Heading into next season, Latavius Murray has a new home with the Minnesota Vikings and that’s good news for his fantasy football value.
Even though the NFL is dominantly a passing league, it’s imperative to have a good running game to balance everything out. From play-action passes, halfback draw options, and the occasional flea flicker, a rushing attack can make an offense dynamic. For running back Latavius Murray entering a great situation with the Minnesota Vikings, he will easily be a force to reckon with on the field—and in fantasy football.
Murray has some pretty big shoes to fill since he’ll be replacing Adrian Peterson, but this is a win-win situation for both sides. Murray now gets to play with a team that wants to really establish the run and he now gets a fresh start on a new franchise with some of his best years ahead of him at just 27 years old.
Timothy Rapp of the Bleacher Report confirmed that Murray signed a three-year contract worth about $15 million. Yes, it’s not a massive contract, but it’s right around what Murray is worth since it’s a great free agent signing that brings an experienced workhorse to the mix.
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It was back in 2015 that Murray totaled his best season yet with the Oakland Raiders. That year, Murray totaled 1,066 rushing yards on 266 rushes and added six touchdowns. Murray also doubled up as a receiving threat that season to the final tune of 232 yards on 41 receptions. Could the Vikings get such a dominating performance again in 2017?
Considering that Murray brings a lot to the table with his speed, ability to break tackles, and a knack for getting open as a receiving threat makes him a solid fantasy option in 2017. As of now, Murray is an RB2 and possibly even a quality FLEX option for fantasy owners ready to take a chance on him come next season.
When a young player with plenty of potential heads to a new team, they will put forth extra effort to prove themselves. Expect to see that with Murray as he will undoubtedly impress his new fans and teammates right off the bat. He has what it takes to make next season his best year yet.
Next: 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Full 3 Rounds Post-Free Agency
Murray will be a solid fantasy option come next season. Murray has the upside to exceed expectations next season since he will be ready to prove to the football world that they haven’t seen anything yet. Yes, he won’t ever replace the legacy Peterson leaves behind, but it’s an exciting new chapter in his career where he should succeed.