Friday night brings the start of the third week of NFL preseason action, which has most teams pushing their starts to the half or further to prepare for the new season. That means two things: we’re getting a good look at player roles and offensive systems, and time is running out to prepare for your 2015 fantasy football draft with customizable football jerseys.
To help get you ready, we’re breaking down the top sleepers that can be found late in fantasy drafts. It’s on to the running back position in our second installment:
Arian Foster (Houston Texans) – Round 5
Obviously Foster is not a true sleeper, as he’s one of the most dynamic players in the league when healthy. However, a groin injury has scared many fantasy owners away, especially with an initially lengthy return timetable hanging over their heads like a dark cloud. Recent reports suggest Foster could return by the end of September, however, if not sooner. Foster is suddenly potentially a major value pick in round five and if the reports remain positive, his ADP should only climb.
Tre Mason (St. Louis Rams) – Round 7
It’s true that the Rams drafted Todd Gurley in the first round this year to be their feature back of the future. But Mason is no scrub and that future isn’t coming at full force in 2015. Mason is firmly expected to begin the year as the Rams’ lead back and should continue to have some role throughout the year. He’s too good not too, while fantasy’s 25th best back a year ago could have insane value if Gurley is slow to recover from last year’s ACL tear – or even worse – gets hurt again. Mason put up strong numbers in just 12 games as a rookie, and he’s even better now. There is a lot to like about his value this year.
Bishop Sankey (Tennessee Titans) – Round 8
It’s hard to love Sankey after a weak rookie season, plus he has shaky fundamentals. However, rookie rusher David Cobb was his main competition and he just got banged up. The battle for the Titans’ starting gig was pretty close, but now the job solely belongs to Sankey for now. A starting running back is available in round eight. Draft accordingly.
Darren McFadden (Dallas Cowboys) – Round 8
McFadden has played one full season in his entire career (last year) but everyone still remembers that awesome 2010 campaign he enjoyed. Now he’s finally away from the disaster that is the Oakland Raiders, so he can potentially turn his career around behind an elite offensive line in Big D. He’s surely still an injury risk, but it’s tough to ignore his upside and the fact that he can be taken a whopping five rounds behind Joseph Randle, the guy he’s sharing the rushing load with.
Duke Johnson (Cleveland Browns) – Round 9
Duke Johnson is so talented that the Browns rookie running back was soaring into the top five rounds just a couple months ago. Unfortunately, he hurt his hamstring and never got a real shot to win the starting gig. He might not for a while, but not his ADP is a lot more appropriate and you can stash him for value.
Jonas Gray (New England Patriots) – Round 10
LeGarrette Blount will miss the first game of the year due to suspension and hasn’t looked great in preseason play, so the door may be slightly cracked open for Jonas Gray to steal the show in New England. Gray produced a monster 200+ yard and four touchdown game last season, only to never be heard from again. That could change in 2015, as he should start the season and at worst should be a decent stash pick.
Ronnie Hillman (Denver Broncos) – Round 11
Hillman figures to be Denver’s top backup to starter C.J. Anderson and is one injury away from stardom again in 2015. Hillman flashed high upside in a few starts last year, and while he’s a little inconsistent in some areas, he’s the type of talent you invest in. Only having to waste an 11th round draft choice makes it a lot easier.
Andre Williams (New York Giants) – Round 12
Williams appears to be in a dog fight with Rashad Jennings for early down work in New York, but one way or another this bruiser is going to have a role in the Giants’ ground attack. Even if he just ends up being the top goal-line back for the G-Men, he’s going to be worth owning. And with the aging Jennings’ shaky injury history, he could be in for a massive role before the year is through.
Reggie Bush (San Francisco 49ers) – Round 12
Bush is difficult to gauge for 2015, as he should start the year behind Carlos Hyde, is aging and has a ton of injury concerns in his history. That being said, he’s on a team that wants to run the ball, hasn’t fully committed to Hyde as a feature back and brought him in for a reason. Even as a handcuff, Bush is a must-own player.
Cameron Artis-Payne (Carolina Panthers) – Round 12
Last, but certainly not least, is the backup to the eventually-sure-to-be-injured Jonathan Stewart. J-Stew is a talented running back but he’s never healthy and Carolina also rarely rolls with just one running back. They do love to run, though, so the rookie Artis-Payne should have some type of role right away. And if Stewart goes down like he always does, Artis-Payne’s fantasy stock could shoot through the roof.
Got another running back sleeper to target in fantasy drafts? Let us hear about him in the comments below!
