NFL
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Young Running Backs Rising
As OTAs progress toward training camp, we continue to gear up for peak drafting season. Which young runners went in the early rounds of our 12-team mock?

Round 14

Pick Team Selection Position
157 Justin Freeman Dante Pettis WR73
158 Jim Sannes Marcus Mariota QB12
159 Drew Crawford Doug Martin RB61
160 Anthony Amico Keelan Cole WR74
161 Austan Kas Mohamed Sanu WR75
162 JJ Zachariason Darren Sproles RB62
163 Brandon Gdula Jack Doyle TE15
164 Dale Redman Tre'Quan Smith WR76
165 Joseph Redemann Donte Moncrief WR77
166 Akash Bhatia O.J. Howard TE16
167 Abe Schwadron Mike Gesicki TE17
168 Blair Ames Taywan Taylor WR78


Best Pick: Doug Martin

In fantasy football, the cold reality is that sometimes opportunity trumps talent. A few seasons ago, Matt Asiata and Peyton Hillis were winning leagues in the fantasy playoffs due to the huge opportunity that was presented to them via injury. These two thumpers were certainly on the low-end of the NFL's talent spectrum, but if you had them on your roster you were counting money.

In the case of Doug Martin, although there are more talented backs on the Raiders' roster, new Head Coach Jon Gruden has shown an affinity for bringing in veterans with track records of success. Martin has averaged a paltry 2.9 yards per carry in each of the last two seasons as a member of the Bucs, but we are already hearing the new regime in Oakland using the "fresh legs" narrative.

Martin is surely not a sexy pick in round 14, but he is the only player in this group who at least has a path to being a league-winner. It may not be likely, but neither was Asiata or Hillis in the 2014 and 2010 preseasons, respectively. If Gruden determines that Martin is an upgrade over incumbent Marshawn Lynch, he may be able to outperform his inefficiency by producing with sheer volume.

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