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We continue our preseason fantasy football sleeper series with a look at Carolina Panthers running back C.J. Anderson.
While the first few rounds of every draft are essentially a wash-rinse-repeat of the consensus top-36, we can always count on those middle and late rounds to cement our confidence in this year's sleepers. The definition of the fantasy football sleeper has changed over the years, with the emergence of the industry itself on social media. The common sleeper today isn't a player that is being 'slept on' by the community. They're more like a player in a great spot to outperform his average draft position based on a plethora of factors.
Let's see why Anderson might just be one of those players in 2018 fantasy drafts.
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2018 Sleeper - C.J. Anderson
The 2018 season will mark the first time in nearly a decade that the ghost of Jonathan Stewart will not open the season haunting the Carolina Panthers' backfield. Stewart has made a career out of early-down consistency, between the tackles grinding, and short-yardage prowess. He has since signed with the New York Giants and will serve as the primary backup to 2018 second-overall draft pick Saquon Barkley. Carolina has filled his void with a near carbon copy in 27-year old C.J. Anderson.
The addition of Anderson has quietly made the Panthers' backfield one of the strongest in the conference. While it doesn't quite match the excitement division rivals Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram generate, the combination of a beefy grinder like Anderson and elusive pass catcher Christian McCaffrey leaves plenty of fantasy goodness on the draft board for 2018.
Anderson currently possesses an average draft position of RB42 (and 111th overall) in points-per-reception formats per FantasyPros, which has him trending deep into the realm of major sleeper territory for this coming season. Assuming he will inherit the role Stewart left behind, Anderson could easily lead the entire backfield in carries, as well as carries within five yards of the end zone.
Since the start of 2014, Jonathan Stewart has averaged a RB2-esque 15.4 carries and 1.6 targets per contest, for a grand total of 17 opportunities per game. Stewart has also missed ten games over the past four seasons. Assuming that Anderson inherits that role and plays a full season, he could easily accrue 250 total touches between rushing and receiving, all without cutting into the dynamic McCaffrey's workload.
Anderson is the favorite to adopt the goal line duties as well, which appropriately suit his 225-pound stocky frame. Just last season, only six running backs were given more carries within five yards of the goal line than Jonathan Stewart's 12. In addition, Anderson placed 13th in this category with eight carries inside the five. Considering both running backs were inefficient with their goal line carries, some positive regression is needed for Anderson to tally a respectable touchdown total.
Anderson is as safe a bet as one can find given his required draft equity. While the upside is capped given McCaffrey's presence, Anderson should warrant enough volume and goal-line work to maintain every-week flex appeal in leagues larger than 10 teams. He offers additional value in standard leagues given his touchdown potential as well, given that formats reliance on yardage and end zone production.
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