Running back-ups to Draft and Stash

Aug 7

At long last, August has arrived. With the arrival of football fans favorite month, it is time to talk fantasy football. When Aug. 1 hits, fans country wide begin gathering information on who to draft, when to draft them, who could be locks, and so on and so on.

It is time for great debate, arguments, and plenty of money lost in leagues where that is applicable. This article is here to assure that those who are doing fantasy football this upcoming season do it right.

Leagues are won and lost from the bench and depending on who you pick as your sleeper, could be the difference between financial gain and financial loss. As you’re drafting, keep in mind these three backup running backs who later this season, may become starters and steals for you in the backend of the season.

1. Tony Pollard-Dallas Cowboys

It is widely known of the potential that Pollard has for the Cowboys. At times last season, he even looked like the better running back between him and Ezekiel Elliot. However, Elliot is the better back for the length of the season and given what he is paid, it will stay that way. With that being said, Pollard’s numbers have increased each year of his career, including a massive leap last season.

In 2020, his total yards from scrimmage were at 628 and leaped to 1056 last year. The most impressive stat with gathering over 1000 yards is that Elliot played in all 17 games. So clearly Pollard has versatility and the Cowboys love to use him. The one downside is that he struggles to find the endzone. He only scored twice last season, which for fantasy reasons is not ideal.

Overall, there is plenty of upside to having Pollard on your bench. If his yards continue to climb as they have, he could have a huge season. The loss of Cooper does open some more passing to be spread out as well.

Yahoo ADP: 93.4

2. Alexander Mattison-Minnesota Vikings

One thing is for sure when it comes to Alexander Mattison, he WILL start at least one game this season. When that game is? No one could tell you. But history shows that it will occur at some point. Since entering the league, Vikings starter Dalvin Cook has been an elite runner and absolute beast when he plays. However, since he was drafted, Cook has played in 56 of a potential 81 games in his career including missing four last season. When Mattison has started in place of Cook, he has shown flashes of running back one potential. Obviously the one issue with him is that he plays behind an elite runner. Last year he started four games in place of Cook and two of them posted more than 100 rushing yards and another with 90 yards and a score. Mattison is always a hot commodity when Cook goes down. So might as well snag him in your drafts because he will be getting playing time. His targets in the passing game were a career high with 39 and catching 32 of them. Despite having Thielen and Jefferson, that’s a solid number for a running back two In a pinch, that is huge from a points per reception perspective for your flex. Look for Mattison in the late rounds, as a potential Cook injury could turn a late round pick into a high end RB2.

Yahoo ADP: 124.9

3. James Cook-Buffalo Bills

Speaking of Dalvin Cook, why not look to his younger brother, Bills running back James Cook. He spent his college career at Georgia in which his senior year jump saw an increase of more than 400 rushing yards including 77 yards on just six touches in the national championship. James was a second-round pick of the Bills, a team that has leaned towards running back by committee under coach Sean McDermott. For a team to have Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, and Duke Johnson, they did not need to draft a running back by any means. The fact that they used a second-round pick on him shows they plan to use James in his rookie season, and he could potentially take over as the RB2 and passing back. Multiple reports show that James has been impressive in camp and Coach McDermott has stated he has been opening eyes at camp. This does not discount Zack Moss who is only in his third season, but it is worth noting the rookie James is getting noticed. Being the brother of Dalvin Cook doesn’t hurt to have in your pocket as well. Keep in mind James has been working with the wide receivers as well, which could pose as a major upside for players in a PPR league. Players are drafting James decently high for a rookie running back in a crowded room. If he were to be a free agent and an injury occurred in the Bills back field, James would be the pickup of the week. Avoid rushing to your phone to get him and have him on draft night when he should be there after round 11.

Yahoo ADP: 111.3

Fantasy football is always wild, and no one can ever predict how the season will go. The most important thing is that everyone has fun and DOES NOT ROOT AGAINST THEIR TEAM FOR FANTASY PURPOSES. Look to draft and stash these running backs, if at all possible, as one wrong cut on the field, cut make the steal of the draft with any of these three-running back.