This is an example of the type of information you can gain access to if you pick up a copy of the fabulous 2014 Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Football Draft Guide.Click on the link to learn how to gain access to the Guide, the articles, the rankings, all of it so that you can take down your competition. Let's take a look at Lamar Miller (Jeff Mans will argue for) versus Andre Ellington (Ray Flowers will argue for).

Lamar Miller
By Jeff Mans

Part of my fascination with Lamar Miller is that other runners like Andre Ellington are going well ahead of him this year. I just can’t buy into Ellington as anything but a real good change of pace passing down running back. Ellington is just not built to handle the pounding of a full-time NFL runinng back. At 5’9” and 195 lbs Ellington getting hit 25+ times just isn’t something that I want to invest in as my fantasy RB. Lamar Miller is not only bigger (5’11”, 215 lbs) but is also quite a bit faster than Ellington.

At the combine in 2012 Lamar Miller ran a 4.0 40-yard dash time. In 2013, Andre Ellington ran a 4.61 40-yard dash time. I am not saying that the 40-yard dash is the be all end all but when you’re talking pure athletic skills you have to realize that  Miller is a purebred. He is fast, strong and can catch the ball well out of the backfield. Ellington can also catch the ball out of the backfield. 

I am also really excited about the Dolphins offense this season. They have brought in Bill Lazor who was with the Philadelphia Eagles last year and who is installing a very similar style in Miami this season. Lazor has said multiple times that he sees Lamar Miller playing the “LeSean McCoy role” in his new offense. I also love the Dolphins going out and signing LT Brandon Albert and drafting RT Ja’wuan James out of Tennessee. A pair of bookend tackles and a new up tempo aggressive offense is enough for me to seek the services of Lamar Miller over Andre Ellington this year. 

Andre Ellington
By Ray Flowers

Ironic how you mentioned Ellington's size and LeSean McCoy in your post Jeff. How big is McCoy? Try 5'11”, 208 lbs. Is that much bigger than Ellington? Yes, but not really. What about Jamaal Charles? He stands 5'11” and weighs in at 199 lbs. C.J. Spiller is 5'11”, 200 lbs. Maurice-Jones Drew is 5'7” and weighs 210 while Ray Rice is 5'8” and weighs 205 lbs. Am I the only one that doesn't understand, given the copious amounts of success all those runners have had, that it's odd to have the 5'9”, 195 lbs Ellington singled out as being too small? Not really getting that. Is he really vastly different in size than the rest of this group?

Miller might look good in shorts running on a field with no defenders in pads, but turn the bright lights of the NFL on him and his game crumbles. We've heard for two years now that Miller was going to break out. Where is the evidence for that? I see 228 career carries, 4.2 YPC, 32 receptions and three total touchdowns. Forgive me if those numbers don't cause me to jump up out of my seat and applaud. 

Ellington's first season was statistically better than Miller, by a landslide, as Ellington averaged 5.5 yards a carry, scored four times, and caught 39 passes. The Cardinals aren't going to lean on Ellington like he's Marshawn Lynch, but we continue to hear word out of the Sunshine State that Ellington is in line for 15-20 touches a week. If he gets that work he will be a PPR monster with a shot at low end RB1 production. I would snort milk out my nose in a fit of laughter if anyone suggested that level of production was possible with Miller. 

 

 This is an example of the type of information you can gain access to if you pick up a copy of the fabulous2014 Fantasy Alarm Football Draft Guide. Click on the link to learn how to gain access to the Guide, the articles, the rankings, all of it so that you can take down your competition.