Low-Cost Running Backs for Week 1

In my previous post, I navigated the landscape for low-cost wide receivers for FanDuel. In this edition, running backs are up for review.

Finding even one dirt-cheap option for your lineup as a locked-and-loaded upside play is a huge benefit to the rest of your salary usage. Saving $1,000, $2,000, even $3,000 of cap space on a single position provides for a an extra stud or two at other spots.

Here are low-cost running backs in play for Week 1, in order of least to most (capped at $6,000) expensive:

Chris Polk ($4,900): The Houston backfield is up in the air and Alfred Blue costs $900 more than the able Polk. Blue is a ho-hum grinder, leaving upside on the table for the rest of the backfield.

Khiry Robinson ($5,000): An iffy C.J. Spiller would make Robinson appealing to mix in with Mark Ingram against Arizona. Robinson has been a strong producer dating back to college and offers plenty both in the run and pass games.

Darren Sproles ($5,800): Reports have Sproles lining up all over the formation in Philadelphia. DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews are likely to dominate interior work, but the wide receiver group - outside of Jordan Matthews - is a wildcard heading into Week 1. Sproles may be leaned on with quick targets more in the opening weeks.

Denard Robinson ($5,800): I am a huge fan of T.J. Yeldon, but the lack of repetitions thus far could limit him for Week 1. Robinson showed well enough in 2014 to get a majority of the touches starting the season.

Ameer Abdullah ($5,900): The preseason darling also has a limited Joique Bell in the Detroit backfield. One big play can support rolling the dice as your Week 1 DFS No.2 running back.