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Sunday Debate: Todd Gurley Is Top Fantasy Running Back

By Brendan Pignataro

Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates after scoring a seventy one yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) celebrates after scoring a seventy one yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brendan Pignataro and Mark Morales-Smith will be debating a different topic each Sunday. This week will feature a debate on the top running backs in fantasy football. Is Todd Gurley or David Johnson the best choice?

As week two of the preseason draws to end, we inch slowly towards some meaningful Sundays. That means wings, beer and fantasy match-ups that inevitably ruin friendships. Oh what a glorious time of the year! To help you in your draft preparation, Mark and I will debate which running back will be the best in the fantasy world.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: David Johnson Is Top Fantasy RB

Recently I wrote how Devonta Freeman will be the top PPR running back again in 2016. However, for this debate I will focus more on standard leagues. If you have the opportunity to take the first running back off the board, do yourself a favor and don’t pass on St. Louis Rams’ Todd Gurley. Mark’s choice of David Johnson had an impressive year, but does not deserve to be the top running back taken in any type of league.

If you watch closely, it is evident that Gurley is already the most talented running back in football in just his second season in the NFL. Le’Veon Bell plays in a better offense, but Gurley is a more physically talented player. And even though he is still performing at a high level, Adrian Peterson has already passed the torch of most talented player onto Gurley who might keep that title for the next five to ten years. Gurley got his first major playing time in week four last season, and from then on he was the number two fantasy running back behind Freeman through week 16.

In his rookie season, Gurley showed why he will be a top running back for years to come. Despite only playing in 13 games, he rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gurley won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and was selected to the Pro Bowl. His detractors will argue that his injury history and lowly Rams offense are red flags. However, there are red flags with every running back in the league. Bell will miss three games with a suspension, Peterson is over 30 years old and Freeman doesn’t inspire as much in standard leagues as he does with PPR scoring.

That brings us to Mark’s choice of Johnson. The former Northern Iowa Panther has a lot of talent, and a great offense around him, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Johnson only had one game last season where he had more than 100 yards rushing, compared to Gurley’s five.

Johnson also has Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington on his roster to steal away some of his touches. Besides the occasional breather, I don’t see Benny Cunningham stealing much away from Gurley. Johnson also finished last season poorly, with three straight lackluster performances against the Seahawks, Packers and Panthers.

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Talent, upside and production. Those are just a few of the reasons to chose Gurley over Johnson, and myself over Mark in these Sunday debates.

More nfl spin zone: Los Angeles Rams: The Bests…and the Worst in 2016

Please check out Mark’s opposing article, and feel free to join in on the debate in the comments!

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