Devin Singletary revitalized his career as the Houston Texans’ lead back last season. Now with the New York Giants, can Singletary be a volume-based RB2 in fantasy football, making him a sneaky-valuable later-round pick in Best Ball drafts?
Devin Singletary’s 2024 Fantasy Outlook
Heading into the 2023 season, Singletary looked like a great late-round pick. Dameon Pierce’s role as the lead back wasn’t really solidified, and Singletary had productive stretches during his time with the Buffalo Bills. The veteran had the potential to find standalone value in a timeshare with Pierce.
Early in the season, it was Pierce’s backfield. Singletary barely had a role, leading to him being justifiably dropped in most leagues.
While this was happening, though, Pierce wasn’t playing particularly well. Beginning around Week 6, Singletary’s usage increased. Then, Pierce got hurt ahead of Week 9, allowing Singletary to operate as the lead back for multiple weeks. Simply put, he took Pierce’s job.
Singletary averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game last season. Based on that number alone, no one should care much about him. But the more important analysis is how Singletary performed after taking over as the Texans’ lead back.
From Week 9 through the end of the season, Singletary averaged 13.4 fantasy points per game — those are rock-solid RB2 numbers. If Singletary can merely replicate that level of production this season on the Giants, he will be well worth his cost in fantasy drafts. So, can he?
Should You Draft Singletary in 2024 Best Ball Leagues?
The thing about Singletary is that he’s not a special player. He’s a capable back — a professional. If a team feeds him volume, he will do enough and won’t make mistakes. He’s the type of running back coaches like, which often keeps him on the field.
But guys like that need volume. Singletary, on a Giants offense that projects to be bottom-10 in the league, is only a desirable fantasy asset if he sees volume. For now, it looks like he will get it.
Huge gain by Devin Singletary to put the #Texans in plus territory 😤
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) January 13, 2024
The Giants are almost certainly going to draft a running back. However, given how the Saquon Barkley experiment worked out, there’s a very good chance they won’t take one until Day 3.
If the Giants walk out of Day 2 without a running back, that’s fantastic news for Singletary’s fantasy value, regardless of whether they take one on Day 3. I suspect we will start to see Singletary’s cost in fantasy drafts rise if and when that outcome happens.
Given what the Giants’ backfield currently looks like, there’s a very real chance Singletary commands a 70% snap share or greater. And he’s no stranger to heavy usage. He eclipsed a 70% snap share six times last season and eight times the year before in Buffalo.
Singletary is not going to be a league-winner on the Giants, but I suspect he won’t exactly be someone fantasy managers are excited to draft. He profiles as a very solid, reliable, floor-based RB2 who fantasy managers can pair with a Hero RB in the later rounds. As of now, Singletary is someone I am looking to target in Best Ball drafts.
KEEP READING: Devin Singletary Dynasty Fantasy Profile