🦃 BLACK FRIDAY - SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
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
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Running Backs You Must Own in 2017 - Mid-Round ADP Values

Tom analyzes mid-round running back (RB) sleepers for fantasy football. These are undervalued running backs to target in rounds 6-10 of fantasy football drafts.

Hey RotoBallers! In this article, I'll be looking at running backs to target in the middle rounds (6th-10th in Fantasy Pros Consensus ADP), and I'll explain why these three backs are worth reaching for in hopes of a huge return on investment.

I'll try to answer the question that everyone wants to know: who's that running back that I need to have? I'll let you in on who I'm targeting in the middle-to-late rounds of drafts in hopes of capturing the next David Johnson, Jay Ajayi, Michael Thomas, or Doug Baldwin.

You can also check out my late-round running back selections. Let's get to it.

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

 

Value Running Backs - Rounds 6-10

Danny Woodhead (RB, BAL) - 62.4 FP ADP

I would love to put Carlos Hyde or Kareem Hunt here, but something tells me they won't make it out of the fourth round let alone all the way in the sixth. Regardless, Danny Woodhead can be just as much of a value, if not more, at his current ADP.

Obviously, health is a big concern for the pass-catching back Woodhead. He ended his season early last year and is dealing with hamstring issues this preseason. Currently he and the Ravens hope he'll be available for Week 1, but there is a chance he starts out the year on the sidelines.

Either way, Woodhead is a steal at this point of PPR or half-PPR drafts. We've heard some rumblings that the coaching staff isn't all that confident with Buck Allen as a three-down runner or even a solid two-down runner. So, if Woodhead can get right and stay right, he could be the third down back, change-of-pace back, and then some. How does 12-15 carries and 5-8 catches sound?

OK, so that's really optimistic, but just think how many looks this versatile player could get in an offense that threw the ball a league-leading 679 times last year. Yeah, I'm drooling too.

Take Woodhead here while everyone else is hemming and hawing, and thank me later.

 

Doug Martin (RB, TB) - 81.2 FP ADP

I'm all about the "take the suspended/injured guy and just try to make it to the playoffs" approach. Just look at how many times I've drafted Le'Veon Bell in the past three years. Yes, Doug Martin is suspended for three games, and that's not the only hurdle he'll have to clear in order to provide value in the seventh round or so, but here's why the Muscle Hamster is worth it.

I understand if you're someone like me who got burned by Martin in an injury-riddled 2016 season. However, I would kindly like to point you towards his 4.9 yards per carry and 33 receptions in a healthy 2015 season.

Sure, I know that Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers present some competition for touches, and that's not even factoring in Mike Evans' and DeSean Jackson's inevitable sqwuaking about not touching the ball enough. But have you forgotten what Martin can do with just one small opening in an offensive line?

The three game suspension is of very little concern to me, especially if you can get a guy like this in the seventh round. The lack of touches would be scary, sure. But imagine the upside that this pick has if, in fact, Martin is in the best shape of his life and plays 13 games at his 4.9 yards per carry rate for a much better offensive team. You could be looking at an RB7 for the price of an RB30 come playoff time.

Yes, I do have a Doug Martin optimism issue, but let's go down on this ship together!

 

Paul Perkins (RB, NYG) - 83 FP ADP

Somewhere between the beginning of last season and now, Paul Perkins has become the running back with a great opportunity without a dynamite skillset. That confuses me, because we talked about this 2016 rookie and his pass-catching prowess like it was nothing we had ever seen before.

I understand this preseason has been nothing to write home about. I also hear you when you say that Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa, and Wayne Gallman present some possible competition for touches. But to me, I see a PPR monster with the opportunity to become great in standard leagues too.

The Giants' weak offensive line does give me some pause, especially alongside the common hesitations stated above, but this second-year back has a chance to thrive in an offense with plenty of weapons to distract the opposition. If you can get Perkins in the eighth round, I would certainly pull the trigger.

The downside is clearly that Perkins could lose his job by the time October comes around. However, the upside is a three-down back who can catch with the best of the NFL's pass-catching runners. He has a good quarterback, his team should be competitive, he's young enough to make big strides skill-wise, and the opportunity is there for the taking.

I'm certainly going to have some shares of Paul Perkins (especially in PPR leagues), even if it means reaching a bit to take him over players like Frank Gore, Mike Gillislee, and maybe even Tevin Coleman.

