As a dynasty owner, one must think beyond the upcoming season and more into the future of their franchise.
One important area of focus for every dynasty owner should be which players are entering a “contract year”. The possibility of free agency not only impacts the player themselves but their former and future team’s depth chart and the
players that currently make that up.
NFL Players who are entering a contract year have that extra incentive to showcase their ability to play in the NFL in hopes of earning that blockbuster contract and therefore should be strongly considered by dynasty owners when
making final roster decisions during the offseason.
Le’veon Bell held out the entire 2018 season to land a 4-year, $52 million dollar contract with 27 million guaranteed with the New York Jets so who is up next to land that next big deal? It is up to them to perform in 2019 to entice their future employer into that next big deal.
The next episode of this series starts with 5 running backs who are entering the last year of their current contract and therefore should be under your watchful eye(s). We will start with one who is attempting to fill some big shoes the San Diego Chargers have been trying to fill after the departure of former great Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson who left the team a decade ago.
Melvin Gordon (San Diego Chargers):
Melvin Gordon broke the single-game Division I rushing record after gaining 408 yards on the ground against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though that record was broken the following week by Oklahoma Sooner Samaje Perine a week later after he rushed for 427 yards, it was still a remarkable accomplishment.
Outlook for 2019:
After picking up the fifth-year option for Gordon last year, the Chargers will be forced to give the former Wisconsin Badger a contract that both sides agree on this year if Melvin can prove that he can not only stay healthy, but continue to produce on the field as he has shown throughout the first four years in the NFL as both a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield.
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Gordon should be a solid start next year providing he can stay healthy.
Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans):
The Titan finally decided that they needed to include their 2016 2nd round pick more in their offensive game plan in the second half of the 2018 NFL season and it paid off greatly. Henry had several achievements in college at Alabama including winning the Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award. Many don’t realize he holds the record for career National High School rushing yards making him a five-star recruit.
Outlook for 2019:
With all that said, this guy is a beast out of the Titans backfield whom they cannot afford to lose. As a 6’3 and nearly 250 pounds who ran a 4.54 40 at the combine, he leaves defenses on their heals and rightfully so. The Titans would be foolish to let this guy test the market as there are plenty of teams looking for a back like Henry. He is a BEAST!
I expect Henry to have a breakout year in 2019.
Giovani Bernard (Cincinnati Bengals):
Giovani Bernard has never been that back who has turned heads during games. Even though he has made some plays, not many of them have been head turners and he has not been consistent with his contribution to the team for a player taken at the top of the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft and given a 3-year extension 3 years later. Bernard’s rookie year was actually his most productive year when he gained 695 yards on the ground with 5 TD’s and another 514 yards and 3 TD’s through the air.
Outlook for 2019:
Bernard is a tough one for me as I just don’t believe he has the ability to be a difference maker in the NFL as a consistent contributor to a team. His game has been on a steady decline since his rookie debut but he has made enough of an impact in the NFL to be mentioned here.
Is his lack of production his fault or his team’s fault? I don’t know the answer to that but it is my opinion that if he were to have a comeback season, it won’t be with the Bengals.
Kenyan Drake (Miami Dolphins):
After breaking his leg in 2014, Kenyan Drake was the backup running back to the aforementioned Derrick Henry after breaking his arm in the first game of his senior year in 2015. He was also was the backup RB to Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Drake definitely had some tough “breaks” in college but he has shown some value as a fantasy asset in the NFL.
Outlook for 2019:
Kenyan Drake has been a career backup running back throughout his Collegiate and NFL career but 2019 presents an opportunity for him to take the next step and earn that starting position he has been wanting.
It is up to him to put in the effort and find the passion to become that player. He has shown the ability to be successful at the next level and has said that he is studying film of New England Patriots RB James White as they are very similar in their playing style.
Drake has averaged an incredible 4.7 yards per carry in limited action throughout the first three years of his NFL career so if he can earn the trust of his new head coach
Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea and get more opportunities, Drake could be a steal in 2019.
Kareem Hunt (Cleveland Browns):
With Nick Chubb already on the roster after being drafted in the early 2nd round of the 2018 draft and Hunt already missing half the season, Kareem will have to take advantage of each and every opportunity to prove the rest of the league that he can be as productive as he was last year with the Chiefs before he was released by his team after a video was released which involved him with an altercation with a woman that ultimately resulted in him being suspended for the first 8 games of the 2019 NFL season.
Outlook for 2019
Hunt is an extremely unique situation after being one of the top producing running backs in the league and being released by his team after a disturbing video was released by the media and is now sitting on a team that drafted a running back with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round the year before who has shown his ability to produce on the field as well.
I’m really not sure what to think of this as I was puzzled at first when the Browns signed Hunt but they have little invested in a player whom they may be able to trade and gain a considerable return. I really don’t expect Hunt to play a down in a Browns uniform this year but do expect him to play for another team. Potential teams that may be interested in him are the Bills, Lions, Packers and Texans.
In Summary:
With running backs like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Nick Chubb or even undrafted Phillip Lindsay coming out of college and producing right out of the gate, it is making it more difficult for veterans at the position to negotiate a new contract as Le’Veon Bell has learned.
I stated two years ago that Bell would not be sporting the black and gold this year and I was right but I did not expect him to sit out the entire 2018 season. That goes to show just how far some players will push their limits even if they have proven to be a character risk.
Some other key running backs who have a contract expiring after the 2019 NFL season are LeSean McCoy, Lamar Miller, Theo Riddick, Frank Gore and Jalen Richard so make sure they are on your list of players to watch this coming season and beyond.
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