Fantasy Football Sleepers 2012: Running Backs Worth a Later-Round Pick

You may not end up with Arian Foster or Ray Rice at running back, but even if you don't, your fantasy season won't be a wash.

Just as certainly as some of the top-rated running backs will flop in 2012, some of the underrated, unproven ones will excel, and if you choose wisely, you can easily benefit from their success.

Here's a look at some of the running backs worth considering in the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots

With BenJarvus Green-Ellis out of the mix in New England now, it looks as though this second-year LSU product is going to be Bill Belichick's go-to guy in 2012.

And if his preseason performance is any indication, Ridley is up to the task. In Game 3 against Tampa Bay, he led all running backs with 16 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown. His rookie-year numbers were OK—he played in 15 games, but only made two starts and garnered 441 yards and a single touchdown—but now that the workload will fall onto his shoulders, he should be able to step up to the task.

If Ridley lives up to expectations, he could be a nice surprise for those willing to take the risk and draft him in the mid- to late rounds.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals

The Patriots rushing attack was certainly never unstoppable with Green-Ellis leading the charge, but it was at least solid. Though his 2011 campaign wasn't as strong as the career year he had in 2011, when he rushed for over 1,000 yards and tallied 13 touchdowns, he still managed to put up 11 TDs in New England's pass-heavy offense in 2011. 

He's not the flashiest player in the world and he's not a top-10 running back, but he's tough, and he's a more-than-suitable backup who is capable of greatness when he's really on top of his game.

Though he had some trouble with foot soreness earlier in the summer, Green-Ellis is on track for the Bengals' regular-season opener.

C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills

The Bills have been so bad recently that the players who have actually been solid haven't been able to get the attention they deserve, and even though Spiller has fallen under the radar in his two years in the league—and hasn't gotten a ton of playing time—he still has the potential to be an impact player.

Even though he's not the Bills' No. 1 guy and his preseason play has been limited, CBSSports.com reports that his offensive role is expected to increase in 2012. If that's the case, he can be expected to seriously improve upon a 2011 season in which he registered 561 yards and four touchdowns.

This is a player who used to destroy the rest of the ACC when he was at Clemson (and back then, the ACC was actually good). That's obviously not a predictor for professional success, but his college days did prove that he has enormous potential—if he ever gets any playing time.