The fantasy football playoffs are getting closer and as owners set their lineups for Week 11, some potential sleepers at running back includes names like Shane Vereen, Rashad Jennings and Andre Ellington, with the Patriots RB looking like the top pickup among players at his position Shane Vereen Fantasy Week 14: Rashad Jennings and Patriots RB Top Sleeper Start With Andre Ellington.
Vereen has been out since the first week of the season after injuring his wrist against the Buffalo Bills and after having a very productive game, he has been out of the lineup ever since, but that all appears to be over now that he is eligible to return of the injured reserve list for the Week 11 game on Monday night football against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on the road and it couldn't come at a better time for the Pats and quarterback Tom Brady. Vereen was expected to be the top third down and pass catching back after Danny Woodhead left and he was also expected to take over the versatile role that Aaron Hernandez played for the team on offense, as he has lined up in numerous areas on different sets, including in the backfield an split out wide.
The 24-year-old has versatile skills for the Patriots and now he will be able to return to the field after coming back to practice two weeks ago. Vereen had a career day to start the season against the Bills, rushing for over 100 yards and adding seven catches for 58 yards and now he will get the chance to pick up where he left off. The game against the Panthers is his first chance to come off the IR and the team is happy that his recovery has gone well enough to get back on the field, as Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden have not been as productive as the team was in the running game last season.
This season the team is ranked eighth in rushing yards per game and while that is very good, it's not quite what the team was doing last season and now they will face a top five defense against the run, making it very good timing that Vereen is back. Vereen had over 150 yards total in his opening game this season and he was very good last year in the playoffs, scoring three times against the Houston Texans and gaining over 100 total yards and in PPR leagues he could be a potential blockbuster player.
Andre Ellington is another solid pickup going forward for fantasy owners, as he has been solid while making up carries for the Cardinals, rushing for over 200 yards in the past two weeks. Ellington has scored two touchdowns over the past four games and he has been in double digits with carries over the past two weeks. While he had just 55 yards last week against the Texans, he was excellent the week before with 154 yards against the Falcons and the Cardinals are hoping for more of the same. Donald Brown is expecting to get more touches as well with Trent Richardson struggling.
