2019 Football Draft Kit: Backups to Target

The NFL season is a 16-game grind that can wear down the strongest stone, and players who were barely sniffing the game-day roster in Week 1 could suddenly find themselves in prominent roles by Week 8, if not Week 2 or 3. The deeper your league, the fewer obvious sleepers and high-upside rookies will be available to fill up those reserve spots, and you might have to look much further into the player pool to find assets with potential to help throughout the season.

There are a few things to look for in a roster-worthy backup. First, is the backup's skill set suitable for a larger role? Particularly at running back, the No. 2 guy on the depth chart isn't necessarily the player who will become No. 1 if the starter gets hurt. The backup is often a passing-down specialist, in which case the third-stringer might be next in line to serve as the lead runner.

Wide receiver also has its own version of specialization — lining up in the slot requires a different skills profile than playing on the outside in some offenses, and a team's possession receiver is not going to become a downfield threat just because the usual speed merchant is nursing a sore hamstring. Rushing attempts and targets are important, but a player needs to be able to do something with them, or the offensive coordinator will start calling a different number.

Second, how likely is the backup to get a chance at a larger role? Players working behind starters with durability issues are always on the radar, particularly as handcuffs to whoever drafts that injury-prone starter, but those aren't the only backups to consider. Starters with scant resumes in the lead role — whether it's a rookie with large expectations, or a veteran whose breakout 2018 might prove to be a mirage — also can provide opportunities.  

Consider the Seattle and Denver backfields last year. Rashaad Penny and Royce Freeman presumably were headed for starting roles due to the draft capital expended on them, until Chris Carson and Phillip Lindsay had a say in the matter. Also, teams that have new head coaches or offensive coordinators are often prime spots for unheralded players to emerge. A scheme that puts more emphasis on the passing game or the running game than the old one did will create more targets or carries that have to go somewhere. Plus, the old regime had their favorites, and the new bosses will too. Who's to say they will be one and the same?

Finally, what's the player's upside if he does move into a larger role? It's one thing to focus on unsettled situations and correctly identify the next man up; it's another to find someone who can make a difference for your fantasy roster once he becomes a starter. This often has less to do with the player himself than the offense he's in and the players around him. How good is the QB who will be throwing/handing him the ball, and how explosive is the scheme those targets/carries will come in? How good is the offensive line at opening holes for that possible No. 1 back?

Successfully drafting backups who can provide value not only strengthens your roster early in the year, but also allows you to preempt and avoid big free-agent battles once holes open later in the season. While other GMs are bleeding their budget or burning early waiver priority slots, you already have your insurance on hand, and can keep your powder dry for breakout performers who slipped through the cracks and have already proven how productive they can be.  

RUNNING BACK

Rashaad Penny, Seahawks  

Chris Carson looked more than capable as a lead back for Seattle last year — so much so that the player the team used a first-round pick on was forced to make do with scraps. Penny eventually showed he could handle the No. 1 assignment, running for 108 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against the Rams in Week 10 when Carson was sidelined by an injury. Mike Davis' departure for Chicago removes some competition, and Penny's a talented enough player to bully his way into an even timeshare in a run-heavy offense.

Latavius Murray, Saints

Mark Ingram's exit for Baltimore created an opening in the New Orleans backfield, and Murray ended up being the big winner of that opportunity in free agency. The 29-year-old was solid but not spectacular the last two seasons in Minnesota as on-again, off-again insurance for the injury-prone Dalvin Cook. Murray's role in New Orleans should be more consistent, rather than getting the start one week and barely seeing the ball the next. Murray averaged 10.1 touches per game in 2018 and should see a similar workload for his new club, with a good shot at improved efficiency thanks to a better quarterback, better coaching staff and better offensive line around him.  

Carlos Hyde, Chiefs  

Hyde is on his fourth team in three years, having played for the Niners in 2017 before bouncing from the Browns to the Jaguars last year. He wasn't effective at either of his 2018 stops, but a job with the Chiefs gives him plenty of upside. Hyde doesn't have an ideal skill set for an Andy Reid offense — his 59 receptions in 2017 went for an average of just 5.9 yards — but Damien Williams has little track record as a starter, and the depth chart is thin beyond the two veterans. Spencer Ware, another big back who came into the league with questionable receiving skills, put up strong numbers for Reid in 2016. If Hyde somehow sees 200-plus touches, a similar level of production is attainable.  

