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RB Latavius Murray, BUF (2 Viewers)

Impending free agent Latavius Murray expressed a desire to re-sign with the Raiders.
"I wanna stay put and finish what I started," Murray said. The former sixth-round pick got his first chance late in the 2014 season and never really looked back. He's rushed 543 times for 2,278 yards (4.2 YPC) and 20 touchdowns over the past 2.5 seasons, finishing with a career-high 12 end-zone trips this season. Murray continues to lose work to rookie DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, but remained the No. 1 back all year. He turns 27 next week. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders want to dump millions of more dollars into their offense.

 
 
Source: Sirius XM NFL Radio 
Jan 10 - 9:08 PM
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ESPN's Josina Anderson reports Latavius Murray is expected to test the open market.
Per Anderson, "the door will remain open" for a return to Oakland, but the Raiders will let the market set Latavius' price. Murray lost work to rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard last year, and the Raiders have spent the last two offseasons trying to replace him. If Murray leaves, Oakland will likely add a power back in the draft. Oklahoma's Samaje Perine would fit.

 
 
Source: Josina Anderson on Twitter
Feb 26 - 10:50 AM
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According to Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline, the Vikings have been "showing a good deal of interest" in free agent Latavius Murray.
Per Pauline's sources, this was even before the Vikings announced they wouldn't be exercising Adrian Peterson's option, which was declined on Tuesday. Murray is fully expected to test the open market and would be a much younger and cheaper option than Peterson. However, Murray wasn't all that impressive in 2016, averaging 4.0 YPC for the second season in a row and had his carries dialed back significantly. The Raiders had seemingly been trying to replace Murray for two years. And he got to run behind one of the league's best offensive lines. Murray turned 27 last month and probably won't cost more than $4-6 million annually.

Related: Vikings
 
Source: Draft Analyst 
Feb 28 - 9:38 PM
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When asked who will start at running back in 2017, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, "We've got a long way to go before we make any determinations on that."

The Vikings signed Latavius Murray to be Adrian Peterson's successor but now he faces competition from second-round pick Dalvin Cook. Murray was used as a short-yardage hammer and goal-line back in Oakland last year and may occupy a similar role in Minnesota. With Cook standing in his way, Murray will be difficult to trust as anything more than a boom-or-bust RB2 in fantasy.

Related: Dalvin Cook
 
Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter 
May 5 - 2:20 PM
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Speaking on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, Latavius Murray said he expects to "be the guy" in the backfield.

"This is my time, this is my opportunity," Murray said. "When it comes Game 1, I need to be back there lining up." It would be shocking if he said anything else, but second-rounder Dalvin Cook looks like the heavy favorite after Murray was forced to miss the offseason program with an ankle injury, which the veteran admitted has put him "behind." Murray should have a role if he can get his ankle right, but it would be surprising if he emerges as the starter.

Source: NFL.com

Jun 27 - 10:06 AM
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Latavius Murray (ankle, active/PUP) said there is still no timetable for his return.

Murray would only commit to being ready for the regular season, and coach Mike Zimmer said he does not know when the running back will be able to practice. Despite some optimism at the start of camp, it sounds like Murray still has a long way to go before he is cleared. With Murray's health up in the air, second-rounder Dalvin Cook is the clear favorite for the starting job.

Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter
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Latavius Murray is expected to make his preseason debut against the 49ers on Sunday.

Not a moment too soon for Murray, who will be taking the field in the Vikings' regular season dress rehearsal. Rookie Dalvin Cook has seized the day during Murray's protracted absence. Murray should be considered the Vikings' clear-cut No. 2 back until further notice.

Source: Chris Tomasson on Twitter 

Aug 24 - 3:53 PM
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Someone sell me on claiming this dude where I'm sitting on the #1 priority.  I don't want to mess with Lacy unless I already owned Rawls (I don't).  I already got Aaron Jones.  Rest of the "hot" guys are owned.

Murray's touches, per the @SameSongNDance video on youtube, looked thoroughly mediocre.  Minnesota has been somewhat successful running the ball, so in some respects you have to wonder if that's the OL or all Dalvin Cook.  Bears, Packers, Ravens, Browns the next 4 weeks, which other than the Packers game should give him game scripts to pile up 20 touches.  But can he do anything with them?

 
Volume alone makes him a RB 2/3. McKinnon isn't a lead back. 

But, Murray doesn't look 100% still from his ankle surgery. Temper expectations early I think. 

 
JFS171 said:
Someone sell me on claiming this dude where I'm sitting on the #1 priority.  I don't want to mess with Lacy unless I already owned Rawls (I don't).  I already got Aaron Jones.  Rest of the "hot" guys are owned.

Murray's touches, per the @SameSongNDance video on youtube, looked thoroughly mediocre.  Minnesota has been somewhat successful running the ball, so in some respects you have to wonder if that's the OL or all Dalvin Cook.  Bears, Packers, Ravens, Browns the next 4 weeks, which other than the Packers game should give him game scripts to pile up 20 touches.  But can he do anything with them?
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As a Cook owner I'm struggling on how to assign value to him in FAAB this week. He looks absolutely awful (I wasn't a fan of his in Oakland to begin with) but clearly there's an opportunity here and potentially a big one. I think the main reason for Minnesota's improved run game was Cook. I believed him to be a special talent. With Cook gone I could see the Vikings reverting to what we saw last season post-Peterson although Murray is MUCH better than the ### Man. 

