A full week of NFL preseason games arrived, causing fantasy managers to tilt with injuries, highlight plays, and more. We’re looking at the risers and fallers in Average Draft Position (ADP) over the past week in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) leagues, seen below.
Among the 69 players with an ADP jump by 5 points over the past week, there were zero quarterbacks (min. 50 draft selections). We won’t go through all 69 players, but you can see them in several screenshots below.
We’ll specifically highlight the running back risers over the past week because the position can swing quickly. Whether it’s an injury or positive news among the backups, the value for these running backs can rise or fall significantly. That said, we’ll filter by running backs with a 10-point jump in their ADP, showing they increased by nearly one round on average.
Running Back Risers By 10 or Picks
Blake Corum, RB, Rams
Corum went up 14.5 picks over the past week. There have been workout videos of Corum with plenty of positive buzz from the beat writers about Corum breaking out in Year 3.
Brian Robinson, RB, Falcons
Robinson went up 10.3 spots, showing some drafters might be taking shots at high-end backups.
Chris Rodriguez, RB, Jaguars
After dealing with a foot injury, there have been more positive reports about Rodriguez working in drills during training camp.
Demond Claiborne, RB, Vikings
Claiborne has seen a massive jump of over 26 spots across the past week. I’ve written up Claiborne as one of the rookies to target in bestball leagues. Other podcasts and analysts have mentioned Claiborne, with Aaron Jones being a fade for many.
Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs
Johnson’s ADP rose by nearly 15 picks (14.8). Andy Reid praised Johnson after their first preseason game. He might be the RB3 on the depth chart, but fantasy managers probably like the upside of Johnson being a rookie.
George Holani, RB, Seahawks
Holani is still the RB3 drafted on the Seahawks, with some taking a shot on his potential early-season contributions as a deep-league flier.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders
Croskey-Merritt’s ADP rose by 14.3 points over the past week. He posted juicy underlying rushing metrics last season, with a 15% missed tackle rate, 2.34 yards after contact, and 2.26 yards before. I’m still in on JCM as the efficient rusher paired with Jayden Daniels, though I’m worried about the backfield split with Daniels taking on 20% of the team’s rush share.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Cowboys
There have been some positive reports about Blue’s maturity heading into Year 2 and how they’ve been impressed with his training camp compared to his rookie season. Blue’s ADP jumped by 15+ spots over the past week.
Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos
Coleman’s ADP skyrocketed by 31.5 spots, making him more of a 10th- or 11th-round pick. I’ve liked Coleman throughout the draft process as my RB3. With JK Dobbins sidelined with an undisclosed injury, fantasy managers have been aggressive in drafting Coleman. I’ve written about Coleman a few times as a sleeper. You can find my write-up on Coleman before the NFL Draft here.
Jordan Mason, RB, Vikings
Mason has been a top target for many drafters with the potential for him to take on a heavier workload if Aaron Jones isn’t as productive or misses time.
Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers
I touched on Black as a rookie target in early July. Christian McCaffrey is dealing with tightness, which seems like a vague issue. Jordan James has a fractured rib, which might linger into the start of the season. Keep taking shots at Black in the later rounds.
Kaytron Allen, RB, Commanders
Allen had a wildly high workload in the first preseason game. He has the 2nd-most carries (23) in the preseason, with Corey Kiner (24) ahead of him, though the Cardinals played two games. I’ve been intrigued by Allen as the RB3 drafted on the Commanders, because we’ve seen RB3s on their team hit last season.
Robert Henry Jr. wasn’t an ADP riser because he was only taken in two drafts. However, Henry was efficient in his preseason usage (12 rushes, 75 rushing yards, and 2.42 YAC/Att) for the Commanders. Before I adjusted for Henry’s collegiate competition, he was RB6 on the prospect spreadsheet, though the adjustment made him RB15.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Chargers
Mitchell’s ADP increased by nearly 11 spots (10.8), as the positive drumbeat continues during the offseason and training camp, with comps as a discounted version of De’Von Achane. Jokes aside, there’s a chance that Mitchell eats into more of Omarion Hampton’s role than expected.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers
I’m not sure why Vidal’s ADP has been slightly increasing, other than him reportedly being listed as a co-RB2 on the Chargers depth chart. Don’t overthink these depth charts.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers
Josh Jacobs has been listed as a bust or red flag for many, especially with the groin issue and potential legal charges. Lloyd has remained healthy (fingers crossed) throughout training camp. However, I didn’t expect Lloyd’s ADP to skyrocket by over 32 picks. Hopefully, Lloyd’s ADP doesn’t continue to skyrocket, or it might be too risky, though I liked him as a prospect.
Mike Washington, RB, Raiders
Washington’s ADP jumped by 31.5 picks. When you rush six times for 63 yards in a preseason game, leading to the most YAC/Att (8.67) among rushers with five attempts, Washington’s ADP will rise, as a high-upside backup to Ashton Jeanty.
Nicholas Singleton, RB, Titans
Like I mentioned with Kaytron Allen, taking a shot on Singleton can be a high-upside dart throw as the RB3 drafted on the Titans. There’s a path for fantasy relevance with Singleton if Tony Pollard struggles and Tyjae Spears misses time. Singleton moved inside the top 200 picks, rising by over 22 spots.
Ray Davis, RB, Bills
Like targeting the top backup for a running back drafted in the first two rounds, Davis is a high-upside selection that fantasy managers have been pushing up the board by nearly 26 picks (25.9).
Tank Bigsby, RB, Eagles
Bigsby is in a similar situation to Davis, where fantasy managers have been pushing him up the board by two rounds (24.1 spots). They’re betting on Bigsby being one of the top backup running backs to draft behind Saquon Barkley.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks
Charbonnet’s ADP increased by one round. We probably have more confidence in drafting Charbonnet because of his expected high-value touch role once healthy.
Hoping to do something like this for other positions, but it’s been a busy past few weeks as the summer schedule winds down and the schoolwork picks back up.
Good picks.