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Analysis of five fantasy football running backs to target late. Are these RBs undervalued players and potential sleepers to target in deeper 2023 drafts?
Once you reach the late rounds of fantasy football drafts, everyone wants to draft high-upside fliers that can provide a great return on value. You can afford to take risks on a variety of different players, including prospects, forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns.
It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Here are some late-round running backs for you to consider drafting this season.
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Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks, Fantasy Football Outlook
The Seahawks selected UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet with the 52nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, instantly sending incumbent starter Kenneth Walker III fantasy managers into a panic. Walker has already cemented his role as an efficient runner with big play ability. However, Charbonnet is an excellent complement to his skill set. More specifically, where Walker struggles as a pass catcher and in pass protection, Charbonnet thrives at both.
Seattle is set up nicely to be a balanced offense that could easily end up having the best 1-2 RB punch in the league. Although the Seahawks are known to be unconventional on draft day, you don't draft Charbonnet where they did if they didn't project a near 50-50 split.
It might not be what Walker managers want to hear, but managers can expect Charbonnet to find consistent weekly touches with the upside of backing up one of the league's best run games. Currently, both backs are dealing with injuries of their own. Walker has a groin injury and is expected to miss substantial time, while Charbonnet has a shoulder injury.
Early reports are that Charbonnet is being listed as "out indefinitely," and the team is being cautious that it won't get worse before the season. As a result, he might have an early opportunity to create a larger role on this offense and should be valued if he falls in drafts.
Elijah Mitchell, 49ers, Fantasy Football Outlook
San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is entering his third year in the league, and his first full season running behind Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell only played in five regular season games in 2022 due to injury but still saw decent usage despite McCaffrey being the 1A option in the backfield. Mitchell has been productive when healthy over his first two seasons in the league. He will need to remain efficient this season in order to have any standalone fantasy value.
He averaged 11.2 touches per game in games where both he and McCaffrey played, which is enough to consider him a matchup-dependent flex option in 2023. Mitchell's true 2023 value is as Christian McCaffrey's handcuff, which has been a valuable player to roster over the past two seasons. If you roster McCaffrey, be sure to use a later-round pick on Mitchell. Even if you don't roster McCaffrey, Mitchell is a good RB4 target given his standalone value and extreme upside should McCaffrey miss any time.
Tank Bigsby, Jaguars, Fantasy Football Outlook
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His Day 2 draft capital suggests he could have a real role as a rookie behind Travis Etienne. Since the Jaguars' offense led by Trevor Lawrence is expected to be one of the best units in the NFL, Bigsby is an intriguing player in best ball formats and in traditional leagues as at least a handcuff to Etienne.
In 2022, Etienne rushed 10 times inside the five-yard line, converting just two of those rushes for touchdowns. Among the 15 players who saw double-digit rushes inside the five, he was the only player to score fewer than four touchdowns.
Given that data, could Bigsby have been drafted to seize the goal-line back role? It's possible. If so, he'll have real best ball value in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league. If Etienne has to miss time, he'll be a must-start option with RB1 upside. Bigsby will be a popular Zero RB strategy asset at his RB51-55 price tag in 2023 drafts since he's now one of the premier backup running backs in all of fantasy football.
Kendre Miller, Saints, Fantasy Football Outlook
New Orleans Saints rookie running back Kendre Miller joins veterans Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams in the backfield. With a potential Kamara suspension impending, the third-rounder should see an early opportunity in a committee with Williams. While Williams had the most productive season of his career last year in Detroit, he has never shouldered a workhorse role and Miller will see his share of work should Kamara be suspended.
Miller offers more explosiveness than the two veterans at this stage in their careers, and a clear path to opportunity exists for the rookie. He is worth selecting in the later rounds of drafts and could wind up significantly outproducing his draft position.
De'Von Achane, Dolphins, Fantasy Football Outlook
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane clocked a blazing 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at the 2023 NFL combine, the third-quickest registration among all participants. The 21-year-old rookie was selected by Miami in the third round of April's draft, and the landing spot could ultimately prove to be quite favorable. Achane joins a Dolphins backfield with beatable touch competition comprising oft-injured 31-year-old Raheem Mostert and 27-year-old jack-of-all-trades Jeff Wilson Jr.
Fantasy managers may already have a bead on the situation, as Achane carries the priciest ADP of the three tailbacks even in redraft leagues. The Texas A&M product incrementally improved in rushing and receiving during each of his three years at the school. Achane may start the year playing behind the incumbent veterans, but a head-turning training camp and preseason could swiftly alter the depth-chart hierarchy.
Undersized at 5'9" and 185 pounds, though, the explosive runner will need to hold his own in pass protection to have any chance at supplanting the more experienced vets. Achane epitomizes fantasy's Zero RB mold while holding a standalone role as a big-play threat with a high contingency upside if Mostert or Wilson goes down. Achane's floor scenario could see him relegated to special-team duties as a return specialist, however, considering he dropped five passes over the past two seasons. Treat the dynamic Achane in the later rounds of drafts as a volatile RB3 flier with RB2 upside, but RB4 downside.
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