In fantasy football, lots of fantasy owners love to take running back high in the first round and second round. However, running backs don’t feel as valuable as it has been in years past. Some of the top fantasy running backs this season will be Jonathan Taylor (IND), Derrick Henry (TEN), Austin Ekeler (LAC), Dalvin Cook (MIN), and Christian McCaffrey (CAR).
There are owners and running backs that you can find in the later rounds. Most leagues start a minimum of two running backs. Some owners will start three or four a week depending on how many flex spots the league offers. Some flex spots are only one spot, some are two, and very rarely three. Who are some of the running backs that could be fantasy football sleepers this season?
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Cam Akers was supposed to miss all of last season with an injury, but he returned just in time for the postseason. Akers ran like a man possessed and was out of this world. In one game he played in, he only rushed for three yards on five carries. Akers also caught three passes for 10 yards receiving. However the year before, Cam Akers rushed for 625 yards on 145 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown.
Cam Akers will be running a lot under head coach Sean McVay. Matthew Stafford as the quarterback will help, but Cam Akers is a downhill runner even though the Los Angeles Rams do a running back by committee system. He is one of the prime running backs to have a good season in fantasy football.
J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
J.K. Dobbins missed all of last season with an injury for the Baltimore Ravens backfield. He is primed to have a big season and be the primary running back in Baltimore’s backfield. Dobbins is in a run-first-centric offense because of quarterback Lamar Jackson. In the previous year, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 805 yards on 134 carries and nine touchdowns.
He also caught 18 passes for 120 yards receiving and zero touchdowns. Dobbins will be more of a running back of running with the football rather than catching passes out of the backfield for the Baltimore Ravens. He is one of the primary candidates to have a great season in fantasy football.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
James Cook is a rookie for the Buffalo Bills. He will be one of the running backs this season for them. Cook is the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. James Cook has some mileage on him and could be splitting carries with Devin Singeltary. However, they need to run the football more to take some pressure off of Josh Allen in Buffalo.
James Cook rushed for 728 yards on 113 carries and seven touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 284 yards receiving and four touchdowns last season at the University of Georgia. Cook is one of the primary candidates to have a great season and be a sleeper in fantasy football.