Carolina Panthers running back D’Onta Foreman revived his career following a multi-year recovery from a 2018 Achilles tear. After proving he’s still an NFL-caliber RB in Tennessee, Foreman landed with the Panthers this past free agency. So what is Foreman’s fantasy football outlook for 2022, and should he be targeted at his ADP in fantasy football drafts?
D’Onta Foreman’s fantasy outlook for 2022
Foreman was drafted by the Texans in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Following an unspectacular rookie season, he tore his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2018 season. I have to be honest — I thought that was the last we’d hear of Foreman.
When Foreman returned to the NFL in 2020, it was a nice comeback story, but I never thought he’d be a relevant player. Kudos to him for proving everyone wrong. Not only did Foreman play again, but he played well … at least in 2021.
Foreman’s first stint with the Titans in 2020 as Derrick Henry’s backup did not go well. The reality was he just wasn’t ready to play in the NFL again. It certainly should’ve been over after that, but after Henry went down in 2021, the Titans turned to a familiar face.
Foreman backed up Adrian Peterson for a couple of weeks until head coach Mike Vrabel remembered what year it was and stopped putting Peterson on the field. Once installed as the primary runner, Foreman was quite fantasy-relevant. From Weeks 12-17, Foreman averaged 13.4 PPR fantasy points per game and was a legitimate low-end RB2 option.
How the Panthers’ depth chart impacts D’Onta Foreman’s fantasy projection for the season
For the first time since 2018, Foreman is going to enter the NFL season with a job. Obviously, Christian McCaffrey is the clear starter, and Foreman is no threat to his workload. Still, there’s fantasy upside in Carolina. In fact, I would go so far as to say I like Foreman’s fantasy outlook this season.
After not missing a single game over his first three seasons, McCaffrey has played in just 10 of a possible 33 games the past two years. In 2020, Mike Davis was a weekly RB2 filling in for McCaffrey. In 2021, Chuba Hubbard had RB2 moments, but he wasn’t as effective as Davis.
D’Onta Foreman should beat out Chuba Hubbard
This season, Foreman should be McCaffrey’s primary backup. If McCaffrey goes down again, Foreman will be the favorite for early-down work and goal-line carries. It’s still possible Hubbard takes the receiving work, but when talking about backup running backs, all we want is a plausible path to value. Foreman has that.
The Panthers ran the ball 47% of the time in neutral game script last season. That was the eighth-highest rate in the NFL. They also targeted their running backs 24.7% of the time, the second-highest rate in the league. This is a team that utilizes its running backs. Even in a split backfield with Hubbard, Foreman would have fantasy value if McCaffrey were to get hurt.
There’s also a chance the Panthers finally decide to actually commit to reducing McCaffrey’s workload in an effort to keep him healthy. If that happens, Foreman could have standalone TD-dependent RB3 value.
Foreman’s ADP for 2022
Foreman’s ADP is around 200th overall. He’s being drafted as the RB60. My experience in drafts has not been to see Hubbard drafted ahead of Foreman despite Hubbard having the higher ADP. Fantasy managers seem to acknowledge Foreman as the favorite to be CMC’s handcuff with a small chance of standalone RB3/4 value.
When deciding what players to put on the end of your roster, you want plausible upside. Foreman has that … as do a handful of players being drafted near him. Foreman is the 161st overall player and RB59 in PFN’s consensus 2022 PPR fantasy rankings. In contrast, Hubbard is sitting 201st as the RB68.
If you believe McCaffrey can’t stay healthy, Foreman should be your priority. Otherwise, he’s just a random late-round dart throw like anyone else.
