BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~85 Overall
CURRENT ADP: ~101
ANALYSIS: The best case for Sermon boils down to one name: Jeff Wilson Jr. He was an undrafted free agent out of North Texas who rarely played his first two seasons. Once the Niners were thin at running back late in the season, they threw Wilson out there and he responded with a string of productive games at the best possible time - the fantasy playoffs. Wilson scored five touchdowns over the last four games and put up a monster game in Week 16 with 204 total yards. That's league-winning stuff.
Is Sermon the same as Wilson just because they are both San Francisco running backs? No. Sermon is better. He was a third-round pick out of Ohio State which the team moved up to acquire. He won't have to wait for injuries to strike to become fantasy-relevant. We already know any semi-talented RB can be a fantasy asset in the Shanahan system. Wilson is out with injury, Raheem Mostert is always hurt, and Wayne Gallman is simply depth, not competition.
Doubt Sermon because of his limited college production. That matters before the NFL Draft, not after. Hate on him because of his slow 40 time. Jeff Wilson was slower. Question him because of the crowded RB room - that hasn't stopped Mostert, Wilson, Matt Breida, and Carlos Hyde from being fantasy studs at times in the Shanahan San Fran backfield.
It doesn't hurt that San Fran will face the Texans in Week 17, which should be championship week for most fantasy leagues this year, and the Titans in Week 16. Those teams ranked 32nd and 27th in fantasy points per game against running backs last season. Even if Sermon starts slowly, he can absolutely be the RB2 for your team come playoff time.
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