Andy Richardson

Entering April's draft there were several running back prospects I had some interest in, including Terrance Ganaway, Michael Smith and Edwin Baker. Those three players, however, didn't generate much NFL interest, falling to the Jets, Bucs and Chargers, respectively, in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Today they're all sitting out there on waivers in my dynasty league, since neither is likely to be any higher than third-string with their new teams, if they make the roster at all. What should fantasy expectations, long-term or otherwise, be from such late-round running backs?

I looked at the 93 running backs selected in the sixth and seventh rounds since 2000. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of those guys never amounted to anything, like the vast majority of sixth- and seventh-rounders in general.

But as we've seen recently with guys like Arian Foster and to a lesser extent LeGarrette Blount, you don't even have to be drafted to eventually be an NFL and fantasy factor. I've gone through the list below and bolded the players who either have or (my opinion) may yet develop into NFL starters, based on good performances in either some actual games (Rashad Jennings) or the preseason (DaRel Scott). There are a couple of key contributors to the last two Super Bowl winners and a Madden coverboy in there, as well as recognizable names who were briefly hot fantasy commodities -- Wali Lundy and DeShawn Wynn, anyone?

The odds are heavily against the Bakers, Smiths and Ganaways of the world (also Kansas City sixth-rounder Cyrus Gray, who I did add to my roster since I have Jamaal Charles, and Cincinnati's Dan Herron). They shouldn't be owned in anything but the deepest of dynasty leagues. But as at least a few of the names below indicate, you never know.

Note also that there are two recent Steeler late-round draft picks, Jonathan Dwyer and Baron Batch, who should be on watch lists in larger leagues. It won't be surprising if one of those players starts a game or two for Pittsburgh this year.

6th- and 7th-round running backs, 2000-2011

Year     Rd     Player, Team
2011     6     Jordan Todman, Chargers
2011     6     Allen Bradford, Buccaneers
2011     6     Evan Royster, Washington
2011     6     Charles Clay, Dolphins
2011     7     Bruce Miller, 49ers
2011     7     Shaun Chapas, Cowboys
2011     7     DaRel Scott, Giants
2011     7     Stanley Havili, Eagles
2011     7     Baron Batch, Steelers
2011     7     Jay Finley, Bengals
2010     6     James Starks, Packers
2010     6     Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers
2010     6     Trindon Holliday, Texans
2010     6     Charles Scott, Eagles
2010     6     Anthony Dixon, 49ers
2010     6     Deji Karim, Jaguars
2009     6     Bernard Scott, Bengals
2009     6     James Davis, Browns
2009     6     Aaron Brown, Lions
2009     6     Cedric Peerman, Ravens
2009     7     Fui Vakapuna, Bengals
2009     7     LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals
2009     7     Javarris Williams, Kansas City
2009     7     Rashad Jennings, Jaguars
2009     7     Chris Ogbonnaya, Rams
2008     6     Xavier Omon, Bills
2008     6     Mike Hart, Colts
2008     6     Jalen Parmele, Dolphins
2008     6     Lex Hilliard, Dolphins
2008     6     Thomas Brown, Falcons
2008     7     Peyton Hillis, Broncos
2008     7     Cory Boyd, Buccaneers
2008     7     Chauncey Washington, Jaguars
2008     7     Allen Patrick, Ravens
2008     7     Justin Forsett, Seahawks
2007     6     Thomas Clayton, 49ers
2007     6     Justise Hairston, Patriots
2007     7     Kenneth Darby, Buccaneers
2007     7     Jason Snelling, Falcons
2007     7     Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants
2007     7     DeShawn Wynn, Packers
2006     6     J.D. Runnels, Bears
2006     6     Lawrence Vickers, Browns
2006     6     Wali Lundy, Texans
2006     7     Cedric Humes, Steelers
2006     7     Quinton Ganther, Titans
2005     6     Deandra Cobb, Falcons
2005     6     Cedric Houston, Jets
2005     7     Lionel Gates, Bills
2005     7     Rick Razzano, Buccaneers
2005     7     Anthony Davis, Colts
2005     7     Madison Hedgecock, Rams
2005     7     Nehemiah Broughton, Washington
2005     7     Noah Herron, Steelers
2004     6     Troy Fleming, Titans
2004     7     Jonathan Smith, Bills
2004     7     Brandon Miree, Broncos
2004     7     Adimchinobe Echemandu, Browns
2004     7     Casey Cramer, Buccaneers
2004     7     Bruce Perry, Eagles
2004     7     Quincy Wilson, Falcons
2004     7     Derrick Ward, Jets
2004     7     Sean McHugh, Titans
2003     6     Brock Forsey, Bears
2003     7     Ahmaad Galloway, Broncos
2003     7     Andrew Pinnock, Chargers
2003     7     Malaefou MacKenzie, Jaguars
2003     7     Brandon Drumm, Lions
2003     7     Casey Moore, Panthers
2003     7     J.T. Wall, Steelers
2002     6     Adrian Peterson, Bears
2002     6     Josh Scobey, Cardinals
2002     6     Brian Allen, Colts
2002     6     Larry Ned, Raiders
2002     6     Chester Taylor, Ravens
2002     7     Jarrett Ferguson, Bills
2002     7     Leonard Henry, Dolphins
2002     7     Luke Staley, Lions
2002     7     Antwoine Womack, Patriots
2002     7     Rock Cartwright, Washington
2001     6     Derrick Blaylock, Kansas City
2001     6     Chris Barnes, Ravens
2001     7     Jameel Cook, Buccaneers
2001     7     Dadrian Brown, Panthers
2001     7     Dan Alexander, Titans
2000     6     Frank Murphy, Bears
2000     6     Mike Anderson, Broncos
2000     6     Thomas Hamner, Eagles
2000     7     Shyrone Stith, Jaguars
2000     7     Rondell Mealey, Packers
2000     7     Patrick Pass, Patriots
2000     7     Mondriel Fulcher, Raiders
2000     7     Mike Green, Titans

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