Fantasy Football: Breakout Workhorse Running Backs For 2018

Finding a workhorse back -- or maybe two -- is one of the biggest keys to winning your Fantasy Football leagues. In 2017, six backs hit the magic number of 300 touches and they all finished in the top eight in Fantasy points. 

Before you try to figure out who those workhorse backs will be this year, you need to see what CBS Sports Senior Analyst Heath Cummings has to say. 

Last season, Cummings was all over Todd Gurley's huge year for the Los Angeles Rams. Even though Gurley's numbers dipped significantly in 2016, Cummings called for 322 touches for him in Sean McVay's new offense. The result? Gurley recorded 342 and was one of the NFL's breakout players. Anybody who stuck with him in Fantasy got a colossal reward.

Now Cummings has studied all the backs for 2018 and has identified 10 he believes will receive 300 or more touches. 

One we'll give away: Giants rookie Saquon Barkley, who Cummings projects to get 322 touches.

Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, should immediately take first-team reps and be the answer the Giants have been looking for at running back. And with Odell Beckham Jr. back from injury, opposing defenses won't be able to stack the box. 

Top running back picks from the last two years -- Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette -- both went for over 300 touches in their rookie year, so don't be afraid to pick Barkley high in your drafts because he's a virtual lock to be a workhorse this year.

Cummings is also calling for a player coming off a frustrating 2017 campaign to return to workhorse status, and has identified another up-and-comer who is set to explode in 2018. Picks likes these are the winning edge you need in your leagues this year. 

So which backs can you count on to be workhorses in Fantasy Football? Join SportsLine now to find out which backs are virtual locks to get at least 300 touches, all from the veteran CBS Sports Senior Analyst who was all over Todd Gurley's huge year in 2017.