The draft is a major part of the fantasy season, and sleepers are the reason why some people win their draft and their league. Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate ofFantasy Football Toolsas you navigate your season. Am I really recommending a 32-year-old backup running back on the Texans? He averaged just 0.8 targets on 5.9 routes run per game playing alongside Edmonds. But Lindsay was nearly as good on a per-snap basis as Melvin Gordon III in the Mile High City and has youth on his side relative to his Texans peers. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports. That guy is Darrell Henderson, and this season he's being drafted as a backup to a guy coming off an Achilles tear. He posted a top-12 finish last week and will likely do so again if Mixon remains sidelined. Everything Season Long and DFS for Week 14, Dynasty, in Theory: Dynasty is a Game of Resource Management. Each currently sits second on his teams depth chart, with the exception of Johnson, who is the third back for a potent Browns rushing attack that should be able to support two fantasy-viable RBs at any given time. Jeff Haseley: If the case history of running backs recovering from an ACL injury from the previous season are accurate, Barkley may have to deal with a compensatory injury that sidelines him. And now we have an extra game, taking us to 17 total. Better to take a chance now than have to fight waiver claims for him later. Admittedly, making start/sit decisions with White in redraft leagues will be a headache. Through two games, Edmonds is the only running back for the Cardinals to be targeted as a receiver out of the backfield. It's obvious the Cardinals don't want Conner operating as the third-back, and that's why they brought in Williams. DAndre Swift (DET) ADP: 65 Andrew Davenport: When Cam Akers went down for the season, everyone assumed the Rams would sign someone to bolster their running back room. Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. Brown is a sturdy veteran with a more prototypical frame than Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. From ourStart/Sit Assistant which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections to ourWaiver Wire Assistant which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much weve got you covered this fantasy football season. Tevin Coleman is the veteran addition who comes in fully comfortable in Mike LaFleur's system. 10 games). In fact, he was the RB14 through Week 12, averaging 15.7 PPR points per game, within one point per game of Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb. While everyone and their mothers have been falling head over heels to draft Dameon Pierce, Burkheads positioning on the depth chart has gone completely overlooked. Like what you see? Watch Penny's health closely, but he looks fine for the moment and has the inside track for the No. After returning from injury in Week 13 last season, Penny was fantasy's top-scoring back over the final six games; he ended the year leading all backs in rush yards over expectation. It's been a long time since the Patriots had a reliable, every-week fantasy star in the backfield, but that doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. Could we finally see Cordarrelle Patterson become fantasy-relevant? It is hard to say whether Jackson or Kelley will be the primary beneficiary of all the early-down, between-the-tackles work that Melvin Gordon is leaving behind, but the good news is that theyre both so cheap at draft tables that you can afford to hedge your bets and draft them both. One guy gets featured, and the other backs are truly playing a complementary role. Its gotten to the point where two people can look at the same video and draw opposite conclusions, like a Rorschach test. Fantasy running back sleepers for the 2020 season Jordan Howard, Miami Dolphins (ADP: 88th Overall & RB32) Quickly after free agency opened, the Dolphins gave Jordan Howard - who had shared the Eagles backfield with Miles Sanders - a pretty sizable contract with $4,750,000 guaranteed. He may do it again in 2021. But that's not why the Cardinals brought him in. Im an old school proponent of standard scoring, but I know lots of people prefer PPR these days, so well split the difference and use FantasyPros Average Draft Position (ADP) in 0.5 point PPR. That leaves plenty of rushing work available to Mostert, one of the fastest players in the NFL. We saw in 2021 how the Rams like to deploy their running backs. The Baltimore Ravens running back room is basically an infirmary. Add in the fact that Johnson has failed to make it through more than 10 games in either of his first two seasons, and its easy to see a scenario where Swift rockets all the way up to top-15 RB value. Hes a name to monitor in his own right. The 25-year-old Edmonds leads Arizona running backs in opportunities (rushing attempts plus targets). He finished as the RB26 in fantasy points per game in 2020 and the RB24 in total points in 2019 despite only playing 55 percent or more of the snaps in four games. Im a glutton for punishment, so Its Etienne or bust in 2022. There is still an upside to be found in the Chiefs backfield, and Pacheco is the one who possesses it. Michael Carter is the highly-touted rookie. Sure, it's a small sample size, but the Bears didn't re-sign Damien Williams and they used just a sixth-round pick on a running back (Trestan Ebner). Chris