probably be had for Dollar Tree prices in dynasty leagues at the moment. While he will likely not be New England’s starting tailback when training camp breaks, he is young enough (25) and talented enough to become the early-down and red-zone back on the Pats now that Dion Lewis has signed elsewhere. Put in a sneaky low-ball offer for Hill in your dynasty league and you could reap a humongous reward.
Carlos Hyde, Cleveland Browns
Make no mistake, Hyde got hosed in free agency. Somehow he only got half the money and millions Jerick McKinnon received, from Hyde’s former team no less! I have watched both backs a lot the past couple years, and I am not sure what his fascination with McKinnon is when Hyde is coming off a career year where he set new personal bests in touches (299), rushing touchdowns (eight), receptions (59), receiving yards (350) and games played (16).
Here is another mistake not to make – Cleveland’s top tailback is Duke Johnson Jr. Hyde will only be able to offer so much fantasy value because Johnson is arguably the best pass-catching back in the NFL and Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson loves him. But Hyde should be the favorite for first and second-down rushing attempts and to get the call near the goal line because of his bigger body.
Hyde will be a hero in Cleveland because of his storied collegiate career at Ohio State. That will get him some extra love. Now all he needs is extra playing time. If he runs and catches as well in Cleveland as he did last season in San Francisco (and stays as healthy), he will get enough touches to be relevant fantasy-wise, even with Johnson splitting snaps with him. And as the Browns improve in the coming years, so could Hyde's fantasy worth.
