The Rams released Todd Gurley today, after trying to trade him. The Falcons were reportedly interested, and since they just released Devonta Freeman, that would be an interesting landing spot; Atlanta doesn't have much else on the roster. Wherever he winds up, Gurley -- if healthy -- should be a relevant player.
Gurley has supposedly been dealing with some sort of knee issue since late in the 2018 season, described (and denied) as an arthritic knee. But while it may have limited him last year, he was still a top-15 fantasy back -- after back-t0-back years as one of the league's very best.
With Gurley, it's his all-around impact as both a runner and receiver (and scorer) that fuels his fantasy value. Over the last three seasons, 52 running backs have had at least 200 carries. Thirty-three of those runners have also had at least 200 receiving yards. Only two players have done both in each of those three seasons: Ezekiel Elliott, and Gurley.
Table shows all 52 200-carry running backs, with the 33 who also had at least 200 receiving yards listed first (sorted by name). Six other backs did it twice in the last three years. Fantasy ranking each season (PPR scoring) is also shown.
| 200-CARRY RUNNING BACKS, 2017-2019 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Rk |
| 2019 | Aaron Jones, G.B. | 236 | 1084 | 16 | 49 | 474 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018 | Adrian Peterson, Was. | 251 | 1042 | 7 | 20 | 208 | 1 | 19 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1007 | 3 | 28 | 224 | 1 | 18 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 8 | 59 | 350 | 0 | 8 |
| 2019 | Chris Carson, Sea. | 278 | 1230 | 7 | 37 | 266 | 2 | 12 |
| 2019 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 287 | 1387 | 15 | 116 | 1005 | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 | Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 219 | 1098 | 7 | 107 | 867 | 6 | 1 |
| 2019 | Dalvin Cook, Min. | 250 | 1135 | 13 | 53 | 519 | 0 | 6 |
| 2018 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 258 | 940 | 7 | 50 | 446 | 3 | 9 |
| 2019 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 303 | 1540 | 16 | 18 | 206 | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 304 | 1434 | 6 | 77 | 567 | 3 | 5 |
| 2019 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 301 | 1357 | 12 | 54 | 420 | 2 | 3 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 7 | 26 | 269 | 2 | 12 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3 | 29 | 245 | 1 | 20 |
| 2018 | James Conner, Pitt. | 215 | 973 | 12 | 55 | 497 | 1 | 6 |
| 2018 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 237 | 1168 | 8 | 43 | 296 | 1 | 10 |
| 2019 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 278 | 1137 | 5 | 35 | 287 | 3 | 13 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 8 | 53 | 455 | 3 | 4 |
| 2017 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3 | 36 | 327 | 3 | 16 |
| 2019 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 265 | 1152 | 3 | 76 | 522 | 0 | 7 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 9 | 36 | 302 | 1 | 10 |
| 2017 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 6 | 59 | 448 | 2 | 7 |
| 2019 | LeVeon Bell, NYJ | 245 | 789 | 3 | 66 | 461 | 1 | 16 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 9 | 85 | 655 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | Mark Ingram, Balt. | 202 | 1018 | 10 | 26 | 247 | 5 | 10 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1124 | 12 | 58 | 416 | 0 | 6 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 8 | 58 | 476 | 4 | 5 |
| 2019 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 298 | 1494 | 8 | 36 | 278 | 0 | 8 |
| 2018 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 261 | 1307 | 11 | 91 | 721 | 4 | 2 |
| 2019 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 217 | 1003 | 6 | 52 | 438 | 2 | 11 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 13 | 64 | 788 | 6 | 1 |
| 2018 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 256 | 1251 | 17 | 59 | 580 | 4 | 3 |
| 2019 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 223 | 857 | 12 | 31 | 207 | 2 | 14 |
| 2019 | Phillip Lindsay, Den. | 224 | 1011 | 7 | 35 | 196 | 0 | 20 |
| 2017 | Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 6 | 23 | 187 | 0 | 19 |
| 2019 | David Montgomery, Chi. | 242 | 889 | 6 | 25 | 185 | 1 | 24 |
| 2017 | Isaiah Crowell, Cle. | 206 | 853 | 2 | 28 | 182 | 0 | 32 |
| 2019 | Josh Jacobs, Oak. | 242 | 1150 | 7 | 20 | 166 | 0 | 21 |
| 2018 | Chris Carson, Sea. | 247 | 1151 | 9 | 20 | 163 | 0 | 15 |
| 2018 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 210 | 973 | 5 | 25 | 163 | 1 | 23 |
| 2017 | Jay Ajayi, 2TM | 208 | 873 | 1 | 24 | 158 | 1 | 35 |
| 2017 | Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 7 | 20 | 151 | 0 | 23 |
| 2018 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 250 | 935 | 9 | 20 | 145 | 0 | 21 |
| 2019 | Adrian Peterson, Was. | 211 | 898 | 5 | 17 | 142 | 0 | 32 |
| 2017 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 9 | 23 | 125 | 0 | 15 |
| 2017 | Latavius Murray, Min. | 216 | 842 | 8 | 15 | 103 | 0 | 25 |
| 2018 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 215 | 1059 | 12 | 15 | 99 | 0 | 16 |
| 2019 | Sony Michel, N.E. | 247 | 912 | 7 | 12 | 94 | 0 | 31 |
| 2018 | Peyton Barber, T.B. | 234 | 871 | 5 | 20 | 92 | 1 | 31 |
| 2019 | Marlon Mack, Ind. | 247 | 1091 | 8 | 14 | 82 | 0 | 23 |
| 2018 | Sony Michel, N.E. | 209 | 931 | 6 | 7 | 50 | 0 | 34 |
| 2019 | Carlos Hyde, Hou. | 245 | 1070 | 6 | 10 | 42 | 0 | 28 |
I don't know where Gurley will play in 2020, and I'm not confident his knee is right enough that his career will be long. Not a guy I'm going after in dynasty leagues.
But his production was strong enough in 2019 that I'm willing to draft him in 2020. How high might depend on where he signs, but I think in the right spot, he'll be a valuable player this season.
As for the Rams, they're down to Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. They also have John Kelly on the roster; I think he's bounced on and off once or twice; just 30 career carries. Henderson they liked enough to draft in the third round (trading up) a year ago. But he was also unremarkable enough as a rookie that I don't think it's a given he (or Brown) is the starter next year. They might still add someone to that backfield, then see how things shake out in August.
If I'm drafting now (and I know some are) I'm interested in Henderson. But I'm not willing to draft him as a featured back, or the next Gurley certainly, without seeing more out of him than we've seen thus far.
--Andy Richardson