James White (RB, NE) - 2021 Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~150 Overall

CURRENT ADP: ~163

ANALYSIS: The man, the myth, the legend. James White came to the world just to become the bright light leading those slotted in the running back position that wanted to broaden the horizons of the position. And so he did by becoming the ultimate pass-catching RB of the last few seasons. That might be too poetic for what White truly is as a fantasy asset, I know, but I hope you get where I come from and how valuable of a player White has always been for his often-cheap price.

White's ADP only kind of caught up to his exploits in the past two campaigns, the lone two of his seven-year career in which it topped 128 (!). Makes sense, considering he had overperformed his ADP in all four prior seasons with averages of 11.4 FPPG and an incredible 2018 season in which he put up career-year numbers to the tune of 276 PPR points, an RB7 finish, and a monster 17.3 fantasy points per game average. Obviously, he went on to regress in 2019 and 2020, but he was still very valuable as a high-end RB2 and then almost-RB3 last season.

The presence of Cam Newton in New England turned White into a less-used player out of the backfield, and that might stay the same in 2021, or maybe not depending on how much time it takes for Mac Jones to get the starting role. Even on a lesser usage profile, though, White still got 97 opportunities in 2020 and that would only go up to his prior levels (162 and 217 opportunities in the prior two seasons) the minute Jones take the reigns of the offense.

PFF projects White to a much higher finish (RB38) than his ADP would make you believe (RB57), which makes the pass-catching tailback one of the biggest steals at this point through the 2021 draft season. Draft White while you can before fantasy GMs realize the opportunity they're letting slip through their fingers.

UPDATE: Mac Jones has taken over at QB and Sony Michel is now gone. The poster child for excelling in PPR leagues figures to see an uptick in fantasy value as it's now just Rhamondre Stevenson competing with him behind Damien Harris in the backfield (Taylor won't get much work, barring injury). Jones is far less likely to vulture touchdowns near the goal line, where we've seen White thrive as a pass-catcher.

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