To be a successful running back in today’s NFL, you need to excel as a receiver out of the backfield. Just take a look at the sheer workloads that studs like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliot are tasked with carrying on an annual basis. This prerequisite has created a seismic shift in the fantasy world, particularly in PPR (points per reception) leagues, which have grown exponentially in popularity over the years.
As captivating as it is to watch these superstars light up opposing defenses, the sheer magnitude of touches they receive only leads to more hits and damage their respective bodies are forced to overcome. Almost every NFL team is guilty of overusing running backs on rookie contracts, so it’s really no wonder the shelf life at the position is less than 3.5 years.
We’ve seen throughout the years that this narrative has paved the way for previously unheralded backups to burst onto the scene in a BIG way, and fantasy owners would be the first to attest to that. The waiver wire is normally flush with players that can contribute right away, and the same can be expected for the 2020 season.
However, in this article we are going to highlight five sleeper PPR running backs that fantasy owners should look to target in their respective drafts.