X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Dynasty Breakouts for 2019 – Running Back

Craig Rondinone analyzes the running backs who could be breakout players in dynasty fantasy football leagues in 2019. These RB are buy-low candidates in dynasty trades.

Fantasy football players should never give up on running backs, especially if those backs did not amount to much during their rookie campaigns the year prior.

2018 was the coming out party for three running backs --- Pittsburgh’s James Conner, Seattle’s Chris Carson and Indianapolis’ Marlon Mack. All three were drafted in 2017 but did not register many tremors on fantasy scales. Then this past season all three finished in the top 16 in rushing, ran for over 900 yards and scored at least nine touchdowns. Some young running backs are just late-bloomers, while others just need to be given the opportunity to shine.

Running backs are more important than ever in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Since the NFL relies on passing more than running and backfield committees more than one-man workhorses, finding a young back who you can tie to your team for several seasons is crucial to becoming a perennial contender in your league. Here is a look at my dynasty breakouts at the running back position for 2019!

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks

2018 Stats:  419 rushing yards, 75 receiving yards, 2 TD

 Penny averaged 4.9 yards per carry during his rookie season, but he was stuck in third place in a three-headed rushing rotation with the aforementioned Carson and Mike Davis for most of the year. When he was able to get some carries he showed why Seattle selected him in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Penny’s best outing came against the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams when he took a dozen carries and turned them into 108 yards and a touchdown.

Penny has one less runner blocking his touch total now that Davis has signed with the Chicago Bears. Carson should still be the top tailback on the depth chart after bulldozing his way to 1,151 yards last year, but his punishing between-the-tackles style could cause him to get injured and open a lane for Penny to become No. 1 in the backfield. With Seattle boasting one of the best offensive lines in the business, Penny looks like an odds-on favorite to take his game and fantasy value to the next level in 2019.

 

Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons

2018 Stats:  315 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards, 4 TD

 The former fourth-rounder from the 2018 draft did not look like a game-breaking back when he found field time last year. He averaged a paltry 3.5 yards per carry and a meager 5.6 yards per reception. His longest play from scrimmage only spanned 20 yards. Yet even though the stats on Smith’s football card were not impressive, he could be in line to do some serious fantasy damage in 2019.

Fantasy owners know that Devonta Freeman is coming off an injury-ruined season where he was only able to suit up for two contests and was one of the most disappointing players in fantasy football. With Tevin Coleman taking his talents to San Francisco, Smith is the de facto No. 2 back until further notice and will play a significantly larger role in Atlanta’s high-powered offense this upcoming season. Even if Freeman stays healthy Smith could be in line for 700 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards and a half-dozen touchdowns playing the Coleman role in 2019, and fantasy owners can bank on more from Smith if Freeman’s body betrays him again.

 

Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams

2018 Stats:  212 rushing yards, 52 receiving yards, 1 TD

 Being Todd Gurley’s backup makes you about as valuable as a fifth-string fullback in fantasy football, and that has been the case with Brown since he was drafted in 2015. Brown only has 146 total touches since entering the league the same season Gurley did and has been a fantasy zero while Gurley has been a fantasy hero. There is some light at the end of the fantasy football tunnel for Brown and his dynasty owners, though, and it not that Brown should be really fresh considering his light workload the last few years.

Los Angeles matched the offseason offer sheet Brown signed with the Detroit Lions, so the Rams know he has talent and could be an important factor in the offense in 2019. Gurley has an arthritic knee that hampered him during the tail end of the regular season and limited him to being C.J. Anderson’s understudy in the playoffs. Right now it is a guessing game on how Gurley is going to be entering the 2019 campaign. He could be the Gurley of 2017 who was fantasy football’s MVP, or he could be the gimpy Gurley we saw in the Super Bowl who had no spring in his step and was good for three yards and then falling down.

Brown will be one of the first handcuff running backs taken in fantasy drafts this August and could become a top-10 fantasy RB if Gurley’s knee acts up. The Rams have an above-average offensive line and a young offensive mastermind (Sean McVay) orchestrating what could/should be the highest-scoring offense in the NFL next season. If Gurley breaks down, Brown will break out!

More Dynasty League Strategy




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Corey Heim

Does Not Qualify for Cup Race at Chicago Street Course
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Daron Payne

Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF