Latavius Murray's fantasy value stuffed behind Vikings' offensive line

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here's a look at the fantasy prospects for RB Latavius Murray upon signing with the Minnesota Vikings:

Murray, now 27 years old, had an odd 2016 season. He was limited to just 14 games, but he saw 71 fewer carries than he received the previous year. He rushed for an identical 4.0 yards per carry. He had eight fewer receptions on 11 fewer targets, but he compiled 32 more receiving yards. His 12 rushing touchdowns were double what he had the season prior.

Oakland Raiders rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard cut into his workload, but neither were able to wrestle the starting job away from a healthy Murray. Murray finished the season ranked seventh with 40 red-zone carries, while only New England Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount and Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson scored more than Murray's 11 red-zone touchdowns.

Murray was a boom-or-bust fantasy play last season, as he finished the year with two 100-yard games, but just two other games with more than 60 yards. Seven of his 12 touchdowns came in just three games, and failed to reach 50 rushing yards on seven occasions. He was able to record multiple receptions in eight games, but he topped out at 59 receiving yards.

Murray moves from a Raiders team which ranked 10th in the NFL with 4.4 yards per carry as a team to a Vikings team which finished last in the league in the category with just 3.2 yards per attempt. Fantasy owners will need to temper their expectations for Murray on account of the five men in front of him.

Losing his corner office

The Vikings have already upgraded their offensive line this offseason, bringing in LT Mike Remmers from the Carolina Panthers and RT Riley Reiff from the Detroit Lions. They're also promoting second-year RG Willie Beavers to a starting role. Per Pro Football Focus, Remmers received a run-blocking grade of 73.5, Reiff a grade of 67.5 overall. Both are upgrades over tackles T.J. Clemmings and Jeremiah Sirles who finished the season as starters.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Missed opportunity for Jerick McKinnon

RB Jerick McKinnon received career highs in carries, targets and receptions last season, while filling in for the injured Adrian Peterson, but splitting time with Matt Asiata. He totaled just 794 yards. The poor play of the offensive line can be largely blamed for his atrocious 3.4 yards per carry, but he scored a total of just four touchdowns and returned tournament value in daily fantasy on just four occasions without a single 100-yard game.

Both Peterson and Asiata are free agents, leaving McKinnon to serve as the No. 2 behind Murray. He won't receive much of a chance to prove last year's poor performance was the fault of his O-line, unless Murray suffers and injury.

Where to take them?

Per Fantasy Football Calculator, Murray is being selected 38th overall as RB19. The move to a team with low-quality offensive line hurts both his floor and ceiling and his reliance on touchdowns last season is a sign of looming regression. A large workload could help him salvage some value, but the Vikings are unlikely to score at a similar rate to the Raiders of last season.

Workload and usage will make Murray an RB2, but he should be selected closer to the bottom-end of the tier and toward the end of the fourth round.

McKinnon is a bottom-tier handcuff, not worthy of selection in anything but the latter rounds. The two are highly unlikely to prove valuable in the same weeks.