The NFL season is set to start on Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens start their defense of their Super Bowl championship against the Denver Broncos on the road and that also means fantasy football is starting up and owners will be looking for top sleepers at all positions and some running back names include Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Ivory, Giovani Bernard and Lamar Miller.
The running back position is very top heavy this season with names like Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, CJ Spiller and Jamaal Charles, but it is also deep with names like Shane Vereen, Giovani Bernard, Miller, Ivory and Mendenhall, who could get plenty of carries if he stays on the field this season. The Bengals are planning on using Bernard as their main back and Ivory will be doing the same for the Jets and since the team appears to be ready to start Geno Smith, a running game will be necessary for any chance of success.
The Miami Dolphins are coming into year two with Ryan Tannehill and after letting Reggie Bush go in free agency to sign with the Lions -- another very good draft option, especially in PPR leagues -- Lamar Miller will take over as the starter. The team will be using the running game plenty to play off the pass and after signing free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace in the offseason, the offense could be much more productive than it was last year. Coach Joe Philbin loves Miller's speed and adding him as a feature back could be good for fantasy owners looking for a number one back not in the top of the draft.
Bernard is expected to be a threat out of the backfield with the Bengals and another sleeper option could be Rashard Mendenhall, as he was signed by the Cardinals in the offseason and he comes in with rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington on the roster as well. Things could get a bit tougher on the offensive line this season after first round pick Jonathan Cooper was placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken leg. The number seven pick in the draft was injured earlier in the preseason and now he will be out and that could be tough for the running backs as well as starter Carson Palmer, as he was expected to contribute as a starter.
Each of these running backs have the potential to be top 15 or top 20 players and that could be valuable with some of the lower picks in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts.