Fantasy Football: Eddie Lacy or DeMarco Murray?

Fantasy Football 2015 is here, but forget easy fantasy decisions with rankings and lists, we’re talking hypothetical trades. Two sets of fantasy football players; who would you rather have? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.

TODD:

It is officially fantasy football season. The interwebbings will soon be flooded with rankings, drafts, sleepers and busts if they aren’t already.

But that stuff doesn’t get at the meat of fantasy decisions. Anyone can know to take Jamaal Charles before Frank Gore, and that the latter may bust. Everyone can figure the upside to taking Odell Beckham, and real sleepers aren’t sleepers at all if they’re being talked about!

So with that, let’s take a deeper dive. I am going to supply two sides of a hypothetical fantasy football trade and you tell me which side would win the deal. These deals are isolated from league settings or roster construction. They are strictly either-ors.

Would you rather have…

A: Eddie Lacy
or
B: DeMarco Murray and Martellus Bennett

According to ESPN.com’s top 300, Eddie Lacy is the number one player on fantasy football draft boards. Doesn’t that seem just a tad high for him?

On the other hand, DeMarco Murray remains a likely first-round pick despite the move to Philadelphia. But he’s only ever had the one really good season in four years in the league because of missed games.

Is that enough of a question to knock down Murray? If so, it would be simple to take Lacy whether you think he’s fantasy’s top player or third player or whatever. Murray needs to put up another 1300+yard season to pass on the former.

Even though I like Martellus Bennett in that second tier of tight ends, he isn’t superior enough to later, free-agent level tight ends to pass on the front half of this deal in my opinion. Then again, if Murray plays Lacy to a standstill in the high-powered Eagles offense, it would be ludicrous to not take the top five tight end for nothing.

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) carries the ball and tries to escape Detroit Lions free safety

Glover Quin

(27) during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

Despite the stigma that follows around DeMarco Murray, he’s been a consistent producer in the NFL. When running backs are concerned, the last two seasons are critical and Murray has shined in both. You talked yourself right into an answer and I’m not about to disagree with sound logic and statistics.

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I understand why Eddie Lacy is high on draft boards. He put averaged over 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his two seasons with Green Bay. The Packers should be a dominant team once again, meaning Lacy is in line for another stellar year statistically. He’s an excellent player and fantasy football talent.

You know who else averaged over 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns in his last two seasons? DeMarco Murray did just that with the Cowboys, blowing Lacy away last year in yards and even eclipsing him in touchdowns. The only knock on this comparison is that Murray needed 392 touches last year to get his numbers, while Lacy did it in a mere 246. That can make a huge difference for a running back. Good thing Murray switched teams.

The Eagles run a more pass heavy offense than Dallas, spreading the field to keep defenses off-balance. I expect Murray’s touches to drop a bit, but not his touchdown numbers. He will excel in Philadelphia, simply put.

The choice here is DeMarco Murray and Martellus Bennett. Injuries are always a risk, especially for running backs, but Bennett has been tremendous since joining Chicago two seasons ago. He easily sways the argument to his sides favor. Bennet averaged about 800 yards and 5 touchdowns in each of the last two years. He was number one in the league amongst tight ends in receptions, third in yards, and seventh in touchdowns for an admittedly poor Bears team. If he’s targeted anywhere close to the 90 times he was last season, Bennett is a great addition to your fantasy team.

So many players get injured and miss time every season that I refuse to let that sway my fantasy football instincts. Murray and Lacy are a wash of talent, so adding in Bennett closes the debate.

Next: Fantasy Football - Adrian Peterson or Demaryius Thomas?

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