If you are looking for a few sleeper running backs week 2, check out these five last-minute options who can contribute to your fantasy football team.
Charles Sims is one of the last-minute sleeper running backs week 2 worth a look if you need some fantasy football value plays. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The fantasy football season got off to a great start last week with highly entertaining games, surprise contributors, and plenty of highlights. If you’re heading into the week looking for some help in the backfield for your DFS or season-long league, check out these five last-minute sleeper running backs week 2.
Every week, you can find these position-focused last-minute sleepers here on FanSided along with plenty of other posts to help you throught the week. Check out my top 10 WR sleepers from earlier this morning if you’re hitting the market for receiver help.
FanSided has assembled some great tools to help you get your lineup set for fantasy football every week. You can find all our coverage by checking out (and bookmarking) the fantasy football hub where you’ll find the top 10 matchups to attack for the week as well as full Week 1 rankings. You can also get any lineup question answered by checking out the new start/sit tool.
The running backs on the following slides won’t be right at the top of those rankings, though. Instead, I’ll use this post to try to pinpoint some players in the mid-range who could be among the top performers along with some players flying off the radar toward the bottom of the rankings who have serious potential to be some of the better sleeper running backs week 2.
All these RB sleepers are risky to some degree, but I think they can be used as cheap DFS plays or as plug-and-play options off of many league’s waiver wires. Overall, I expect each of them to out-perform their general expectations in week 2.
One more reminder–these are sleeper RBs, so don’t go crazy and take a flier on one of them over a more established play. For example, I like Charles Sims a lot this week, but I wouldn’t start him over Doug Martin, Latavius Murray, or even Rashad Jennings. The picks appear in order from most well-known to deepest sleeper.
Let’s get going with my five last-minute sleeper running backs week 2 by starting with a back in a juicy matchup who could be a top-10 option.
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Sean Lee (50) at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Rashad Jennings-New York Giants
Jennings gets a great matchup today as the Giants look to move to 2-0 taking on the Saints. After last year’s early-season fantasy-football-death-by-committee in the Giant’s backfield, Jennings is the clear no. 1 option with Shane Vereen mixing in from time to time on passing downs.
Jennings didn’t get into the end zone against the Cowboys in Week 1, but he still had a solid game including some key clock-killing runs while amassing 75 yards on 18 carries. Jennings added a three-yard reception as well, but was clearly the top option when the Giants go to the ground.
This week, Jennings is worth starting in almost all formats since he gets a tasty matchup against the Saints. New Orleans allowed the Raiders to run all over them last week giving up 151 yards and three touchdowns to opposing running backs on the ground and another 51 yards receiving.
Jennings and the Giants will try to keep the ball out of Drew Brees’s hands and control the clock if Jennings is able to find that much success on the ground. He has a limitless ceiling in this matchup, and he’s a top RB2 as one of my favorite sleeper running backs week 2.
Sep 11, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) rushes against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Miami, 12-10. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Rawls-Seattle Seahawks
Another player outside the top-10 in most rankings, but who I think has potential to be one of the best running backs week 2 is Seattle’s Thomas Rawls. Rawls and the Seahawks survived a scary week 1 where they almost dropped a game at home to the Dolphins. Surprisingly, the Seahawks weren’t able to get much going on the ground as they shared time between preseason-standout Christine Michael and the just-returning Thomas Rawls.
Rawls ended up running the ball 12 times for just 32 yards and caught three passes for 26 more yards. Michael got the start and played more snaps finishing with 15 carries for 66 yards and two catches for just five more yards. While Michael had better production, Rawls is the better option going forward since he will be the starter.
Rawls returns to his starting job this week in a tasty matchup against the Rams. LA will host a regular season NFL game for the first time since 1980 as the Seahawks visit this Sunday, and Rawls should be ready to crash the party. The Rams gave up three rushing touchdowns to the 49ers’ running backs on Monday Night Football surrendering 130 yards rushing and receiving to San Francisco’s backfield.
Another reason why Rawls is in one of the better week 2 matchups is that Russell Wilson will be playing through an ankle injury. Since Seattle will try to limit his exposure to the Rams pass rush, expect plenty of work for Rawls with a little bit of C-Mike mixed in as a change-of-pace option. Last year when Rawls was the starter he got a heavy workload, and I expect him to be a strong RB2 with RB1 upside as a result of his return to the starting lineup this week.
Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) carries the ball in the third quarter of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Tevin Coleman-Atlanta Falcons
Another running back stepping into a bigger part of his team’s timeshare and picking up good production in week 1 was Tevin Coleman. Coleman is still high-risk, but he’s one of the more interesting sleeper running backs week 2.
Coleman has just one fewer touch than last season’s breakout fantasy performer Devonta Freeman. He rushed eight times for 22 yards and added five catches for 95 yards. He was more productive than Freeman in his time even though he played slightly fewer snaps.
The timeshare was almost an even split with Coleman getting more passing-down work. As the Falcons head west to take on the Raiders look for Coleman to again be extremely involved and productive. He could ultimately take the lead in the committee although both Falcons running backs will be risky while they share time.
Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims (34) scores a touchdown reception against Atlanta Falcons defensive back Brian Poole (34) in the second quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Sims-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Looking for some deeper sleeper running backs week 2? These next few options probably won’t be top-ten backs, but they could be serviceable starters based on matchup and opportunity.
One running back who got more opportunity than many expected in week 1 was Charles Sims. Sims got 20 snaps in week 1 which were 31% of the Tampa Bay offense. He delivered an ankle-breaking touchdown on a reception totaling 32 yards on his three catches. He added nine yards on his four rushing attempts.
When the Bucs go to their pass-heavy, hurry-up offense they usually go with Sims over Martin who is more of a grinding, early-down back. If they find themselves playing from behind today against Arizona, we could see more of Sims than we did last week.
Sims should be owned in every format given Martin’s injury history and the upside Sims would have if he took over as a starting running back. Even in his time share role, he could be a nice flex option as one of the sleeper running backs week 2 to watch.
Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Travaris Cadet (38) is tackled by Oakland Raiders cornerback Keith McGill (39) during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Travaris Cadet-New Orleans Saints
Normally a running back with just one rush for one yards wouldn’t be worth much of a look in fantasy football. However, Cadet did enough in the passing game to be worth a look if you’re desperately digging through the sleeper running backs week 2.
Cadet was targeted seven times by Drew Brees in Week 1 catching three passes for 14 yards and a touchdown. Since the Saints throw the ball so often, their receiving-down back will get plenty of usage. Obviously Sean Payton and Drew Brees like Cadet since they brought him back after he went to the 49ers and Patriots last season.
This week, the Saints and Cadet are in the Big Apple to take on the Giants. Last year, the two teams piled up points in a hurry, and Cadet could get a piece of the action if today turns into another shootout. He’s a deep-league flier and a long shot, but he’s worth checking out if you have to today.
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