Carson missed last week's game while dealing with hip and thigh injuries. James Conner is the unquestioned RB1 in Arizona, having just signed him to a three-year, $21 million extension. Im as excited about Miles Sanders as the next guy, but lets not forget that Sanders is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury. All free! Ryquell Armstead (JAC) ADP: 224 At 29, hes old for a running back, and hes playing behind one of the premier talents at the position in Saquon Barkley. Weve seen it before. These guys dont each get their own blurb, but they are some of the top pure lottery tickets to keep tabs on in 10- and 12-team leagues. Yet, with three weeks until the season, it's Ty Johnson sitting atop the depth chart. Etienne sits 41st in running back scoring (30.50 fantasy points) while averaging 10.5 touches. With the drafting of Breece Hall, the trade for James Robinson, and now the emergence of Zonovan Knight . Heading into fantasy football drafts, handcuffs with elite upside like Tony Pollard and Alexander Mattison can no longer be considered running back sleepers. That makes Henderson the far superior value at ADP, with the potential to earn RB2 value once again this year. From the time he was activated midway through the 2019 season, he took on an integral passing game role, which led to him outscoring Nick Chubb down the stretch in full PPR formats. A seventh-round draft pick who didnt put up big numbers in college at Rutgers, Pacheco may not have the resume of a future star, but we should all know by now that running back production often comes from unheralded players. Ravens running backs combined to score 17 touchdowns during the regular season, so if Edwards sees 70% of those scores, he could find the end zone 10+ times. It's your job to take full advantage of the ADP discrepancy that we're seeing in early summer. Those are critical skills to have on a team that doesnt frequently throw the ball to its running backs. If Ollison further tightens his grip on the role, he'll deserve a look as an RB5 on deep benches. Pat Fitzmaurice: It's mandatory to move this guy up draft boards now that the Dolphins have signaled that Brown will play a significant role. Cordarrelle Patterson was the surprise of 2021. If you think Im missing someone obvious or are worried that one of these sleepers might never wake up, Im all ears on Twitter @andrew_seifter. But recall how Conner was used last season when Chase Edmonds was healthy. Christian McCaffrey returns from injury and the injury-away role, which produced an impact 2020 from Mike Davis, has Hubbard as the betting favorite. Sleeper : A draft term for a NFL player that a fantasy manager believes . With Michel no longer in Los Angeles, at a minimum, Henderson should have the backup job secured. 10. Ben Cummins: Reportedly healthy, for now, Penny projects as the RB2 in an offense that loves to remain balanced, is insinuating theyll be more uptempo under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and that is led by future first-ballot Hall of Famer Russell Wilson. The Lions fell to 31st against running backs (118/662/9 - 5.6 yards per rush plus 18 catches for 120 yards) after Rashaad Penny ran wild last week. 1 overall fantasy pick again this year despite missing the majority of last season. In fact, he had 21 and 23 carries in those games, with a rushing touchdown in each. Moss might only provide fringe RB3/flex value initially, but he doesnt necessarily need a Singletary injury to eventually ascend to RB2 value; he could simply outperform him. Signed for basically nothing in free agency by the 49ers, he fits their system well. What's even better, these guys can be had at ridiculously cheap prices right now. Regardless of the league type, running backs go at a very high rate in most . Even backs with receiving upside like James White and Giovani Bernard have seen their ADPs rise in recent weeks. Jeff Haseley: Myles Gaskin may be the opening day starting running back, but it seems like this is a wide-open opportunity where the best man wins. He got the start in the first preseason game and has looked great all summer. That being said, I do think its helpful to lay out some guidelines for what I consider to be a sleeper. George Kittle is banged up and the Cardinals are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game . hide 1. If he struggles, New England should have a more challenging time running the ball. Even if he doesn't, we're getting a guy with top-15 or 20 appeal for a very minimal cost at RB62. If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate ofFantasy Football Toolsas you navigate your season. They signed him because of his ability as both a pass-catcher and a pass-protector. Fantasy RB Sleepers 2022: Potential running back breakouts Dameon Pierce, Texans . JUST THROW IT UP TO DARREL WILLIAMS pic.twitter.com/B1ckM8P0Xh. Many times the difference between a winning score and a mediocre play is that almighty touchdown. Williams is left of the incumbents with a consistently managed due to durability, Jerick McKinnon, the notable addition. In the 10 games from Weeks 1-12 where he played 60+ percent of the snaps, Henderson finished as a top-20 fantasy RB seven times and a top-5 RB twice. But make no mistake: when he served as the Rams lead back, he was a very valuable fantasy contributor. Mostert appeared in just one game during his final season in San Francisco due to