Todd Gurley

While Gurley played 15 games last year and scored double-digit touchdowns for the fourth time in five seasons, he wasn't the same dominant force he had been in previous seasons. Part of the issue was a Rams offensive line that transitioned from being one of the best units in the league to one of the worst, but Gurley also did less with the opportunities he got as his problematic left knee seemed to take a toll on his explosiveness. Gurley averaged only 1.7 rushing yards after contact, a big step back from 2018 (2.4). His performance was so far below expectations the Rams decided to swallow a huge dead cap hit - $20.15 million, the second most in league history - and release him before he had even played a game under the extension he signed in 2018. He did not take long to find a new home, signing a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Falcons. With Devonta Freeman gone, Gurley will step into the lead role in an Atlanta offense that struggled on the ground last year - Dirk Koetter's offense finished 30th in rushing yards, 26th in yards per carry and last in rushing percentage. A healthier offensive line stocked with first-round draft picks might help, but Gurley's production largely will depend on the condition of his balky knee. To help him stay healthy, the Falcons said they plan to manage his workload, making it unlikely he matches last season's 254 touches.

Gurley put together another strong season in 2018, but the long-term condition of his left knee (the same knee he injured in college) is a concern. He missed the final two games of the regular season, and while he looked fine against Dallas in the divisional playoffs, Gurley all but vanished in the Rams' final two playoff games, managing 45 yards on 16 carries. When he's 100 percent healthy, he's a perfect fit for coach Sean McVay's offense. The team's dynamic aerial attack prevents Gurley from facing stacked fronts (just 8.2 percent of the time last season, third lowest in the league) and his power and speed are amplified by all the extra running room he enjoys. He took advantage of the prime setup with 35 rushes of 10-plus yards, ranking second in the league to Ezekiel Elliott's 41. After three consecutive campaigns with more than 300 touches by Gurley, the Rams likely will scale back his workload, but there's no guarantee such a plan will even be effective. He's averaged 1,962 scrimmage yards and 20 TDs the last two seasons, so there's no questioning his upside, but the fifth-year back also carries more risk than other elite RBs. The Rams hedged their bets by matching an offer sheet for Malcolm Brown and then drafting Darrell Henderson in the third round.

Along with the rest of the Rams offense, Gurley thrived under new coach Sean McVay in 2017, leading the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,093) and touchdowns (19), scoring five more TDs than second-place Alvin Kamara despite sitting out a meaningless Week 17. In fact, Gurley's name was all over the leaderboards for running backs - first in goal-line carries, second in red-zone touches, fifth in runs of 15 yards or more and fifth in receptions, just to name a few categories. A physical specimen at 6-1, 227, he dominated defenders all over the field, as his sluggish form from the season before was replaced with the speed, explosiveness and elusiveness that were the hallmarks of his college days before he tore his ACL in November 2014. The Rams didn't rest on their laurels in the offseason, either. The team's offense could be even more dangerous after replacing Sammy Watkins with Brandin Cooks, and the Rams improved their depth along the offensive line in the draft. Defenses forced to choose between letting Jared Goff or Gurley beat them are likely to find there are no right answers, and there doesn't seem to be much that can slow Gurley down heading into 2018.

After a very impressive return from ACL surgery in his rookie campaign, big things were expected from Gurley in 2016, but he failed to deliver in the worst way, seeing a massive drop in his YPC and failing to rush for more than 85 yards in any game. The general ineptitude of the Rams offense around him was a problem, as the passing game couldn't stretch the field, the offensive line couldn't keep defenders out of the backfield and the coaching staff seemed checked out, but Gurley himself also showed little of the burst or speed that made him the 10th overall pick in 2015 despite his knee injury. On the bright side, he was more involved in the passing game last year, and at least the roster doesn't have anyone that seems likely to threaten his touch volume. The Rams brought in a new brain trust in the offseason, replacing Jeff Fisher as head coach with former Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay and luring quarterback guru Matt LaFleur over from Atlanta as offensive coordinator, but those hires seem aimed more at getting the most out of Jared Goff than improving the running game. If the coaching changes and Goff's development result in defenses no longer stacking eight men in the box, Gurley could easily return to his rookie form, but heading into 2017 he no longer seems like a sure-fire star.

Gurley was a wait-and-see pick for fantasy last year, but the patient were rewarded — if you grade all the running backs in PPR value for the segment of games Gurley played, he finishes as the No. 3 player. A splashy comeback from someone who tore his ACL as recently as November 2014. In-game, patience was often the key to Gurley, as he went for a modest 3.5 YPC in the first half of games, then spiked it up to 6.2 YPC in the second half. Given the style of coach Jeff Fisher, it's not surprising the Rams remained committed to the running game consistently. Gurley went for 100 total yards or a TD in 10 of his 13 games, the type of consistency we pray for at this position. We'd like to see more work as a receiver, though — Gurley had 16 receptions in his first six games, but just five catches in his last six. While Gurley doesn't have the same outside-the-numbers wiggle as some of the other pass-catching backs, there's something to be said for unleashing him on a defense in different ways. And just getting him away from the mass of humanity between the tackles is a good thing; it's a sneaky way to protect wear and tear on your bell cow. And ring the bell the Rams will, over and over. They're in a new city, but the blueprint is the same — plus defense, rookie quarterback, so-so offensive line.

Despite tearing the ACL in his left knee last November, Gurley was still selected 10th overall by the Rams. Built like the prototypical feature back at 6-1, 222, Gurley runs with impressive power and burst and proved to be extremely difficult for college tacklers to handle, gaining an incredible 62 percent of his yards after contact in 2014. That strength is complemented by good speed in the open field and plus receiving skills, making him a true three-down threat. While his rehab has progressed well, he's not expected to be ready for Week 1, and the ACL tear wasn't his first lower-body injury, as he also dealt with ankle and hip problems at Georgia. The Rams rebuilt a below-average offensive line in the offseason to pave the way for their new star but will likely ease Gurley into action once he's fully recovered. Tre Mason, a 2014 third-round pick, is still around to handle starting duties while Gurley is out, and Mason could even potentially share touches as the Rams slowly ramp up Gurley's workload. Once healthy, though, Gurley could be special.