Dare Ogunbowale Fantasy Value Improves as Buccaneers' Third-Down Back

Early in the offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back battle looked like a two-horse race between Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. The biggest threat to their value appeared to be the possibility that another RB was added via trade or free agency.

That has changed through the preseason though, as Dare Ogunbowale has been working his way up the depth chart. An undrafted free agent in 2017, Ogunbowale was on the Bucs' practice squad that year and was signed to the active roster in 2018. He's never recorded a regular season NFL rush attempt or reception, but he has suddenly made a serious push for playing time, and he appears to already be in line for first-team snaps as the team's third-down back.

While Ogunbowale's name comes out of left field, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the Bucs aren't rolling with either Barber or Jones on passing downs. In 2018, Barber averaged an abysmal 3.2 yards per target on 29 looks, and Ronald Jones caught only seven passes as a rookie after tallying just 32 receptions in three college seasons.

Ogunbowale is obviously unproven at the NFL level, but his receiving prowess doesn't come out of nowhere, having led Wisconsin RBs in receptions in each of his final two college seasons.

With an above-average offense but a win total of only 6.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bucs' situation is also very favorable for Ogunbowale. Playing from behind often could mean increased passing volume and thus opportunities for their passing-down back, while Tampa Bay's offense should be good enough through the air to generate reasonable efficiency as well.

Ogunbowale is totally free in most fantasy football drafts, with an average draft position (ADP) of only RB111, per FantasyPros.com, meaning he's going undrafted most of the time.

If you're in a deeper league or looking for a speculative add with plenty of sleeper upside for the end of your bench, Ogunbowale is capable of returning serious value in 2019, especially in PPR leagues.

Join FanDuel Sportsbook Today. New users get a risk-free bet up to $500. Join Now.

Jason Schandl is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Jason Schandl also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username Jaymun. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.