Austin Ekeler, Chargers  

Ekeler essentially doubled his touch volume in his second NFL season without any loss of efficiency, maintaining a YPC north of 5.0 and averaging 10.4 yards per catch en route to 958 scrimmage yards and six TDs in 14 games. Melvin Gordon remains the No. 1 back for the Bolts, but he played a career-low 12 games in 2018, missing multiple games for a third time in four seasons. Gordon's injury struggles could pave the way for Ekeler to see more snaps even when both players are healthy, as a loaded Chargers team shouldn't need a huge workload from its feature back to reach the playoffs. Philip Rivers' long history using scatbacks gives Ekeler a better floor than you might expect from someone typecast as a passing-down back, but it's his surprising ability to gain yards between the tackles — 4.6 YPC on 55 career carries up the middle — that gives the Chargers a comfort level with Ekeler as their backup.   

Nyheim Hines, Colts  

The rookie proved himself as a receiving option for Andrew Luck last year, finishing eighth among running backs in catches while working as Marlon Mack's top backup, though Hines didn't turn his touches into a whole lot of yardage. The Colts offense is on the upswing, but it's tough to see Hines significantly increasing his workload in 2019 — even if Mack breaks down, the club added former Chiefs tailback Spencer Ware, who would be a better fit in a lead role. Still, if Hines gets 80-plus targets again, whatever production he manages to scrape together on the ground will just be gravy. 

C.J. Anderson, Lions  

The former Bronco had a roller-coaster 2018, doing absolutely nothing for the Panthers and Raiders before exploding with the Rams the final two weeks of the regular season when Todd Gurley was sidelined. Now headed to Detroit, the 28-year-old could see a bigger workload than your typical No. 2 if coach Matt Patricia uses a backfield committee rather than treating Kerryon Johnson as a bell cow. Johnson missed the final six games of his rookie season with a sprained knee, and his upright running style makes him susceptible to further injuries. The depth chart is crowded with Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick still on hand, but Anderson should be the top option if Johnson goes down again. 

Royce Freeman, Broncos 

The wrist injury that ended Lindsay's rookie campaign a game early wasn't quite healed for spring practices, and if he has trouble staying healthy in the regular season, Freeman stands to benefit. The 229-pounder had his moments last year, scoring three consecutive weeks during September and later topping 100 scrimmage yards Week 17 when Lindsay was sidelined. A starting opportunity would give Freeman strong value under new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, who comes from Kyle Shanahan's coaching tree. It's also possible both Lindsay and Freeman get enough touches to be productive, as the new OC might not be as sold on keeping Devontae Booker involved.  

Kalen Ballage, Dolphins  

Frank Gore's departure opens the door for Ballage to have a much larger role in the Miami offense. Gore handled 168 touches to Kenyan Drake's 173 in 2018, and while the split might not be quite that even this year, Drake hasn't topped 10.8 touches per game since high school. Ballage also showed he can be explosive when he got the chance, turning 12 carries in Week 15 into 123 yards and a touchdown. Drake has proven himself as a pass catcher and big-play threat, but his swing-for-the-fences running style could cost him playing time under the new coaching staff the same way it did under Adam Gase.  

D'Onta Foreman, Texans  

Foreman played just one regular-season game in 2018 after recovering from a torn Achilles that wiped out the final six weeks of his rookie year. He's reportedly slimmed down to improve his stamina, but he still needs to prove he retains the explosiveness he displayed in college and his first NFL season. Lamar Miller has been sturdy and reliable most of his career, but he's played 16 games just once in the last three years, and as the 28-year-old approaches 1,500 career carries, those bumps and bruises could become more serious. If Miller does hit the shelf at some point, Foreman is Houston's best ­— and maybe only — option to replace him. 

Ito Smith, Falcons  

Smith appeared competent last year while serving as the backup to Tevin Coleman, but the rookie never got more than 14 touches or topped 75 scrimmage yards in a game, so it's not quite clear how effective he might be in a starting role. The Falcons also added 228-pound Qadree Ollison in the fifth round of the draft, and new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter seemed to prefer bigger, grinding runners to smaller, more versatile backs during his time in Tampa Bay (at least based on his infatuation with Peyton Barber). Still, if Devonta Freeman breaks down again, Matt Ryan's comfort level with Smith should give the second-year pro the first crack at replacing Freeman atop the depth chart.  

Matt Breida, 49ers  

The San Francisco backfield is getting awfully crowded. The front office signed Tevin Coleman to reunite with Kyle Shanahan — his former coach in Atlanta — and Jerick McKinnon is expected to return from last year's torn ACL. Despite that, Breida's outstanding performance in 2018 should ensure he gets his fair share of the workload. Breida went for 5.3 YPC and 1,075 scrimmage yards while averaging just 12.9 touches in his 14 games, and that track record of productivity in a limited role — not to mention his pass-catching skill – makes him a great fit for Shanahan's scheme. Having too many bodies at one position is rarely a problem that lasts long in the NFL, and just so long as Breida is one of the last two running backs standing in San Francisco, he should put together another strong campaign.  

