College Fantasy Football: Five sleeper RBs to pick up
We are a month into the college football season and fantasy leagues but there is still a lot of value to be found at each position. Here are five running backs that are not owned in a high percentage of leagues that could help if you’re having a slow start to the fantasy season.
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Heading into the season it looked like TCU was going to have a two-headed monster at running back in Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua and they are divvying up carries. But Anderson is getting more opportunities and taking advantage of them. He has 41 carries for 368 yards and four touchdowns, which is just as many as Clemson’s Travis Etienne. Anderson is only owned in 23 percent of leagues and I always like Big 12 skill players because lots of points are scored in that conference.
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Owned in only 15 percent of leagues, Fontenot is among the top 25 running backs in fantasy points with 42 carries for 209 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Jaren Mangham is also getting the ball in Colorado’s backfield and I never like splitting duties in the fantasy game so that’s something to watch, but there’s no arguing with Fontenot’s production.
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It has become clear that Malepeai is the favored back in USC’s offensive attack and that should only continue moving forward. In four games, he’s carried the ball 69 times (Stephen Carr only has 24 touches) and Malepeai has 311 yards and four scores. With some injuries at quarterback it wouldn’t shock us to see Malepeai get even more opportunities. The offense is moving well, which should open things for the running game and Malepeai will have the ball in his hands. Owned in 29 percent of leagues, he might be worth picking up.
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Moe Neal is already tied for No. 14 in fantasy points among running backs (with Maryland’s Anthony McFarland) and Syracuse has played Maryland and Clemson. The schedule gets a little better in the coming weeks and Neal is being called on a lot in the Orange offense with 61 carries for 281 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. Syracuse plays Holy Cross this weekend and should put up huge numbers so try to pick up Neal, who’s only owned in 36 percent of leagues.
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Washington sustained a leg injury in the Illinois game so watch that in terms of how long he might be sidelined but the Nebraska back is owned in only 37 percent of leagues and could be very valuable moving forward. On only 35 carries, Washington is averaging 7.7 yards per touch. Plus, quarterback Adrian Martinez is running too much for my taste with 61 carries so Washington could have a bigger workload moving forward. This week against Ohio State might be tough but then the schedule opens up nicely.