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Fantasy Football 2017: Top 10 rookie running back fits

By James Simpson

Oct 29, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D'Onta Foreman (33) runs in a touchdown against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D'Onta Foreman (33) runs in a touchdown against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Samaje Perine, Washington Redskins

Perine has been a firm favorite for dynasty folks for a while now, and he couldn’t have landed in a better spot for immediate fantasy value. Robert Kelley was the team’s leading rusher in 2016 with only 708 yards, and 2015 third round pick Matt Jones has fallen so far out of favor the team was attempting to shop him around draft time.

The former Oklahoma Sooner Perine steps in having scored 51 total touchdowns in three years, and even putting up a 196-1090-12 line while sharing carries with transcendent talent Joe Mixon (187-1274-10). While Mixon was the lightning, Perine was the thunder as he hits hard and has a powerful, nasty streak. At 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds, he’s a stocky back who packs a punch, and proved his upper body strength with 30 bench press reps at the combine (which led all running backs).

He’s not going to provide a dynamic or explosive element to Washington’s offense, but their passing game is where they excel with speed and quickness. Perine will handle early down work and immediately collect red zone carries for an attack that created the third-most yards last season. He’s in line for a great first fantasy season.

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