Fantasy Football: 10 Sleeper Running Backs to Target in 2017
De'Angelo Henderson, Denver Broncos
Playing in the FCS for Coastal Carolina, De'Angelo Henderson averaged 17.33 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons. He also caught 97 passes over his four-year college career to go along with his 4,635 rushing yards.
For the Denver Broncos, who tied for the third-worst Rushing NEP per attempt in the league last season, that résumé was enough to warrant a sixth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
C.J. Anderson remains the leader of Denver’s backfield, but he missed eight games last season due to injury, and has yet to play a full 16 games during any of his four NFL seasons. Devontae Booker served as Anderson’s backup last season, but is currently sidelined with a wrist fracture.
That leaves Henderson to compete with free-agent acquisition Jamaal Charles for the backup role this season. It appeared that Henderson had that role in his hands after averaging 6.46 yards per carry through the first two preseason games, but he fumbled twice in the third preseason game, while Charles excelled to the tune of 42 total yards on just 6 touches.
But in Charles, we’re talking about a 30-year-old running back, who has played in just eight games total over the past two seasons. Henderson is well worth a flier at his current 14th-round ADP in standard leagues. —Barry Cohen