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10 RB sleepers to target for fantasy football Week 1

By Dustin Baker

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Running back James White #28 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to their game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 27: Running back James White #28 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to their game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Running back Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter of the game at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 22: Running back Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter of the game at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

1. Tarik Cohen (CHI)

Game: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 9/13,1:00pm EST) 

As a standalone piece to your RB2 or FLEX slot, Cohen ordinarily wouldn’t get you too excited. That is not an insult to the man — he’s just typically used as a scatback complement to a primary RB1. But a couple of unique facets to the Bears situation exist. Foremost, RB1 David Montgomery is not fully healthy. If he plays, we don’t know what his workload will look like. This makes Cohen’s stock trend skyward.

Second, even if Montgomery does give it a go at full-strength, it’s unclear how many touches he will receive. This uncertainty makes Cohen more attractive for owners.

Cohen is a sensible RB2 or FLEX choice in a pinch.

2. James Robinson (Jax)

Game: Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 9/13,1:00pm EST) 

This option is delectable if you’re hungry for running backs. The Jaguars outrightly released their talented starting halfback, Leonard Fournette, not long ago. The Tampa Bay Buccanneers have since acquired the services of Fournette, and the elderly Tom Brady now has more weapons.

All of that said, James Robinson, an undrafted rookie from Illinois State, is currently etched into Jacksonville’s depth chart as RB1. The Colts have a fairly decent run defense, so Robinson isn’t theorized to run roughshod over Indianapolis. Yet, Robinson will get carries.

If you’re skimpy at RB2 or FLEX, give Robinson a look.

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