Fantasy Football: 10 Sleeper Running Backs to Target in 2017

Shane Vereen, New York Giants

Shane Vereen isn’t an exciting rookie pick, or a young stud finally finding his way to the top of a depth chart. By the sound of things, he isn’t even at the top of the depth chart right now. But Vereen offers something his New York Giants teammates Paul Perkins and Wayne Gallman do not: proven chops in the passing game.

The Giants threw on over 60 percent of their plays last year, while ranking 22nd in rushing plays per game. If the Giants prefer to pass the ball, then we should prefer their running back that catches passes for our fantasy teams -- whether you play in a PPR league or not.

Our Rushing NEP per attempt metric indicates that Vereen was the Giants' most effective back on the ground last year, too, so he will not only catch passes for your fantasy team, but also be an efficient player in the run game with any carries he gets.

In the three games before injuring his triceps last September, the Giants gave Vereen 10 carries and 3 targets inside the red zone. If that usage continues in Rashad Jennings' absence, Vereen has weekly touchdown upside and a safe floor because of his average of 4.76 targets per game with the Giants. —Aidan McGrath