a Week 1 knee injury, but he was extremely productive on limited snaps during the prior three seasons. Once the best player in fantasy football, AP is now the epitome of a boring veteran option who can still help your team win. fewer than 3.7 yards per carry last season and a defense that, fewer than 3.7 yards per carry and going to, Im also always happy to talk about anything fantasy-related on Twitter, Last-Minute Fantasy Football Advice for Week 14 (2022), Fantasy Football Week 14 Rankings: Freedman & Fitz (2022), Week 14 Sunday Night Football Showdown DFS Primer (Dolphins at Chargers), Fantasy Football Injury Updates: DK Metcalf, Diontae Johnson, Damien Harris, DeeJay Dallas (2022), Fantasy Football Injury Updates: Trevor Lawrence, Amari Cooper, Kenneth Walker III, Saquon Barkley (2022), NFL Week 14 Player Prop Bet Odds, Picks & Predictions (2022), No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. He wasnt an early-round draft pick, but all he does is produce when hes on the field, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has shown unwavering faith in him. Stevenson has a big mountain to climb, but when you're digging for gold in the final rounds of a draft, I'll take a powerful rookie runner on a run-heavy team with marginal talent ahead of him on the depth chart. You get the point. Four games into the season, I sit in the dunce corner for my outlook on Etienne. Fantasy football running back sleepers for week 3:Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears. The Jets had him on the field for a season-high 66 percent of their plays against the Steelers, leading to the most touches (19) in his short career. Moss may not be as talented as fellow rookies Jonathan Taylor and DAndre Swift, or as likely to quickly steal away lead back duties, but Moss presents tremendous upside at the cost it will take to acquire his services. Top 10 Fantasy Football Running Back Sleepers 2022 10. Akers played 46 offensive snaps and saw 17 touches last week, both easily season highs for the third-year back who . Since 2018, in the 21 games where Edwards has seen at least nine carries, he has averaged 14.8 touches (14.3 carries) for 74 yards and 0.29 touchdowns per game. Phil Alexander: Brown's usage with the starters in Miami's first preseason game stamped out notions Myles Gaskin will operate as a bell cow this year. Austin Ekeler is a terrific player in both fantasy and reality, but he is not built to be a true everyone-down workhorse. Week 4 Running Back Sleepers Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons. Houston's offense may be a liability, but I can see them scrambling for high-percentage, shallow-target passes, especially in the second halves of games. Victoria Geary: The New York backfield remains a huge question mark, and Johnson has a chance to emerge as the early season starter. A sleeper is just someone who is being drafted well below . With an ADP of around RB40, Henderson sits right above Raheem Mostert and Chris Carson. These players should be your targets after the 12th round of your draft. You'll want to take your chances on the guy in a high-powered offense that gets 18 opportunities playing 80% of the snaps. However, Hubbard's profile and upside dwarf any other non-McCaffrey back on the roster. Yes, the Ravens spent a second-round pick on a highly talented back in J.K. Dobbins, but that move is likely more about 2021, when the then-31-year-old Ingram will be entering the final year of his contract and could be cut. Its no surprise that Lewis is being avoided in fantasy drafts. Related: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Advice for RB/WR in Week 5, Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (DraftKings $5,200/FanDuel $5,600). It starts with Fournettes checkered injury history. Depth is extremely important when it comes to fantasy football running back sleepers the NFL is no doubt a full contact league. The once and future Dolphins starter reclaimed his spot atop Miami's running back throne last week against San Francisco, playing 60 percent of the snaps. Damien Harris and Miles Sanders). The other runners are either late seventh-rounders or undrafted as well. There have been few hotter topics on NFL training camp social media that the health status of JK Dobbins, who is now more than a year removed from tearing his ACL last summer. Coming off a lost season, Conners ability to stay healthy is obviously a question mark, but that risk is more than accounted for in his ADP. Williams averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last season but was consistently a very startable option whenever CEH was forced to miss time. Some analysts are firm that it only applies to players taken after a certain pick or after a certain round. However, Akers has already missed time during his brief career and might struggle . Fournette averaged a career-best 4.3 yards per carry last season, but that was still outside the top-25 running backs in the league. Mike Davis -- the definition of journeyman -- was an every-week fantasy starter in McCaffrey's absence. Expectations should be set quite low, but there are few better volume dice-rolls in the final 2-3 rounds of a draft. Dion Lewis is the type of sleeper running back I look for in the later rounds. True, the Falcons' RB handcuff slot isn't quite as attractive as when guys like Tevin Coleman were worth a draft pick. Hopefully, my top fantasy football running back sleepers for 2021 helps you this year. But he shouldnt be discounted. While you can build the foundation for your team in the draft, leagues are won and lost on the waiver wire. Conner had a thoroughly disappointing 2019 season, but many fantasy drafters seem to be forgetting that he still managed to provide low-end RB1 value before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 8. While inexperienced at the NFL level, Hubbard has the skill set to make plays on every down. You could argue that a big part of Mosterts rushing success in San Francisco was due to run-game mastermind Kyle Shanahan. Overall, the Dolphins allow 3.2 yards per carry to running backs (76/243/1). While Michel hasnt quite turned into the star that fantasy managers were hoping he would be when the Patriots took him in the first round in 2018, he has rushed for at least 845 yards in three of his first four seasons in the league, despite limited playing time. Andy Hicks: Out of the backs on the 2020 roster for New England, only two saw more than eight receptions. Though he only emerged as the teams lead back Week 13, Mostert finished the year as the 26th ranked running back with 165.2 points. With Tom Brady in Tompa and Cam Newton now under center, the Patriots will likely go with a run-heavy approach, particularly given the uncertain state of their receiver corps. hide 1. And, man, this guy is a load to bring down. Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? If that happens, Booker is next in line for the Giants and would assume a flex option role at worst if the situation arises. Make him one of your last picks and if he doesn't pan out, move on. Use these running backs in your DraftKings and FanDuel rosters if you are looking to save money and spend your salary cap on wide receivers or quarterbacks. Subscribe:Apple Podcasts|Spotify|Google Podcasts|Stitcher|SoundCloud|iHeartRadio. Phil Alexander: Rookie Michael Carter is the upside play in the Jets backfield, but it wouldn't be shocking if Coleman opened the season as New York's primary back on early downs. Heres a look at the best value running back options in Week 5: Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (DraftKings $5,500/FanDuel $6,000). 6 teams on bye in week 14 got me down bad. Troy King: Brown will be utilized in short-yardage situations and on the goal line. If you dismissed Wilson as a mediocre talent, you likely missed out on the 119 total yards and a touchdown that he put against the Falcons during the fantasy playoffs last year. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson, another big dude with receiving ability, can be had at the end of drafts. Most of the players that are there now weren't there three weeks ago. On . Hes also been getting plenty of reps with the first-team offense, including on passing downs, where he is sometimes deployed in the slot. While it is unlikely that any of them provide consistent standalone flex value, they each have a relatively clear path to RB2 value if their teams starters miss time. In an attempt to point out this value, we asked our staff to look deeper than the Top 150 and identify players that should significantly outperform their late draft position. The odd thing is, the conversation around who might play behind starter Darrell Henderson died rather quickly. Jason Wood: The Patriots always have an elite rushing attack, but Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels don't care how many players it takes to get to their end goal. Think of him as a late-round pre-emptive waiver add that you don't need to spend any bid money on. Burkhead can absolutely eke out some RB3/flex value in PPR formats, and he has as good a shot as anyone to assume early down duties if Pierce were to get injured. We project Carter to lead the team in carries, but with only 41% of the running back carries, amongst the lowest for the projected leaders in the league. Ryan Hester: This is more of a conditional selection because it's based on another Pittsburgh back either falling down the depth chart or being cut. Glenn Erby, The Eagles Wire. Boston Scott (PHI) ADP: 179 The name of the game is to find value at all stages of your draft. I mean, if you're the Rams, how could not have this guy in the game on third downs? Its painful to see your opinion get beat by the playing time decision by the head coach. But his familiarity with the Jets' new coaching staff from their time together in San Francisco should give Coleman an early leg up on youngsters Carter, Ty Johnson, and LaMichael Perine. Justin Howe: Clyde Edwards-Helaire should further tighten his grip on this backfield, which leaves the reserves devoid of standalone value. Pat Fitzmaurice: Derrick Henry holds the deed to the Titans' backfield, but there might be room for Evans to contribute as well, and the second-year back could become immensely valuable if anything happened to Henry. That said, Sermon is a big runner who is uniquely . Top running back sleepers for fantasy football Week 10 10. Akers' injury paved the way for Henderson to thrive for most of 2021. He'd be considered a sleeper because you're expecting him to not only outproduce his ADP but to outperform other players that are being drafted in the same range (i.e. We do not get certain production from running backs late in a fantasy draft. Why yes, I am. You don't currently have any notifications. By Chet Gresham @ChetGresham Sep 3, 2021, 4:00am PDT. That could mean a lot of Burkhead playing over Pierce, much to the frustration of fantasy managers across the land. Finally, theres his lack of productivity even when healthy. Based on the early running back trends in 2022, daily fantasy players will mine the back end of the player pool each week. Its also a bet on the Chiefs offense as a whole and a bet against Rojo and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Last season, Williams ranked fourth in yards per reception (9.6), 12th in yards per route run (1.61), and sixth in catch rate (82.5%). Hes an excellent value as a clear starting running back with RB1 upside, and hes going outside of the top-40 picks. But in the event of another injury to fantasy footballs top pick, Hubbard would inherit nearly the same role. Justin Howe: Many are assuming Miles Sanders is facing some dip in his 2021 workload. These guys might not win you Week 1, Week 2, or even Week 3, but they have league-winning upside should anything happen to the starter in front of them. AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers 2. Drake was woefully underutilized by the Raiders last year, but he put up nearly 1,100 total yards and 10 TDs for the Cardinals in 2020, good enough to finish as the RB14 in 0.5 PPR formats. If starting running back Joe Mixon continues to sit out this week, Giovani Bernard is a locked and loaded fantasy start. With Mike Davis leaving in free agency, Hubbard has the potential to carve out a role worthy of some solid FLEX weeks and is an excellent stash as the backup to the best running back on draft boards this season. Imagine what a young, talented, fresh-legged tailback like Hubbard can do with the same opportunity? There is value available throughout a draft, and grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. Week 14, Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 14 - Ryan Tannehill, James Cook and Jameson Williams, DraftKings and FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (12/10/22): NBA DFS Lineups. His best game (20.10 fantasy points) came at home in Week 3. He had 18 receptions in just six games in his final college season at Oklahoma, averaging 11.7 yards per catch. Will slot in nicely as the Cardinals' third-down RB. Here are 4 running backs you can probably find on your waiver wire to help you scavenge a few points. DErnest Johnson (CLE), Dontrell Hilliard (TEN), Jaylen Warren (PIT), Samaje Perine (CIN), Matt Breida (NYG). Pierce currently sits at RB30 in Average Draft Position and hell probably be even higher soon so lets set the cutoff at RB40. Williams wasn't very good as a rusher last season, ranking 47th in juke rate, 46th in evaded tackles, and 49th in breakaway run rate (per PlayerProfiler). But that hasn't happened, and it may not. Yes, Jackson himself will be responsible for a good chunk of that production, but there are few backfields in the league that project to be as effective on the ground as Baltimores. Rookie Michael Carter is expected to take over this backfield at some point, but Johnson is a good last-round target that could provide FLEX value early on. Then theres the fact that the team has openly attempted to trade him trade talks that continue to this day and could still see him moved before Week 1. Gainwell is a top-50 running back in most fantasy football rankings and as an obvious late-round pick, Philadelphia's most explosive weapon out the backfield could be a sleeper pick on a championship roster. For now, there is little reason for Baltimore to mess with what works, and that means riding Ingram, who paired with Lamar Jackson last year to provide easily the best rushing attack in the NFL. Andrew Davenport: It isn't a coincidence that Coleman ended up in New York with a former 49ers coach calling the shots. And the back-to-back games with 96+ yards that got his career up and running in 2018. Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Week 14 Include Travis Homer, Dameon Pierce And Tyler Huntley Love is shaping up as the better pure handcuff to AP, and he has a fair amount of sleeper value of his own at ADP 322. The 35-year old has finished as the RB18 (2018) and RB30 (2019) during his first two seasons in Washington, and he missed just one game in the process. Neither Ronald Jones II nor Leonard Fournette is a good pass-catching running back. You cant write an article or a Twitter post calling a player a sleeper without at least one person taking issue with it in the comments. In L.A., Michel has an excellent opportunity to earn a sizable share of the early-down, between-the-tackles rushing work, including at the goal line. fewer than 3.7 yards per carry over that stretch. If you ask me, Swift has a similar appeal to the Colts Jonathan Taylor, who is (deservedly) going around pick 40. His contract expires in 2023, and the Browns have a stable of backs behind Chubb, including D'Ernest Johnson who recently signed a one-year deal worth up to $2.433 million, including more than. Here are your early running back sleepers in 2022. You don't go into the season thinking those guys are going to get hurt. hide 1. He has always been an overachiever, trying to prove his worth. Henry is not a pass catcher . However, hell need to earn relevant regular season playing time before Whites locked-in role is affected. Jordan McNamara: Ty Johnson has failed to consolidate a starting role thus far in his career, but he has a great opportunity in 2021 with the New York Jets. Chase Edmonds,. 