With the NFL season just about to begin, looking ahead to what is in store for fantasy football resources is a must, especially concerning running back sleepers. With one additional regular-season game added to the slate (likely pushing the start of your league's playoffs back) understanding the do's and don'ts of how to have a successful season is even more important.
The RB position holds some of the most vital positional value in league formats, and the powerhouse options that consistently dominate that role are the names that are mostly found in article headlines – but this article is to help you in later rounds after the big options have been taken. Understanding the value of RB's in the middle rounds helps fill out your bench while helping prepare for bye weeks and injury flare-ups.
The following 10 players represent RB sleepers that can help win you your leagues this year while maximizing their draftable values.
10. James Robinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson was the darling of all waiver wire additions last season, going from undrafted option to over 1,400 total yards for the Jaguars. But, new head coach Urban Meyer was not sold on him, as they drafted Clemson's Travis Etienne this year.
Reports of both options earning upside rules in this offense may be hard to understand, but Robinson looks to have a hold on the rushing duties at this point. With Etienne having an extensive receiving history and taking on a role in camp that landed that way, taking Robinson with a look to early production can help with a strong season start, even if that means shipping him out later when his role declines.
9. Michael Carter
New York Jets
Putting any member of the New York Jets on a sleeper list can result in a missed opportunity, but with how convoluted their backfield is, rookie Michael Carter could ascend up this list quickly.
The second of two backs taken from the University of North Carolina, Carter represents a back with high upside and low mileage in an offense under new coaching and play style. With veteran Tevin Coleman the likelier option to contest Carter, the long-term play is that Carter represents the better value and should be seeing starter work around Week 6. Just be careful, with Mike LaFleur running the offense as a 49ers disciple, both will likely be featured the whole year.
8. Gus Edwards
Baltimore Ravens
Signed to an extension this off-season, Gus Edwards will have a role in that offense, even being behind J.K. Dobbins.
With Dobbins slated for the starting role but having fought some injuries, Edwards is a solid RB3/4 that will coat next to nothing to draft and will help save some teams down the stretch. While he won't be counted on for huge outputs, understanding that his value is standalone and not directly tied to being a handcuff, meaning that a double-digit round selection would help balance out your bench with Edwards.
7. Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
The final UNC back on this list is Javonte Williams, who Denver drafted to be their starter of the future. As Melvin Gordon III heads into the final year of his deal, Williams will be able to play himself into a starting role sooner rather than later.
As this team looks for its starting quarterback of the future, Williams seems to be fought off highly in the Denver organization and figures to be looked to this year to form a committee that could resemble a more successful version of the one Gordon and Phillip Lindsay formed last year.
Before year's end, Williams could be the draft's best RB to come out of it – so capitalize on that upside value now.
6. Damien Harris
New England Patriots
What do you get when you mix a rookie quarterback entering into a position battle with a proven veteran, and mix that with a proven offensive line but an unproven set of offensive weapons?
A smash opportunity for Damien Harris to finally assume the starting back role for the New England Patriots.
All Harris needs to do is hold off both Sony Michel and rookie Rhamondre Stevenson (while also not losing 100% of the passing work to James White), and you have the potential for an every-week RB2 option that is going to have an extremely cheap price tag.
This New England offense is still looking for its identity, and Harris can help it find that, while also keeping it semi-competitive, all elements that can help give your bench a boost.
5. Myles Gaskin
Miami Dolphins
Even with having failed to have put up 1,000 total yards last year, it was clear how the Miami Dolphins felt about having Myles Gaskin become their starting RB moving forward. And with an offseason that saw no substantial additions at that position, Gaskin is a strong option for this up-and-coming offensive unit that has a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game.
As Tua Tagovailoa grows more comfortable leading this offense, the rushing attack will be counted on to take pressure off of him, and Gaskin is the leading candidate to do that. The only questionable element of Gaskin is that his current average draft position (ADP) sits around 50th overall but the 20th RB, so he certainly does hold value, provided he does not get over-drafted.
4. D'Andre Swift
Detroit Lions
Devoid of essentially any offensive talent, the Detroit Lions will be a fantasy point hole this year, outside of D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson. Under a new head coach that includes Anthony Lynn as their offensive coordinator (who has a history helping make Austin Ekeler relevant), the coming-out party for the former Georgia Bulldog is primed and ready for this year.
His current ADP sits right around Gaskin, but he brings an immense more value to the table, even with free-agent addition Jamaal Williams likely to take away some passing work. Swift is the guy for the Lions, and for him to assume that bell-cow role, he will need to earn that kind of snap count, something that (barring injury) will happen each and every game.
Swift could very well end the year as a top-12 RB across all formats, proving that playing for a bad team certainly can help boost fantasy stock.
3. Josh Jacobs
Las Vegas Raiders
The outcry of Kenyan Drake signing with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason was all involving the diminished value of Josh Jacobs as the team’s starting back. But with Drake having a history working the passing game, Jacobs looks primed to continue his running game dominance, even if he does see a dip in his catches.
As he holds a declining draft stock that currently has him as RB16 in standard formats, Jacobs offers immense value at that spot, especially coming off of two consecutive 1,000+ rushing yardage seasons and 7+ TDs.
2. J.K. Dobbins
Baltimore Ravens
The second member of the run-heavy Ravens backfield on this list is J.K. Dobbins, who fits the offensive timeline and rushing expectations alongside Lamar Jackson better than Edwards does (even though they both hold standalone value).
But for Dobbins, the coaching staff clearly has plans for him and will use him heavily this year, painting a solid picture for what can be expected of him heading into his sophomore campaign. Having fallen just short of 1,000 total yards in his rookie season, Dobbins is the kind of back that has a dual-threat skillset, and he likely will be featured even more in the passing attack alongside Edwards.
Looking for talent at the RB15 spot of the draft that could give you 1,200 total yards and 10+ scores? Dobbins is your guy.
1. Darrell Henderson
Los Angeles Rams
The top player on this is Darrell Henderson, and he only even made the list due to the unfortunate season-ending injury that Cam Akers suffered in training camp. With Henderson having proven in the past that he is more than capable of holding down a lead-back role, the upstart Los Angeles Rams look to be ready to lean on him alongside new QB Matthew Stafford and his stable of weapons.
Henderson played in all but one game last season, and even in a reserve role, he produced almost 800 total yards while tallying 6 total TDs. For the potential of a league-winning back to be there on the board at the RB25 mark sounds crazy, just wait until you see the kind of numbers he will put up at the end of the year. A potential 1,000/300/12 season is a possibility in this successful offense, so go out and grab him before his ADP skyrockets.
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