Must-Have Backup Running Backs

September 4, 2021

Dennis Clausen's must-have fantasy football backup RB sleepers and handcuffs for 2021 fantasy drafts. Pick these running backs with upside value.

After a turbulent season in 2020, Week 1 is right around the corner. Historically, most leagues aren't won by who is taken in the first few rounds of fantasy drafts. Instead, it's by who finds those "value" options later on. Also, a majority of the most successful league managers remain committed to searching the waiver wire, a place where some of the most valuable options are found during the course of any given year.

In a worst-case scenario, a first-round selection can get injured at any point throughout the season. It wasn't too long ago that Christian McCaffrey, the consensus top overall fantasy option in the universe, was plagued by injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2020 campaign. Even worse, McCaffrey managers who passed on Mike Davis paid a heavy price.

In this article, must-have backup running backs for the 2021 season have been identified and examined. Most of these options shouldn’t be a risk for fantasy managers, mainly since they should be targeted late in fantasy drafts. Nevertheless, keep in mind that their collective floors are just as low as their ceilings are high.

Ty'Son Williams, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens pulverized its opponents on the ground last season. The club averaged nearly 35 combined rushing attempts to finish with a league-leading 3,071 yards. 55 Percent of the calls resulted in someone getting a carry, which allowed Lamar Jackson, J.K. Dobbins, and Gus Edwards to be adequate producers on fantasy squads. Hell, even Mark Ingram II got a piece of the pie and came away with two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards on the ground to complete his 10th season in the league.

While Lamar Jackson's efficiency wasn't a surprise, the player with the most hype heading into 2021 was J.K. Dobbins. The former Ohio State Buckeye had a fantastic inaugural year, dashing his way to 805 yards and nine touchdowns, including a seven-game stretch where he found the end zone at least once.

With that type of production and a near guarantee that Baltimore would be making some noise utilizing the running game once again, Dobbins emerged as a must-have fantasy target during the offseason. He was routinely selected in the second or third rounds during fantasy drafts over the last few weeks, depending on league size and scoring, and he was a perfect complement to any team.

However, things quickly went south during Baltimore's preseason finale against the Washington football team when the sophomore injured his left knee and was subsequently carted off the field. Fantasy managers who already had him in redraft and dynasty leagues collectively held their breath while waiting for the MRI results. Unfortunately, the news wasn't good, and Dobbins was diagnosed with a torn ACL, ending his season.

Had this piece been written a week or so ago, Edwards would be the guy featured in this article. Now, with Dobbins out of the mix, Edwards moved up the depth chart and is expected to get a bulk of the workload. With the promotion, it seemed likely that Justice Hill would provide relief as the No. 2 option. Yet, that doesn't appear the case, primarily after he failed to impress during training camp.

Instead, Williams is seemingly the one who could benefit the most, and he has been attention recently from the fantasy world. Williams had to scratch and claw to make it to the NFL. He went to three colleges and tore his ACL during his final year at the collegiate level. Even worse, the 24-year-old went undrafted in 2020. After spending last year on the team's practice squad, he eventually got a shot at the big club during the preseason.

He certainly got some notice, too. Throughout the team's three exhibitions, Williams had 24 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown. He also caught all eight of his targets. Williams continues to impress as a runner and a pass protector, which is important to coaches even if it isn't to fantasy managers.

The ravens should find a way to feature Ty'Son Williams as much as possible.

He’s a more creative runner than Gus. Better feet, quicker, and cod! He has the ability to solve problems the defense creates! pic.twitter.com/FVyobd1Mfx

— Damian Parson 🏈 (@DP_NFL) September 1, 2021

Initially, he may not be an every-week fantasy option. Still, with offensive coordinator Greg Roman expected to divide up the carries and opportunities in the backfield once again, there could be plenty of room for Williams to flourish in PPR formats.

Malcolm Brown, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' running attack didn't impress by any means last season. While the team appeared to have qualified rushers heading into the 2020-21 campaign, at least on paper, Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, and Matt Breida failed to deliver. Sure, each man occasionally served a purpose from a statistical standpoint. Still, no one from that trio was dependable, and their ceilings were drastically lowered because of it.

As a result, it was assumed that Miami would be looking to bolster the backfield during the offseason. However, that didn't happen, as the Dolphins selected Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. By doing so, guys like Najee Harris and Travis Etienne, two players capable of making an immediate impact for a franchise, were left on the board, only to be swiped up by another club later in the first round. Will Fuller V was also added, which will add another weapon to Tua Tagovailoa's arsenal, although he will sit a game because of suspension.

With Breida now in Buffalo, Brown was brought in back in March to fill the void, signing a one-year, $1.75 million contract. The veteran spent his entire career with the Rams and is heading to South Beach fresh off his best year to date, finishing 2020 with 419 yards and five touchdowns off 101 attempts. He also added 23 catches for 162 yards. While he was far from an every-week fantasy option, there were some solid performances throughout the year.

Brown began last season with a bang, racking up 79 yards and two touchdowns off 18 touches during the Week 1 meeting against the Dallas Cowboys. He was virtually irrelevant from a fantasy standpoint afterward until he had another multi-score outing against the Seattle Seahawks in mid-November.

While Brown is listed behind Gaskin on the depth chart, he shouldn't be classified solely as an insurance policy, especially since he may get touches right off the bat. Gaskin has also failed to log an entire season since entering the league. Should he go down again, which is certainly possible, Brown's name will undoubtedly pop up in waiver wire columns. Managers can beat everyone to the punch and target him toward the later rounds during fantasy drafts. In leagues where rosters have already been established, grab him immediately if he is still available.

Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears

For those who have been fantasy football enthusiasts over the last few years, Cohen is a name that everyone is familiar with. He burst into PPR prominence during his rookie campaign, finishing with 53 catches throughout 16 games. He played his next 32 games, too, over the following two seasons, combining for 150 catches off 195 targets for 1,181 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He also produced five rushing scores during his first three years as a professional.

While Cohen was foreseen to concede carries to David Montgomery in 2020, he still had a place in the hearts of PPR managers and was drafted based on his receiving prowess alone. But, he was injured during a Week 3 clash against the Atlanta Falcons, tearing his ACL while signaling for a fair catch after Brian Hill ran into him.

After missing the rest of last season, the 26-year-old will now start the 2021-22 campaign on the PUP list. The speedster is guaranteed to miss the first six weeks, although he can practice during that time, if able. Though Cohen's immediate future is clouded by uncertainty, fantasy managers can certainly benefit by stashing him, so a late-round draft selection is warranted, despite the potential heckling and laughing from those attending non-virtual drafts. Nonetheless, selecting him may pay off if he is available to play toward the later part of the season, especially with COVID-19 still threatening the availability of players throughout the league because of health and safety protocols.

In the meantime, Damien Williams will assume the role as the pass-catcher out of the backfield, so he is another logical choice in deeper leagues. The former Chief has been impressive during training camp, and he will likely have a role in the offense moving ahead.

Other Considerations

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos 

Williams and Melvin Gordon III should split carries to begin the year. Remember, Denver traded up during the 2021 NFL Draft to acquire his talents, so he should be the clear No. 1 at some point moving ahead. However, fantasy managers are drafting him a little too early, especially since he may not make an immediate impact.

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon has battled injuries throughout his short tenure as a professional football player. While the offensive line has improved and should provide enhanced protection, the former Sooner is always in jeopardy of missing time. Realistically, Perine could emerge as Cincy's starter at some point, even if its only for a game or two, so adding him as an insurance policy makes sense.

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Hunt is hardly a traditional No. 2. Yes, he remains behind Nick Chubb on the depth chart. Still, Hunt is a nuisance to opposing defenses, regardless of his role. He finished last season with 841 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. He was also a PPR darling, racking up 38 catches (51 targets) for five touchdowns. Granted, Chubb was hurt and missed four games last season. However, Hunt should be an effective fantasy producer, even if he remains labeled the "backup."

Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the lead man in Kansas City, but he missed three games in 2020 and flirted with a few more absences. If he does sit again for some reason during the season, the Chiefs will likely divide the workload between Darrel Williams and McKinnon. Yet, McKinnon is the more talented of the two, so he could be the biggest beneficiary if CEH were to go down.

After a tenure in Minnesota, McKinnon signed a four-year, $30 million contract in 2018 and was in store to be the guy out of the backfield in San Francisco. However, a knee injury caused him to miss a few years, yet he managed to return with a vengeance last season to finish with six total touchdowns. Unquestionably, this won't be the last time you see his name mentioned in a fantasy piece moving forward.

Giovani Bernard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones II will battle for touches throughout the year. However, with Bernard now in Tampa, Tom Brady will have a James White-esque option to catch passes out of the backfield.

The 29-year-old has grabbed at least 30 receptions throughout his eight seasons as a Bengal, and he finished the 2020 campaign with three receiving touchdowns, increasing his professional total to 11. No, Bernard isn't an every-week fantasy option. Yes, he may have some miserable performances. Still, this is a guy to target if you need a late-round sleeper in deep, PPR formats. He is currently battling a high ankle sprain, but he should be good to go for Week 1.

Kenyan Drake, Las Vegas Raiders

While Josh Jacobs has surpassed at least 1,000 yards during his first two seasons, the verdict is still out regarding his long-term effectiveness as a legit No. 1 option. To make the Raiders' backfield situation even more interesting, Drake was brought in during the offseason on a two-year deal. Though he is second on the depth chart, Drake is worth paying attention to, especially since he could immediately get attention, regardless of Jacobs' status.

Devontae Booker, New York Giants  

Will Saquon Barkley play in Week 1, or won't he? A few days ago, it was reported that he wasn't a lock to begin the year as he continues to make his way back from a season-ending knee injury. Yet, the latest reports paint a more optimistic picture, and it appears to indicate Barkley could make it back for the opener against the Denver Broncos.

Nevertheless, there is still some time before Week 1, so anything can happen regarding Barkley's availability. Be prepared and pick up Booker immediately, especially if you are a Saquon manager. Booker may only be a serviceable fantasy option for a week or two, at most. Still, every game counts.

Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions

D'Andre Swift has been dealing with a groin injury and recently started ramping up his football activities. So far, the 22-year-old hasn't done much to instill confidence in fantasy aficionados, and because of his poor conditioning, he may not play in Week 1. As a result, his ADP has decreased over the last few weeks.

Luckily, the Lions have a potent option to handle the rushing duties in Jamaal Williams, who made a name for himself during his time in Green Bay. He can do it all, catch passes, make big plays on the run, so yeah, he needs to be on the fantasy radar, even when Swift is fully involved.

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook is arguably the best fantasy running back going at the moment. However, his health hasn't been the best over the years. Nevertheless, it's nearly guaranteed the former second-round pick will miss at least a game, so be prepared and pick up one of the best insurance policies available.

Mattison has been a familiar fantasy name over the last few years, and yes, it's during the times when Cook has been in danger of sitting. The 23-year-old has only started twice during his career, but he racked up 121 yards on the ground, 54 receiving yards, and two total touchdowns. This should be all fantasy managers need to know, so add him during the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

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