Fantasy Football: Redrafting the First Round After 4 Weeks
2. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Apparently, coaching matters.
That’s the apparent lesson we’ve learned from the almost shocking turnaround for Todd Gurley. Through four games, rookie head coach Sean McVay seems to have a firm grip on the idea that if you have a dynamic player, you should find creative ways to get them the ball.
Gurley is essentially tied with Kareem Hunt in fantasy scoring at 99 points in standard leagues and has improved his Rushing NEP per play from -0.12 in 2016 to -0.03 so far in 2017. That is a significant upgrade, even if there is still room to grow, but where his usage has really been shocking is in the passing game. McVay identified something that Jeff Fisher never could: not only can Gurley catch the ball, but he is also extremely effective in that role.
Gurley currently ranks second at the running back position in Reception NEP at 17.65, with only receiving specialist Chris Thompson fairing better at 22.50. And considering the former top-10 pick finished his 2016 season with a Reception NEP of just 10.45, the value he is adding to his weekly floor and ceiling is truly a game changer. Gurley is on pace to post 80 receptions for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns as a receiver alone, not to mention 1,448 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.
Sustaining that pace is incredibly unrealistic, especially given the difficult schedule he is about to face, but given the opportunity to redraft our first rounds, he would no doubt be one of the top picks given his early-season success.
