Fantasy Football 2015: 10 rookies you want to draft

Aug 1, 2015; Earth City, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs with the ball at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: RB Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams

Is taking Todd Gurley a risk? Sure. Is it worth taking? Absolutely.

Gurley could be the best running back the 2015 rookie class has to offer, and the St. Louis Rams certainly believed so when they took him with the tenth overall pick. A back hadn’t been taken in the first round since 2012, so the Rams are rolling the dice.

What they got is a man who has drawn comparisons to Marshawn Lynch. He’s a powerful back who is a tackle-breaking machine. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, 61.9 percent of Gurley’s rushing yards in 2014 were made after contact. Wow.

If you are planning on catching a glimpse of the rookie in preseason, you’ll need to be patient. Gurley is still recovering from a torn ACL which ended his 2014 season. He won’t be featured in any of the four games, which is a smart move by the Rams.

Despite that, he is said to be in great shape and is participating in a number of individual drills including tight cuts to get his knee gradually accustomed to the stress it will be under in the NFL. There’s no exact target for his return, but it shouldn’t be too late into the season.

Because of that, Gurley is well worth the risk. Worst case scenario? He misses some time and you feel like a pick has been wasted. Best case? He’s one of the best backs in the league, and you have yourself a steal.

Next: No. 1