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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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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 12: Running back Samaje Perine #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes a hand off during warm ups before the game against the Baylor Bears November 12, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 45-24. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 12: Running back Samaje Perine #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes a hand off during warm ups before the game against the Baylor Bears November 12, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 45-24. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

10. Samaje Perine (WAS)

We start the 2017 fantasy football running back sleepers list with Washington Redskins rookie fourth-round draft pick Samaje Perine. This is one of the deepest running back classes to enter the NFL and Perine’s draft position proves it.

Over the past three years at Oklahoma, Perine ran for over 4,000 yards and 49 touchdowns. Any other year this would’ve been more than enough for Perine to be the top running back selected in the draft but he was only the ninth running back selected. This hurt Perine on draft day, but Washington is the perfect situation for him to flourish in his rookie year.

The Washington Redskins backfield has been a revolving door over the past four seasons. No one has truly solidified themselves as the starter and future running back for the Redskins. The starting job to begin 2017 is going to be Robert Kelley’s, but by no means does he have a strangle hold on it. Kelley managed just 704 yards and 4.2 yards per carry as the starter for most of 2016. Perine has proven that when given the touches, he can make plays running the football.

Perine’s fantasy value depends completely on how much opportunity he gets within the Redskins offense. I don’t see how he isn’t the starting running back at some point in 2017. To be able to get a potential starting running back with a tenth-round pick in your fantasy draft is rare. Getting a running back with the skill and ability of Perine in the tenth-round is unheard of.