Buffalo Bills: LeSean McCoy 2017 fantasy football outlook
By Connor Price
2017 pro bowler, LeSean McCoy, is one of the top backs in the league. McCoy ranked third among all running backs in fantasy points, and fourth in rushing touchdowns. He is the gold standard.
LeSean McCoy is currently falling in the back-end of the first round in most mock drafts. Your first round pick is your sure-fire highest scoring player, and a team can crumble if that guy isn’t holding your team up on his shoulders. (see my first round pick, Todd Gurley 2016).
There could be a “better team bias” for LeVeon Bell against McCoy. Bell is going at the peak of drafts, sometimes first overall. Bell gained one more yard than McCoy on 30 fewer carries. With that being said, you can’t pick a player based off what they accomplished the prior year, but what you believe they’ll do this year.
LeSean McCoy posted a 2016 stat line of 1,267 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns. He also acquired 356 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The first Buffalo Bills taken off the board in any draft will be LeSean McCoy. Next, will be star wide receiver, Sammy Watkins, falling to the back end of the second round.
CBS Sports had strong things to say about McCoy:
"He’ll be 29 this year, so his time as a dominant Fantasy running back could be coming to an end, but he’s still worth trusting this year. The return of quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the addition of fullbacks Patrick DiMarco and Mike Tolbert should help McCoy, as well as new offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. Jonathan Williams is the handcuff for McCoy, and Williams is worth drafting with a late-round pick. But McCoy is a slam dunk first-round pick in all leagues, and he should be the No. 4 running back off the board behind Le’Veon Bell, David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott."
Although fullbacks Patrick DiMarco and Mike Tolbert could vulture McCoy’s touchdowns, their lead blocking abilities are second to none. As CBS Sports specified in the quote above, that should seriously improve their already solid run game.
It’s a promising sign when a player finishes the season strong. As the result of this is to hope for his momentum to carry on to the following season. McCoy was the savior in many fantasy owner’s championship runs. In weeks 14 through 16, the 28-year-old running back had 422 combined yards and four touchdowns. He will most likely mirror his late season 2016 run with a favorable schedule again late in the year.
I expect a similar season out of McCoy considering he has been as consistent as any back in the league. A safe bet is 1000+, and I project LeSean McCoy rush for 1,360 yards while his touchdowns regress.
A slight decline in his efficiency in regards to touchdowns is due. McCoy has only surpassed the double-digit mark in rushing touchdowns twice in his career (2011&2016). In 2017 he will achieve said mark once again with 10.
McCoy is a valuable asset out of the backfield, so it is important to remember the potential points he can add to his season total on that front. 336 for two touchdowns.
LeSean McCoy 2017 stat projections:
- 1,360 rushing yards
- 10 rushing touchdowns
- 336 receiving yards
- 2 receiving touchdowns
- =241 fantasy points
Any time a running back rises above the 200 fantasy point mark, it is a tell-tale sign of an elite season.
Of the top 4 running backs, LeSean McCoy has been the most consistent out of the bunch. Going beyond the 1,000 -yard mark five times in his career. Of David Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliot, and LeSean McCoy the two that are the safest picks are Elliot and McCoy. Pro Football Focus ranked the Arizona Cardinals offensive line 17th in the league while ranking the Cowboys and Bills 9th and 10th respectively. Le’Veon Bell’s chink in the armor is his injury concerns.
If I came out of the first round of the draft with McCoy in my pocket, I would have no reason to complain. Now give me Sammy Watkins in the second round please.
Next: Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Williams 2017 fantasy football outlook
Do you agree with my 2017 LeSean McCoy projections? Leave your thoughts in the comments!