Proceed with Caution 2023: Running Backs
Like with the previous article and all the ones to come this section will list what these articles are for and how I did last year. For those who don't care, feel free to jump down to the players I picked. Remember, this is titled "Proceed with Caution" because I'm not telling you to avoid drafting them outright, I'm merely suggesting you don't throw all your eggs into their baskets. I'd consider my pick successful if they finished below the top 10 for QB, TE and D, and below the top 20 for RB and WR. Last year I went 1 for 3, I said avoid the Miami backfield, Mostert was the highest finisher at 26th, which really isn't all the bad, but is still outside the top 20.
Brian Robinson (Washington): He averaged just over half a point per touch last season. That was good for 56th out of the 59 players that made my rankings this year and played last season. I didn't understand the hype around him prior to last season and I still don't get it. He was inefficient at Alabama. Poor college efficiency coupled with sub-par athleticism doesn't typically translate well to the NFL.
A.J. Dillon (Green Bay): Some are making the argument for Dillon now that Rodgers is gone. The thinking behind that is Green Bay will try and establish the run more now that Jordan Love is at the helm. If their defense is able to compete at a high level than that's not a bad thought. However, when they end up falling behind early and have to abandon the run Dillon's production is going to bomb. Aaron Jones remains the receiving back. Dillon is a smart later round pick. Someone you take as your RB4 and use in games against teams with struggling offenses or bad run defenses.
Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit): Another player who has a ton of hype that makes no sense to me. Although with Gibbs that hype was around the NFL draft and resulted in him going in the first. That has subsequently resulted in him being picked in the 3rd-4th round range in fantasy football above the likes of Aaron Jones and Miles Sanders. Gibbs is an undersized back that ran a fast forty, big surprise. Did any of you watch him play at Alabama? Catching the ball he was great, running the ball he needed a wide open hole, otherwise he played to his size. My comp for him prior to the draft was Nyheim Hines and I'm sticking with that. Detroit will try and feed him the ball because they used a first round pick on him, so if he stays healthy he'll at least have volume on his side.
