Denver Broncos: What’s Devontae Booker’s value in fantasy football?
By Bruce Matson
Will the Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker become fantasy relevant this season?
Devontae Booker finished his rookie season with the Denver Broncos with 612 yards and four touchdowns while catching 31 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown. His performance last year netted him 123.8 PPR (point per reception) fantasy points. Booker’s best game came during week seven against the Houston Texans when he rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown while catching one reception for four yards. He caught at least one pass in 14 of the 16 games that he played in, making him a viable receiving option out of the backfield.
Related Story: Denver Broncos: What’s C.J. Anderson’s fantasy football value?
Efficiency was the main issue with Booker’s game last year, rushing for just a 3.52 yards per carry average. He had ten games where he average less than four yards per carry. Quite frankly, it’s hard for the coaching staff to give a running back touches if they are unable to pick up the necessary yardage to keep the chains moving. Keep in mind, last year was his rookie season, and the transition from college to the NFL level could’ve caused some growing pains during his initial development.
With that being said, there’s a good chance that he could possibly develop his skill set in the offseason and become a more efficient runner. If that happens, then there’s a possibility that he could eventually take over as the team’s lead running back.
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He was very productive in college, rushing for 2,773 yards and 21 touchdowns during his two year collegiate career. He also caught 80 passes for 622 yards and two touchdowns. Players who were productive in college tend to become productive at the NFL level. With two seasons with more than 1,000 yards rushing, Booker definitely checks the box when it comes to college production.
His athleticism is another reason why you should consider drafting him in fantasy leagues. He stands at 5-11 and weighs 219 pounds which equates to a 30.5 BMI, providing the notion that he has the size to become a three-down back at the NFL level. Not only does he has the size to be a feature back, but he also has the speed with a 4.58-second 40-yard dash. His height-weight-speed combination makes very tough to tackle in the open field.
The depth chart is currently crowded at running back on the Broncos roster with C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles currently slotted to compete with Booker for touches this season. Anderson and Charles both have experienced a sizable injury history in recent years, which could play into Booker’s favor if one or both of the running backs gets bit by the injury bug again during the 2017 season.
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It’s not outside of the realm of possibilities that Booker beats out both backs for the team’s starting running back role. He’s a very talented runner who has the ability to take over games if given the opportunity.
Even if he doesn’t get a chance to be the team’s lead back this season, he can still be valuable in PPR leagues due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He caught 31 receptions last year, while playing just 50.4 percent of the snaps last year. He also averaged 2.9 passing targets per game, which could potentially increase this year.
According to Myfantasyleague.com, Booker currently holds a 187.88 ADP, making him a 16th-round pick in 12-team redraft leagues. Technically, he’s going undrafted in most leagues, causing him to be on the waiver wire for anyone to pickup and add to their team. He’s a player to keep an eye on, because if an injury were to happen to C.J. Anderson, then Booker will see an increased workload and that’s something that could possibly happen during training camp. With the price tag of virtually free, he’s worth holding at the end of your bench just in case he gets the chance to take on a meaningful workload.
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Booker is a highly athletic prospect with a lot of promise. I wouldn’t be surprised if he broke out during the middle of the season, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if doesn’t receive enough touches this season to become fantasy relevant. Right now, he’s a stash player at best, but he should be closely monitored during the season just in case he gets a chance to take on a meaningful workload.