Fantasy Football 2017: Running back over wide receiver in first round?

Experts say to pick wide receivers in the first round of fantasy football 2017 drafts, but with so few great running backs, aren’t they more value?

ESPN’s fantasy football summit took place this past week. Yep, it’s about that time of year again. There was a lot to unpack from that summit, not the least of which being that the MVP of the league last year was selected 87th overall. But we’ll get to that another day.

Today we must debate the first round of fantasy football 2017 drafts and how only three running backs were selected in the first ten picks. The first round was 70 percent wide receiver. Is this the new trend, or a foolish way to draft? Where’s the value? We debate.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the Fantasy Football 2017 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Todd Salem:

Have we ever seen this level of domination out of the wide receiver position in fantasy football? I expect not, since passing has never been as prevalent as it is now. But with how often teams pass and how good so many wide receivers are going to be this year, doesn’t taking a running back in round one make even more sense in fantasy football 2017?

Just as a random cross-section, take a look at round six of the ESPN expert draft. Look at the receivers taken in the 50s. Those guys are all really, really good players who are either the first- or second-option on their respective NFL teams. I could see a scenario in which an owner avoids wide receivers altogether for the first 40 or so picks and still ends up with three quality players that one would feel comfortable starting every single week.

On the other hand, running back is a steaming pile almost immediately. No one can afford to wait on running because there’s hardly even ten guys you would trust one week to the next. I know Jordy Nelson is better than Jordan Howard in Round 1, but who is better in Round 6, Nelson’s teammate Davante Adams or Theo Riddick, the RB taken right before him? I mean, it’s not even close.

Those were random examples, but the point remains. Receiver can be filled admirably all the way through the middle of the draft. Running back dries up right away. Passing on one of quality in round one leaves nothing but scraps as soon as round three.

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Now maybe this is less of an issue in snake drafts where 70 percent of the first round is always wide receivers. That means everyone is allowing the better backs to drop. But if just a couple of your league-mates pull a trump card by taking the Howard, Devonta Freeman types at the end of round one, suddenly the cupboard is bare on the comeback.

If you don’t have a top three pick and want a starting running back you can trust, waiting until Round 2 or 3 isn’t going to cut it, even if there are better wide receivers on the board. You can make up the value at WR later. The same cannot be said of the RB position.

Dan Salem:

You make a sound argument, but there is one major flaw in your logic for taking a running back over a wide receiver in the first round of fantasy football drafts this season. In order to win, you must score a lot of points and do so consistently. If only the first four running backs are any good, then ignoring a bonafide stud at receiver who will consistently score a lot of points in favor of a midlevel running back is foolish.

The top 10-15 wide receivers are a significant cut above the rest. If you don’t pick one of them, you are setting yourself back before the year even begins. Only four teams will get those four top running backs, so grab another one of the best players who happens to be a wide receiver. Unlike running backs, receivers usually meet expectations year after year. Its rare for one of our top guys to suddenly fall into oblivion. Not so with running backs.

Running backs are often hit or miss year to year. New players emerge as the best in fantasy football each season, while last year’s stud is no more. My advice as a veteran fantasy football owner is to be the wildcard in your league. Take a running back in the first round of your draft, because those top three or four backs are the ONLY great running backs. But if you miss out on them, don’t reach for a midlevel rusher. Take a stud wide receiver.

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Fantasy football is all about strategy, but every “expert” has made their personal strategy public knowledge. That means they themselves are going against the grain in order to win. You must out think your competition and that means playing for value in fantasy football 2017 drafts.

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