Before the NFL Draft, I wrote about why pass-catching is the key to identifying late-round running back breakouts. The evidence is pretty glaring, especially considering it’s not too difficult to predict which RBs will catch passes (as shown in the first article). There weren’t many league-winning RBs picked late in drafts last season, but you can safely expect that to rebound this year. Picking the right RB in the double-digit rounds can be the difference between winning your championship and not even finishing in the money – just ask anyone who had Alvin Kamara in 2017 how much of an impact it can make.
Today, we’ll look at five veteran RBs who fit the mold as a potential breakout based on last year’s numbers, as well as one rookie who could make an impact in the passing game right away.