Fantasy Football 2013: Unheralded Running Backs Who Will Prove Worth

As is the case in every NFL season, injuries and ineffectiveness will plague every fantasy owner at the running back position, but don't worry because there are some young, unheralded backs who will show their worth in fantasy football this season.

The running back position presents the least amount of depth by far in 2013, so it's likely your squad will have a carousel at the position this season. That can be frustrating to say the least, but making the right moves early on and even during the season can make all the difference.

Let's take a look at some younger targets for owners should their original picks not work out, or as a late-draft option to help fill out their backup running back needs that could end up being huge steals at season's end.

Montee Ball, Denver Broncos

Ball was once thought to be a backup for the Broncos, but after Ronnie Hillman has done his best to fumble the starting job away, Ball is now receiving first-team reps and looks primed to be the starter if all goes well, per Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today Sports.

By the numbers, Ball has been the team's best running back during the preseason, although he hasn't had much competition. In his last preseason game, Ball got 14 carries for 43 yards and scored his first touchdown in exhibition play against the St. Louis Rams.

On top of that, Ball has shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield after catching two balls for 27 yards against the Rams.

Granted, his preseason numbers are nothing to write home about, but Ball will have plenty of room to work with this season. With the elite passing attack Denver is sending out there week in and week out led by Peyton Manning, teams won't dare stack the box to protect against the run.

Instead, opposing defenses will look to protect against the pass, and that should give Ball a lot of space when Manning gives him the ball. 

Daryl Richardson, St. Louis Rams

ESPN senior fantasy analyst Matthew Berry correctly predicted that Richardson would win the starting job in St. Louis, and now the young running back will have his chance to shine as the team's No. 1 back now that Steven Jackson is gone.

"

As we've been saying for weeks, Darryl Richardson the Rams RB you want. Jeff Fisher names him wk 1 starter.

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) August 19, 2013"

Richardson impressed during his first season in the NFL after compiling 475 yards on 98 carries, which was good enough for 4.8 yards per carry. An average like that is exactly what teams are looking for in any running back they give the ball to, especially a guy like Richardson who can break big plays as evidenced by his longest gain on the ground of 53 yards in 2012.

For PPR leagues, Richardson will also be catching the ball on a consistent basis for quarterback Sam Bradford as he did last season with 24 catches for 163 yards in 36 total targets. Again, the opportunity exists that Richardson can break big plays in that aspect as well.

All of his numbers figure to increase now that he isn't sharing the workload with an elite back like Jackson. 

Now, that's not to say that you should bank on Richardson being a starter for your squad from Week 1 on. You're much better off seeing how he starts the season before giving him a shot, but rest assured Richardson's past shows he has the goods to be a productive fantasy back. 

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers

Now that DuJuan Harris is out for the season, Lacy stands as one of the best options Green Bay has to fill the void.

Detractors of Lacy will point to his eight-carry, minus-five-yard performance in Week 3 of the preseason against the Seattle Seahawks, although it must be said that Lacy was running behind the second-team offensive line going up against Seattle's first-team defense.

What you really need to look at was his performance in Week 2 of the preseason. Lacy looked great in that game after compiling 40 yards on eight carries, good enough for five yards per carry. Lacy displayed excellent agility, elusiveness and power out of the backfield.

And like Ball, Lacy will be a part of an offense that is pass first, so there will be lots of open space in the box for him to get to the second level and make things happen. In each of his three years at Alabama, Lacy increased his receiving yards total from 2010-12. This isn't just a one-dimensional, bruising back we're talking about here.

The Packers backfield is crowded at the moment, and while there is no clear-cut favorite to start this season, Lacy should eventually establish himself as the Packers' No. 1 back and become the starter for good sooner rather than later.