Can Chris Carson Finish as a Top 10 Running Back in 2020 Fantasy Football?

What to expect from Chris Carson for 2020 fantasy output.

Sports Illustrated | May 28, 2020

In 2019, Seahawks running back Chris Carson finished as the No. 9 running back in standard fantasy football leagues with 195 points. Carson was fifth in the NFL with 1,230 rushing yards and scored nine total touchdowns. He ended the season with a hip injury that luckily didn’t require surgery but rather an extensive rehabilitation program that could leave him less than 100% to start the year.

The Seahawks signed Carlos Hyde this offseason which adds another rusher to Seattle’s backfield. Given Carson’s injury concern, there’s some questions on whether he can once again finish inside the Top 10 at the running back position in fantasy football.
Sports Illustrated’s fantasy analyst Jaime Eisner and SeahawkMaven Corbin Smith discuss what fantasy players should expect from Carson in 2020.

Read full video transcript below:

Bill Enright: Seahawks running back Chris Carson had a breakout season in 2019, but can he replicate those stats in 2020? Let's find out what our fantasy analyst Jaime Eisner and Seahawk Maven Corbin Smith have to say about the Seattle rusher. Corbin, I'll start with you. Seattle brought in Carlos Hyde, Rashaad Penny expected to start the season on the PUP list, but do you expect Chris Carson to still maintain his lead back status?

Corbin Smith: Absolutely. Even with the addition of Hyde, I think Chris Carson is still going to be getting the bulk of the carries here. Two very similar style running backs, but Carson has been a dynamic runner for the Seahawks the last two years. Back to back thousand yard seasons, still scored seven rushing touchdowns last year. And I think the other thing in fantasy to consider with Carson last season, he had a career high in receptions, also had two receiving touchdowns to go with it. I expect they're going to try to find ways to get the football into his hands as a receiver more as well. Carlos Hyde is going to get his opportunities, especially on a team like Seattle that loves to run the football, but Chris Carson is still going to be the bell cow for this team. And I would expect as long as he stays healthy, he's coming off of a cracked hip, but as long as he's healthy, he has a great chance to get a third straight thousand yard season for the Seahawks.

Bill Enright: Jaime, let me go over to you. Play a little game of draft or pass. Chris Carson, top 12 running back according to his ADP. Are you drafting or passing?

Jaime Eisner: Probably not going to draft him at the top 12 spot, but I've seen his ADP fluctuate somewhere into the mid to low third round in PPR leagues and right around there I'll take him. I think he's a very solid RB2. Last year he finished as the number 10 running back in total points, 12th in points per game after finishing 18th in both categories the year before. Carlos Hyde will have his role, Rashaad Penny will come back. But assuming Chris Carson's fumbling issues don't reach the number seven again like they did last year, he's going to be the lead back. And with the way the Seahawks run their offense, the amount of times that they run, let's look back to week 13 against the Vikings last year where both Penny and Carson had a tremendous amount of fantasy success. You might see a little bit more of that in the second half of the year. I'd be more than happy to have Carson as my RB2 going into the NFL season this year.

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Published May 28, 2020