My biggest concerns for Murray are how bad he looks and McKinnon's presence. As we saw late last season McKinnon can produce RB2 or even RB1 numbers in PPR if he handles a key role in the passing game. As we've seen repeatedly with guys like Jay Ajayi, volume is meaningless if the production isn't there so even if Murray got 15-20 touches per game if he's only averaging 3 YPC or so a carry, isn't scoring and isn't a huge factor in the passing game (which is hard to envision if McKinnon is healthy) all the touches won't mean ****. He'll kill you with a 5-6 point type of week or worse.

On the other hand, the Vikings initially signed Murray to be their starter so they clearly must believe he can do the job. I would imagine he'll get his shot and be given every opportunity to succeed for that reason and the fact McKinnon is miscast as a feature back. Murray should also be the guy in goal line situations. Right now both are available on my WW and I have Murray ahead of McKinnon but I could easily see McKinnon being the more productive fantasy option with low-end RB2 upside in PPR. 

 
I guess you have to add Latavius as a volume play but until Bradford comes back, and depending on how long Bradford lasts, the Vikings offense doesn't seem like something that can be relied upon for fantasy points. Except Diggs of course.

 
Chaka said:
I guess you have to add Latavius as a volume play but until Bradford comes back, and depending on how long Bradford lasts, the Vikings offense doesn't seem like something that can be relied upon for fantasy points. Except Diggs of course.
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Murray is a guy that you add now but don't start.   When healthy, he a capable but not great RB.  Maybe he gets healthy and Bradford returns.  

 
JFS171 said:
Someone sell me on claiming this dude where I'm sitting on the #1 priority.  I don't want to mess with Lacy unless I already owned Rawls (I don't).  I already got Aaron Jones.  Rest of the "hot" guys are owned.

Murray's touches, per the @SameSongNDance video on youtube, looked thoroughly mediocre.  Minnesota has been somewhat successful running the ball, so in some respects you have to wonder if that's the OL or all Dalvin Cook.  Bears, Packers, Ravens, Browns the next 4 weeks, which other than the Packers game should give him game scripts to pile up 20 touches.  But can he do anything with them?
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The Vikings offensive line has improved from last year where they were definitely one of the worst in the league.

The offensive line is competent now, which in a relative sense is a vast improvement, but not sure they are middle of the pack as far as offensive lines in the NFL right now. Part of their improvement running the ball was definitely because of Cook being very good. He made a lot of yards on his own. They haven't been opening up big holes for Cook or the other RB at all aside from one play that McKinnon had a good run on. I think they caught the defense in a bad call on that play. Biggest hole I have seen for any Vikings RB so far on that one against the Saints.

At any rate the Vikings might be a better offensive line unit than the Seahawks are right now. Just not sure that is going to mean Murray will be good enough for fantasy. I like McKinnon's chances to be that more than Murray. Not optimistic about either though. The Seahawks might be more committed to the run than the Vikings are despite this. I think the Vikings will start throwing the ball more now that they lost Cook.

 
packersfan said:
As a Cook owner I'm struggling on how to assign value to him in FAAB this week. He looks absolutely awful (I wasn't a fan of his in Oakland to begin with) but clearly there's an opportunity here and potentially a big one. I think the main reason for Minnesota's improved run game was Cook. I believed him to be a special talent. With Cook gone I could see the Vikings reverting to what we saw last season post-Peterson although Murray is MUCH better than the ### Man. 

My biggest concerns for Murray are how bad he looks and McKinnon's presence. As we saw late last season McKinnon can produce RB2 or even RB1 numbers in PPR if he handles a key role in the passing game. As we've seen repeatedly with guys like Jay Ajayi, volume is meaningless if the production isn't there so even if Murray got 15-20 touches per game if he's only averaging 3 YPC or so a carry, isn't scoring and isn't a huge factor in the passing game (which is hard to envision if McKinnon is healthy) all the touches won't mean ****. He'll kill you with a 5-6 point type of week or worse.

On the other hand, the Vikings initially signed Murray to be their starter so they clearly must believe he can do the job. I would imagine he'll get his shot and be given every opportunity to succeed for that reason and the fact McKinnon is miscast as a feature back. Murray should also be the guy in goal line situations. Right now both are available on my WW and I have Murray ahead of McKinnon but I could easily see McKinnon being the more productive fantasy option with low-end RB2 upside in PPR. 
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He's essentially Jonathan Stewart

 
packersfan said:
That feels like a shot at JStew. :)

But I generally agree. I think Murray has a bit more receiving upside than Stewart but he looks an awful lot like a middling RB3 type who's TD dependent. Just like Stewart. 
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I still can't decide if I want to use my number 4 priority for him.  I had cook.  Tough call.  Only RBS I have left are Gordon, Martin, Cohen, and oliver

 
need2know said:
I still can't decide if I want to use my number 4 priority for him.  I had cook.  Tough call.  Only RBS I have left are Gordon, Martin, Cohen, and oliver
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Would depend on what other RBs are available. I had Cook as well and I've put Aaron Jones ahead of Murray in my FAAB list. Might only pay off for one game but I'm just not enamored with Murray. 

