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My second installment of “Late Round (Position) You Need To Know” features the running back position. If you didn’t catch the first installment, you can read it here. With running backs not as readily available as receivers, it is even more important to find one or two in the late rounds that you can plug into your lineup as bye week and injury fill ins. Here are a few of my favorite late rounds running backs.
Nyheim Hines – RB – Indianapolis Colts
When you think about late round running backs, drafting the backup to consensus first overall pick doesn’t seem like a sound strategy. However, there is much more to Hines than giving a breather to Jonathan Taylor. For starters, he has been one of the best receiving running backs in the league. He has collected 272 targets and 210 receptions in his first four seasons. In those four years, he has had two seasons inside the top 30, including an RB15 finish in 2020. What helps his case even more is the new man under center for the Colts.
Matt Ryan is the new quarterback of the Colts, and that does nothing but help Hines’ outlook. Ryan has targeted his running backs to the tune of 411 times in the same time Hines has been in the league. The highlight of that number being 127 targets last season to Falcon running backs. Needless to say, he likes using his backs in the passing game.
Speaking of the passing game, it leaves a bit to be desired in the talent department. Outside of Michael Pittman (who I am crazy high on, for transparency), the Colts WR room is full of unproven players. Rookie Alec Pierce and oft-injured Parris Campbell are the top candidates for targets behind Pittman. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hines finishes second on the team in targets. He holds standalone value as someone who can haul in 4-5 passes a game and collect 40-50 total yards. Going as the RB44 in drafts, Hines is a reliable bench piece.
Zamir White – RB – Las Vegas Raiders
The ebs and flows of Zamir White’s fantasy relevance has been reminiscent of a healthy heartbeat. He was drafted in the fourth round, which wasn’t a great start, but certainly not a death sentence for immediate impact. Then, it was announced that the Raiders wouldn’t be picking up Josh Jacobs’ fifth year option. Now, the most important piece of the puzzle has been put in place. The Raiders have cut Kenyan Drake, who would have been White’s main competitor for the backup role.
White now has a clear cut path to seeing the feel in at least somewhat of a meaningful role. Jacobs hasn’t been all that efficient in his past two seasons, averaging just four yards per carry. That may lead to the Raiders wanting to test the waters with White to see if he can provide some efficiency. What stands out about him is his raw speed. At the combine, he posted a 96th-percentile 40 yard dash and speed score, whereas Jacobs was in the 21st and 31st-percentile in those categories.
With the Raiders not picking up Jacobs’ fifth year option, it may signal that they are ready to move on from him. That could mean they want to give White more run than expected. He is currently going outside the top 200 picks, as the RB57. Count me in.
Jamaal Williams – RB – Detroit Lions
I think this is a case of boredom from drafters. Williams is a name that they have heard and seen for a handful of years, but he’s never been anything exciting. Now, they see his name and they just don’t have any positive reaction towards him. However, he is still very much fantasy relevant (as he always has been).
In his five years in the league, Williams has yet to finish below RB43, despite playing a full season just twice. He has had at least 150 touches in all five seasons. It almost doesn’t matter who is in front of him on the depth chart, he finds a way onto the field. In his first year in Detroit, he actually saw more carries than D’Andre Swift did. While I’m not predicting that to stay true, he will still garner more than enough touches to be fantasy relevant.
Behind a very underrated offensive line, Williams should have no trouble beating his current RB49 ADP. He also has strong upside if Swift were to miss time this year, which is something he has done in both of his first two seasons. There are few late round running backs with the safe floor that Williams has.
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