A good draft is the key to get your fantasy football team momentum that will hopefully carry you to a playoff birth. This will not happen early in the draft. The first few rounds, every GM should be getting really good players. What separates good fantasy general managers from pretenders is the ability to pick good players after all the really good ones are gone. Today, we will take a look at five running back sleepers sleepers you are going to want to target in the later rounds of your draft.
Average Draft Position is taken from 12 team PPR leagues. Also, remember this is an early look at the draft. Things will probably change once training camp begins.
5 Running Back Sleepers You Need To Target
Latavius Murray
Murray didn’t play much for the Raiders at the beginning of the season in 2014. He was buried in the depth chart behind Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew. In week 11, Murray finally got his shot to prove he could play running back a the NFL level. He didn’t disappoint. Just judging by the eyeball test alone showed Murray was the best running back the Raiders had. Murray has been hampered by injuries in the past. If he stays healthy this season, Murray will be a top 15 running back in standard leagues. He should be a solid RB2 in any format.
Average Draft Position – 45
Draft him before Joseph Randle, Melvin Gordon, and Jeremy Hill.
Carlos Hyde
Carlos Hyde should have been a superstar last year. He only had one thing, or person, holding him back. His name was Frank Gore. With Gore leaving town, the door is wide open for Hyde. Hyde is a big running back with a lot of power. He is great at the goal line, and should be a touchdown machine. He would be a top ten running back had the 49ers not picked up Reggie Bush who will probably be the third down back. Hyde will be a valuable asset none the less.
Average Draft Position- 47
Draft him before Mark Ingram, Lamar Miller, and Jeremy Hill.
Darren McFadden
If there has ever been a year to draft Darren McFadden, it is this year. He will be running behind a top five offensive line in Dallas. The passing game is on point with Romo at the helm which will open up the running game. The stars are aligning for the talented back. Yes, it seems most people have Joseph Randle ahead of McFadden right now, but talent will rise. Darren McFadden is much more talented than Randle. Randle, the underwear thief, was not fast enough to get away from the security guard at the local retail store.
Average Draft Position- 85
Draft him before Tre Mason, Shane Vereen, and Joique Bell
Bishop Sankey
This is the sleeper of the year. Last season Bishop Sankey disappointed fantasy owners big time, and it is going to be hard for people to redraft him, hence the very low Average Draft Postion. Sankey has great speed, but a year ago, he also proved he can run through tacklers. People are expecting to see rookie David Cobb steal some of Sankey’s carries this season. This may be true, but Sankey will be the starter, and Cobb will never see third down as he is a terrible pass catcher and blocker. Don’t jump on Sankey too early. You should be able to get him around the eighth or ninth round.
Average Draft Position- 109
Draft him before Devonta Freeman, Isaiah Crowell, and Chris Ivory
Jay Ajayi
The rookie out of Boise State is the best running back no one is talking about. He may be the best running back in the draft. He is every bit as good as Melvin Gordon, and if Todd Gurley’s knee proves to be a problem, Ajayi will be better than Gurley too. Ajayi is probably going to start the season as the backup behind Lamar Miller. Miller has had plenty of opportunities to prove he is elite. The fact is, he is not elite. If and when Jay Ajayi gets the start in Miami, Lamar Miller will begin thinking about another job.
Average Draft Posisiton- 138
Draft him before Montee Ball, DeAngelo Williams, and Charles Sims
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