When Pigs Fly: Late-Round Fantasy Sleepers Who Could Smash Their ADP- Running Back Edition

Landing a top ten player at their position in the later rounds is fantasy gold.  Here are two RBs who could turn your late-round gamble into a season-winning jackpot.  Players that could be your MVP “when pigs fly”.

RUNNING BACK

BAYSHUL TUTEN (JAC).  Trevor Etienne finished last year as RB13.  The Jaguars were willing to let him walk because they had Bayshul to step into the starting role.  Bayshul is a more explosive runner than Etienne (watch his output against the Bills in the playoffs) and is more dangerous in open space. While they did bring in Chris Rodriguez, he is more of a short yardage banger and will step into the role that Bayshul carried last year (he had upwards of 60% of the Jags short-yardage carries), allowing Tuten to take over Etienne’s role.  While Tuten’s ADP sits around RB23, he should easily replicate Etienne’s finish (if not improve upon it).  This positions him as a high-end RB2 or low end RB1 that you can get in the fifth or sixth round.

Jonathan Brooks (CAR).  While drafting an RB who has torn his ACL twice has risks, drafting Brooks in the 9th or 10th round (RB40) of your fantasy draft is a risk worth taking.  Brooks entered the league as the first RB off the board, even with his torn ACL, which is indicative of his talent.  He will have had more than 21 months to recover and rehab from the last tear and he was cleared by his surgeon for full participation in OTA’s in June.  Head coach Canales proved last year that he is willing to ride the “hot hand” when Chuba Hubbard lost his job to Rico Dowdle.  While Hubbard returns, Dowdle is now in Pittsburgh and the Panthers did not acquire any running backs to challenge for the job, indicating they are comfortable with Brooks’ health.  Brooks is a far more explosive running back than Hubbard and offers three-down talent, which Canales will ride.  He may open the year in a split with Hubbard, but by the bye week (Week 5), Brooks will be the man and getting a ‘man’ that late is robbery.