Fantasy Football Impact: Backup Running Backs

Since the inception of fantasy football, the running back position has long been considered the most important position. In most fantasy football drafts, running backs fly off the board early and often.

But what happens when all the top backs are gone, when you have to dig deeper for running back depth? What backups should be handcuffs for starters and which will get enough touches to earn a spot on your team as a RB3 or spot starter?

Below the Bruno Boys have compiled a list of backup running backs that have potential value as a handcuff to one of your top running backs, but also could see enough touches to earn a spot as a valued member of your fantasy football team. Grabbing these guys late could help bring you fantasy gold.

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Darren Sproles - San Diego Chargers

Sproles did not have a lot of value during the regular season in 2008, as he only managed 10 plus touches in a game twice. One of those times though was Week 17 of the regular season, where he took advantage of injuries to starter LaDainian Tomlinson going for 115 yards on 14 attempts with two total touchdowns.

Sproles continued his hot play into the playoffs when he torched the Indianapolis Colts for 150 total yards with two touchdowns during wild card weekend.

During the second round of the playoffs, he managed 106 total yards with one touchdown on a frozen Heinz Field in Pittsburgh when the Chargers lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chargers who placed the franchise tag on Sproles during the off-season plan to expand Sproles' role with the team this season in order to help keep starter LaDainian Tomlinson fresher. Look for Sproles to get 10-15 touches a game in 2009 making him a RB3 who'll be available in the middle rounds of most drafts.

If you draft Tomlinson in the first two rounds you definitely should be targeting Sproles as a handcuff.

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Leon Washington - New York Jets

Washington had a career year in 2008 as the backup running back to Thomas Jones in New York when he had 76 carries for 448 yards with six touchdowns. He also added 47 receptions for 355 yards with two touchdowns.

Washington should once again be the primary backup to Jones in 2009, although he will get a push from rookie third round pick Shonn Green. Consider Washington as a low-end RB3 available in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts this summer. He should, also, be targeted as a backup for owners who draft Jones.

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Jerious Norwood - Atlanta Falcons

Many owners expected an expanded role for Norwood in 2008, but the emergence of Michael Turner as a Pro Bowl running back limited Norwood’s growth in his third season. Norwood had 95 carries for 489 yards with four touchdowns and added 36 receptions for 338 yards with two touchdowns.

Norwood is a speedy back who is a threat to go the distance anytime he touches the ball. He has a career average of 5.8 yards per carry and is set to be a free-agent in 2010. Norwood should definitely be a handcuff for Turner owners and has value as a RB3.

Target him in the middle rounds of drafts this summer as the Falcons should look to find more ways to get the ball in Norwood’s hands as a change of pace back.

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Chester Taylor - Minnesota Vikings

Taylor would have a chance to start on many teams in the NFL, but unfortunately for him, he plays on the Minnesota Vikings with possibly the best running back in the league in Adrian Peterson. As Peterson’s backup in 2008, Taylor had 101 carries for 399 yards with four touchdowns. He, also, added 45 receptions for 399 yards with two touchdowns.

Taylor like Jerious Norwood is set to be a free agent in 2010 and will look to take advantage of every touch he gets this season. He should definitely be drafted as a handcuff for Peterson owners in 2009. Taylor has totaled 13 touchdowns over the last two seasons and will likely go off the boards between rounds six through eight as a RB3.

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Felix Jones - Dallas Cowboys

Jones was well on his way to a very good rookie season in 2008 when hamstring and toe injuries cut his season short in November.

Before the injuries Jones had 30 carries for 266 yards with three touchdowns as the backup to Marion Barber. Jones is a threat to break a long run every time he touches the ball, as evidence by his touchdown runs of 10, 33 and 60 yards respectively.

Barber also battled the injury bug in 2008 and owners who draft Barber should definitely target Jones in the middle rounds. His 8.9 yard per carry average should warrant him at least 10-12 touches a game from the Cowboys coaching staff. If he gets the touches, he could become a very solid RB3.

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Ricky Williams - Miami Dolphins

Williams had a career resurgence in 2008 when he had 160 carries for 659 yards with four touchdowns and 29 receptions for 219 yards with one touchdown while splitting carries with starter Ronnie Brown.

Williams had his best season since 2005 before he was suspended / retired for two seasons due to a marijuana addiction. He should continue to share carries with Brown in 2009, but it’s always hard to say which Ricky Williams might show up on a weekly basis. Consider him a low-end RB3 / RB4 with upside if he can stay off the drugs and stay on the field.

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Fred Jackson - Buffalo Bills

Jackson had a career year in 2008 as the backup to Marshawn Lynch in Buffalo, when he had 130 carries for 571 yards with three touchdowns. He also added 37 receptions for 317 yards.

With Lynch set to serve a NFL mandated three game suspension (although he is currently appealing) at the beginning of the season, Jackson should be a must handcuff for owners who draft Lynch as one of their top backs.

Consider Jackson a RB3 who has the potential to be a RB2 during the first three weeks of the season when Lynch is out.

The Bills did also add former Indianapolis Colts running back Dominic Rhodes as a free agent during the offseason which could cut into Jackson’s carries, but Jackson is still expected to be the primary backup in Buffalo as Rhodes is on the downturn of his career.

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Donald Brown - Indianapolis Colts

Brown is a rookie out of the University of Connecticut, whom the Colts drafted with 27th pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He will likely be the primary backup to Joseph Addai in Indianapolis and has a chance to make an immediate impact in fantasy circles.

The Colts lost backup Dominic Rhodes to the Buffalo Bills via free agency and don’t have a clear backup for Addai who struggled through injuries and consistency issues in 2008. Brown had over 3,800 yards with 33 touchdowns in his college career at Connecticut and is worth a middle-to-late round flier in upcoming fantasy drafts.

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Other notable back-up running backs to watch for in 2009: Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants; Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers; Ernest Graham, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Fred Taylor, New England Patriots; Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens; LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles; Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh Steelers.

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