Jerome Bettis, Jim Brown and Earl Campbell come to mind watching 6’3″, 230 pound Latavius Murray run over and through defenders coming out of the Oakland Raiders backfield. Those are prototypical power runners, each weighing 230 pounds or more (Bettis, the Bus, was 250). The Raiders rode the plus-size, bus-size Murray to victory in Week 3, when he gained 139 yards on 26 carries. Not bad for a guy who was the 181st pick in 2013. As much as any of those great names above, Murray looks like Hall of Famer Larry Csonka out there.
During the 1971-73 seasons, one of which (1972) was Dolphins perfection, Larry Csonka averaged 5.4, 5.2, and 4.6 yards per carry. Those numbers don’t look a lot different than Murray’s; the big Raider back is averaging 4.8 yards per carry so far this season. Csonka was listed at 6’3″, 240 pounds. But Murray really just wants the opportunity to do what Csonka did in Super Bowls VII and VIII, which was gain a mere 112 and 145 yards. That meant two wins for his Dolphins — and a Hall of Fame clinch for Csonka. Latavius Murray sure looked like an elite back in Week 3. He’s a killer fantasy pick. Raiders play the Bears at Soldier Field Sunday, October 4, at 1pm on CBS.
All I need to do in order to win my fantasy games is start Le’Veon Bell, Latavius Murray, and Brandon Marshall! #GoingUndefeated
— Bdawg (@B_Newhart) October 4, 2015
