10 Backup Running Backs that Provide Big Upside
If you are looking for some backups that could breakout with the right opportunity in fantasy football, we have some recommendations.
August 11, 2020 - by Jason Lisk
His name is Alexander Mattison. And there's a million things he hasn't done. But just you wait. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire)
Sometimes, in fantasy football, you have to risk more certain production in favor of taking on upside and going for the big play. Here is a list of backs who don’t necessarily have the best path to top tier numbers because they are not the team starter. But if the starter were to get hurt or be ineffective, these backups would have big upside to produce. In the right situations, they would be the guys you could slot in as Top 12 plays at the position if they were the main guy.
If you draft the starter in front of them, you have to decide if you want to spend another pick to “handcuff” or insure your situation. If you don’t have the starter, you may want to take a big swing on a winning lottery ticket, knowing that the most likely scenario is that it never cashes. Here are ten running backs to consider if you want to take that approach.
Alexander Mattison – Minnesota Vikings
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 10th round
Mattison’s value hinges on what happens with Dalvin Cook. Cook has missed 19 games the last three years and has threatened to hold out for a new contract. Mattison could benefit greatly if Cook does hold out. Recently, we’ve seen James Conner and Austin Ekeler have breakout fantasy seasons when the starters in front of them held out.
Minnesota is going to run the ball, and if Mattison is the main guy, he instantly becomes a top 8 fantasy starter.
Tony Pollard – Dallas Cowboys
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 11th to 12th round
Like Alexander Mattison, Pollard’s value is mostly tied up with what could happen if he became the main starter. Ezekiel Elliott has his contract, though, and doesn’t have Dalvin Cook’s injury history. That makes Pollard just a tick below Mattison on the boom plays for a backup. Make no mistake, though, Pollard’s rookie season provided pretty good evidence that he would thrive if Elliott missed games. He averaged over 5 yards a carry in limited action in 2019, and has upside to provide Top 12 numbers if he is the main back.
A.J. Dillon – Green Bay Packers
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 15th round or later
A.J. Dillon was drafted by the Packers this year after an illustrious career at Boston College. He’ll likely be behind Aaron Jones this season, but if something were to happen to Jones, it would more likely be Dillon (and not veteran Jamaal Williams) who would get the bulk of carries. We saw Jones score 18 touchdowns in this offense a year ago, so the upside is their for Dillon if he gets the opportunity.
Darrynton Evans – Tennessee Titans
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 15th round or later
We know that Derrick Henry is the man in Tennessee. But rookie Darrynton Evans has a chance to carve out a role in this offense. Just two years ago, Dion Lewis had 50 catches with the Titans; Evans has an opportunity to expand on that role for this team (Lewis is now in New York with the Giants). In addition to having some upside in PPR leagues even if playing behind Henry, Evans is also versatile and would provide upside if Henry missed a game to injury.
Boston Scott – Philadelphia Eagles
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 12th round
The 5’6″ Boston Scott has found a home in Philadelphia. Miles Sanders is expected to be the man this year in Philadelphia, but Scott showed what he could do last season and is the clear 2nd back right now. Finally given an opportunity over the final four games of 2019, he had 38 rush attempts and 23 catches. Scott can provide value in PPR leagues as a backup to Sanders, and would also be a sleeper starting option if Sanders was out.
Chase Edmonds – Arizona Cardinals
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 13th to 14th round
We saw a little bit of what Edmonds could do when he scored three touchdowns against the Giants last year. He got hurt one game later, though, and the team traded for Kenyan Drake. Whoever is the lead back in this offense should put up fantasy starter numbers. So while Edmonds looks like the backup for now, he is a Kenyan Drake injury away from being a huge fantasy boom.
Philip Lindsay – Denver Broncos
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 8th to 9th round
The next four guys are down here, not because they don’t have the upside, but because they are more difficult to acquire. Nevertheless, they all have a case for providing great value.
Philip Lindsay has been a great story for two years, and became the first undrafted free agent to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two years. The list of guys who had 1,000 yard seasons as undrafted free agents by their second year, though, includes some names that weren’t flashes in the pan, like Arian Foster, Priest Holmes, Ryan Grant, Willie Parker, and LeGarrette Blount. The Broncos have now brought in Melvin Gordon, and Lindsay is expected to play the second back role. But don’t rule him out. We know that he can overcome odds, and if given the opportunity he can be a fantasy value.
Kareem Hunt – Cleveland Browns
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 6th round
Kareem Hunt is often the first “second running back” taken in drafts. He was a reception machine after he returned from his lengthy suspension last year, with 37 catches in 8 games with Cleveland. He’s being drafted fairly early, so it’s going to be tough to pair him with Nick Chubb. But Hunt not only has potential to be a good flex start because of his receiving value, he would also be a top fantasy start if Chubb missed any time.
J.K. Dobbins – Baltimore Ravens
Average Draft Round (12-team league): 7th to 8th round
Veteran Mark Ingram is still the starter in Baltimore, but turns 31 years old. Dobbins moves into the rotation for a team that led the NFL in rushing yards a year ago, and where Lamar Jackson’s presence opens up big opportunities for the back. If Ingram is hurt like he was at the end of last year, or Dobbins just overtakes him in volume as the year progresses, he could be a big play in the second half of the season.
DeAndre Washington – Kansas City Chiefs
Average Draft Round (12-team league): late round/undrafted
Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the hot name in Kansas City. But with Damien Williams opting out of the 2020 season, there is an opportunity for another back. Rookies can have uneven performances and sometimes not live up to expectations, and can also battle injuries as the season drags on. Washington quietly signed with Kansas City from the division rival Raiders after four seasons in the league, and should assume the second-string role in Kansas City ahead of Darwin Thompson and others. Washington is a more productive version of Williams through his first four seasons (comparing to Williams’ time as a backup from Miami). As long as his draft value stays relatively low, he’s an excellent handcuff/contrarian option.
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