Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
In fantasy football, the running back may be the most important position on every managers’ team. It is also a position that you have to keep a careful eye on because this is a position that the top-tier guys do not stay on top for very long. In this addition to the top fantasy football players to break out in 2014, we are going to examine a player who got a bunch of attention at the beginning of last season, fell off the map and then got hot again towards the end of the season. That player is the New York Jets running back Chris Ivory.
Ivory came to the Jets as a running back who never really got the chance to be “the guy” while he played for the New Orleans Saints. In 2010, in Ivory’s rookie season, he got the chance to show how talented he was when the Saints experienced a few injuries to their backfield. In that season, Ivory rushed for 716 yards and five touchdowns.
This past offseason, the Jets took a chance on Ivory. They were looking to replace Shonn Greene who was inconsistent and really not what the Jets expected him to be when they drafted him. In the world of fantasy football, many experts felt that Ivory was going to be one of the top breakout players last season. This did not go exactly to plan at the beginning of the season for the Jets or Ivory. Ivory was nicked-up a bit and was replaced by Bilal Powell. In Week 6, Ivory stepped into the fantasy spotlight once again with a 104-yard performance against the New England Patriots.
From that point on it was a very up and down fantasy season for Ivory. He would have some games where he was the dominant back everyone expected, and then there were games when he only gained 11 yards total. He did finish the season racking up 833 yards on the ground with three touchdowns.
If you are a manager who is looking for someone to take as a flex or RB2 in your fantasy football draft next season, I believe Ivory could easily be that guy. Many people are not going to fall for the hype of Ivory again next season, but you definitely should feed into the positive feelings around this guy.
The young Jets are going to have another year under their belts and should feel much more comfortable in the offense. Look for Ivory to be the most dominant force in that offense.
Dom DeCarlo is a Fantasy blogger for www.RantSports.com. Follow him @DomDecarlo1, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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