 
need2know said:
Jones and sea RBS are there.  That's about it. McGuire
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I'm avoiding the Seattle situation. Might throw a tiny bid at Prosise but I'm passing on the Lacy/Rawls guessing game. I have no idea what the Jets are going to do at RB if Forte returns. He has no business starting but that's what he was doing before he got hurt.  

 
packersfan said:
I'm avoiding the Seattle situation. Might throw a tiny bid at Prosise but I'm passing on the Lacy/Rawls guessing game. I have no idea what the Jets are going to do at RB if Forte returns. He has no business starting but that's what he was doing before he got hurt.  
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Well nevermind Jones is rostered.  I guess its Murray or nothing

I agree with you on sea.  It's awful and not worth playing that game

 
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Wasn't Murray considered explosive at the start of his career?

IIRC the run that put him on the map was a 90 yard TD against the Chiefs.

 
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Two big factors will dictate Murray's success. One is how quickly Bradford returns & the other is his ankle.

If Bradford comes back soon & his ankle is 100% (or real close to it), Murray has enough ability to surprise. He's not Dalvin Cook, but Murray is far from a slouch. He's actually been a strong RB2 at the very least over the course of the last two seasons with the Raiders.

All bets are off if his ankle isn't up to snuff. Also not sure what he can do with Keenum at QB. Bradford would be an enormous help.

 
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Fearless Projection

18 carries for 72 yards and 2 TDs

2 catches for 14 yards

Just have a hunch. Or maybe I’m just hopeful for my fantasy team’s sake. You can be the judge of that.

I will eat all the crow when I’m wrong.

 
Latavius Murray rushed 12 times for 31 yards in the Vikings' Week 5 win over the Bears.

He added two catches for 12 yards. Murray got the start in the first game post-Dalvin Cook and received the first five touches in the Minnesota backfield, but it was all Jerick McKinnon after that. McKinnon out-touched Murray 22-9 from that point forward and ran circles around Murray, out-gaining him 146-43 while scoring a 58-yard touchdown. On the night, McKinnon played 47 snaps to Murray's 22 and provides that dual-threat ability that Cook had in Weeks 1-4. Murray is too one-dimensional and not even very good at that one dimension. He's looking like a complete waste of $3.4 million guaranteed. McKinnon will be the 1A to Murray's 1B next week against the Packers.
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So glad that I used my FAAB dollars on this guy last week. 

Who was the FBG who said that Latavius Murray moves like a tranquilized elephant? That observation was spot on.

 
Faust said:
So glad that I used my FAAB dollars on this guy last week. 

Who was the FBG who said that Latavius Murray moves like a tranquilized elephant? That observation was spot on.
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You should know better than that Faust. 

Was Richard playing better than Murray not enough?

Sorry to hear you spent FAAB on the wrong guy. My bad for talking about this in the Bradford thread instead of somewhere else where it might have been more useful.

 
Faust said:
So glad that I used my FAAB dollars on this guy last week.

Who was the FBG who said that Latavius Murray moves like a tranquilized elephant? That observation was spot on.
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Me. I've been really trying to hammer it home on here and on reddit. I was legitimately trying to warn people though. Even after I posted the tape from the Detroit game most people were dismissive (not here but on reddit). I got downvoted to hell.

This post went over well though.

 
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Spent all my remaining budget on him in one league and McKinnon still sits in free agency (Not sure why I didn't add him also). No wonder I'm 1-4 in that league. 

 
shadyridr said:
Spent all my remaining budget on him in one league and McKinnon still sits in free agency (Not sure why I didn't add him also). No wonder I'm 1-4 in that league. 
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Maybe Lat's ankle is holding him back some and once it heals, he will move better.  I am not betting on that but throwing it out there to sound positive. 

 
Down the stretch, the offensive line should be playing even better as a group…gelling better in pass protection…and hopefully getting better push off the line, opening bigger holes, and pulling more effectively to get to second-level blocks on running plays. This could open up a more traditional ground game where Murray could find success. Also, as other teams start game planning for McKinnon and Murray gets more comfortable with his ankle (big IF) and within the offense, I could see him putting together some solid games and contributing down the stretch. He is a good pass blocker…and he has proven that he can run down hill when provided an opening. Lastly, there is the nature of late season games. I always think about nasty (rainy/sleety/snowy/cold) games in late November and December as games when teams need a bigger back. McKinnon has 3 fumbles in the last 3 weeks, and you wonder about his health a bit (McKinnon owner last year). Murray is going to remain involved, but he's got to do better even on his limited carries.

Don't want to sound bitter, but it's amazing some of those McKinnon big gainers/TD runs the O-Line created massive holes where McKinnon could've Cadillac'd though the line. Sure Murray would've gotten 8-10 yards at most, but it's frustrating to see at times.

 
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