Todd Gurley is heading into the 2019 NFL season with quite a few question marks surrounding him. After the Los Angeles Rams utilized him as a workhorse most of the season, Gurley barely played in the playoffs. It came out that he had suffered a fairly serious knee injury and that he now has arthritis in his knee.
Needless to say, that is a major concern for a workhorse running back. He has been used to handling nearly all of the carries for the Rams, but that could change in 2019.
Fantasy Football players couldn't be more worried than they are right now. Gurley has been the kind of player that could power a team to the playoffs. Now, he could be taking a backseat and his fantasy production could end up taking a major hit to the point where he may not be a top-notch starter.
Last season with the Rams, Gurley ended up carrying the football 256 times for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 59 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers came in 14 games, as he missed two in the year.
The Rams went out and brought back Malcolm Brown, who was Gurley's backup most of the year. Sean McVay also has a new weapon to work with in the backfield as the team drafted Darrell Henderson as well.
Obviously, the selection of Henderson added even more nerves to the puzzle for Fantasy Football players. Most would have been targeting Gurley in the top-five picks of their fantasy draft. Others already had him pegged as one of their keepers, but that may change with the news of his knee injury.
At just 24 years old, what should fantasy players expect from the Rams' superstar running back during the upcoming 2019 season?
It's never easy to predict a player's numbers for the season. Even more difficult would be predicting a player's numbers for the season when they are coming off of a serious injury that may threaten his future. The Rams may not even know exactly what they can expect.
While it's difficult to predict, there are some reasonable expectations for Gurley in 2019. Around 200-215 carries would be a decent number, while he should rush for around 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He should also be a threat in the passing game with 40 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns.
Those numbers may not be what Fantasy Football players want from Gurley, but they are still worthy of being a starter in a two running back lineup.
Hopefully, the knee injury and arthritis will not get worse throughout the course of the 2019 season. He seems to be able to manage the pain the way it is, but the Rams just paid him a big contract and are going to do everything in their power to not overwork him. Giving more carries to Brown and Henderson will do just that.
Expect to see Gurley have another solid season, but don't rely on him to carry your team to the playoffs. As far as his draft range is concerned, the middle of the second round is likely the floor.
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