One of my favorite “Saturday Night Live” characters of all time is “Grumpy Old Man,” played by Dana Carvey.
Look it up on YouTube, kids.
“When I was a boy, we didn’t have these video games,” Grumpy Old Man would say in his Grumpy Old Man voice. “We made up our own games like Chew the Bark Off the Tree. And there were no winners. Everybody was a loser. It rotted your teeth and left your intestines scarred and knotted. And that’s the way it was, and we liked it! We loved it!”
Imagine Grumpy Old Man reminiscing about fantasy football:
“In my day, we didn’t draft receivers in the first round,” he’d say. “We took running backs with every single pick, even into the second round. It was mindless and boring, and if you didn’t follow along, you’d be mocked and ostracized and your team would be lousy. And that’s the way it was, and we liked it! We loved it!”
He wouldn’t love this. Receivers are all the rage now, with perhaps three going off the board first in re-draft leagues. After a season marred by injuries and ineffectiveness, running backs have taken a hit. There’s a belief that if you can’t trust even the top runners, why risk an early pick on one? Why not employ the Zero-RB strategy, which calls for owners to focus on receivers first and unearth runners in the middle rounds?
Sure, it can work, but you’d better be active in trade talks and on the waiver wire because you’re going to have to make up for that deficiency at running back.
When I’m assembling a roster, I’m trying to beat my opponent at every position. If I’m punting on running backs, not only will I have lost that position, but I’ll have lost at the position with the most scarcity. Granted, quality running backs pop up from time to time because of injuries, but you’d better have the right waiver-claim spot or enough free-agent dollars to take him.
I tried Zero-RB in a basic mock draft, and the results were mixed. Wide receiver Julio Jones fell to me at No. 6 overall, and I took tight end Rob Gronkowski at No. 15 in Round 2 (snake format). I then took receivers Mike Evans and Sammy Watkins and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
My first running back was Ryan Mathews in Round 6 at No. 55, followed by Frank Gore. Both are starters, but both have issues — a history of injury for the former and age and attrition for the latter.
This team could have the edge over many opponents at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end, but running back will come up short. Making up for that imbalance won’t be easy.
I’m not suggesting a return to the Running Back Epoch, but you can’t let too many runners go by early. Many fantasy analysts recommend waiting to draft a quarterback because there’s little difference among them after the elite. That’s true, but isn’t it the same story at wide receiver, the deepest position of all? Take a wideout early if you want, but you can afford to wait on another. That’s not the case at running back. You’re going to need one of those early.
That’s the way it is, and you’re going to like it.
Follow me on Twitter @JeffreyA22.
Email: jagrest@suntimes.com
DRAFT BOARDS
(Top 20 overall players in parentheses)
QUARTERBACKS
- Cam Newton, Panthers
- Aaron Rodgers, Packers
- Russell Wilson, Seahawks
- Andrew Luck, Colts
- Drew Brees, Saints
- Tom Brady, Patriots
- Carson Palmer, Cardinals
- Eli Manning, Giants
- Philip Rivers, Chargers
- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
- Tyrod Taylor, Bills
- Kirk Cousins, Redskins
- Derek Carr, Raiders
- Blake Bortles, Jaguars
- Matthew Stafford, Lions
- Andy Dalton, Bengals
- Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
- Marcus Mariota, Titans
- Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
- Matt Ryan, Falcons
Stud – Rivers: A great value pick if you choose to wait on QBs.
Dud – Ryan: Has fallen from top 10 to top 20, even with Julio Jones.
Sleeper – Stafford: Change in coordinator last year sparked strong finish.
RUNNING BACKS
- Adrian Peterson, Vikings (4)
- Todd Gurley, Rams (5)
- Le’Veon Bell, Steelers (7)
- Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (8)
- David Johnson, Cardinals (9)
- Lamar Miller, Texans (10)
- Mark Ingram, Saints (12)
- Devonta Freeman, Falcons (15)
- Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (16)
- Doug Martin, Buccaneers
- Eddie Lacy, Packers
- LeSean McCoy, Bills
- C.J. Anderson, Broncos
- Carlos Hyde, 49ers
- Thomas Rawls, Seahawks
- Jeremy Hill, Bengals
- Latavius Murray, Raiders
- Matt Forte, Jets
- Ryan Mathews, Eagles
- Frank Gore, Colts
Stud – Miller: Will have a much greater workload than with Dolphins.
Dud – Matt Jones, Redskins (33): Opportunity is there, but he hasn’t shown he can take advantage.
Sleeper – Melvin Gordon, Chargers (22): Worked out with Adrian Peterson in offseason.
WIDE RECEIVERS
- Antonio Brown, Steelers (1)
- Odell Beckham Jr., Giants (2)
- Julio Jones, Falcons (3)
- DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (6)
- A.J. Green, Bengals (13)
- Allen Robinson, Jaguars (14)
- Jordy Nelson, Packers (17)
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers (18)
- Dez Bryant, Cowboys (19)
- Brandon Marshall, Jets (20)
- Keenan Allen, Chargers
- Brandin Cooks, Saints
- Alshon Jeffery, Bears
- Amari Cooper, Raiders
- Sammy Watkins, Bills
- Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
- Randall Cobb, Packers
- Julian Edelman, Patriots
- T.Y. Hilton, Colts
- Eric Decker, Jets
- Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
- Jarvis Landry, Dolphins
- Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs
- Golden Tate, Lions
- Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers
- Michael Floyd, Cardinals
- John Brown, Cardinals
- Donte Moncrief, Colts
- Marvin Jones, Lions
- Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Stud – Allen: Was on pace for 134 catches for 1,450 yards and 8 TDs when he got hurt.
Dud – Baldwin: Very good receiver, but he won’t repeat his second-half pace.
Sleeper – Josh Gordon, Browns (35): Has WR1 potential after serving 4-game suspension.
TIGHT ENDS
- Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (11)
- Greg Olsen, Panthers
- Jordan Reed, Redskins
- Delanie Walker, Titans
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs
- Coby Fleener, Saints
- Gary Barnidge, Browns
- Zach Ertz, Eagles
- Julius Thomas, Jaguars
- Antonio Gates, Chargers
Stud – Fleener: New member of top 10 should thrive away from timeshare with Colts.
Dud – Tyler Eifert, Bengals (12): Out until Week 4 at earliest; TD rate last year unsustainable.
Sleeper – Jared Cook, Packers (14): In best situation of his career with this offense.