2020 Draft Kit: View printable cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid >>, Subscribe:Apple Podcasts|Spotify|Google Podcasts|Stitcher|SoundCloud|iHeartRadio. If you like what you see here, you can get more of my thoughts on draft-day values, waiver wire pickups, buy-low/sell-high candidates, rest-of-season player values, and more by subscribing to fewer than 3.7 yards per carry and going to ROSrankings.com. Raheem Mostert has trouble staying on the field, and the rookie Trey Sermon is no sure thing. Pat Fitzmaurice: Ronald Jones II is a terrible pass catcher. Dion Lewis (NYG) ADP: 267 Jackson has not only survived camp healthy thus far - he's likely locked down the majority of that role for as long as he's upright. Putting a lot of faith in Coleman isn't a great idea, but he's the starting running back right now and is being treated as though he's a handcuff. Lindsay has not offered the same receiving skillset as David Johnson but could see an extended opportunity as Houston auditions running backs for 2022 and beyond. And the back-to-back two-touchdown games he registered in 2019. We rank out backup running backs with ADP and tiers to figure out some interesting sleepers. This is all to say it's clear the Rams believe in featuring one running back throughout a game. This is even more likely in full-PPR leagues or in leagues with several flex positions. Due to his preseason productivity, Davis-Price could be the No. The Cardinals rank 21st in running back defense (23.97 FPPG) while regressing over the past two games (35.10 and 34.50 fantasy points). Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 2022 Week 14 Fantasy Football Sleepers. ET, Fox): Mitchell is the clear top running back in the 49ers offense, as he led the backfield in snaps, touches and fantasy points last week. Johnson has the perimeter speed capable of producing a Raheem Mostert-lite type of breakout in New York's version of the Shanahan offense. In what projects to be one of the leagues best offenses, that should be enough of a role to create some RB3/flex appeal, and if Ekeler were to go down, Michels value would shoot up even higher. window.PLAYERCARDS_CONFIG={affiliateCode:"fpros_cards"}; Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com Not only will he have a role on obvious passing downs, but Williams should double as one of the most valuable backups in the NFL considering he finds himself in another high-powered offense. Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App It lends itself nicely to running backs with "one-cut" ability. In the other game, with at least 12 carries, he had 5 receptions. But Edmonds does not profile as a bell-cow back who will handle a heavy rushing workload. Kyren Williams , Los Angeles Rams There's reportedly a good chance that Rams rookie Kyren Williams makes his season and career debut in. He likely wont hit, but Im not investing much in him anyway. Im also always happy to talk about anything fantasy-related on Twitter @andrew_seifter. His excellent visionB. He's scored four touchdowns in two preseason games and looks like he belongs. has had a solid start to the season. Chances are you're going to have two very solid, startable running backs on a weekly basis. Adam Koffler's Running Back Sleepers for 2022 Fantasy Football Drafts 5 months ago by Adam Koffler Follow Adam What Appears In This Article? Despite an empty showing (8/32) against the Eagles, Jacksonville had him on the field for 51 percent of their plays (most at running back). Stevenson saw his opportunity and snaps grow over the past two matchups, leading to 190 combined yards with one touchdown and eight catches on 34 touches. After four games, Hall is the 17th-ranked running back by fantasy points (55.10). Snell adds no value on special teams, so if he can't beat out Ballage, he could find himself on the outside looking in after final roster cuts. Even previously jettisoned rookie Rashaad Penny has had his moments. This year, theyll reportedly re-commit to the run-heavy game plan they employed in 2019 when they rushed for nearly 1,000 more yards than any other team. It used to be taken as an article of faith that Andy Reid produces elite fantasy RBs, but Kansas City hasnt had a top-20 fantasy RB since Hunt back in 2018. If you are drafting from the 7th to 12th spot this season, your first and second-round selections could end up being wide receivers. White has caught 364 passes over the past six years, and if Mac Jones takes over for Cam Newton, Whites pass-catching upside should increase since Jones is a pinpoint, accurate passer. Well, it's really quite simple. Hes a no-risk investment that has the potential to boom should the stars align. Damien Harris (NE) ADP: 203 Zack Moss (BUF) ADP: 137 Even Dobbins himself has weighed in to vehemently deny that he is walking with a limp. Unfortunately, he quickly wore down under the heavier-than-expected workload. RUNNING BACK. Win Big With RotoBaller While Getsy's system should help David Montgomery, I've said a few times it's a perfect fit for Khalil Herbert.There are two reasons for this.A. But Barkleyisan injury risk, and Lewis has proven throughout his career that he can produce as both a rusher and receiver when given the opportunity. Mark Ingram (BAL) ADP: 46 Harris handled a grand total of six touches in his rookie season, so