Fantasy Football 2017 Sleepers: 5 Undervalued Running Backs To Draft

When it comes to fantasy football, drafting sleepers is often the key to winning your league. Doing so at the running back position can be especially important because of how many succumb to injuries.

Running backs like David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell will be off the board within the first few picks, but who should be taken in the later rounds? Here are five running backs that are being undervalued in 2017 Fantasy Football drafts:

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Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

It’s kind of hard to call Ingram a sleeper, considering he led the Saints with over 1,000 rushing yards last year and is being drafted as a starting running back. The events of the offseason, however, have overshadowed his value as a fantasy option.

New Orleans signed Adrian Peterson, and the future Hall of Famer figures to take away some carries from Ingram. But as the former MVP enters his 11th season after battling injuries throughout 2016, he can’t be viewed as a reliable playmaker in 2017. That means Ingram will continue to get plenty of touches in one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses. He shouldn’t be drafted behind rushers like Mike Gillislee and Eddie Lacy, as has been in the case in Yahoo leagues. Over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and double-digit touchdowns are certainly doable for the former Heisman Trophy winner.

LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia Eagles

Blount had a career-year with New England in 2016, and he isn’t going to score 18 more touchdowns in the upcoming season. That doesn’t mean he won’t be a productive rusher in his first year with Philadelphia.

Thirty running backs are being selected ahead of Blount in an average ESPN draft, even though he’s in a position to put up decent numbers. He doesn’t need to get 20 carries per game in order to warrant a spot in your fantasy lineup. Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood will get their touches, but Blount figures to be involved, especially at the goal line. Playing behind the offensive line that Pro Football Focus has ranked first in the NFL will give the veteran plenty of chances to succeed.

DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders

This is another situation where a veteran running back could get a lot fewer touches than what many fans believe. The addition of Marshawn Lynch means less to Washington’s ceiling as a fantasy player than does the departure of Latavius Murray.

Lynch could have a big year for Oakland, but he’s far from a guarantee to put up big numbers. Because he retired after battling injuries in 2015, Lynch hasn’t rushed for more than 417 yards in a season in three years. The much younger Washington was extremely productive when given a chance as a rookie, averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 87 attempts. If Oakland goes the cautious route with Lynch, Washington will be the beneficiary.

Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots

The Patriots have an interesting situation in their backfield. James White returns after catching 14 passes in Super Bowl LI, and Mike Gillislee was projected to be the team’s top rusher. Gillislee is going before the seventh round in Yahoo drafts, though that should change after being ranked fifth on the team’s first unofficial depth chart.

Where does Burkhead fit in all of this? He’s a free agent addition that New England reportedly has big plans for, and fewer touches for Gillislee could mean more for Burkhead. Fifty-nine running backs are going ahead of Burkhead in an average ESPN draft, a number way too high for someone that can earn significant playing time with a good showing in the preseason and training camp.

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Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

If Hunt isn’t on your fantasy radar, he should be. The third-round draft pick is impressing in training camp, and the Chiefs have little reason not to give him a shot if he continues to play well.

Hunt’s main competition in Kansas City’s backfield is Spencer Ware, who enters the preseason as the starter after leading the team in rushing a year ago. Ware did an admirable job filling in for the injured Jamaal Charles, but he didn’t exactly set the world on fire, failing to rush for even 70 yards in his last nine games. Hunt averaged 6.3 yards per carry in four years at Toledo, and he might end up being much more productive than what his overall Yahoo average draft position of 122nd might indicate.