3 Running Backs Who Can Outperform Their Fantasy Football Draft Cost

Chris Ivory

Sticking with the “talented but perceived injury-risk” running back theme, we now arrive at Jets’ running back Chris Ivory.

According to our Net Expected Points (NEP) metrics here at numberFire, Ivory has been a fairly efficient runner over his first five NFL seasons.

In 2010, Ivory finished second in Rushing NEP among the 22 running backs with between 100 and 200 carries. In 2011, he ranked fifth In Rushing NEP among 22 backs with 50 to 100 carries.

And even though his efficiency has dropped off since leaving New Orleans for New York (he ranked 13th in Rushing NEP among 26 backs who carried the ball between 100 and 200 times last season), he still remains the most gifted runner on the Jets’ roster.

With a new offensive coaching regime in place, there are no guarantees as to how the carries will be divided up among Ivory, Zac Stacy, Stevan Ridley, and even Bilal Powell. But if you ask me, it would be wise to feed to back who has only averaged below 4.5 yards per carry once in his career.

We have Ivory projected as the season-long RB28, a massive 14 spots higher than his current ADP. Near the top of the ninth round, Ivory offers a fairly high fantasy floor, coupled with a near non-existent cost of acquisition.