its impossible to know how good he can be, but he is shaping up as an intriguing lottery ticket given the bargain-bin price. It would be unwise to expect a major drop off in his workload this year, especially with Derrius Guice no longer part of the equation. From ourTrade Analyzer which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent to ourWaiver Wire Assistant that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much weve got you covered this fantasy football season. Jackson has long battled his own body but has always flashed dynamism (5.6 career yards per touch). Elijah Mitchell is the clear lead back in San Francisco at the moment, but that job title is always written in pencil with Kyle Shanahan at the helm. Etienne brings explosiveness to the Jaguars, but he needs to strut his stuff in space. Pat Fitzmaurice: Fantasy managers have fallen in love with Najee Harris, largely because he's a bigger back with pass-catching skills. Not sure that makes a ton of sense, but we'll roll with it nonetheless. 2 and direct handcuff to Mike Davis. Salvon Ahmed had two games last year with over 12 carries. Raiders (Sloan Piva). Phil Alexander: After missing the 2018 and 2019 seasons entirely, it appeared doubtful McKinnon had much left to offer an NFL team. Chubb was still the marginally better fantasy asset in 0.5 PPR, but Hunt returned solid flex value in those leagues as well. What's a "sleeper?" But right now, Jones is the next man up, and it is unlikely that Los Angeles will hand Henderson 300 touches. Carson seems to make my underrated list every year, and with good reason. That all points to an increase in dump-off passes. In deeper leagues, he . He is a versatile back capable of making plays all over the field. But for the sake of this early running back sleepers article, we're not going to highlight guys like Etienne. It's easy to envision him carving out a role in the league's most dynamic passing game and re-entering the low-end RB1 conversation if forced into starting duties. In Carson's absence, Mike Davis has filled in quite nicely. window.PLAYERCARDS_CONFIG={affiliateCode:"fpros_cards"}; Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com Andrew Seifter is a featured writer at FantasyPros. In addition to our staff rankings, below you will also find a summary of. Week 14 Chat - Live Fantasy Football Game Day Q&A While Williams lacks the flash of McKinnon's best moments of his career, Williams has shades of Alfred Blue, an all-around solid veteran who has more NFL appreciation than fantasy acclaim. There is significant upside here, and its why Im interested in Penny for the first time in his career. Once again the running back position has quite a few potential sleepers for the 2021 season that could make all the difference in your leagues. Our running back fantasy football rankings are put together by Nick Mariano, Brandon Murchison, and Andersen Pickard. He just signed with the Washington Redskins, who just lost RB Derrius Guice to an ACL tear and Samaje Perine to an ankle injury (1-2 weeks as of now). Adrian Peterson (WAS) ADP: 145 This article targets deep sleeper value (players that can be found very late in a fantasy draft). Ahmed is essentially free in redraft leagues. Simply put, the Jaguars appear ready to move on from Fournette, and that should create a big opportunity for Armstead as long as he can make up for the lost time he spent this summer on the reserve/Covid-19 list. It was expected White would go as well, but the absence of any other pass-catching back means White will see plenty of work. A third-round draft pick in 2020, Evans is an explosive playmaker with 4.4 speed and pass-catching chops. The Patriots will be down to their third-string quarterback this week, giving Bailey Zappe a window to prove that he can handle an NFL starting job. Elijah Mitchell at Bears (1 p.m. The most likely role for Brown is in clock-killing and goal-line situations, which gives him weekly standalone value as part of a committee, and there's upside if Gaskin gets injured again. After finding himself on the COVID-19 list and battling a knee injury, his replacement Sony Michel came in and saw at least a 75% snap share in each of the six games he was the starter. Brown's ceiling is pretty limited, but he has become an appealing safe-floor play, especially in larger leagues. Herbert averaged more points per game as a starter than Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs, Ezekiel Elliottand you guessed it, David Montgomery, last season. If that happens, Ballage would be one Najee Harris injury away from being a featured back. With that being said, though, an abbreviated offseason this time. The converted receiver saw 153 carries as a running back, finishing with 618 yards and six touchdowns. Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community! Ryan Hester: A fourth-round rookie being Christian McCaffreys clear backup suggests more about McCaffreys secure workload than Hubbards potential. Even when counting two late-season games where he hardly played, Henderson finished as the RB19 in fantasy points per game in 0.5 PPR formats (min. Williams is a player to follow this week, just in case. Running Back Sleepers Projections powered by Sportsline Tyler Allgeier RB Atlanta #25 Age: 22 Experience: Rookie We used to have Dameon Pierce here, but he broke out before the season even. