The Most Important Position On Your Team
OK now it’s time to talk running backs! To me, this is the most important position on your team. Most leagues have two running backs and a flex position which can be filled by a third running back. Ordinarily you will need more than just two starting running backs. In addition, you want to have a couple of extra running backs on your bench as back ups in case of injury and to fill in during bye weeks.
My 3 Tips For Running Backs
Tip number one:
Make sure and watch the bye week of the player you are drafting. In other words, make sure you don’t draft two or more running backs that share the same bye week or else you will be down two running backs on that particular week. This was discussed in my last article, but I’m going to repeat it over and over again because it is truly the #1 rule in fantasy football drafting.
Tip number two:
When choosing a back-up running back you might want to choose the second string guy who plays behind your starting running back. I say this because you want to be prepared if your starting running back gets injured.You know his backup is going to get an increased workload while he’s down. (just be prepared in case of TIP #1…..have your third back-up with a different BYE week)
Tip number three:
When it comes to Rookie RB’s, unlike the QB position, don’t be afraid to start a rookie, especially if he was selected in the first half of the first round. A top 10 rookie running back is pretty rare and usually means they’ve had quite a bit of success in college and can be poised for an above average or Pro Bowl career in the NFL.
I have added BONUS Running Backs picks because, as I said earlier, you will most likely start two or three running backs each week, but you will only be able to start one Quarterback (unless you’re like my 15 year old son who last year got extremely lucky and had Taysom Hill, a tight end from the New Orleans Saints who started at QB one week and blew up with points.) He actually started two QB’s that week.
Here are my top 10 studs and duds running backs for the upcoming NFL season:
Derek Henry 
Dalvin Cook
Stud Running Backs: Derek Henry, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Chubb, Zeke Elliott, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler.
Duds at the Running Back position: Antonio Gibson, Joe Nixon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, David Montgomery, Miles Sanders, D’andre Swift, Raheem Mosert, Melvin Gordon, Damien Harris and Mike Davis.
These are my sleeper picks for running back and remember these players are mostley RB2S (Running Back two’s a.k.a back-ups) or low point producing RB1S. These backs can be starters in FLEX Leagues (a Flex position allows you to play a Running Back, Tight End or Wide Receiver at that spot.) These guys also make great back ups in leagues with less than 12 teams: Ronald Jones, Kareem Hunt, Cam Akers, Austin Ekeler, Najee Harris (Rookie & HeismanTrophy winner), Chris Carson, J.K. Dobbins, Josh Jacobs, Chase Edmonds and James Robinson.
Two BONUS sleeper picks: Travis Etienne, David Johnson and Miles Gaskins
Tune in next week to get my wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and defense dos and don’ts!
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