The mid-round RB selections you make in your 2022 drafts are key to having success. The way that I’ve always thought about drafts:
- Early-round selections are about not losing your league
- Mid-round selections are about getting into the playoffs
For example, selecting Deebo Samuel last season you got him as the 86th player off the board (based on Sleeper ADP) and picked up a top-level WR for the season. Now, that’s not going to happen with every selection- it can’t. But knowing some names you can look to in those mid-rounds can help come draft time.
Criteria for selection & Notes
For a player to be considered in this list:
- Have a current ADP of Round 7+
- Have a current role in the offense (so a third-down back, timeshare back would be ok. But a rotational/ relief back wouldn’t
ADP data has been taken from Sleeper at July 27 (Redraft PPR)
Running Back
The running back position is huge when it comes to fantasy, just look at the number that are selected at the top of drafts. Finding mid-round value help you cover any injuries or give you starting options if you were RB-light in the opening rounds.
Chase Edmonds (MIA) ADP 95
Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – USA TODAY Sports
Edmonds has been a great receiving back during his time in the NFL, and has carried the ball effectively too. The ability of Edmonds to catch the ball gives him a little bit more stability that other backs in this range, with his importance in the passing game.
Mike McDaniel is likely to rotate other players in with carries in the offense, but he should still lead the team in carries at the end of the season. If things click for the offense, this selection has fantastic upside. Currently he is being selected as RB34, but should be able to finish above that.
Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) ADP 113
Image Credit: Brian Fluharty – USA TODAY Sports
Stevenson is one of my favorite selections in drafts. When you consider the fact that Damien Harris is being selected several rounds before, Stevenson is a great value. After struggling at the start of the season, he started to split carries effectively at the end of the season.
The real difference was the number of TDs that were scored. With Harris facing regression square in the face, Stevenson should see an increase in TDs. At a minimum he is likely to see an increase in targets, given the usage he has seen in training camp.
James Robinson (JAX) ADP 120
Image Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
Robinson was expected to be ineffective to start the season, after tearing his achilles in Week 16. But he has been able to run effectively in training camp:
Robinson has been an effective runner since he entered the league, but is unlikely to pin down the receiving work with Travis Etienne looking equally ready for the season. In the 10th round though, getting a player of Robinson’s ability is fantastic. He could well have flex consideration most weeks, and more if Etienne were to suffer a setback.
Other Considerations
- Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) ADP 86. I wrote about Patterson earlier in the offseason and for good reason. He had a great season last year, and is likely to see a decent workload to start the season.
- James Cook (BUF) ADP 102. Cook looks set to be the pass-catching option for the team out of the backfield. The pass-catching role in this offense hasn’t been particularly appealing for fantasy, but looking at what they tried to do this offseason (add more pass-catching RBs) Cook has appeal in drafts.
- Nyheim Hines (IND) ADP 133. Hines is the pass-catching back for the Colts, and should be able to take a step forward from his performances last season. Having Matt Ryan at QB should lead to more checkdowns, as well as scoring opportunities. If Taylor were to get injured, Hines would also see an increase in carries. Not likely a massive workload, but still an increase to see him out perform RB45.
- Mark Ingram (NO) ADP 168. Really only has appeal if Alvin Kamara gets banned. If that were to happen, the depth chart doesn’t look too strong and Ingram knows the offense.
- Tyrion Davis-Price (SF) ADP 178. The rookie selection should have value at some point this season. With the way the 49ers operate their backfield, he should see some carries early in the season, and could take the starting role from Elijah Mitchell.
