The 7 Riskiest Players in Fantasy Football

2. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks

While backing up Marshawn Lynch as a rookie in 2015, Thomas Rawls’ finished as the 28th-best running back in fantasy football. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and -- among all running backs with 100 or more carries – only David Johnson (18.41) had a better Rushing NEP per attempt than Rawls (12.46).

Rawls received double-digit carries in six games, and only failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in one of those. His best game came in Week 11 when he totaled 255 yards from scrimmage with 2 touchdowns to lead all NFL players with 37.50 fantasy points.

Now that Lynch is out of the picture, it’s easy to see how Rawls can turn a starting role into becoming the eighth-best fantasy running back this season as his CI ceiling suggests. But there’s a reason he’s at number two on this list.

While he benefited from Lynch’s injuries last year, Rawls himself is now on the other end of that situation. He’s currently recovering from ankle surgery, and there have been mixed reports as to when he will be fully recovered.

Piling on to the risk factor is that the Seahawks drafted three running backs in this year’s NFL Draft. Third-round pick C.J. Prosise, who has experience playing wide receiver, is the favorite to claim the third-down back role, and has the potential to take early-down work from Rawls as well. Fifth-round pick Alex Collins will be competing directly with Rawls for the early-down role, and could see a significant boost in the competition if Rawls’ ankle does not heal as fast as he is hoping.

With all that, it’s easy to see how Rawls could end up at his CI Floor as the 31st-best fantasy running back in 2016. This wide range of outcomes could see Rawls being anywhere between an every week starter on fantasy teams and a mid-level flex play.