5 RBs to buy in dynasty fantasy football

By: Kyle Williams (Twitter: @betonthegame)

With America’s capital in shambles, the core beliefs of all shook, and everyone and everywhere filled with hate and uninspiring voices. Things look bleak and the times look sad. We can’t let that stop us. Our voices need to be heard and we all need to speak out.

In sad times, we all look for something to get away from. I admit I’m not the biggest political person. In fact, I tend to stay far away from politics. But I just wanted to say my piece and tell everyone to stay safe and continue to speak out and help your community. Be a leader, donate, help your local businesses, and continue to make the community a better place for the people you love and the people around you.

Now let’s dive into this article and get away from the distractions of every day life. Here are five running backs that I’m buying in dynasty before the start of the 2021 season.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

The profit is in the panic, and this is exactly where Elliott comes in. The goal is always to win of course, but it takes skill, patients, and a lot of work. Buying low and selling high is just one of the several things you have to do. Why is it time to buy Zeke? Here’s why.

Dak Prescott, simple. He was an absolute force when he was with Prescott was there and not so much when Prescott wasn’t there. Take a look at the splits.

• With: 5 Games, 89 Carries, 364 Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 24 Receptions, 173 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 22.34 Fantasy Points Per Game
• Without: 10 Games, 155 Carries, 615 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 28 Receptions, 165 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 13.55 Fantasy points per game

Everything dropped off after Prescott got hurt. Yards per carry, touchdowns, receptions, fantasy points per game, everything. But it wasn’t just the loss of Prescott that hurt. The Cowboys had several linemen including all-pro Zack Martin get hurt. They lost stars La’el Collins and Tyron Smith for the season in early November and lost tight end Blake Jarwin in December. Those are just some of the names.

Losing your starting QB, three of your top lineman, and two backups is a brutal beat.

Even with everything that happened, Elliott still finished as the RB9 in fantasy formats. He is still a high-caliber back and with the offense staying intact this offseason we can easily see Elliott return to the previous form. I’m buying him with everyone selling him for so cheap.

D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

This one is going to cost you, believe me I understand it is. But I’m willing to pay for his value know because I believe we haven’t even scratched the surface of his potential. This season is just the beginning of what’s to come for the young star running back. Take a look.

• 13 Games, 114 Rushes, 521 Yards, 8 Touchdowns, 57 Targets, 46 Receptions, 357 Yards, 2 Touchdowns, 14.6 PPR Points per game, RB20 on the season

Just keep in mind, rookie season, two runners ahead didn’t collect a start until Week 6, and battled through injuries and covid. All that and he still was RB20, crazy right? The average is insane as well, he averaged 14.6 PPG only starting half of the season. He is truly a special player. Take a look at some plays from Swift this season.

Swift is an all-pro talent, his electric running style, paired with his high motor and quick feet is the icing on the cake giving his unbelievable receiving skills. He is truly a five-star back in every sense of the word.

The elite talent is just the beginning, a crazy stat for you is that Swift only saw 47% snap share this season. What can we expect in 2021 with a near 60+ snap share percentage? Swift is an easy Top-12 back. The situation for next season is only going to prove better and vault his snap share. Take a look at this tweet that sums it up perfectly.

It’s worth paying the price for Swift. Buying now in my eyes is still buying “low.” I’m all aboard Swift as a no-brainer top-10 back next season and in my eyes, he may push top-6.

Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills

I refuse to give up on this guy. Drafted in the third round out of Utah, Moss was one of my favorite backs in the class. He has the insane size and is an absolute brute bruiser of a runner. That pairs perfectly with the Bills new high-powered offense.

Look at his slippery speed and touch, he’s extremely hard to take down on contact. Moss didn’t have the greatest fantasy season as he finished as RB48 with 101 fantasy points. Remember though he was behind Devin Singletary and that could change by next season. Singletary is heading into a potential contract year in 2021 and it could be Moss’ backfield by 2022.

Buying low now especially in a clear situation surrounded by elite talent is a no-brainer. Moss should be the lead back by 2022 if not potentially even next season. People aren’t treating him with enough respect plummeting his stock. Buy now while the window is low.

Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots

I have to get this out of the way to start this. Yes, I’m a Patriots fan. Yes, I’m a Harris truther. Yes, it doesn’t matter, but I just had to tell you in case it matters. In my eyes, Harris is clearly an uber-talented back. He has tremendous speed, hands, and size. Take a look at one of his runs from his first real year in the league in 2020.

Harris was a gem in fantasy leagues. He only played a near 10 games this season, but he made the most of it during those games. In half of those games, he had over 10 fantasy points. He did that while only seeing an average of fewer than 14 carries per game and zero receiving work. It’s what Harris did in games with over 16 carries is what’s so impressive.

In three games where he had over 16 carries he had the following rushing yards: 121, 102, 80. In each of those games, he had an average carry of over 5 yards. He is an absolute unit on the field.

With guys like Sony Michel potentially being a trade or cut candidate along with Burkhead, it’s easy to carve out a bigger 2021 role for Harris. I’m buying him super low right now in hopes that in 2021 he sees an uptick in work in the passing game and receiving game.

It’s also great to note the offense should be better next season with potentially a new Qb and some WR upgrades. That should open up major holes for Harris to run through and potentially he can expand his game with check-downs and screens.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There really isn’t much analysis or stats I can provide you with on this one. The few things I can say though is that Leonard Fournette stinks and Ronald Jones is only alright. Listen, Fournette will not be on this team next year and neither will LeSean McCoy. Just with those two gone right there it opens up a major role in the offense. It frees up the following carries and yards.

Fournette – 97 Carries, 367 Yards, 6 Touchdowns

Just with that alone it propels Vaughn into a defect fantasy hold. Jones has shown an injury history and innefiecncy at times as well. With both being out or hurt it propels Vaughn front and center.

The talent is also there. Vaughn was a stud in college. Check out this play from his college days.

There isn’t a whole lot to say. People are low on Vaugh with all the weapons and backs infant of him. I’m fading the noise and buying him for a cheap price as a potential 2021 upside player.