Factoid

September 15, 2017

Third-round running backs

Hunt bucking odds, Foreman next?

Kareem Hunt had a monster game in his debut, putting him on track to be one of the better third-round running back rookies this century. The question that arises after watching D'Onta Foreman get a healthy share of the carries behind Lamar Miller in Houston's win last night is whether Foreman is a candidate to also be fantasy-relevant this year.

Lamar Miller is definitely the starter, but the Dolphins knew and the Texans might be figuring out that they need to be careful not to overwork him. He might be most successful with fewer touches, and that's where Foreman comes in. He looked pretty good last night; like he'll maybe be starting in Houston a year or two down the road -- if not sooner.

Unlike Hunt, most likely Foreman will remain a backup this season. Few third-rounders do put up difference-making numbers. The best of them since 2000, ironically enough, was another Texans third-rounder -- Steve Slaton.

This century, there have been 46 other running backs selected in the third round. Only four of them have ranked in the top 25 at their position in their rookie seasons, so about 9 percent. Only 17 (a little over 1 in 3) have made it into the top 50.

THIRD-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2000-PRESENT
Year	Pk	Player	Run	Rec	Tot	TD	Rk
2008	89	Steve Slaton, Hou.	1282	377	1659	10	6
2015	86	David Johnson, Ariz.	581	457	1038	13	7
2008	64	Kevin Smith, Det.	976	286	1262	8	18
2014	75	Tre Mason, St.L.	765	148	913	5	25
2000	63	Travis Prentice, Clev.	512	191	703	8	28
2011	71	DeMarco Murray, Dall.	897	183	1080	2	30
2001	80	Kevan Barlow, S.F.	512	247	759	5	30
2014	94	Terrance West, Clev.	673	64	737	5	33
2015	95	Matt Jones, Wash.	490	304	794	4	37
2015	77	Duke Johnson, Clev.	379	534	913	2	38
2005	65	Frank Gore, S.F.	608	131	739	3	38
2000	76	J.R. Redmond, N.E.	406	126	532	3	41
2006	79	Jerious Norwood, Atl.	633	102	735	2	43
2002	84	Lamar Gordon, St.L.	228	278	506	3	47
2001	85	Travis Minor, Mia.	281	263	544	4	47
2014	96	Jerick McKinnon, Minn.	538	135	673	0	49
2001	65	James Jackson, Clev.	554	56	610	2	50
2012	84	Bernard Pierce, Balt.	532	47	579	1	51
2013	96	Knile Davis, K.C.	242	75	317	5	55
2009	65	Shonn Greene, NYJ	540	0	540	2	56
2008	73	Jamaal Charles, K.C.	357	272	629	1	57
2005	77	Ryan Moats, Phil.	278	7	285	3	63
2012	67	Ronnie Hillman, Den.	330	62	392	1	65
2011	73	Stevan Ridley, N.E.	441	13	454	1	66
2016	90	C.J. Prosise, Sea.	172	208	380	1	67
2002	91	Brian Westbrook, Phil.	193	86	279	0	67
2016	73	Kenyan Drake, Mia.	179	46	225	2	70
2005	73	Vernand Morency, Hou.	184	87	271	2	71
2015	73	Tevin Coleman, Atl.	392	14	406	1	75
2014	69	Charles Sims, T.B.	185	190	375	1	75
2009	74	Glen Coffee, S.F.	226	76	302	1	77
2008	69	Jacob Hester, S.D.	95	91	186	2	79
2003	93	Chris Brown, Tenn.	221	61	282	0	81
2007	93	Garrett Wolfe, Chi.	85	117	202	0	91
2003	96	Justin Fargas, Oak.	203	2	205	0	93
2014	97	Dri Archer, Pitt.	40	23	63	0	99+
2011	96	Alex Green, G.B.	11	6	17	0	99+
2007	71	Lorenzo Booker, Mia.	125	0	125	0	99+
2007	90	Tony Hunt, Phil.	16	0	16	1	99+
2006	74	Brian Calhoun, Det.	19	20	39	0	99+
2005	101	Maurice Clarett, Den.	0	0	0	0	99+
2003	77	Musa Smith, Balt.	31	0	31	2	99+
2003	85	B.J. Askew, NYJ	9	0	9	0	99+
2001	82	Heath Evans, Sea.	11	0	11	0	99+
2000	81	Rueben Droughns, Det.	0	0	0	0	99+
2000	88	Doug Chapman, Minn.	0	0	0	0	99+
2017	67	Alvin Kamara, N.O.	?	?	?	?	?
2017	86	Kareem Hunt, K.C.	?	?	?	?	?
2017	89	D'Onta Foreman, Hou.	?	?	?	?	?
2017	105	James Conner, Pitt.	?	?	?	?	?

So the odds aren't great, but considering situations, 2017's rookies have a lot of potential. Hunt is on his way, and 2017's other third-rounders are just an injury away from starting or at least being part of a committee.

--Andy Richardson

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Factoid

Third-round running backs

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service