“Mr. Irrelevant:” The Last Pick Of Your Fantasy draft.

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Some of you are wondering how you get the most out of those late round fantasy draft picks, especially in deeper leagues. You have drafted most of your roster and now you are in no name land, full of third string RB’s and so-so WR’s. Well, you may not believe it but there is one draft pick you could make at the end of your draft that could have a significant impact on your season.

His name is… wait for it… Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles. That’s right, you heard it here. Your Mr. Irrelevant in this year’s fantasy draft needs to be this guy.

Jamaal Charles, at age 30, enters his 10th year in the league playing for the Denver Broncos, who by injuries or just inability, have been unable to maintain a solid RB1. In fact, Denver has not ended the season with the same starter in several years.

I don’t know where you have been over the past 10 years but Charles has averaged 5-yards or more a carry for the last 10 seasons minus one and 5.5-yards per carry over his career.

I mean, I know in every fantasy draft I have ever taken a part in, Charles has been one of those top 4 picks at the position. However, since Kansas City let him go and he went to Denver, Charles has left most people’s radar. I guess they assume he is washed up and no longer able to do what he does best, or maybe people are just too focused on 31-year-old Beastmode who just came out of retirement. Don’t worry, this could all be in your favor. Allow me to break it down quickly for you.

Charles got his first snaps of the preseason Week 3 and looked like a machine. He had 4 carries for 27 yards, averaging 6.8 yards a carry and then added 15 yards on two receptions. It was the only action Charles got all preseason and it was impressive. He’s still Jamaal Charles people. The same Jamaal Charles that runs, and catches. He is coming off an injury, but due to the length of time he has had for healing and being on a team that is not pressuring him for every down, I predict a solid season for the Veteran. In 2011 he was hurt in a similar fashion and came back in 2012 to have a career year.

C.J. Anderson is still the starter but has yet to play a complete 16 games in a single season. So, am I saying draft him to sit there and wait for Anderson to get hurt? No, I am not. Even if Anderson stays healthy, Charles will have value as Denver’s change-of-pace running back. Stevan Ridley and Juwan Thompson have been cut, and Devonte Booker is going to miss the first few games with an injury. That being said, Charles has a real chance to solidify his role as Anderson’s complement and possibly even become Denver’s starter at some point during the regular season. In fact, if I were a betting man, I would say that this Mr. Irrelevant, Jamaal Charles, is primed to steal the show.