 

Remember to check out the next three articles for more mid-to-late round breakouts at RB and WR. You can find me on Twitter @BellRoto. Good luck in your drafts!

 

More ADP Values & Draft Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

New York Giants

Giants Fire Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Tee Higgins

in the Concussion Protocol
Scott Wedgewood

Gives Avalanche Second Consecutive Shutout
Macklin Celebrini

Makes History During Multi-Point Performance
Joey Daccord

Posts Shutout in Losing Effort
David Rittich

Keeps Kraken Quiet
Jesper Wallstedt

Picks Up Third Shutout of the Season
Rasmus Andersson

Extends Point Streak With Three Assists
Davante Adams

Catches Two Touchdowns in Sunday Night Win
Baker Mayfield

has Sprained Shoulder, Will Undergo MRI Monday
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Quinshon Judkins

Salvages his Day With Two Trips to the End Zone
Alvin Kamara

Dealing With MCL Sprain, Timetable Unclear
Michael Wilson

has Double-Digit Catches, Over 100 Yards for Second Straight Week
Baker Mayfield

Doubtful to Return on Sunday Night With Shoulder Injury
A.J. Brown

Delivers Vintage Performance in Week 12
George Pickens

at the Center of Cowboys Offense Once Again
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Alvin Kamara

Getting an MRI on His Knee
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Aaron Gordon

Sidelined 4-6 Weeks with Hamstring Strain
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Chris Godwin

Officially Active for Sunday Night Football in Week 12
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Kareem Hunt

Totals 33 Touches in Productive Outing Sunday
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Chimere Dike

Scores Long Special Teams Touchdown in Week 12
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
DJ Moore

Scores Twice in Narrow Win at Home
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Dereck Lively II

Out with Foot Issue Again
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Anthony Davis

Doubtful With Calf Strain Against Miami
Derrick Henry

Rushes for Two Scores in Week 12 Victory
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return
MON

Alexandre Texier Joins Canadiens
Goga Bitadze

a Very Late Scratch on Sunday Night
Rashee Rice

Goes for Nearly 150 Yards in Win Over Colts
Ryan Dunn

Ruled Out with Wrist Sprain
Jason Dickinson

Returns to Action Sunday
Alvin Kamara

Ruled Out With Knee Injury
Elias Lindholm

Activated From Injured Reserve
Mikko Rantanen

Suspended for One Game
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Totals Season-High in Yardage in Week 12
Neal Pionk

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Sunday
Donovan Clingan

Upgraded to Available vs. Thunder
Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Out Week-to-Week
Hunter Henry

Feasts in Win Over Cincinnati
Robert Williams III

Sidelined Against Thunder
Anthony Black

Entering the Starting Lineup Versus Boston
Alexander Romanov

Out 5-6 Months Due to Shoulder Surgery
Goga Bitadze

Getting the Start on Sunday Night
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Remains Out Sunday
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Sidelined on Sunday Evening
Tre Mann

Returns to Action Sunday
Wendell Carter Jr.

Ruled Out on Sunday Night
Luke Kennard

Misses Sunday's Contest
Onyeka Okongwu

Good to Go Sunday
Collin Murray-Boyles

Available Against Nets
Egor Demin

Cleared for Sunday
Nicolas Claxton

Available Sunday
Kevin Durant

Will Miss the Next Two Games
Kristaps Porzingis

Taking the Night off on Sunday
Kawhi Leonard

Off the Injury Report, Cleared to Suit Up on Sunday
Sidney Crosby

Records 500th Multi-Point Game
Mackenzie Blackwood

Posts 35-Save Shutout
Aaron Ekblad

Battling an Illness
Jake McCabe

Suffers Upper-Body Injury
Brayden Point

Makes Early Exit Versus Capitals
Nikita Kucherov

Hurt on Saturday
Nic Dowd

Out Against Lightning
Jake Evans

Good to Go Saturday
Adolis García

Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looking To Use Current Momentum to Flip Script at RSM Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Good Bounce-Back Candidate at RSM Classic
Harris English

Making 14th Start at This Week's RSM Classic
Konnor Griffin

Could Compete for Starting Shortstop Job in 2026
Gleyber Torres

Accepts Tigers Qualifying Offer
CFB

Sam Leavitt Set to Enter Transfer Portal?

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP