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Martin Konstantinov evaluates which rookie running backs landed in the best fantasy situations following the 2018 NFL Draft. These RB could be sleepers and targets for redraft leagues.
Yes folks, it's that time of the year again. The NFL Draft has concluded and a new batch of rookie skill position players are ready to light up the fantasy community in the upcoming season. Although there are likely going to be a number of eventually underwhelming players (as it so happens every year), rookies are criminally undervalued in fantasy circles due to their lack of proven experience at the NFL level.
Regardless of this lack of experience, time and time again we see rookie players making an impact and providing insane value for the fantasy owners who took a gamble on them at the draft or with an early season waiver wire pick. Through the last few seasons, there have been countless rookie sensations who are now staples of fantasy lineups as a result of the increase in college performance and talent level.
The position where young players are most likely to have an immediate impact in their first season is running back. In a year where eight running backs were chosen in the first 100 picks, there should be plenty of fantasy production from these young players during the regular season. Fantasy owners have been blessed with two outstanding rookie classes in 2017 and (hopefully) 2018. Without further ado, let's see which young tailbacks have landed in the best situation for fantasy football leagues right away.
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Rookie RBs to Watch in Redraft
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks
Yes, maybe the Seahawks reached on Penny in this year's draft. However, with rumors coming in that a team called the Seahawks draft room AFTER they had taken the running back from San Diego State with an offer to trade for him, perhaps the pick was justified at that spot. While the majority of draft analysts had Penny outside of the first few tiers of running backs, the Aztecs' lead runner also had several fans who are delighted that he was picked so early, as they feel that he justifies the pick with a combination of athleticism and college production.
Although he played in a run-friendly offense, Penny was able to rush for 2,248 yards and 23 touchdowns through the ground, adding a further 135 receiving yards and two more scores. In fact, Penny led the FBS in rushing yards in 2017. Yes, he sat behind Donnell Pumphrey Jr., but Penny is much more of a prototypical back, with the size and speed to justify and earlier draft selection. A true gamebreaker, Penny is a shifty back that still has the size to engage in contact with defenders and has proven that he can compete and carry a full workload.
Seattle had a porous running game last season, with quarterback Russell Wilson leading the team in rushing yards. Furthermore, their offensive line has ranked as one of the lowest over the past few seasons, meaning Penny will not have a lot of help from the trenches. Despite these pitfalls, Penny has big-play potential every time he touches the ball and the Seattle offensive line should be able to at least perform marginally better than their previous season's display after bringing in D.J. Fluker from free agency and having another year to develop their current linemen. Teams will have to account for Wilson breaking off a run at any point, making Penny a fantastic option who should find plenty of open space to run through. With the only meaningful competition for touches coming from Chris Carson, Penny will have a workhorse role from the start and should have more than enough opportunities to generate significant yardage and touchdown opportunities.
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Bucs
Weighing in at 205 pounds, Ronald Jones was one of the smaller running backs who were selected in the first few rounds of the draft. However, the Buccaneers picked him up at 38th overall, demonstrating their intentions to use the former USC tailback early and often this season. With an offense trying to rally around quarterback Jameis Winston, Jones finally brings some stability and game-breaking potential to a lackluster running back room.
With just Peyton Barber, Charles Sims, and Jacquizz Rodgers to compete with, Jones will enter the 2018 season as the de facto starter and have a heavy workload out of the gate. Jones proved that he could tackle that workload in college, having 261 carries in 2017 (for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns). Jones also had some usage in the passing game; if the Bucs drafted him this early, they must believe that he can be an immediate three-down back who can change game scripts and allow for more space for Winston to operate as he looks for receivers such as Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Chris Godwin as well as tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. The Bucs offense looks loaded as a whole, and with a solid offensive line, Jones should have plenty of room to operate in as he looks to make the most of what will be a large role within the team's offense.
Royce Freeman, Denver Broncos
Royce Freeman, one of the FBS's best running backs in recent years, was drafted in the third round by the Denver Broncos. With a huge workload through four years in college and numerous injury concerns, Freeman's draft stock took a bit of a hit as he has the talent to have warranted an earlier selection. However, with the release of running back C.J. Anderson, Freeman will be given every opportunity behind a strong offensive line to demonstrate why he should be the workhorse back this season.
Above average receiving ability and a knack for generating yards after contact will make Freeman worthy of three-down duties, and his main competition is bust Devontae Booker. Look for Freeman to potentially be the steal of the draft and become the next great NFL workhorse - target him with a mid-to-late-round pick this fall and you will most likely be rewarded.
