Jadarian Price Will Be a Top 5 Fantasy RB

There are eight days until the NFL season starts, and one rookie will win you your fantasy league, especially with his current average draft position (ADP). Jadarian Price, the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks’ new RB1, will be the sleeper pick that decides leagues this year.

The Price is Right:

The 22-year-old had a stellar season for Notre Dame even as their running back two. He ran for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 113 carries for six yards per attempt. He was also a threatening return man, taking two kicks back to the house.

Even as the backup for the Irish, Price proved himself worth the 32nd overall pick, joining his teammate Jeremiyah Love as the first running back duo ever taken in the same first round. 

Price, whose ADP currently sits at 65.6, is currently the 26th running back being selected in fantasy drafts. His value is a whole lot higher than that. It is insane that running backs like Bucky Irving, D’Andre Swift, TreVeyon Henderson and Bhayshul Tuten are going over him. 

Irving, Swift and Henderson are all playing in running back by committee rooms, while Price will have the keys as Seattle’s starter from the get-go. Mike Macdonald said besides third down passing downs, he’s expected to be their every-down back. That is massive news for a rookie, as most only offer late season value as they earn their place on the field.

Instead, Price will get an immediate chance as the starter against what Fantasy Pros ranks as the fourth easiest strength of schedule for running backs.

Benefiting from Injury:

Price has massive shoes to fill; he’s being expected to take over for Kenneth Walker III, the man who just won Super Bowl MVP for the Seahawks. Not only that, but Walker’s running mate last year, Zach Charbonnet, will be out at least the first four weeks as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s playoffs.

While a brutal blow for Seattle’s depth, it gives Price the best opportunity of any rookie running back to take control of the starting job and not look back. With no set return date for Charbonnet either, that could be a heck of a lot longer, where Price will be the lone man getting carries.

In what will be a crowded top of the field for running backs this year, Price has the chance to emerge as one of the best in the game in year one. With a mix of elite cutting and acceleration, Price can have an Ezekiel Elliott-esque rookie season for Seattle. If that’s the case, not only will he finish top five in fantasy, but the Seahawks may lift another Lombardi in February.