Fantasy Football 2015: Previewing the Green Bay Packers
Eddie Lacy, RB
Nov 9, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 55-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Despite my man-crush on Aaron Rodgers, the best place to start this fantasy football-specific discussion on the Packers is with Eddie Lacy. After a strong rookie year in 2013, Lacy was on the radar of FF owners as a top-level choice heading into 2014 and he didn’t disappoint.
His rushing TDs actually took a slight dip (11 in 2013, nine in 2014) but his rushing yards remained nearly identical (1,178 in ’13; 1,139 in ’14) while his reception total (35 in ’13; 42 in ’14) and receiving touchdowns (none in ’13; four in ’14) took a jump. He’s a stone-cold fantasy beast.
Lacy is a runner in the Marshawn Lynch mold; a big, physical back who still possesses the necessary elusiveness to make defenders miss. As a Notre Dame fan I got my first extended look at Lacy in the BCS National Championship Game a few years ago and came away convinced he would be a terror in the NFL. Of course the Irish were so over-matched that every Alabama player looked like a world-beater, but that’s another story for another day.
Sep 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes the ball against Chicago Bears cornerback Isaiah Frey (31) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers defeats the Chicago Bears 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Looking across the fantasy football landscape heading into 2015, there are a handful of running backs that are considered viable options as the top overall draft choice.
The explosive Jamaal Charles is a popular pick, and rightfully so. He was dinged up often in 2014 and could easily vault back to top RB status if fully healthy. Adrian Peterson is back and if you’re certain his one-year hiatus will have no effect on the dominance he has shown in his career, it’s hard to go wrong there.
Le’Veon Bell, maybe? Or does his suspension (currently at three games, pending an appeal hearing) scare you away from what otherwise may have been a slam-dunk choice?
Matt Forte, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, C.J. Anderson. It seems like everybody at the FF party is going to come away with a stud RB. For me, Lacy is the guy to take first. With A-Rod and a pair of top-flight receivers commanding so much defensive attention, Lacy will have the easiest path to continue his ascension as one of the best all-around RBs in fantasy football.
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