2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running backs

You don't really need rankings or projections to identify potential fantasy football sleepers at running back, at least not on draft day. In fact, every 2017 fantasy cheat sheet should come with a flow chart that looks something like this: Is he a handcuff? --> Yes. --> He's an RB sleeper.

You can could expand that even further: Is he ranked in the top 15? --> No. --> He's a sleeper.

And by the way, when we say anyone outside the top 15 is a sleeper, we mean anyone, even guys who aren't currently on a team. Heck, even you. You're a fantasy football running back sleeper. That's how deep this goes.

2017 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | D/ST | Kicker

But while it's easy to identify RB sleepers, it's not always easy to identify good ones. With so many options, it can feel like you're playing one of those rigged carnival games: Even if you manage to win, your prize could be some stupid, oversized stuffed animal you have to lug around the rest day while your friends make fun of you.

Beyond that, in order for backs to truly break out, they need opportunity, which often requires injury. You could be right about the talent level of a particular player, but if the starter in front of him stays healthy, it might not matter. Meanwhile, some other joker in your league who happened to have the No. 1 waiver claim gets the mediocre backup who actually starts putting up numbers.

So, be warned: Some of the names you're about to see might not play much this year. They might get cut before the season starts. Or they might be awesome...but not until Week 6 after you've already dropped them. Even the ones with "guaranteed" playing time might take a while to really get going.

It takes a certain amount of luck and patience for an RB sleeper to really pay off, so it's important to give yourself options and stay on top of things all season.

MORE: FREE Fantasy Football Draft Guide from Fantasy Alarm

2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Running backs

Dalvin Cook, Vikings. Rookie running backs tend to be sleepers by nature, but just a year after Ezekiel Elliott destroyed fantasy leagues, it seems like most of the big names are getting artificial bumps in pre-draft value. Leonard Fournette, Joe Mixon, and Christian McCaffrey are all in the top 20 of FantasyPros' early consensus rankings. Cook is still fairly high at No. 25, but he definitely seems like a "fourth fiddle" to those other three. However, he doesn't take a backseat when it comes to talent. Free-agent signee Latavius Murray is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, but Cook has a chance to run away with the starting job. Early indications show he will get the majority of snaps come Week 1, despite the health of Murray by then. There are concerns -- mainly, the Vikings' poor offensive line and Murray's potential to steal goal-line carries -- but Cook's receiving ability fits well with Sam Bradford's love of checking down. Either way, the potential is there for big things.

Bilal Powell, Jets. Powell has always been a solid receiver, but he proved he could be a complete back in the absence of Matt Forte last year, posting 82 carries, 411 rushing yards, 21 receptions, 141 yards, and three touchdowns during the season's final four games. With seemingly no reason for the Jets to continue featuring the 31-year-old Forte, Powell has to a chance to really break out even if Forte gets the nominal Week 1 start.

Mike Gillislee, Patriots. Over 148 carries the past two seasons in Buffalo, Gillislee averaged 5.7 yards per rush and scored 11 TDs. Now in New England, he's the favorite to "fill the LeGarrette Blount role," which could prove quite profitable considering Blount rushed for 1,161 yards and 18 TDs last year. That's a bit much to expect from the 5-11, 219-pound Gillislee, but even as a two-down back in the Patriots' always unpredictable offense, he has a ton of upside.

Ameer Abdullah, Lions. This is the last year you'll see Abdullah on sleeper lists because he's either going to have a good season and be highly ranked next year, or he's going to flop again be written off for good. Admittedly, Abdullah has three big strikes against him: He's an injury worry (14 missed games last year because of a foot problem), he fumbles a lot (five in 2015), and the Lions aren't a good running offense (81.9 yards per game in '16, 30th). Why bother then, right? Well, the first two problems can be corrected, so to speak, and the latter isn't necessarily a huge deal given how much Detroit throws to its backs. Abdullah isn't going to magically supplant Theo Riddick as Detroit's primary receiving threat out of the backfield, but Riddick is no picture of health either. Detroit will move the ball, and Abdullah could be a big part of it like he was in Week 1 last year (120 total yards, TD).

MORE SLEEPERS:
Quarterback | Wide Receiver | Tight End | D/ST

Samaje Perine, Redskins. Every year it's someone different for the Redskins. Matt Jones and Rob Kelley received plenty of buzz the past two offseasons, but now Perine is the next big thing. The record-breaking back from Oklahoma certainly has the pedigree, but Kelley was solid last year and won't give up the starting job easily. Still, Perine is almost certainly more explosive, and it's not a stretch to imagine him starting early in the season. Given Washington's relatively healthy 4.5 yards per carry as a team last year, Perine could shine.

