NFL

4 Rookie Running Backs to Draft in Fantasy Football This Year

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Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons

NFL Draft Selection: 3rd Round, 73rd Overall
ADP (Std/PPR): 70/76

Atlanta's Tevin Coleman comes into the NFL on the heels of a season in which he rushed for 2,036 yards at the University of Indiana.

Coleman's season was overshadowed only by Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon (2,587 rushing yards), as he finished second in the FBS in rushing yards last season.

The Falcons have announced that second-year back Devonta Freeman will enter training camp as the starter. But with Freeman finishing as one of the least effective running backs in the NFL per our Rushing Net Expected Points (NEP) metric, you have to wonder how long he'll keep the job.

Over the past two seasons at Indiana, Tevin Coleman averaged 7.4 yards per carry on 401 carries.

Coleman is an electric runner who will surely gain more touches as he flashes during preseason and into the early parts of the regular season.

His rushing prowess was validated by PlayerProfiler.com, giving him a 43.2% College Dominator score (anything over 40% is considering excellent for a running back) and comparing him to the great Jamaal Charles.

Coleman has a prime opportunity, as Atlanta fired stubborn head coach Mike Smith and brought in defensive-minded Dan Quinn.

Quinn comes over from Seattle, a run first team, and took Coleman as "his guy" in the third round of the NFL Draft. Quinn could make Coleman earn the job in preseason, but we should firmly believe that his talent will eventually win out over the aforementioned Freeman.

The offensive line is still a concern for Atlanta, but an offense led by Matt Ryan and Julio Jones has proven to support excellent fantasy running backs in the past.

Coleman brings a dynamic style of rushing to the Falcons offense that they have not had before. Look for Coleman to be a strong candidate to lead this group of rookies in rushing yardage if he does indeed win the starting job for the Falcons.