After doing plenty of best ball and fantasy football mock drafts, I’m confident that an Anchor RB (or Hero RB) strategy is perfect for this season. This build typically involves selecting a running back with your first pick (potentially second if you are at the turn), then punting the position until later in the draft. Here are some of those late-round running backs to target in fantasy football drafts.
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Fantasy Football Running Backs to Draft: Late-Round Picks
Late-Round RB2 Targets
Draft Ray Davis while you can. The more reports that come out of Buffalo, the more Davis will shoot up draft boards.
As of this writing, the most recent reports are that James Cook has put his house up for sale and has not appeared at the team’s facilities. That’s not good. Towards the end of the season, reports started to come out that Cook expected a big payday for his second contract. Although he had 18 touchdowns last season, his asking price was high considering he has only had one top season.
If Cook holds out or misses time, this backfield is left to Davis and Ty Johnson. Although Johnson had an incredible receiving game against the Lions last season, the journeyman pass-catcher is unlikely to become the featured back.
Davis, entering his second season, has all of the traits to be a lead back. Despite his lack of production last season, he flashed big-play ability in both receiving and rushing. Most notably, in Week 6, he had 20 carries for 97 yards and three receptions for 55 yards.
Even if Cook decides he wants to be a Bill this season despite his contract, Davis is a great backup and could siphon touches each week. If Cook continues to burn bridges, Davis has league-winning upside when paired with an Anchor RB.
Bahyshul Tuten has been one of my favourite draft targets this year. Going in the double-digit rounds of drafts, Tuten is a true boom-or-bust pick.
As a prospect, Tuten was scouted as a big-play back with explosive speed and decent receiving chops. The issue (and it’s a big one) is ball security (nine fumbles over his last two seasons).
We have seen dozens of proven backs who have been benched for ball security issues. As a rookie, it could stop Tuten from seeing the field. So far, we are just beginning offseason practices, and Tuten has already had a fumble in camp. Yikes.
Landing in Jacksonville with the second pick of the fourth round, Tuten immediately competes with Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby for the featured role. With Liam Coen coming over from the Buccaneers, all the skill positions have the potential to take a huge step forward in Jacksonville.
Narrative-wise, there are a lot of similarities between Irving and Tuten. Drafted 19 spots behind Tuten, Irving landed in what was viewed to be a very crowded backfield with veteran Rachaad White and undrafted free-agent Sean Tucker. Despite starting the season well behind White, Irving made it clear he was the most talented runner of the bunch and never looked back.
Coen brings his multi-back approach to Jacksonville, but he also brings his passing game. Last season, Tampa Bay was third in the league in targets to the running back position. With both White and Irving having 50+ targets, this backfield could be a fantasy goldmine. With each of Tuten, Etienne and Bigsby being within six pounds of each other, they all possess the size to carry the load.
Pairing the Anchor RB strategy with an upside back like Tuten could hit big. If all goes well, that could easily be a league-winning tandem. If Tuten fails to make an impact, you still have a secured RB1 and solid RB2 to keep your team afloat.
Tyrone Tracy might be the most slept-on running back this offseason. Last season, Tracy entered the season behind the veteran Devin Singletary. Without injury, Tracy managed to usurp Singletary and become the lead back down the stretch. Over the season’s final seven games, Tracy averaged 65% of the snaps and 4.23 targets per game.
In the draft, the Giants selected fan-favorite Cam Skattebo in the fourth round. Skattebo is a bulldozer of a back with excellent pass-catching chops. His receiving ability and short-yardage grit instantly place Tracy on the hot seat, despite his 1,100 yards last year. However, like Tuten’s fumbling issues, Skattebo has a glaring red flag.
Skattebo is a liability in pass protection. We’re talking James Harden playing defense type of liability. Calgary Flames face-off specialist Stephane Yelle after a face-off liability. Edmonton Oiler Evan Bouchard skating backwards level of bad. Thankfully, like the Bouch-Bomb, Skattebo has the power to blast through the defense. If those references didn’t make sense to you, just know that Skattebo is a theme park turnstile when it comes to stopping pass rushers.
With rookie Jaxson Dart under center, pass protection will be key to keeping this offense moving. Much like how pass-protecting rookies have a path to get on the field, this could be Skattebo’s ticket off the field. As a result, the known ability and production of Tracy could keep Skattebo off the field, even if fans believe he is not as talented between the tackles.
In the end, Tracy is another back with a clear path to weekly fantasy production you can target late in drafts. With an Anchor RB and a weekly play at RB2, Tracy is an upside back that could supplement your lineup each week.
In each of Ekeler’s final four regular-season games last season, he had 50% or more of the snaps. This includes the game immediately after returning from injury and missing Weeks 13 to 17. In the playoffs, his snap share decreased; however, he had four or more targets and six or more rushes in each game. As a result, you can make the case that he began to take over the backfield to close out the season.
Currently, Washington is arguably the best offense without a verified fantasy running back. Brian Robinson Jr. is the first back drafted as the RB33, with Ekeler going as the RB47.
Robinson started the season on fire, with six touchdowns in the first six games. After that, Ekeler saw more touches, and Robinson only scored two more times in the team’s final eight regular-season games. Although Robinson has the youth and size to be the team’s featured back, Ekeler will have a role in most games.
Although Ekeler’s upside is limited (unless there is an injury), I believe there is a path for weekly Flex appeal with his involvement in the passing game. I think Ekeler is a cheap selection that could crack your lineup if you catch the injury bug.
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