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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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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 10: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on from the sideline before the game against the New York Jets during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 10: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on from the sideline before the game against the New York Jets during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

44. . Running Back. Atlanta Falcons. Devonta Freeman. 3. player

A lot of times, you can get by on selecting a player coming off an injury-plagued year, especially if that forces him to fall into the later rounds of your fantasy football draft.

It’s possible this happens in your league with Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, who appeared in just two games last season and was sidelined with injury throughout. Right now, Freeman’s ADP is 3.03, though, so it doesn’t look like those fantasy owners are paying much attention to the aforementioned trend.

Granted, the Falcons offensive line was pretty banged up last year, so maybe Freeman bounces back. But after a number of years of heavy use and multiple injuries, it’s not impossible to suggest his bounce-back campaign doesn’t happen in 2019.

On top of that, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is known for being a pass-first schemer. Do you recall the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running the ball a lot the last two years? Of course not.

This could provide an uptick in Freeman’s use as a pass catcher — that threat still remains. But there’s no way owners should be looking at Freeman as an RB1 or as a third-round (or higher) target on draft day.