What do these three running backs have in common? Well, all of them ranked in the top 30 in fantasy points at the position in PPR leagues last season. None were drafted to be prominent parts of most fantasy teams, either. When players like these boast a versatile skill set that allows them opportunities in the pass attack, well, sometimes those players outperform some of the "bigger names" in the final stat sheets.
Case in point ... all three of the aforementioned running backs ranked higher than Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Mathews and Chris Ivory in PPR formats a season ago. With countless teams now using backfield committees that often have a pass-catching specialist, fantasy owners have more options than ever at the position ... and several of them will still be on the board entering the middle to late rounds of fantasy drafts.
So for those of you who don't land elite pass catchers at the position like David Johnson or Le'Veon Bell, or maybe you're more of a Zero RB strategist, here's a list of 20 running backs you should have in your queues this summer.
1. Ty Montgomery, Green Bay Packers: A wide receiver turned running back ... hmmm, that makes a lot of sense in PPR leagues, right? Montgomery was 16th in targets and 14th in receptions among running backs last season, and both of those totals could rise as the unquestioned starter.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers: McCaffrey was a statistical machine at Stanford and part of his success came as a pass catcher. In his final two collegiate seasons, he averaged 41 catches for 477 yards with eight scores. The Panthers should use him a ton in the pass attack.
3. Bilal Powell, New York Jets: Powell was one of the better PPR runners in the NFL at the end of last season, and his role in the Jets offense should increase with the offseason releases of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. In fact, Powell is in a good spot to push for 60-plus catches.
4. Danny Woodhead, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens ranked first in pass attempts last season, and almost 24 percent of the team's total targets went to running backs. That's good news for Woodhead, who figures to see even more opportunities now that Kenneth Dixon is out for the season.
5. Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions: Riddick had more receiving yards (371) than rushing yards (357) a season ago, which is all you need to know when it comes to his value in PPR formats. While he'll slide behind Ameer Abdullah on the depth chart, Riddick should still see plenty of targets.
6. Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons:Devonta Freeman is the best pass catcher in the Atlanta backfield, but Coleman proved he could make some noise last season with 31 catches for 421 yards. New offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will no doubt call lots of screens for his runners too.
7. Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles: Sproles, 34, continues to produce like a back 10 years his junior. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged 49 catches for 401 yards as a receiver out of the backfield. He's also hauled in at least 40 passes in each of his last eight seasons.
8. James White, New England Patriots: One of the offensive heroes of Super Bowl LI, White finished last season with an impressive 86 targets. That ranked third in the league at the position behind David Johnson and Bell. He also hauled in four or more catches in nine of his 16 contests.
9. Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns:Isaiah Crowell is a popular breakout candidate in fantasy land, but Johnson can also be a valuable asset for owners in PPR formats. He ranked tied for fourth in targets, tied for sixth in catches and finished fourth in receiving yards among runners.
10. C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks: Prosise's rookie season was cut short due to injuries, but he averaged almost three catches a game when he was on the field. Now in a committee with Eddie Lacy as the lead back, the Notre Dame product is a good bet to finish with 40-plus receptions.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
