Finding quality mid-tier running backs can be one of the biggest reasons for a successful fantasy football season.

Whether it’s a Flex option that can produce RB2/occasional RB1 numbers, or a player who can fill in for a running back bust, creating value in the middle rounds with running backs can be a boon for your roster.

Check out these three mid-tier running backs in the 2018 fantasy football draft.

Lamar Miller should have a better offensive line this year, helping him do better than his ADP. Flickr

Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans

I’m a sucker for Miller.

Two years ago, I put all my eggs in the Miller basket and fell on my face. To my credit, though, his workload was among the best in the NFL. However, he didn’t produce in the way I anticipated.

Last year, he didn’t have as much of a workload, but produced similarly, ranking 14th in fantasy points among running backs.

That’s been where he’s positioned himself as a fantasy football option in the last few years, so I like the value presented by a ranking of 24th, according to FantasyPros.

He’s a solid RB2 and even teeters on the RB1 line on occasion. The offense in Houston should be much improved, so that will open up some touchdown opportunities for Miller. He’s still young enough that he shouldn’t be falling off the radar just yet.

He’s currently the 57th ranked overall player, so if he’s at that level at draft time, that’s unbelievable value.

Carlos Hyde, RB, Cleveland Browns

I know the backfield is a bit crowded. But Hyde is the most experienced, consistent running back of the bunch in Cleveland.

Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb will join Hyde in the Browns backfield, but I fully expect Hyde to beat out Chubb during the 2018 season, and should even see some third-down work against Johnson.

And with the value currently being offered for Hyde, he’s impossible to pass up.

FantasyPros has Hyde listed as the 32nd-ranked running back, with an overall grade of 80. I question that will stick with average draft position based on Hyde’s previous production, but if it does, you can’t pass him up.

He’s easily a Flex option for your team and at that level, he’s a major sleeper candidate.

The Browns will be better and Tyrod Taylor has to have a running game to be competent. There’s no reason to believe Hyde won’t be the workhorse for that offense, so ignore the experts in the offseason and pick up tremendous value.

Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos

This is a bit of a speculative pick, so be careful.

Do you really believe Devontae Booker can hold on to the top running back spot in Denver? I don’t, so that puts Freeman in the spotlight. The biggest drawback is I don’t know how Freeman will respond in the NFL, but I’m anticipating he’ll get an opportunity at No. 1 running back snaps.

So that makes his value as the 28th-ranked running back and 63rd-ranked overall player one that you shouldn’t just gloss over. There’s some risk, but Freeman will have the workload in a Denver offense predicated on running the ball, that he could be in a similar situation as Kareem Hunt in 2017.

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