James White

5 RB Sleepers to target for fantasy football week 1

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Need backfield help in fantasy football week 1? Check out these five RB sleepers who can give you a last-minute boost.

Spencer Ware is one of the best RB sleepers for fantasy football week 1. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The fantasy football season starts in earnest today with a full slate of NFL games to keep us occupied all day long. If you’re heading into the week looking for some help in the backfield for your DFS or season-long league, check out these five RB sleepers poised to produce above their general expectations in Week 1.

Every week, you can find these position-focused last-minute sleepers hear on FanSided along with plenty of other posts to help you throught the week. Check out my top 10 WR sleepers from earlier this morning if you’re hitting the market for receiver help.

FanSided has assembled some great tools to help you get your lineup set for fantasy football Week 1. You can find all our coverage by checking out (and bookmarking) the fantasy football hub where you’ll find the top 10 matchups to attack for the week as well as full Week 1 rankings. You can also get any lineup question answered by checking out the new start/sit tool.

The running backs on the following slides won’t be right at the top of those rankings, though. Instead, I’ll use this post to try to pinpoint some players in the mid-range who could be among the top performers along wit some players toward the bottom of the rankings who have serious potential to be RB sleepers.

All these RB sleepers are risky to one degree or another, but I think they can be used as cheap DFS plays or as plug-and-play options off of many league’s waiver wires. Overall, I expect each of them to out-perform their expectations in week 1.

A quick word of caution before we start–don’t forget these are sleeper RBs so don’t go crazy and take a flier on one of them over a more established play. For example, I like James White this week, but I wouldn’t start him over DeMarco Murray, Spencer Ware, or even Christine Michael. The picks appear in order from most well-known to deepest sleeper.

It’s time to get rolling with my top five RB Sleepers for week 1.

Jan 3, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (32) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Christine Michael-Seattle Seahawks

One of the most heavily used sleeper RBs in DFS today will likely be Christine Michael. When prices came out at the start of preseason, C-Mike was buried behind Thomas Rawls who most expected to take the mantle from Marshawn Lynch. By mid-season, I think that will be the case, but this week Rawls will be brought along slowly as he continues his recovery from the broken ankle he sustained last year.

While Rawls has his “preseason” this week after missing most of the regular preseason. Michael should get plenty of work in Seattle’s run-heavy attack in a tasty matchup against the Dolphins who allowed more fantasy points to opposing RB than any other tema in the NFL last year.

After being traded away to Dallas last year, Michael ended up back with the Seahawks to finish the season strong. He followed that end of the season with a buzz-generating preseason rushing for 157 yards on 24 carries through the first thee games of the preseason.

Michael’s long-term value is clouded by Rawls’ return, but he has tantalized fantasy owners repeatedly over the last few years. He has the raw talent, but this could be the year he finally produces as a fantasy football sleeper.

I like him as a high-end RB2 this week with the upside to be a top-ten back if things go his way. C-Mike should be started for fantasy football week 1 in almost every format, and he’ll be an often-used cheap DFS play.

Aug 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) celebrates after his team scored against the Chicago Bears during the first half of the preseason game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Ware-Kansas City Chiefs

Next: A situational back with a chance to shine

Aug 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back James White (28) runs the ball against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

James White-New England Patriots

Looking for some deeper sleeper RBs? One option that has some intriguing potential but an undefined role is Patriots receiving back James White. White will get to start the season as the team’s primary passing-down option after Dion Lewis needed a cleanout procedure on his knee this preseason.

The Patriots will also be without target-hog Rob Gronkowski in their season-opener in Arizona which could leave more passes for White to reel in. White had a quiet preseason, but last year he performed well in the second have of the season finishing with four receiving touchdowns and two rushing scores.

With Jimmy Garoppolo starting in place for Brady, White should be the beneficiary of plenty of check down throws. What he’ll do with those throws and how involved he’ll be in the gameplan is definitely a big question mark which is why he’s one of the RB sleepers with the highest upside, but also the highest risk.

Jan 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) in action during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Redskins defeat the Cowboys 34-23. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Thompson-Washington Redskins

Washington enters the season with an interesting backfield situation after losing Alfred Morris to Dallas this offseason. Not only is the team without Morris for the first time since 2011, but they also were hit by another loss the presumed-starter Matt Jones hurt his shoulder this preseason.

Jones is expected to return to the field against the Steelers on Monday Night Football after practicing all week. He is officially questionable, but it would be a shocker if he isn’t active. Even if Jones is active, though, he could have a reduced workload which would open things up for Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson. Kelley had an impressive preseason and is an interesting sleeper, but don’t forget that Thompson had some nice games last season and proved especially useful in the passing game.

Since the Steelers offense should be able to put up plenty of points, Washington may be forced to play from behind. If they are, Thompson would play a bigger role in the offense since the team could be forced to go pass-heavy.

Thompson is a long-shot and shouldn’t be started except as a DFS flier or a last-minute option in deep leagues. However, there is enough upside to make him one of my sleeper RBs for week 1.

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) runs the ball during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Howard-Chicago Bears

The Bears drafted Howard in the fifth round out of Indiana hoping he could be part of their backfield rotation to replace Matt Forte who is making his Jets’ debut today. Howard contended with Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey this preseason for playing time, but Langford clearly ran as the first team back.

Langford secured the starting role early in the preseason, but Howard finally had a breakout in Preseason Week 4 when he exploded for 107 yards on 16 carries and added two more catches for 33 yards. Howard is a big, powerful back who should be well-suited for goal line and short yardage duty if John Fox decides to go with a share in the backfield to start the season.

Howard is still on lots of leagues’ waiver wires to start the season (over 90%), but if he can build on that last preseason game, he could be a nice addition. He’s a deep option in the RB Sleepers for today, and I’d avoid starting him if at all possible. However, his upside is tantalizing in an offense that should be run heavy.