Week 10 vs 49ers
Murray has just been stringing together weeks with around 6-7 points in PPR. He gets double-digit touches, but he just doesn't do a whole lot with them. He just cracks our top 40 backs in half-PPR.
Week 9 vs Buccaneers
In a week where backs such as Boston Scott, Joe Mixon and Kareem Hunt are on a bye, you could do worse at this position this week, but Murray hasn't cracked 60 total yards or scored a touchdown since Week 4. You've been warned. (Watch him score Sunday night).
Week 8 vs Bears
The Saints continue to find room to give Murray double-digit touches, even with only playing about a quarter to a third of the offensive snaps. He's received at least ten touches in every game but one. He's yet to do a ton with those touches, but he's still getting opportunities, enough to push him still into our top 40 running backs
Week 7 vs Panthers
Murray may only be playing about a third of the Saints' snaps thus far, but his talent always provides upside, and the Saints have a nice matchup against the Panthers, who have allowed nine rushing touchdowns through six games. There may be plenty to go around in the Saints' backfield on Sunday.
Week 5 vs Chargers
Sunday was easily Murray's best game of the season with 83 total yards and his first two touchdowns of the season. He's been used more on offense this season. He has seen at least 12 carries in three of his first four games. That being said, his 41 percent of snaps on Sunday was also the most of the season, so his ceiling is limited. But he is maximizing his opportunities as best he can and he sits inside our top 30 running backs for this week.
Week 4 vs Lions
Murray had his best day of the season on Sunday with 65 total yards. He's making the most of his opportunities when he gets them. But he's still being heavily out-snapped by Kamara and continues to be a boom-or-bust play who is still searching for his first touchdown of the season
Week 3 vs Packers
The Saints' offensive script seemed to come back to earth in Week 2, with Alvin Kamara receiving 22 touches and Murray seeing just five. That's likely going to be the script going forward and Murray is limited to spell work behind Kamara. He's only a deep play, especially with byes still not a thing until Week 5.
Week 2 vs Raiders
Murray only had four games in 2019 with at least ten carries in a game. On Sunday, he had 15 and outrushed Alvin Kamara, 48-12, though Kamara finished with more touches, 17-15. With Michael Thomas out for a while, we may see Murray continue to be more involved in the offense. Keep an eye on how New Orleans uses him this week. He ranks as RB38 for this week but could start creeping up if he continues to get more work.
Murray is likely going to start this season like he spent most of last season, spelling Alvin Kamara for a few plays but not seeing the field enough to be a viable fantasy option. He would likely need to bust out a big play to have a respectable fantasy day. In all likelihood, being Week 1 and no preseason, there are plenty of better options to start the season than Murray.
Fantasy Upside
Latavius Murray's fantasy upside is obviously limited by Alvin Kamara. He couldn't get much of a fantasy footing while Kamara was in the lineup, but he really picked up the slack in the two games Kamara missed, totaling over 300 yards and four touchdowns in Weeks 7 and 8.
Fantasy Downside
The Saints have many mouths to feed and he's already a glorified backup unless Kamara is out.
2020 Bottom Line
Murray is the clear handcuff to Kamara in New Orleans and you can get him later in your drafts. If Kamara happens to miss time, Murray has shown he is extremely capable of handling a hefty workload for the Saints. Otherwise, he's a risky weekly play.
