Keep a close eye on these top 4 fantasy football RB sleepers. It seems as though almost every year there is a running back who turns in a stellar season after being highly overlooked at the draft, like last year’s Arian Foster of the Houston Texans. We’re not forecasting that one of the players below will have the quality of season Foster had last year that has propelled him to the top of most fantasy drafts this year, but there is a lot of potential here. Opportunity could come knocking for one of these tailbacks with an injury to a fellow teammate ahead on the depth chart or by outplaying the competition and earning the majority of a time-share. Count on injuries to come especially at the running back position, so having an insurance plan isn’t a bad idea either. With the scarcity of workhorses, knowing your 2011 fantasy football RB sleepers is vital.
Top 4 RB Sleepers for 2011
James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers – Ryan Grant’s season-ending injury last year opened the door for Starks who impressed against the Eagles in the playoffs, rushing for 123 yards. He is a physical runner who makes a nice handcuff to Grant, while likely seeing a handful of carries each game as the No. 2 running back on the depth chart. The Packers are primarily a passing team which works in Starks’ favor because he’s a better receiver than Grant and he may take on most of the goal-line carries with his size advantage as well. His value is on the rise and he could be a nice addition to your team with a mid to late-round draft pick.
Michael Bush, RB, Oakland Raiders – Sure, he’s behind an electric runner in Darren McFadden on the depth chart, but Bush has already proved he can carry the load in the past with at least 20 carries in four different games last season. In those four games, he had two games of over 100 yards rushing and another with 95. Bush also scored eight touchdowns last season, most came from within the 5 yard line, because he is a powerful rusher that defenders dread having to tackle at 245 pounds. Bush is not only a sleeper but a required draft pick/insurance policy for Darren McFadden owners, especially in deep leagues.
Ronnie Brown, RB, Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles added another weapon in the backfield during the free agency frenzy to play alongside incumbent starter, LeSean McCoy. An injury to McCoy would boost Brown’s value immensely, but even being the ‘change of pace’ back could prove useful for fantasy owners. He is also a great pass-catching running back and will likely be used often by Head Coach Andy Reid in screen plays. Brown topped 1,000 yards rushing in a season only once in his six years with Miami and won’t likely do it again the rest of his career. Look for him to get around 10-15 offensive touches per game by mid-season once he learns the offense, with some of those coming in the red zone because he’s always had a decent nose for the end zone.
Anthony Dixon, San Francisco 49ers – The second-year pro out of Mississippi State could see plenty of carries this season playing second fiddle to the injury-prone Frank Gore. Similar to the situation across the Bay, Dixon is a must handcuff and could get around 10 carries a game even as a backup to keep Gore’s legs fresh as the season wears on. With a year under his belt and with young legs underneath him, don’t be surprised if he impresses early on and earns more opportunities to showcase his abilities.
Hope this list of the top fantasy football RB sleepers for 2011 was helpful. Make sure to keep up with our most recent fantasy football content to stay on top of your game.
