Fantasy Football 2015 roundtable: In-depth fantasy tips, guide
By Adnan Ikic
Nov 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) celebrates after scoring during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. The Broncos won 29-16. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Which player would you take if you had the No. 1 overall pick?
Adnan Ikic: Fantasy running backs are the backbone of a championship caliber team. There are about six truly elite RB1s, so I’d take the best one of the bunch with the top pick. That player is Jamaal Charles.
He’s in an offensive scheme where everything revolves around him. Charles is an absolute bell cow for the Kansas City offense because his quarterback is limited, and more of a game manager than a field general (Alex Smith didn’t even throw a touchdown pass to a wide receiver last year).
The University Texas product might finish the season with the most rushing yards as a result. The fact that he’s a receiving threat out of the backfield further solidifies his value, both to the Chiefs and to your fantasy team. Pull the trigger on Charles this year if you’re picking No. 1 overall.
Freddie Boston: There are a few options with this pick, but I think it has to be a running back. For me it would come down to either Jamaal Charles or Eddie Lacy and I would probably go for the former.
Charles might not be the leading rushing when the season is all said and done, but he’s a consistent performer on the field and the safest bet at No. 1 overall. He has missed one game in each of the past two seasons which is a slight concern, but generally he’s pretty durable.
Charles has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in five of the past six seasons, with the only exception coming in 2011 when he missed 14 games. In the past two seasons, he has added 12 receiving touchdowns also, which makes him so valuable.
Kevin Knight: Le’Veon Bell is without a doubt the top commodity in fantasy right now, regardless of his two-week suspension. I would certainly look long and hard at him even with the first overall pick.
However, it’s rare that the top fantasy player repeats his feat the next year, so take the projections with a grain of salt. If you’re in PPR, Jamaal Charles might be a safer bet. Adrian Peterson scares me; I got burned last season.
Tyler Black: Out of all of the top running backs available, Barring injury, Jamaal Charles is the most sure bet to have an excellent season. While DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy may seem tempting, they are playing in new systems this year, so we will have to wait and see whether they will thrive on their new teams.
Meanwhile, Kansas City will most likely still employ its run-first system this year, so Charles is set to once again put up big numbers.
Colin Hubbard: I will be looking to draft Aaron Rodgers with my first pick. A running back is always risky while a quarterback is always a safe bet.
Next: When to take a wide receiver?