Six Late Round Running Backs You Need To Target
We are just a couple of days away from the biggest Fantasy Football drafting weekend of the season. I can smell the beer and burgers already. But before we get to the excitement of the draft, there is something you should know. A lot people do not understand how important those last few rounds of picks can be. You got your studs at all positions in the first few rounds, and filled in your bench for the most part. But you’re down to the last 4-5 rounds, and you’re not entirely sure what to do. You’re in luck though. I’m going to break down 6 running backs that you should actively be targeting in your drafts this weekend that could really help you out in the long run of the season.
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Darrell Henderson (LAR)
- Current ADP is RB42
Darrell Henderson returns for his contract year in Los Angeles. People will forget how great and reliable Henderson was through 8 weeks of 2021. Last season in those first 8 weeks Henderson was the RB11 in fantasy football. After week 8 it went downhill as he battled injuries what seemed for the rest of the season. However, Henderson did end up finishing the year as RB27. He actually finished the year with a better fantasy season than names like Tony Pollard, Michael Carter, Chase Edmonds, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
You all know by now that Cam Akers has returned, but he did it in poor fashion last post season. Akers averaged less than 3 yards per carry. I know, he was returning from a really bad injury. But here is the deal; Akers still isn’t 100%, and although he returned to practice on Monday (8/29) I just don’t know if he is going to be fully ready come next week. The Rams open the season on Thursday night against the Bills, and if he isn’t ready and I don’t think he will be, Henderson is going to carry the load. Not only is Akers still kind of recovering from the injury last season, but he has had some more injury issues throughout camp.
There has been rumblings at camp about a RBBC (Running Back By Committee) in LA, that McVay loves Henderson, and that Akers isn’t fully recovered from injury. If that’s all true, I’ll show you a late round running back that may end up having a much bigger season than people anticipate.
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Kenneth Gainwell (PHI)
- Current ADP is RB43
Now why on earth would I want you to target a running back who is technically 3rd on the Eagles depth chart? It’s simple really, well not really but I’m going to try to explain it simply. Kenneth Gainwell is dangerous and has a nose for the end zone when he has the pigskin in his hands (6 TD’s in ‘21). He is fantastic after the catch, and the Eagles love using him inside the 20 yard line.
Last season Gainwell finished the year as the RB42, but is on a team that for some reason doesn’t like to use their best runner (Miles Sanders). The Eagles would rather spell Sanders with Boston Scott to get down to the 20 and then hand Gainwell the ball or hit him in the flat for a touchdown. It’s true. That’s one of the reasons why I love Gainwell late. He gets purposeful opportunities. What’s that you ask? A purposeful opportunity is one that gives said player a better chance to score, and Gainwell gets a lot of them. He also is elite at catching the ball out of the backfield. Last season Gainwell had a total of 50 targets and caught 33 of them. Those 50 targets are more than Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Tony Pollard, James Robinson, James Conner, A.J. Dillon, and team mate Miles Sanders. Those 50 targets also turned into 253 receiving yards and a touchdown, with an average of 7.7 yards per reception. I will take those stats every game from a late round running back. Yeah, his performances were inconsistent last season, but if they’re going to pass him the ball more than Sanders I guess I don’t mind if I’m plugging him in on a bye week with the chance of him finding pay dirt.
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Nyheim Hines (IND)
- Current ADP is RB46
We all know that Indy is going to be the Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. show right? Yeah, most likely. But maybe not to the overblown extent of the Colts not utilizing their other players that are good at football. Nyheim Hines is one of those guys. As long as you should be able to remember, you know that Hines has always been a thorn in fantasy football players sides because he comes in and takes touchdowns away from the RB1. Whether it’s on the ground, or more so through the air, Hines will find a way.
In 2021 Hines actually finished the season with the 14th most receiving targets in the league, and turned those into 310 yards and a touchdown. Now, after the first half of the year JT took over and Hines was nonexistent. But wait, there’s hope! There has been a lot of talk at camp and throughout the pre-season that Frank Reich really would like to get Hines more touches in the season. Most likely to not only take some of the work load off of JT, but because he’s damn good with the ball in his hands.
