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Fantasy Football Sleepers 2016: Top 5 Undervalued RBs

By Zachary Thompson

May 18, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr, (29) runs with the ball during official training activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2016; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr, (29) runs with the ball during official training activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 30, 2016; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) watches a drill during training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) watches a drill during training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Thomas Rawls-Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch trolled the NFL one last time by announcing his retirement in the middle of last year’s Super Bowl festivities by tweeting a picture of his cleats “hung up.”  Lynch battled injury last season but had regularly been a top-5 fantasy football producer in Coach Pete Carroll’s run-heavy offensive attack.

With Lynch on the sideline, the Seahawks turned to Thomas Rawls who was an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan. He ran for 830 yards and four touchdowns putting up some great games before breaking his ankle in Week 14.  Rawls looked every bit the heir apparent to “Beast Mode” before going down with an injury that is still sidelining him as camp opens.

The Seahawks are confident he’ll be ready to roll Week 1, though, and have loudly proclaimed him to be their #1 RB.  He will get some support and competition from C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Zac Brooks who Seattle drafted this spring last season as well as Christine Michael who is back with Seattle after brief and unspectacular stints with the Redskins and Cowboys last season. Rawls should be able to get the majority of the work, though, and be the focus of the offense if he can fully recover and return to the form he had last season.

Right now, Rawls is a little risky since he’s still recovering from injury, but I think he’ll be a top-ten back when healthy this year.  Right now, he’s usually being ranked 10-15 which I think is a great place to target him for some value.  He isn’t a deep sleeper (more on them later), but he is getting undervalued at this early part of the preseason.

Next: Another top back in a top offense coming off injury

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