Fantasy Football: Running Backs to take in your later rounds

Fantasy Football: Running Backs to take in your later rounds

Wide receivers have arguably become the most important position in standard fantasy football leagues, while running backs have become more and more replaceable. Because of constant changes to team’s backfield by injury or under performance, finding two viable running backs that will last 16 games has become harder and harder to do. For that reason, it’s now more risky to take them using your first few draft picks; you want to focus those picks on elite receivers or the best tight end available.

Because of this, I want to take a look at three running backs whose average draft position (ADP) is in round eight or later, according to Fantasy Football Calculator.

1. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals

Bernard’s only going into his fourth season, and his first three have been real impressive considering the multitude of weapons the Bengals have had on offense in his time there. He’s tallied over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in all three seasons; he’s averaging 700 rushing yards and 445 receiving yards per season. 

The 24-year-old dual threat is projected to be drafted in the eighth round, which is a steal considering his consistent production. Cincinnati lost Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones in free agency, and tight end Tyler Eifert is shaky to be ready for the season (and his backup left camp with a knee injury today). The Bengals will use Bernard in both their running and passing attack, and he can end up being a RB2 all season long.

2. Rashad Jennings, New York Giants

The Giants offense is going to be explosive, but they’re in dire need of a workhorse running back. Jennings should be that guy, and the only true competition he should face in the backfield is rookie Paul Perkins; you can handcuff Jennings by drafting Perkins in round 14.

Jennings is coming off a season where he racked up over 1,100 yards rushing and receiving, and he saw less than 200 carries. His 4.4 yards per attempt speaks for itself, and his ceiling is high for a guy who’s projected to be drafted in the ninth round. The Giants will have one of the league’s most formidable passing attacks, which should open up running lanes consistently for Jennings. I expect him to be a big reason why the Giants return to the playoffs in 2016.

3. Arian Foster, Miami Dolphins

I know. Choosing the injury-plagued Foster in fantasy makes me cringe, too. But he’s simply too good to ignore in round eight or later. Foster’s been a monster when he’s stayed on the field; in the four seasons he played 13 or more games, he’s ran for over 1,200 yards. In 2010, he ran for over 1,600 yards and added in 600 receiving yards. Oh, and he had 18 total touchdowns.

2010 is far in the past, but 2014 isn’t. That season, he rushed for 1,246 yards and eight touchdowns, adding in 327 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Simply put, Foster is one of the best players on the entire field when he stays healthy.

Next: Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Foster has made nothing but good headlines in training camp with the Dolphins, and he’ll put up consistent numbers – again, if he stays healthy. He’s worth the eighth round pick.