Running backs often are the lifeblood of fantasy football championship rosters, and it behooves gamers to dig deeper than the next person when searching for an edge.
It’s a weak year for top-end rookie backs, highlighted by the New York Jets’ Breece Hall. Particularly this year, fantasy owners are likely to find value in the second half of drafts. The position is volatile and rife with injuries by year’s end. While knowing the top names is a must, seeing less obvious paths to playing time is arguably more important.
Aside from Hall, Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III (Round 8 ADP) and Buffalo’s James Cook (Round 9) typically round out the first rookie backs chosen. Each has merit in some regards. Walker probably has a more linear avenue to serious playing time, whereas Cook’s role is less clear — he currently profiles as a third-down back and even a slot option. Walker, conversely, offers little as a receiver but is built to handle a larger workload than Cook.