My main argument though really does come down to this roster for the Colts. Hines is now 100% the RB2 on the team. Phillip Lindsay was cut today to get the team to 53 players, and there is no one on the depth chart that will compete for touches. A great offensive line, and much better quarterback in Matt Ryan both push Hines’ upside immensely. He is going to be used, and when he catches the ball you’ll be happy. Now just imagine if there was the awful chance of Jonathan Taylor missing time due to injury. Hines would excel. Give me him at RB46 without any hesitation.
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J.D. McKissic (WAS)
- Current ADP is RB51
If you were an Antonio Gibson owner last season in fantasy football, there odds are damn good that you cussed McKissic’s name last season, almost on a weekly basis actually. McKissic is the ultimate vulture in Washington, and he should be that and more this season. McKissic is in line for a very prominent and consistent role for the Commanders. Gibson may be the RB1, but there has been a ton of speculation and fading going towards him since pre-season began. That has changed as of late, due to the unfortunate accident to rookie back Brian Robinson Jr. was involved in. Robinson looked like he was about to take over the RB1 role until Monday.
That helps paint a path though for McKissic to not only continue his role as the RB2 in Washington, but continue to do what he does best. Be a thorn in the side of Gibson owners. I actually view McKissic similarly to Kenneth Gainwell’s situation in Philly. He is going to get touches, he’s going to catch the ball, and he is going to get used in the red zone. Like Gainwell, McKissic had more targets in the passing game than the RB1 on their respective teams, and more receiving yards.
With the trust declining in Washington for Gibson still a bit apparent, I don’t see a world where McKissic isn’t a factor in fantasy football. If I’m being completely honest, I think he has a much better season than a few of these guys I’m mentioning. At RB51, it’s an honest steal of a deal.
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Jamaal Williams (DET)
- Current ADP is RB52
I almost view Jamaal Williams in the same vein as Nyheim Hines to be honest. If there is any chance at all that D’Andre Swift misses an extended period of time than Williams is going to excel. He will spell Swift throughout the season, and most likely will be their 3rd down guy. But the downside is the new offensive coordinator may not see him the way the old one did.
Last season Williams saw about 14 opportunities per game, a lot more than you would think for the RB2 on a team. He is used a lot in the passing game, and has sure hands. He isn’t a guy that is going to have a ton of yards on the ground, and he isn’t going to catch it and take it to the house. What he is going to do is be consistent when he has the ball, and he is going to catch the ball, almost automatically. Williams caught 93% of his targets last season. They didn’t translate to a ton of yards, but he is going to catch them nonetheless. If you’re in a full PPR, or even a ½ PPR league, that’s a nice bonus.
He may just be an insurance back, and maybe he really does end up just being that this season. But as mentioned before, if Swift goes down at any point and time, Williams is going to get the bulk of the work. What is one of the most important things in fantasy football? Especially for running backs? Volume. He will get that if he has to assume RB1 duties.
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Kenyan Drake (BAL)
- Current ADP is RB79 (Basically Free)
Baltimore has been an absolute disaster in the backfield since last year. It’s not their fault honestly. Their two best backs went down with season ending injuries last year the week before the regular season started. From then on it was a mixture of washed up running back after washed up running back.
Well, here were are a year later, and the backfield is still murky with injuries. The “Gus Bus” landed on the PUP, so he won’t be back until October at the earliest, and J.K. Dobbins is not 100% in the slightest. I will honestly be surprised if he plays week 1, but that is my assumption. In steps Kenyan Drake, who should immediately jump ahead of Mike Davis on the depth chart. If all goes to plan (my plan), Drake is the sure fire starter of week 1, and will continue to be a major factor weeks after even if Dobbins returns. Soft tissue issues are a thing, and the worst part about them is they linger. It’s a terrible thing, and that is what Dobbins will be dealing with, maybe for the entirety of the season.
There is a reason why the Ravens signed Drake today. They know Mike Davis can’t handle the work load because Dobbins isn’t ready. They want to win, and Drake is going to give them that chance. Lamar Jackson can’t continue to take on the running workload of absent running backs if he wants to continue his reign as a quarterback in the NFL. His running is what separates him from most, and they don’t want him hurt. Drake is going to be a key factor. He is basically undrafted right now, and I think someone you should be targeting.
Good luck this weekend in your drafts! Be sure to keep checking back weekly for my start/sits, sleepers, and my DFS plays.
I hope I can help you out this season and bring you home a Championship!
SKOL
- JD