“There’s no way I am drafting any running back on that team — we don’t even know who the starter is going to be.” This is the exact reason why unsettled backfields like that of the Washington Football Team need to be a target in the later rounds of fantasy football drafts.
Ambiguous backfields offer so much value, as the uncertainty leads to a suppressed draft cost for each of the running backs. There's also a higher chance to find a running back breakout in an ambiguous backfield versus a running back starting as a handcuff, as discussed in this article by fantasy football analyst JJ Zachariason.
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With the recent release of Derrius Guice, the Washington backfield offers this exact type of mixed bag — multiple running backs with breakout potential along with cheap fantasy production in veteran Adrian Peterson. It was laughable to see Washington add running back after running back to its depth chart during the offseason, but now the joke’s on us if we're not trying to take advantage of the value.
Adrian Peterson | ADP RB54
Since Guice's release, Adrian Peterson’s ADP has risen 10 spots in BestBall10s. The market has rightfully identified Peterson as a clear winner and the most likely candidate in Washington to be the clear-cut RB1 on early downs.
The team exercised its option on Peterson's contract back in February under new head coach Ron Rivera, who had glowing remarks about the 35-year-old running back: “Adrian Peterson is the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league. Adrian's leadership and passion towards the game of football will set an example of what is expected of the players in this program moving forward.”
With his new head coach welcoming him back with open arms, it’s hard to not see Peterson lead the team in carries and rushing yards, considering he was solid in that role in 2019.
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