4 Sleeper RBs to Target: Samaje Perine Headlines a String of Undervalued Veterans

Not much feels better than nailing a sleeper pick in fantasy football.

Perhaps nowhere is that more important than at running back -- a position where trustworthy options are few and far between.

Even if you secure a reliable back early, most leagues will have at least two starting running back slots with the option to start even more. Considering how dangerous the position is, it never hurts to load up on depth once your starting slots are filled.

Focusing on running backs with an average draft position (ADP) outside the top 100 -- per FantasyPros' half-PPR ADP -- here are four sleeper backs who make for quality later-round selections in 2023.

*ADP and scoring data for half-point PPR formats.

Sleeper Running Backs to Target for 2023

Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos

ADP: RB38 (104th overall)

Veteran faces in new places will be a common theme on this list, and Samaje Perine is chief among those.

After serving in a complimentary role with the Cincinnati Bengals the last three seasons, Perine moved west -- joining the Denver Broncos this offseason. Perine was Cincinnati's primary third-down back last year, racking up career-highs in receptions (38) and receiving yards (287) while adding 394 yards on the ground.

Despite a limited workload, Perine recorded a higher rushing expected points added (EPA) per carry than a number of top fantasy back such as Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Rhamondre Stevenson.

While Denver's long-term plans at running back remain centered around Javonte Williams, Williams' health is a significant question mark ahead of 2023. Williams suffered a gruesome knee injury last October and was initially given a 12-month recovery timeline.

Although Williams is reportedly ahead of schedule and expected to be ready for Week 1, Denver will likely err on the side of caution given the nature of his injury. That could give Perine an immediate path to volume.

Last season, Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray combined for 66 targets. Both backs are out of the picture now, opening up a ton of receiving work for Perine right out of the gates.

With Sean Payton citing his history of using multiple backs during the recruiting pitch to Perine, Perine could prove to be a reliable fantasy option even in a split backfield.

If Williams is forced to miss time, Perine would likely be a weekly RB1. When Joe Mixon missed time from Weeks 11 to 13 last season, Perine averaged 21.3 half-PPR points per game -- ranking as the RB3 over that span.

As an elite handcuff with the opportunity for a weekly role, Perine is going far too late in drafts and serves as a top sleeper at the running back position.

Damien Harris, Buffalo Bills

ADP: RB40 (106th overall)

Damien Harris is no longer be with the New England Patriots, but he'll still be in the AFC East this season. Harris signed with the Buffalo Bills this offseason and has already begun working with the first-team offense.

Between injuries and the emergence of Rhamondre Stevenson, Harris was a nonfactor in fantasy last year, but he's just a year removed from a 900-yard, 15-touchdown season that saw him finish as the RB13 in 2021. He wasn't productive around only the goal line, either, as he finished as PFF's fifth-ranked rusher that year.

While you can't bank on Harris to rack up that many touchdowns with the Bills, it's not farfetched to assume he'll be their primary red-zone back. Devin Singletary's 45.5% red-zone rushing share is gone and, while James Cook is an exciting fantasy target in his own right, Harris is a more proven commodity, especially near the end zone.

Even though the Bills averaged the third-most points per game and attempted the eighth-most red zone plays, they struggled in the turnover department inside the 20 with Josh Allen throwing a league-leading 5 red zone interceptions. That could spur Buffalo to lean more toward the running game when they get close, and Harris' interior prowess is likely a big reason why Buffalo sought after him in the first place.

Split backfields can be tough to manage in fantasy, but the goal-line back for one of the league's highest-scoring offenses is a recipe for fantasy success -- just ask Jamaal Williams.

Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs

ADP: RB43 (122nd overall)

What does Jerick McKinnon have to do to get some respect around here?

A year after finishing as the RB21 in fantasy, Kansas City's primary pass-catching back is going outside the top 40 rushers in drafts. A quiet postseason (92 total yards and 0 touchdowns) may have fantasy players forgetting how dominant McKinnon was to end the regular season.

From Week 13 onward, McKinnon was the definition of a league winner. Over that span, he averaged 18.5 half-PPR points and ranked as the RB2 overall.

His late-season heroics played a role in a number of fantasy championships. On ESPN, McKinnon was the sixth-most common running back (14.3%) on championship teams.

It's hard to argue that his production was a fluke, either. McKinnon did most of his damage as a receiver out of the backfield, racking up 56 receptions, 512 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He was widely efficient, leading all running backs with 44.18 Reception Net Expected Points (NEP).

While the Chiefs have a plethora of young receivers at their disposal, it's still a committee outside of Travis Kelce. McKinnon won't be the most consistent running back in fantasy, but he has week-winning upside -- which is more than can be said about most of the other backs in his draft range.

D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears

ADP: RB45 (131st overall)

When you're getting this far into drafts, you're looking for upside. No one will bat an eye if you swing and miss on a pick outside the top 130, but you have to swing.

Enter D'Onta Foreman.

Foreman parlayed a strong finish to 2022 with the Carolina Panthers into a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Foreman took off after the Panthers traded away Christian McCaffrey. From Week 7 onward, Foreman averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game and was the RB19 over that span.

He wasn't especially consistent but did output 31.8-point and 22.5-point weeks while splitting time with Chuba Hubbard. After Week 6, Foreman rushed for the third-most yards (877) and ranked 17th among running backs with 10.27 Rushing NEP.

He now joins a Bears team that ran the ball at the highest rate in the league last season. While quarterback Justin Fields will likely lead Chicago in rushing yet again, the departure of David Montgomery has freed up more than 200 carries in the Chicago backfield.

Khalil Herbert is still there so Foreman won't be the unquestioned No. 1. Although a split backfield with a running quarterback as prolific as Fields is far from ideal, Montgomery's RB23 finish last year shows that fantasy production can be found in Chicago's backfield.

The potential for that kind of production outside the first 10 rounds makes Foreman a real sleeper ahead of 2023.

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