Kareem Hunt, Browns  

Hunt was on pace for even better numbers in 2018 than he managed as a rookie before a video surfaced that caused the Chiefs to release him. Undeterred by either the looming suspension or the potential public relations headache, the Browns signed Hunt in February, putting him in position to back up Nick Chubb throughout the second half of the season (after serving an eight-game suspension). Hunt won't have played football in nearly a full calendar year at that point, so it's unclear how effective he might be or what his workload would be in that role, especially if Duke Johnson is still around to take snaps on passing downs. But Cleveland's ascendant offense might give Hunt the best environment for per-snap production he could have asked for outside of Kansas City.  

Jamaal Williams, Packers  

For two years now, Williams has gotten opportunities to start when Aaron Jones was unavailable, and each time he's shown that his limitations as a plodding, between-the-tackles runner outweigh his strengths. Williams failed to reach 4.0 YPC in either season and didn't add much as a receiver. Green Bay does value his contributions as a pass blocker, which should lead to some snaps as the team works harder to keep Aaron Rodgers upright. New coach Matt LaFleur has also suggested he'd prefer to use a backfield committee to keep Jones healthy and fresh, potentially opening the door for Williams to get some work on passing downs and/or short-yardage situations.  

Doug Martin, Raiders  

Martin had a solid first season in Oakland, eventually replacing Marshawn Lynch and finishing the year with back-to-back 100-yard games. After failing to draw much interest in free agency, Martin likely will fill the same role in 2019, but as the No. 2 to rookie Josh Jacobs rather than the re-retired Lynch. Jacobs is talented but was never treated as the feature back during his time with Alabama, so it's possible he's not up to a 20-touch grind every week. Martin has already proven he can be productive in this offense in the lead role, so if Jacobs isn't who the Raiders think he is, the former Buc provides a security blanket for coach Jon Gruden.  

Ronald Jones, Buccaneers  

Despite being a second-round pick last year, Jones got little chance to make a good impression under coach Dirk Koetter, as the doggedly mediocre Peyton Barber averaged 15.7 touches per game. That figures to change in 2019 with new coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich running the show in Tampa Bay. Jones is faster and more explosive than Barber, making the second-year pro a better fit for the scheme that helped David Johnson become a superstar in Arizona. While he doesn't have Johnson's size or pass-catching skills, Jones has breakaway speed and a nice opportunity to eventually seize a lead role.   

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals 

David Johnson played 16 games last season, topping 250 carries once again, and there's no doubt he's locked in as the feature back in Kliff Kingsbury's new offense. If Johnson were sidelined by another fluke injury, Edmonds would be the next man to step in. Kingsbury's scheme is best known for big passing numbers, but there were some Texas Tech running backs who thrived in it as well — notably DeAndre Washington, who accumulated 3,300 scrimmage yards and 20 TDs his final two years under Kingsbury. Washington and Edmonds have similar stature and skill sets as undersized backs who can contribute through the air. T.J. Logan might also get some extra touches in the event of another absence by DJ, but Edmonds should be his top handcuff.  

Mike Davis, Bears 

Jordan Howard had 250 carries for Chicago last season, with 34 coming in the red zone, so there's a lot of production sitting on the table waiting to be claimed. Davis probably isn't headed for a workload that large, as Tarik Cohen should see increased touches, and third-round pick David Montgomery could emerge as as the top option on early downs. However, the former Seahawk and 49er should be a good fit for the team's Chiefs-like scheme and is comfortable working in a committee. Davis might be for Bears coach Matt Nagy what Spencer Ware was for coach Andy Reid a few years ago — a big back who can be effective in a variety of roles as needed. 

Adrian Peterson, Redskins

The future Hall of Famer demonstrated he still had something left to contribute last season, but his workload in 2019 largely depends on the health of Derrius Guice, who missed his entire rookie season with an ACL tear. As Dalvin Cook showed last year, the first season back from an ACL tear can be bumpy for a running back, and if Guice has trouble staying on the field, Peterson is ready to step in. The veteran might not be as effective in a backup role — he's a volume and momentum guy who's better the more carries he gets, wearing down the opposition until it breaks — but if he gets a chance to start, Peterson can still come up big. 

