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Top 10 fantasy football running back sleepers for 2017

By Jay Marsdale

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Doug Martin #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball while being pursued by Denzel Perryman #52 of the San Diego Chargers in the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers defeated the Chargers 28-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Doug Martin #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball while being pursued by Denzel Perryman #52 of the San Diego Chargers in the third quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers defeated the Chargers 28-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 19: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs through a tackle attempt by Denzel Johnson #42 of the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 19: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers runs through a tackle attempt by Denzel Johnson #42 of the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter of a preseason game at Nissan Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Fantasy football draft season is underway and everyone is looking for sleeper picks to bring home their championship. Here are our top 10 sleepers at running back in 2017.

Fantasy football has grown into a country-wide phenomenon over the past decade and with drafts fast approaching, players are scrambling to find those few sleepers to set them apart from the rest of their league.

Running back sleepers win fantasy football championships. It really is that simple. Every year there is a running back picked in the final rounds of drafts and becomes a huge fantasy contributor.

Don’t believe me? DeMarco Murray was ranked as the 21st best running back heading into the 2016 fantasy season and ended the year as a top-five fantasy football running back. Anyone smart enough to grab Murray last season in the late rounds certainly had a winning team in 2016.

Now lets try and find this year’s DeMarco Murray with these running back sleepers.

Honorable Mention: Christian McCaffrey (CAR)

The only reason McCaffrey isn’t No. 1 on this list is because, in my mind, he doesn’t qualify. How can someone drafted in the first three rounds of all fantasy football drafts be a “sleeper” pick? However, this does not take away from fact that he could easily have a historic rookie season in Carolina and is a steal even at the high price of a third-round pick.

McCaffrey broke almost every NCAA record a running back can at Stanford and now he shares a backfield with Cam Newton. They can become one of the most dangerous QB/RB tandems in recent memory. The Panthers offense is going to scare defenses this season.

Who do you game plan for? With all the weapons on offense in Carolina, McCaffrey is going to get less attention from defenses. That will lead to huge numbers in his rookie season.