Charles Sims, Buccaneers. Sims had sleeper appeal heading into last season, but injuries limited him while Jacquizz Rodgers wound up being the main beneficiary of Doug Martin's disastrous campaign. With Martin already suspended for the first three games of this year, someone in Tampa has a chance to take the starting gig and run with it. Sims is more equipped to do that given his size (6-0, 211 pounds) and receiving ability, but he'll have to battle Rodgers in camp. Just two years ago, Sims averaged 4.9 yards per carry while posting 1,100 total yards.

C.J. Prosise, Seahawks. Truthfully, Thomas Rawls could have a big breakout this year or Eddie Lacy could have a big bounce-back season. With so many options in Seattle's backfield, it's tough to say whether Prosise will actually see enough touches to make a difference, but the talented back had his moments as a runner (21 carries, 142 yards in Weeks 10 and 11) and receiver (80-plus yards in two different games) before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last year. Prosise might be a stretch as a good sleeper in standard formats, but he's a big PPR threat who clearly has the upside for more.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs. Spencer Ware methodically worked his way to 1,368 total yards last season, and while he only scored five touchdowns, he performed well enough that his starting job should be safe heading into this season. Still, Ware and fantasy owners should have been put on alert when the Chiefs drafted Hunt in the third round, and the rookie out of Toledo has been talked up plenty throughout the offseason. His do-it-all senior season (262 carries, 41 receptions, 1,876 total yards) showcased his talent and versatility, and in the Chiefs offense, that can lead to legit production. (Update: With Spencer Ware injuring his knee in the Chiefs' third preseason game, Hunt is in line to start the first couple games of the regular season and could easily run away with the job.)

Joe Williams, 49ers. All the early reports out of the Bay Area indicate that Williams could be in a timeshare with Carlos Hyde as early as Week 1. While that remains to be seen, it seems clear that Hyde might not be the preferred fit for coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme. Williams didn't do much as a receiver in college (20 catches in two seasons), so he'll have to improve on that to really have success like Shanahan's backs in Atlanta, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, but unless Tim Hightower proves to be too big of an obstacle, Williams should get opportunities. (Update: Williams has apparently been overtaken on the depth chart by fellow rookie Matt Breida. Look for Breida as a late-round handcuff for Hyde.)

Jamaal Williams, Packers. The Packers' RB depth chart currently consists of converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery and a bunch of rookies. Williams is reportedly at the head of that rookie class, which means he's not that far away from starting for one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL. The 6-0, 213-pound fourth-round pick out of BYU ran for 1,375 yards and 12 TDs in 10 games last year.

Wayne Gallman, Giants. Expected starter Paul Perkins could be considered a sleeper in his own right, but his mediocre rookie year (456 yards, 4.1 yards per carry) didn't exactly portend to future success. Gallman didn't test particularly well at the Scouting Combine, but he rushed for 2,647 yards and 30 TDs during his final two years at Clemson. He'll have to climb over more than just Perkins on the depth chart, but he produced against the highest level in college, so he's at least worth watching.

Donnel Pumphrey, Eagles. Last year, it was Wendell Smallwood who looked like a prime sleeper candidate for the Eagles -- and he might be again this season -- but Pumphrey stands out as a guy to watch in 2017. The FBS career leader in rushing yards (6,405) is no stranger to heavy workloads (300-plus carries each of the past two years) despite being undersized (5-9, 176 pounds), and while it seems unlikely he'll be able to handle that many touches at the NFL level, he can likely operate as a No. 1 running back in small stretches. Philadelphia still has a crowded backfield with LeGarrette Blount, Smallwood, and Darren Sproles, but don't be surprised to see Pumphrey get involved at some point this season.

MORE:
2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers: 32 teams, 32 sleepers

D'Onta Foreman, Texans. Foreman has had an offseason to forget after being charged with marijuana possession and unlawful carrying of a firearm, but the good news is he tested negative for marijuana, so that's something. He's a solid third on the Texans' depth chart behind veterans Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue, but we know Miller has a checkered injury history, and Blue has never really looked like a true No. 1 back. Foreman was a beast his final season at Texas, rushing for 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns, and his 6-foot, 235-pound frame should hold up well.

Marlon Mack, Colts. This isn't necessarily a vote of confidence for Mack, who posted three-straight 1,000-yard seasons at South Florida; rather, it's us once again hedging against a Frank Gore breakdown. I know, I know -- we keep doubting Gore and he keeps posting 1,000-plus yards, but at some point the 34-year-old will slow down or get hurt. Robert Turbin is still ahead of Mack on the depth chart, so there isn't a clear path to playing time, but isn't "Marlon Mack" just the type of name you see on your opponent's roster when you're losing by 50 one week?