One of the hardest parts of fantasy football is finding late-round depth at the running back position. Injuries, crowded backfields and situational runners all make finding the right back in the late rounds a real challenge. Conquering this challenge can help turn a good roster into a great one, and a great one into a champion. For example, guys like Ty Montgomery and Spencer Ware were drafted in round 12 or later in most draft last season but had a huge impact. We’re going to focus on 10-team leagues for the purposes of this article. With that in mind, here are players going round nine or later in NFL fantasy drafts and are worth a spot on your roster.
Danny Woodhead – Baltimore Ravens
ADP: 91st Overall
While he may end up splitting time with Terrance West, Danny Woodhead is the back with the higher upside. Although he has struggled with injuries two of the last four seasons, the two years Woodhead was healthy, he was quite productive. More valuable in a PPR league, Woodhead does most of his damage catching balls out of the backfield. In his last two full seasons, Woodhead averaged over 1000 yards from scrimmage, averaged 78 receptions and scored 17 total touchdowns. If he can get 100 rush attempts and 100 targets, Woodhead is a top-24 back.
Jacquizz Rodgers – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
ADP: 142nd Overall
Although Jacquizz Rodgers may not post the sexiest numbers, he can be productive given the opportunity. Last season, Rodgers had five games where he had 15 or more touches. In those five games, Rodgers averaged about 13 fantasy points. Considering Doug Martin is suspended for the first four games of the season, Rodgers will be valuable in the early part of the year. The starting running back situation in Tampa Bay is very fluid. We’ve heard mixed reports ranging from clips saying that Martin is in the best shape of his career to the fact that Rodgers could wind up keeping the starting job. He may sustain that value throughout the season, as Martin may not be guaranteed the starting job upon his return. On an offense that figures to be decent, this is a valuable spot.
Jamaal Williams – Green Bay Packers
ADP: 145th Overall
Excluding last season, when the Packers only ran the ball 376 times, Green Bay has been one of the more balanced offences in the league since 2013. Between 2013 and 2015, the Packers averaged 443 rushing attempts per season. To get back to that number, the Packers will need a workhorse back. Although Ty Montgomery is explosive and a capable offensive weapon, he is not built to be an every down back. We’ll see if he can handle the wear and tear of a full workload this season. This is where rookie Jamaal Williams comes into play. Williams has looked great in training camp, which leads us to believe he could get close to 160 attempts this season. Keep an eye on preseason to see how Williams looks in his first auditions.
Joe Williams – San Francisco 49ers
ADP: 160th Overall
Drafted in the fourth round this year, Williams is a promising young back with ideal size and a real chance to shine in the 49ers new coach’s offensive system. Considering how Kyle Shanahan used running backs the last few seasons in Atlanta, leaves the door open for Joe Williams to have, at a minimum, a role in the 49ers offence. Williams may not just get a chance to split carries with Carlos Hyde, the incumbent starter, he may actually win the starting job for the 49ers. Similar to Doug Martin, we’ve heard some mixed reports on Hyde. We’ve heard everything from the fact that he might be cut and that he might not fit the offense, to looking stellar in training camp. The situation seems fluid and there does appear to be an opening for Williams.
Jalen Richard – Oakland Raiders
ADP: 190th Overall
Oakland ran the ball 434 times last season, with their lead rusher, Latavius Murray, receiving 44.9% (195 attempts) of that total. With Marshawn Lynch arriving in Oakland, the Raiders fill the void left by Murray’s departure, but there are still many questions surrounding the usage rate of Lynch. While it is likely Lynch leads the Raiders in rush attempts, Richard could turn into a great change-of-pace/third down back. Richard carried the ball 89 times for a very respectable 5.9 yards per carry and had 29 receptions for 194 yards. Although he’s battling with DeAndre Washington for third-down duties, he should see an uptick in his yards per reception, which would turn him into a solid flex option in deeper leagues.
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