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Fantasy football: The ideal mock draft for the 2019 NFL season

By Chris Wilson

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 02: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants leaps over Adrian Amos #38 of the Chicago Bears for extra yardage during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on December 02, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 02: Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants leaps over Adrian Amos #38 of the Chicago Bears for extra yardage during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on December 02, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Fantasy football 2019 perfect draft
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 28: Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings leaps with the ball for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Round 7: RB Latavius Murray, New Orleans Saints

We passed up on Kamara in the first round, but we’re able to draft his backfield counterpart six rounds later. No one is comparing New Orleans Saints running back Latavius Murray to the team’s top back, but it’s no secret that head coach Sean Payton wants to limit his star runner’s snaps in 2019.

Last season, Kamara was forced into a snap rate over 80 percent during fellow running back Mark Ingram‘s four-game suspension.  After Ingram’s return, Kamara’s snap rate dropped to a manageable 60 percent of New Orleans’ offensive snaps. Over the remainder of the season, the pair split carries evenly at 138, although Ingram topped Kamara in rushing yards, 645 to 608.

After last season, New Orleans parted ways with Ingram, who quickly landed in Baltimore, and signed Murray to a four-year, $14.4 million contract:

Murray has spent most of his career splitting carries in Oakland and Minnesota, but he’s averaged eight touchdowns on the ground over his last four seasons. Despite his large frame, he is also a respectable receiver out of the backfield, averaging 28 receptions per season over that timeframe.

If Murray sees a fair share of goal-line touches this season, he’ll be a decent flex option. And if Kamara is unfortunate enough to miss significant time, Murray could be a league-winning pick here in the seventh round.