Which Falcons RB Should Fantasy Football Owners Target After Todd Gurley?

Sixth-year running back Todd Gurley II enters the 2020 season as the clear-cut starter for the Atlanta Falcons. But given his decline in touches over the last couple seasons, fantasy football owners who draft Gurley would prefer to also grab his backup as an insurance policy.

However, it's difficult to tell who will be the primary No. 2 back for the Falcons behind Gurley this fall. According to Jason Butt of the AJC, the Falcons could feature a backfield by committee behind Gurley.

Let's take a look at the Gurley insurance policy options for fantasy football owners to begin 2020.

Brian Hill

Hill is the leading candidate to become the Falcons No. 2 back behind Gurley. The 24-year-old started two games because of injuries to Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith last season and finished second for the Falcons with 323 rushing yards. He also chipped in 10 catches for 69 yards with three total touchdowns.

When Hill received the chance to start in 2019, he was far from efficient, posting a 1.8 yards per carry average during two games against the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Butt reports Hill is receiving the most practice reps behind Gurley and has worked to improve his agility this offseason.

"I've always been working on my hands since I came into the league. I feel I'm at the top of my game right now," Hill told the AJC. "But another thing is my change of direction with and without the ball. I feel I've been running crisper routes. When I get the opening in the run game, I'm making better second-level decisions."

From 2018 to 2019, Gurley saw his average number of touches per game drop from 22.5 to 16.9, which is actually less than what Devonta Freeman averaged per contest last year. Hill figures to benefit the most from the Falcons likely needing to spell Gurley from time to time. PPR league owners should be particularly interested in Hill, who figures to be involved the most on third-down situations.

Ito Smith

The problem with trusting Hill is his lack of efficiency on the ground. In games where he posted at least nine carries, he averaged under 3.2 yards per rush. Unless he and the Falcons offensive line greatly improves, Hill just isn't going to get enough touches to be worth rostering in most leagues (assuming Gurley is healthy).

However, Smith could be. In a small sample last year, he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. That was best among all Falcons backs with at least 20 carries in 2019.

Owners didn't see more of Smith last season because he suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 7. According to Butt, Hill is winning the backup running back competition in training camp, but owners shouldn't be surprised if Smith becomes the second option behind Gurley to run between the tackles on first and second down.

Qadree Ollison

The second-year back from Pitt complicates things further. Ollison gained just 50 yards with a 2.3 yards per carry average as a rookie last season, but he proved to be a very good short-yardage back, leading the team with four rushing touchdowns.

If the Falcons are truly going to deploy a running back committee behind Gurley, then it might be best if owners grab Ollison as Gurley's insurance policy because, if nothing else, there are fantasy points to be had with scoring touchdowns.

Final Conclusion

How valuable any of these running backs become this fall depends largely on Gurley's health, the Falcons offense and Atlanta defense. The Falcons say they are committed to establishing the run this season, but similar things were said last year.

If there are to be enough touches for multiple Falcons running backs to be worth rostering in fantasy leagues, Atlanta can't fall behind early in games, and the offensive line must continue to improve.

Heading into the season, Hill, Smith and Ollison all provide something a little different. Which one a fantasy owner prefers behind Gurley all depends on what type of role they are looking to fill on their fantasy team bench.

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