Fantasy Upside
As a rookie in 2013, Andre Ellington demonstrated great potential, gaining 1,023 yards from scrimmage and averaging 5.53 yards per rush, which led all NFL players who had at least 100 attempts. In other words, he's a dangerous weapon when used in moderation -- a weapon opposing coaches fear due to his explosive speed and ability to do damage in the open field.
Fantasy Downside
When Rashard Mendenhall retired, Ellington assumed the featured back role, though his size prompted questions about his ability to handle it. While he played through a foot injury, and later a hip injury, a sports hernia ended Ellington’s 2014 season in December. The injuries were clearly an issue. Ellington’s per carry average last season was just 3.3 yards, and as a team the Cardinals ranked last overall in that category. He underwent surgery this offseason to repair the hernia. The foot injury didn’t require surgery, just rest and rehab, and Ellington is beginning to feel like his old self. “It’s like night and day,” he said. “I’m close to doing a lot of things I’ve done in the past.” The injuries might explain why Ellington wasn’t threatened when the Cardinals drafted RB David Johnson in the third round.
Bottom Line
If Johnson is what the Cardinals think he is, he will lighten Ellington’s load. And if it plays out that way, it might turn out to be a case of addition by subtraction. If that's the case, Ellington's current ADP of 20 might be reasonable. That said, I'd suggest fantasy owners keep a close eye on Johnson's progress in training camp before making a final decision on investing in Ellington.
