ADP: 58th (RB24)
The 2018 season was a lost one for Devonta Freeman, who played just two games due to injuries to his foot and groin. But Freeman is heading into his age-27 season in 2019 and should be in roughly the same type of situation he's been during his previous stellar seasons.
So why has he fallen from 24th overall (RB12) in September of last year to 58th overall (RB24) in January?
I'm not real sure, to be honest.
After a putrid rookie year, Freeman has been a fantasy stud when healthy, and other than 2018, he's been very healthy, missing just three games through his first four seasons.
| Year | Carries | Rush Yards | Catches | Receiving Yards | Total TDs | PPR Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 265 | 1,056 | 73 | 578 | 14 | RB1 |
| 2016 | 227 | 1,079 | 54 | 462 | 13 | RB6 |
| 2017 | 196 | 865 | 36 | 317 | 8 | RB13 |
Yes, there are some worrying trends here as Freeman's touches and production have dropped each year since his breakout 2015 effort. But there's also a lot to like -- as in three straight really darn good seasons. And he's shown the ability to put up quality numbers even without seeing massive volume, getting just 49 more touches than Tevin Coleman in 2017 and still nearly putting together an RB1 (top-12) season.
Freeman has been efficient with his touches, and with Coleman likely gone in free agency this spring, Freeman could be in line for more work in 2018. And even if Ito Smith jumps right into the Coleman role -- which isn't a given -- Freeman has shown he can thrive in a timeshare as he's seen a 54% rushing share and more than 230 carries only once in his career.
If you're looking for running back help -- and who isn't -- Freeman is a cost-effective way to get it.