Trey Sermon could win you your fantasy football league in 2021.

In fantasy football, especially at running back, you’re looking for a workhorse. A guy who is going to get 250+ touches a season. A “bell-cow” back. Volume is the name of the game. Unfortunately, there are a limited amount of NFL RBs who actually fit that mold. And more than likely, none will make it out of the first round.

You need running backs to win your fantasy football league, that is no secret. But after the first two tiers, it’s difficult to find reliable options. Rookie backs are unpredictable; whether it be due to questions of playing time, how their skillset transfers to the next level, scheme fits.

Trey Sermon, the San Francisco 49ers third-round pick out of Oklahoma/Ohio State, checks a lot of boxes:

• NFL ready size
• Hard runner and finishes run strong
• Ability to catch the ball out of the back-field
• Solid pass blocker (you don’t get fantasy points for picking up a blitz but it will help his playing time)
• Excellent scheme fit

Sermon was named as a dark-horse candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year by PFF, is in a great situation, and is a prime breakout candidate. Yet, according to FantasyPros, is the 43rd ranked running back and has an ADP in the 90s.

Sermon finished his college career with 503 touches for 3,400+ yards and 29 touchdowns in his three years at Oklahoma and one at Ohio State. Although most of that came on the ground, he does have reliable hands underneath and is effective after the catch.

Trey Sermon played his best football at the end of the season before being injured in the National Championship. He ran for a school record 331 yards and two touchdowns in the Big Ten Championship, also breaking the FBS rushing record in a Conference Championship in the process. Following that up with 191 yards and a touchdown in the CFB semi-final win over Clemson.

Reports coming out of 49ers training camp have been positive. Head coach Kyle Shanahan saying, “he’s picking up the offense faster than expected.” Beat writers reporting he’s far more involved in the pass game than he was in college. And of course, the 49ers trading up to get him in the third round is a glowing endorsement.

Sermon is listed as the backup to Raheem Mostert (for now), but he’ll be involved in the offense from day one. The reports coming out have him named “1B”, presenting a lot of value, especially past the eighth round.

Even assuming he finds himself in a backup role to start the season, the 49ers’ potent rushing attack will provide plenty of opportunities. And those opportunities come behind one of the best run-blocking o-lines in football.

Left tackle Trent Williams was PFF’s best offensive tackle in football, right tackle Mike McGlinchey was second in run blocking, they added Aaron Banks out of Notre Dame in the second round. George Kittle is arguably the best blocking tight end of the last decade. To put it lightly, they have a loaded offensive front, especially in concerns to running the ball.

In general, in fantasy football, you avoid teams with RB by committee backfields. The 49ers have used a committee in the past three years and have lacked a true first option; even with injury troubles in 2020 had three running backs finish in the top-50 in PPR leagues but none higher than 26th.

It might be a deep running back room but it is certainly not one without question marks.

Raheem Mostert has injury troubles last season (and before), playing just eight games in 2020, just one full season in his career, and turned 29 in April. It’s also worth mentioning he’ll be a free agent next season.

Jeff Wilson Jr. broke out as a UDFA last season but will miss the first 4-6 months with an Achilles injury. The Niners signed Wayne Gallman to a one-year deal in the off-season but a quiet camp (thus far) has him third on the depth chart.

Trey Lance and his running abilities could take away some carries, but it will also no doubt open up more holes for the running backs in a zone-read-heavy scheme. Lance, as all rookie QBs do, will take time to adjust to the next level; leading the 49ers to lean on their run game even more than previous years.

Trey Sermon is an opportunity to get an excellent bench stash, with top-15 potential, past the seventh round, and at the most important position in fantasy football. Running behind one of the best o-lines in football with ample opportunities to earn the lead-back role? Sign me up!

Want to check out more fantasy football sleepers? Here are three at every position.

Thoughts on buying stock in the crowded 49ers backfield? Is it a healthy Raheem Mostert and Wayne Gallman reason to stay away? Is Sermon’s lack of home-run speed to big of a concern? Let me know on Twitter and be sure to follow the BellyUpFantasy and BellyUp main accounts too.