Fantasy Football Player Notes

Gus Edwards arrives in Los Angeles with a two-year deal that is essentially a one-year contract, with the money falling off after 2024. Last season, Edwards was the RB32 in fantasy, with the strength of 13 total touchdowns (fourth-most). Edwards is an early down grinder who only managed a 2.8% target share last season, so all of his value will have to come via rushing. Edwards looks like a player on the decline in the rushing department after finishing 51st in juke rate, 39th in evaded tackles, and 45th in yards created per touch last season. With J.K. Dobbins and Kimani Vidal brought in as competition, Edwards could be on the outside looking in with volume this season.

Dobbins has been snakebite over the last two years. First, it was the torn ACL that ended his 2022 season. Last year, in Week 1, Dobbins tore his Achilles. Dobbins has been healthy in camp and looks poised to compete for the team lead in carries this season. If you're looking to take a shot on the Bolts' backfield, Dobbins isn't a terrible dart, although I prefer Kimani Vidal to Dobbins or Gus Edwards. Call me skeptical, but I'm trying to learn my lesson about torn Achilles of yesteryear (I'm staring at you, Cam Akers).

Vidal might have tumbled down the NFL draft board, but don't make the mistake of assuming that he lacks the talent profile to take over the Bolts' backfield. His competition (Gus Edwards & J.K. Dobbins) isn't exactly overwhelming. Last year, Vidal ranked 21st in PFF's elusive rating while proving that he can handle volume with at least 23 carries in 57% of his games. With Greg Roman at the controls, there will be plenty of rushing volume to chew on, even if he doesn't claim the workhorse role. From 2019-2022 with Baltimore, Roman coordinated an offense that ranked first in neutral rushing rate. Vidal could be a flex play by midseason with the upside to grow into more (RB2) as the season moves along. I'll still take a shot on him with a final pick in my leagues.