X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Paul Perkins (RB, NYC) - 2017 Fantasy Football Sleeper

Sam Dupuy profiles New York Giants running back (RB) Paul Perkins as a fantasy football sleeper for 2017. He could be a draft value based on current ADP.

The renewed focus on running backs this season is leaving many fantasy owners looking for bargains in the middle rounds. More than likely, finding the right RB2/flex play will make the difference in many leagues.

Throughout the majority of the 2016 season, Paul Perkins was irrelevant to both the New York Giants offense and fantasy owners. As a fifth-round rookie, his lack of production was not a surprise. However, Perkins' strong finish to the season has placed him on the fantasy radar for 2017.

We have only seen a glimpse of what Perkins can offer from a fantasy perspective, but here's what to expect from him in the upcoming season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

The Perks of Owning Perkins

Perkins is the Starting Running Back

Rather than encourage a sense of competition for the starting running back job, Giants coach Ben McAdoo has publicly stated that Perkins will be the starter. This move was likely made in order to boost the confidence of Perkins prior to the season, allowing him to move forward and have the entire offseason to work as the starter. This move should not only increase the confidence of Perkins, but also the confidence of fantasy owners. Perkins is a locked in starter for the early down role with the potential of being a three-down back. Giants running backs coach Craig Johnson affirmed this possibility, stating that Perkins can handle all "three phases" (rushing, receiving, and blocking). Perkins has little competition for early down touches (neither Orleans Darkwa or Wayne Gallman present much risk currently) and has the potential to split third-down duties with Shane Vereen. It appears that Perkins will have a hefty workload for the 2017 season, giving him low-end RB2 potential based on volume alone.

Perkins Will Find his Rhythm

As expected from a fifth-round rookie, Perkins struggled to produce throughout much of the season. He only finished the season with 456 yards on 112 carries (4.1 average yards per carry), while failing to find the end zone a single time. Those numbers by no means warrant a solid rookie season, but the way Perkins finished the season does provide evidence that he can produce as a starting running back. Perkins closed out the season by breaking his single game rushing total in five consecutive games (38 yards, 45 yards, 56 yards, 68 yards, and 102 yards). His improvement throughout the season is encouraging for his 2017 season outlook, and a full offseason of work as the starter should allow him to build off of his strong finish to the 2016 season. Giants running backs coach Craig Johnson also stated that Perkins "ended last season like a guy that is ready to take over the job". Perkins obviously impressed the coaching staff with his play late in the season, and I expect him to continue to improve as he gains more experience and confidence in the offense.

The Offense will Create Opportunity for Perkins

The Giants offense struggled a season ago, finishing 27th in scoring offense and 23rd in yards per game. The team aimed to fix those struggles in the offseason as they signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall and drafted rookie tight end Evan Engram in the first round. These additions will not only help open up the passing offense, but also create more opportunities for Paul Perkins in the running game. Opposing defenses will be weary of stacking the box with Marshall, Engram, and returning wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr and Sterling Shepard on the outside. Until Perkins can prove that he can beat a defense's game plan, he will be the least of the worries for opposing defensive coordinators, which will give him more opportunities to run in seven-man fronts. The focus of coverage on the many weapons of the Giants will allow him to have an impact as a receiver out of the backfield as well, where he totaled 162 yards on 15 receptions a season ago. Perkins should be able to take advantage of the lack of attention that he will draw and produce respectable numbers both on the ground and as a receiver this season.

2017 Expectations

Paul Perkins is not going to be a league-winning steal in the draft for you this season. He has not shown the ability or consistency to warrant such a claim. However, he will have the volume needed to be a low-end RB2 this season. According to Fantasyfootballcalculator.com, his current ADP is 69. Spending a sixth-round pick on an unproven player may seem like a reach to many, but Perkins should return his value to you at that draft position.

 

More Sleepers & Draft Values


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jimmy Butler III

Ruled Out On Saturday
Isaiah Stewart

Questionable For Sunday's Game
Nolan Schanuel

Makes Early Exit On Saturday
Cam Smith

Heading To The Bench
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 4
Logan Evans

To Make MLB Debut On Sunday
Jarred Kelenic

Takes A Seat On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Won't Play On Sunday

Dolphins Select Quinn Ewers In Seventh Round
Logan Gilbert

Heading To 15-Day Injured List
Emmanuel Clase

Available As Closer For Game 2
Brenden Dillon

Out On Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Questionable For Game 4 Versus Detroit
Luke Hughes

To Remain Out On Sunday
Michael Porter Jr.

Available On Saturday Night
Aliaksei Protas

Practices Fully On Saturday
Russell Westbrook

Won't Suit Up For Game 4
Gabriel Vilardi

A Game-Time Decision For Sunday
Oskar Bäck

Oskar Back A Game-Time Call On Saturday
Ross Colton

Unavailable Saturday
Miro Heiskanen

Remains Out Saturday
Riley Leonard

Drafted By Colts Saturday

Steelers Select Will Howard In Sixth Round Of NFL Draft

Eagles Add Kyle McCord To Quarterback Room

Miami Adds Ollie Gordon II To Backfield

Chargers Add KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Oronde Gadsden II To Offense

Colts Add DJ Giddens To Backfield
Michael Busch

Sitting On Saturday Versus Southpaw
Brandon Woodruff

"Really Tired" After Latest Rehab Start
Tyler Fitzgerald

Scratched On Saturday
Lawrence Butler

Absent From Lineup On Saturday
Ezequiel Tovar

Still A Week Or So Away From Return From IL

Dallas Cowboys Draft Jaydon Blue In Fifth Round

49ers Add Jordan Watkins To Offense
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Catches Bullpen Session On Saturday

Browns Trade Up To Select Shedeur Sanders In The Fifth Round
Dylan Carlson

Recalled By Baltimore
Sam Howell

Seahawks Trade Sam Howell To Vikings

Titans Continue To Address Offense, Select Elic Ayomanor
Jalen Beeks

Avoids Serious Injury

Chiefs Bolster Receiver Room With Jalen Royals
Lucas Giolito

Starting On Wednesday Vs. Toronto

Commanders Add Jaylin Lane To Wide Receiver Room

Browns Select Dylan Sampson With 126th Pick
Tyler O'Neill

Heading To The IL

Titans Use Fourth-Round Pick On Gunnar Helm
Jarquez Hunter

Rams Select Jarquez Hunter In Fourth Round
Mike Trout

Blasts His Ninth Home Run Of The Season

Texans Trade Up For Woody Marks

Jets Select Arian Smith In Fourth Round
Ryan Mountcastle

Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle Not In Game 1 Lineup

Panthers Select Trevor Etienne 114th Overall
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Wasn't Available Friday Due To Recent Usage

Giants Take CFP Darling Cam Skattebo
Darius Garland

Won't Suit Up For Game 3
Ha-Seong Kim

Targeting June/July Return
Darius Garland

Unavailable For Pregame Warmup
MLB

Yankees and Blue Jays Postponed On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Classified As "Day-To-Day"
Jacob Markstrom

Ends Losing Spell Friday
Cole Caufield

Collects Two Points In Friday's Win
Connor McDavid

Totals Three Points In Game 3 Win
Johnathan Kovacevic

Exits Early Friday
Sam Montembeault

Suffers Lower-Body Injury Friday
Logan Thompson

Exits Loss With Injury
Brandon Hagel

Suspended For Game 3
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF