3 Running Backs Who Can Outperform Their Fantasy Football Draft Cost

Fred Jackson

At this point, I think it’s safe to question whether or not Fred Jackson is even human.

At age 34, he is defying all we think we know about running back age-cliffs in fantasy football. Over the last two seasons, Jackson has finished as the RB10 and RB16 in PPR scoring, providing insane value for fantasy owners who paid next to nothing on draft day.

However, it would be misleading for me to tell you there aren’t reasons for concern with Jackson.

First, LeSean McCoy is now in Buffalo and will assume the starter’s role in 2015. There have also been rumors that Jackson may be cut at some point during the pre-season.

And according to our metrics, Jackson’s rushing efficiency took a sharp decline from 2013 to 2014 (his Rushing NEP dropped from 13.90 to -11.66).

But there are counterpoints to be made as well.

Even if Jackson ends up a training camp causality, there’s a very good chance he would end up with another team, perhaps in an even better situation (Dallas perhaps?). And if he does make the Bills’ roster, he would be just one McCoy injury away from becoming a high-RB2 or low-RB1 for fantasy purposes in what promises to be a run-heavy offense.

But in the end, it’s all about cost of acquisition, and his RB52 ADP is just silly (numberFire projects him as the RB35).

Even if age does finally catch up with Jackson, or his usage simply evaporates, I’m all in on this low-risk, high-reward option who has shown the ability to outplay expectations before.