August 27, 2017

Read about PPR running back sleepers for your 2017 fantasy football drafts. Target these undervalued later-round RBs in the middle-to-late rounds of PPR drafts.

Every year, after the fantasy season has ended and players championship hopes have been dashed, we look back and say "How did we not realize player x would be so good?" Going into drafts we think we have it all figured out, then the chaos of the NFL screws everything up and we realize we don't.

At the end of the 2017 season we are going to look back and wonder why we drafted running backs so early. Well, at least those of you who draft running backs early. The rest of us are going to bask in the glory of winning. For those that want to join us, and don't fear waiting on running backs, we present to you the best undervalued running backs for the 2017 fantasy football season.

Note: All ADP data is taken from Fantasy Calculator PPR drafts for 12 team leagues.

PPR Draft Values - Running Backs

Carlos Hyde (RB, SF), ADP: 4.06

Early in the off-season there were rumors that new Head Coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to trade Hyde. Apparently after he saw how good he was he changed his mind. Hyde has been dominating first team reps in camp and preseason and looks locked in as a workhorse back. Yes, there are concerns about San Francisco being in negative game script, but keep in mind Hyde is coming off a season that saw him fall just 12 yards short of 1,000 despite only playing 13 games for a team that won twice. Despite those three missed game, Hyde still finished as RB18 overall and RB12 in terms of points per game. Going off as the 19th running back is getting him at his floor.

C.J. Anderson (RB, DEN), ADP: 5.10

Before getting injured in 2016, Anderson was on pace for 1000 yards and nine touchdowns. Only six running backs had over 1,000 yards and nine or more touchdowns last season. With DeVontae Booker recovering from wrist surgery and likely out for at least the first three weeks, and Jamaal Charles likely to see very little playing time, Anderson has clear path to the Broncos number one running back role. Rookie De'Angelo Henderson has flashed in the preseason but it's clear he is behind Anderson on the depth chart. The Broncos made it a priority to upgrade one of the worst offensive lines this off-season and they should be vastly improved in that department as well. Healthy and running behind a revamped offensive line could lead to Anderson starting strong and never giving up his hold over this backfield. This is another player you are getting at their absolute floor.

Mark Ingram (RB, NO), ADP: 5.12

Quick, name the only three running backs who have posted top 12 PPR finishes the last two seasons? Give up? David Johnson (RB8, RB1), DeVonta Freeman (RB1, RB6) and Ingram (RB10, RB8). So why is Ingram being drafted as RB26? Simple, the belief that Adrian Peterson is still a workhorse back and will significantly cut into Ingram's role. It's a big ask for a guy who is 32, coming off his second knee surgery, and looked like he was lacking burst when healthy in 2016. Even if Peterson still has something left, Ingram has proven he can produce on limited touches. Over the last two years, despite only seeing 13.8 and 12.8 carries per game respectively, Ingram has averaged 64.1 yards and 65.2 yards per game. He is also used heavily in the passing game with 96 catches over that span. On one of the league's elite offenses opportunity will be there for Ingram to post another top 12 finish. Going off as RB26 is ridiculous and he is a steal at this cost.

Terrance West (RB, BAL), ADP: 8.02

West is not a great real life running back. He's fine, sure, but he's not great. Luckily for us opportunity often trumps talent in fantasy and that is the case here. With Kenneth Dixon on IR for the 2017 season, the Ravens backfield is basically Danny Woodhead and West. With Woodhead's prowess in the passing game, West will likely be the two-down back. Despite sharing the backfield with Dixon in 2016, and only averaging 14 touches per game, West still finished as RB23. There is no reason he can't see 14 touches a week and put up similar numbers in 2017. Sure, West doesn't have a huge ceiling, but he has a RB2 floor and is being drafted as a low end RB3.

Duke Johnson (RB, CLE), ADP: 9.01

After a promising rookie season was followed up by a disappointing sophomore season, the fantasy community has soured on Johnson. However there are reasons for optimism. First, Johnson was still used heavily in the passing game last year catching 53 passes on 74 targets. Second, the Browns are an emerging offense and have talked about getting their running backs more involved. On top of his prowess in the passing game, Johnson is also a capable runner out of the backfield averaging 5.5 yards per carry in his short career. Isaiah Crowell is the favorite to lead this backfield in carries, but if he struggles or gets injured Johnson will likely inherit a three down role. This is a player who can be a weekly RB3 with much higher upside going in the ninth round. That is value right there.

Jonathan Stewart (RB, CAR), ADP: 9.11

Over the last three years Stewart has PPR finishes of RB24, RB24 and RB29. Even with the addition of Christian McCaffrey, Stewart is likely to still be used in a two-down and goal line role. Like West, he doesn't possess big upside but is a safe option this late in the draft. Getting a guy who has 18.6 and 16.8 carries per game the last two years in the ninth is great value. He can be a weekly RB2 for teams that go wide receiver heavy early and would pretty much need to retire to not return value at his cost.

Darren Sproles (RB, PHI), ADP: 11.10

What if someone told you there was a running back who over the last eight seasons has never had less than 700 total yards, never had less than 40 receptions, and only had less than four touchdowns once? And you could draft him in the 11th round of PPR drafts? Sounds to good to be true, right? Well that's Sproles. On top of that absurd consistency, the guy drafted to be his replacement, Donnel Pumphrey, has looked terrible. Reports out of Eagles camp have said Sproles could be used in three wide receiver sets as well. Since coming to Philadelphia in 2014 Sproles has yet to finish outside the top 30 PPR running backs. Currently valued at RB50, Sproles should be a target of yours in every PPR draft.

Rex Burkhead (RB, NE), ADP: 12.11

The Patriots backfield is always a crap shoot, but it's looking more and more likely that Burkhead might be the best value. With Mike Gillislee nursing a hamstring injury, Burkhead got a chance to take first team reps in the Patriots second preseason game and he did not disappoint. The Patriots have a chance to be a historic offense, and if you can get a big piece of it in the 12th you have to do it. At worst, Burkhead splits early down and goal line work with Gillislee. At best he dominates that role and wins teams a fantasy championship. He's the exact type of player you want to draft late. You should be grabbing him everywhere you can at this cost.

Honorable Mentions

Ameer Abdullah (RB, DET), ADP: 5.09, Theo Riddick (RB, DET), ADP: 7.05, Frank Gore (RB, IND), ADP: 7.11, Rob Kelley (RB, WAS), ADP: 8.04, Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, TAM), ADP: 9.06, Latavius Murray (RB, MIN), ADP: 12.05, Jonathon Williams (RB, BUF), ADP: 13.02, Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN), ADP: 13.03, Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI), ADP: 13.10, Shane Vereen (RB, NYG), ADP: 13.11

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