Matt Breida

Matt Breida’s three-year career in the NFL has been overshadowed by running back committees. He left the San Francisco 49ers and will play alongside Jordan Howard with the Miami Dolphins — once again sharing responsibilities in the backfield.

Breida, 25, has at least 105 carries in each of his first three seasons and hasn’t ranked lower than 13th in yards per carry. Howard is more of a traditional starting back, leaving Breida as the second option — which could help fantasy owners in drafting him late. Breida is a flex option with the potential to take over throughout the season and earn RB2 status.

Breida’s projected for a season of 500-plus rushing yards and nearly 300 receiving yards by ESPN, making him a solid sleeper to pick up in late rounds.

Cam Akers

Cam Akers is the only rookie to make this list and it’s because of his potential to take over the starting role with the Los Angeles Rams. The 5-foot-10, 217 pound running back will fight with Malcom Brown and Darrell Henderson for the No. 1 spot.

Rookies like Clyde Edwards-Helaire are set up with a starting role in front of them and will be viewed as an RB1 or RB2 immediately. Akers, drafted 52nd overall, is an under-the-radar product out of Florida State that rushed for 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019 — along with 225 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.

Akers will likely start off as a goal-line specialist and that alone is worth a middle round pick for the rookie. He will become an RB2 very quickly and could even shoot up to an RB1 by the end of the season.