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Fantasy football: 10 players you’ll want to avoid drafting early in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams scores a 35 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures while he is on the bench in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Todd Gurley II #30 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures while he is on the bench in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

51. . Running Back. Los Angeles Rams. Todd Gurley. 1. player

A year ago, many a fantasy football league kicked off with the top-selecting team drafting Todd Gurley.

Why not? Rams head coach Sean McVay already established himself as an offensive genius, and Gurley was the dual-threat superstar capable of putting up the kind of eye-popping numbers owners dream about, especially in PPR leagues.

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By all standards, Gurley performed well enough to justify a top billing. That is until he started dealing with knee issues late in the season.

Heading into 2019, Gurley is no longer the consensus No. 1 overall fantasy choice. Instead, Gurley is looking at the No. 11 runner overall and someone likely to go in Round 2.

Too risky.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman) already reported the Rams won’t use Gurley in bell-cow fashion. And while that’s fine, the Rams are reportedly also very high on their rookie tailback, Darrell Henderson, who feasibly could replace Gurley at some point down the line.

If Gurley is dealing with injuries this season, or if L.A. is liking what it’s seeing out of Henderson, the former could wind up being something of an afterthought by year’s end, which makes even a second-round fantasy football selection a painful one.

Next. 5 storylines to watch in 49ers training camp. dark

Be smart and push Gurley way down your draft board this year.