(Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/RB_Todd_Gurley_II_Rams%2C_2015.jpg under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. When you don’t see us talking about Christine Michael or Mike Davis, don’t get mad at us for neglecting your favorite sleeper. Get mad at yourself for having bad taste in football players. We are only focusing on the top-rated running backs in standard scoring and points per game leagues. If you kneed (I’m so sorry) to know how healthy your running backs are, then this Todd Gurley player profile is for you.
With my player profiles, I’ve only decided to go back to look at their fantasy scoring for three years. I could show you lists from earlier, but most of the guys at the top are no longer in the league anymore. I’ve also added a chart for their usage over that time span. We will try to determine, based on those two factors, where the best running back value lies.
Todd Gurley ADP and AAV
Current ADP: As of 6/18/2019
Standard: Number 9 among running backs. Number 11 overall.
PPR: Number 9 among running backs. Number 11 overall.
Todd Gurley Average Auction Value (AAV) $200 Budget: $34
Stats:
FANTASY SCORING — STANDARD
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 1st | 313.1 | 1st | 22.4 |
| 2017 | 1st | 319.3 | 1st | 21.3 |
| 2016 | 21st | 147.5 | 27th | 9.8 |
FANTASY SCORING — PPR
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 3rd | 372.1 | 1st | 26.6 |
| 2017 | 1st | 383.3 | 1st | 25.6 |
| 2016 | 18th | 186.5 | 23rd | 12.4 |
FANTASY USAGE
| Carries | Carries Per Game | Targets | Targets Per Game | |
| 2018 | 256 | 18.2 | 81 | 5.8 |
| 2017 | 279 | 18.6 | 87 | 5.8 |
| 2016 | 278 | 17.4 | 58 | 3.6 |
Overview: It is hard to believe that the best running back of the last two years might not even be drafted in the first round. That is what happens when you get out-touched by an overweight CJ Anderson in the Super Bowl. All reports out of Los Angeles are that Todd Gurley will never see a similar snap count again. The drafting of Darrell Henderson in the 3rd round seems to indicate that the Rams believe this also.
Strategy: Strategy: Our Todd Gurley Auction Value ($200 Budget): $35
The strategy here is dependent on how risk-averse you are. Gurley has the ability to win you leagues. Just ask all the Gurley owners from 2017. He also has an arthritic knee. The question is whether Todd Gurley is worth the risk. As the very wise and very drunk Evan Hoovler once told me, your first round pick might not win you your fantasy league, but it can lose it for you. Now get me another beer.
Best Case Scenario: The best case scenario is that these are all just lies bandied about by the uninitiated, who have no idea how brilliant Sean McVay actually is. Sean McVay is playing 12th-dimensional chess and sat Todd Gurley for most of the Super Bowl last year just to trick everyone.
Worst Case Scenario: The worst case scenario is that you spent the entire offseason listening to how Todd Gurley was never going to be the same again. But you thought to yourself,` how can these so-called “experts” know better than I? I have been playing fantasy football for years and I know a little bit about knees, having failed out of veterinary school. I’m getting too great a value here. How can I pass up a player who finished in the top three in the last two years? Oh my God, these fools have no idea what they are doing. They are just giving me the league……..WHAT DO YOU MEAN TODD GURLEY IS HURT?!?!?!?! THIS IS COMING OUT OF NOWHERE!?!?!?!?!?!’