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: RB13, Pick 20.1) Davis-Price may have been a Day Two pick in this years draft, but 49ers beat writers seem to believe Wilson is firmly established as the teams RB2. As for busts, Ezekiel Elliot and Miles Sanders did not show up to their potential last season. Rookie Kenneth Gainwell has seen his ADP rise steadily while Scott, who's handled 190 NFL touches and sits higher on the depth chart, usually still comes free. Though 28-year-old running back Tevin Coleman was signed in free agency, he averaged under two yards-per-carry last year and struggled to stay healthy and on the field. Someone will soak up time in the Rams backfield this year, and Jones is the top candidate right now. He put up multiple RB1 stretches in Kansas City, including consecutive postseasons in which he was among the most dynamic players in the leagues most dynamic offense. That's exactly what Chicago has in second-year man Khalil Herbert. Ingram is another starting running back with RB1 upside who is going outside of the top-40 selections. Sleepers Running Backs Values Overrated Sleepers A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. So without further ado, let's dive in and take. Washington Football Team: WR: Dyami Brown. Houston has the worst defense in the league against running backs (118/631/5 and 23 catches for 157 yards and one touchdown). We use cookies to personalize content, ads and analyze site traffic. Gallman can probably be taken on the waiver wire, but if he gets action will not disappoint. The following 10 players represent RB sleepers that can help win you your leagues this year while maximizing their draftable values. Chark, Tyler Lockett, Chris Godwin, Christian Kirk, Garrett Wilson, Start Em, Sit Em - Week 14 Matchups Analysis, Week 14 Defense (DEF) Streamers and Starts - 2022 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings, Top DST Pairings for Playoffs: Rest-Of-Season Team Defense Picks, Travis Homer (RB, SEA) - Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14, Who Should I Start for Fantasy Football? Chad Parsons: Le'Veon Bell is gone from 2020, and Damien Williams' opt-out last season turned into a free agent exit. And we all know the person who drafted him would not shut up about how they got him in the eighth round, even if they did not make the playoffs. The third-round pick out of Utah joins a top-eight rushing offense from 2019, and he should see plenty of favorable game scripts on a Bills team that projects to often play with the lead. That's the joy of a late pick. The Rams appear set to use Cam Akers as their lead back in 2021, leaving Darrell Henderson Jr. as an afterthought. But when injuries to Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman forced McKinnon into the 49ers lead-back role early in 2020, the 28-year-old veteran acquitted himself well. At a minimum, Brown will be a meaningful element of a committee and fueled to fantasy starter consideration with a Gaskin injury. The Dolphins prioritized Brown in free agency ahead of investing draft capital in a young running back, and we've seen him spoil the breakout chances of more exciting runners in the past by earning the trust of his coaching staff. As youll see, this list largely consists of unsexy veterans, unproven young players, and guys who have taken an unorthodox route to fantasy value. Running Back Sleepers (2022 Fantasy Football) by Andrew Seifter | @andrew_seifter | Featured Writer Sep 7, 2022 While Breece Hall is the darling of the Jets' RB, Michael Carter might be the. These are your league winners, these are the guys that will likely step into a feature role should the starter suffer an unfortunate injury. Stevenson is listed at 6-foot-0, 227 pounds on the Patriots' website but played at over 230 pounds at Oklahoma (and maybe close to 240). Andrew Davenport: The knee injury suffered at the end of 2019 is still having a ripple effect as Penny didn't play much last year, and he's already had a cleanup procedure during this calendar year. According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, the Chicago Bears are likely transitioning into a run-heavy team with an outside zone scheme this season under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. But Davis is an unconventional lead back: 2020 brought his first season with more than 112 rushes, and it came in his age-27 year. When both have been healthy this summer, Akers and Henderson have split first teams reps pretty evenly, suggesting McVay will once again go with a hot-hand approach. It wont cost much at all to find out. Rountree doesn't look like a special talent, and Joshua Kelley was atrocious last year (3.2 yards-per-carry) when asked to serve as the stabilizing complement to Austin Ekeler. A good portion of his usage will come through the passing game. RB65 for this guy is going to look like a steal if Conner, who's missed an average of 3.2 games in his five-year career, misses any time in 2022. Scott could also have some flex value even when Sanders is healthy and active, especially in PPR formats. In fact, he was the RB8 just last year. Andrew Davenport: The Dolphins' backfield isn't made up of guys with much draft capital or large salaries. And Williams would slot into at least a two-down role in front of Tarik Cohen, who can safely be considered a specialist rather than a workhorse at this point in his career. 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