Buy or Sell: Latavius Murray

Latavius Murray
ADP: 53.6
RB: 20

After waiting a year-and-a-half, Raiders fans finally got a look at Latavius Murray last season – and he produced … when he could stay on the field.

Murray put up 424 yards and two scores on 82 carries, adding 17 receptions in the pass game. Observers are raving about how he’s looked so far during training camp. Will he help revive the moribund Raiders’ franchise? Or will he turn out to be another tease?

Buy: Vomhof

We finally got a glimpse of what Latavius Murray is capable of last fall, and I can’t wait to see more.

Murray, who missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, only got four carries in the first half of the 2014 season. Then he broke out for 112 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries in a Thursday night tilt against the Chiefs.

Murray went on to start the season’s final four games, racking up at least 76 combined yards in each of those games. And now he’s locked and loaded as the Raiders’ lead back in 2015. (Roy Helu may steal some work on passing downs, but Trent Richardson isn’t a threat for early-down work.)

“He’s got great vision,” Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. “Not just because he’s tall, even if he was 5-8. I think he’d have really good vision. He can anticipate things and jump through those cracks, almost before they open.”

Murray features a tantalizing size-speed combination. The guy is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, with 4.38 speed.

There are some reasons for concern—namely, his injury history and the Raiders’ ineptitude history—but I’m willing to take my chances on his upside. I certainly wouldn’t be shocked if he finishes among the top 15 running backs.

He’s currently going off the board as the RB20, after guys like Carlos Hyde (bust potential) and Todd Gurley (injury concerns). I wouldn’t say he’s a steal at that late-fourth/early-fifth price, but it seems plenty for young, talented back with a clear path to a heavy workload.

Sell: Andy

Latavius Murray is built like someone who could be the Smash portion of a Smash and Dash running back combo. In limited opportunity, so far, he’s definitely shown the Dash. The only real competition he has for the starting job – Trent Richardson – has mostly been Trash during his time in the league.

So Murray should have a relatively unfettered opportunity to put up some decent numbers this season.

Why am I worried? Well, the guy missed all of his rookie season with an injury and, then, in his first extended action of the 2014 season, he burst out of the gate with 112 yards on four carries … and promptly got hurt.

When he returned, his numbers were underwhelming in the final four games. That could have as much to do with the team around him last season and the presence of more seasoned backs. But if I’m going to take a guy this early – his ADP says sixth round, but I’ve seen him going much higher in some mocks and in other ADP lists – I’d like to have a bit more comfort on his durability.

There’s no question he’s talented. Whether he can take the pounding and last the season … buyer beware. If you take him, at least make sure you have a strong backup plan.

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