WIDE RECEIVER

Tre'Quan Smith, Saints 

Big things were expected from the rookie last year, especially after Ted Ginn got hurt. Smith did have two huge games, catching all three of his targets for 111 yards and two scores Week 5 against Washington, then exploding for 10-157-1 on 13 targets Week 11 against the Eagles. But he failed to top 44 yards in any other game, including just two receptions in two playoff contests. While he enters the season once again behind Ginn and Michael Thomas on the New Orleans depth chart, the former is 34 years old and his speed won't last forever. If Smith has a good camp, he could easily push the veteran into a lesser role, and his size and speed should allow the 23-year-old to make a more consistent impact on the other end of Drew Brees' passes. Even if he's stuck as the No. 3 wide receiver, Smith should be able to take a step forward while playing in a high-powered offense with a future Hall of Famer under center.  

Keke Coutee, Texans  

Coutee didn't get into the lineup until Week 4 as a rookie, but he made a quick impact with 11 catches for 109 yards in his first NFL game, followed by scoring his first TD the week after. Like the rest of the Houston receiving corps, however, he had trouble staying healthy, and he didn't really resurface until posting an 11-110-1 receiving line in the team's playoff loss to Indianapolis. Will Fuller played only seven games last year (one more than Coutee), so whoever is healthier for any given game figures to be Deshaun Watson's No. 2 option behind DeAndre Hopkins.

Josh Reynolds, Rams

The second-year receiver was expected to make a splash last season after Cooper Kupp got hurt, and while Reynolds' own numbers weren't too bad, Jared Goff seemed to notice Kupp's absence. Reynolds never caught more than six passes in any game in 2018, but three big performances — two multi-TD weeks, plus a 6-80-1 line Week 11 against the Chiefs — highlight his upside in Sean McVay's offense. The question is what kind of chance Reynolds will have to repeat those performances. Kupp isn't guaranteed to return from his torn ACL by Week 1, but development from young tight end Gerald Everett and the addition of Darrell Henderson in the backfield could allow McVay to reduce his reliance on three-wide sets until Kupp is 100 percent healthy. It might take an injury to one of the Rams' other receivers to really push Reynolds into a primary role.  

Breshad Perriman, Buccaneers  

The 26th overall pick in 2015, Perriman missed his entire first season due to knee injuries, then struggled for two years in Baltimore's moribund passing game before finally escaping to Cleveland in 2018. He made an impact on limited volume the final month of last season, hauling in eight of 12 targets for 233 yards and two touchdowns, and he'll now head to Tampa Bay to try to resurrect his once-promising career. Despite his weak pro resume, Perriman's draft pedigree and elite size/speed combo are easy to dream on, and he joins a team that has 179 targets up for grabs after Adam Humphries and DeSean Jackson left. Chris Godwin likely will move into the No. 2 role in terms of workload, but if he settles into Humphries' old job as the primary slot option, it would leave Perriman with a chance to take over Jackson's deep-threat assignment in three-receiver sets.

Tim Patrick, Broncos

Patrick came out of nowhere to be the Broncos' top receiver down the stretch last year, catching 19 of 30 targets for 242 yards over the final four games while Emmanuel Sanders was sidelined. Denver once again heads into a season having overhauled its offense — Joe Flacco comes in at quarterback, and new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello cut his teeth under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco as the QBs coach — so it's possible the passing game is more dynamic than it was last year. Sanders' progress in recovering from his torn Achilles suggests he won't be 100 percent healthy by Week 1, but Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are technically still ahead of Patrick on the depth chart. Then again, that was true in the final month of 2018 as well.  

Robert Foster, Bills 

Foster's late-season explosion for Buffalo came out of nowhere — he was an undrafted rookie free agent who had two catches through the Bills' first nine games — and the team's front office doesn't seem convinced it was sustainable given the offseason acquisitions of John Brown and Cole Beasley. Brown in particular is a direct threat to Foster's role as Josh Allen's favorite deep target, but the former Raven and Cardinal has been inconsistent throughout his career and didn't top 28 receiving yards in a game after Week 7 last year. With the trend lines on their production heading in opposite directions at the end of 2018, it's not hard to imagine Foster blowing past Brown on the depth chart the same way he runs past unprepared corners.  

Antonio Callaway, Browns 

The 2018 fourth-round pick finds himself competing with Rashard Higgins for snaps after Cleveland picked up Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason, but OBJ is hardly an iron man after missing 16 games the last two years. Callaway flashed big-play ability as a rookie, and another year to develop some chemistry with Baker Mayfield can only improve his chances of making the most of his opportunities. The Browns have provided their young QB with a lot of weapons, but Callaway is the best option besides Beckham when it comes to stretching the field. The second-year pro has a shot to earn regular playing time even if Beckham stays healthy, though targets may be irregular with Jarvis Landry also around.

This article appears in the 2019 RotoWire Fantasy Football magazine. Order the magazine now.