Samaje Perine fantasy projection: Should you pick Broncos RB in 2023?

Samaje Perine moved from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Denver Broncos this year, hoping to breathe new life into what was an abysmal offense last season.

Given his track record and the status of that backfield, he's a player worth monitoring in fantasy football drafts.

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Samaje Perine's fantasy outlook in 2023

There is one key thing to consider when looking at drafting Samaje Perine and that is the health of Javonte Williams. The running back tore his ACL midway through last season. Nevertheless, Williams said he believes he'll be out there in Week 1:

“I mean, that’s the plan. I feel like I’m ready to go."

However, he also said he wasn't interested in going at less than full health:

“I don’t want to get back on the field playing scared or timid, so when I do get back out there, I want to be 100%.”

With that in mind, he will likely be on a snap count or lower workload. That opens the door for Perine to get more carries, something he will likely do for a few weeks until Williams is at full capacity.

After that, Perine will go back to a secondary role in the backfield, which is less than ideal for a fantasy manager.

Also read: Is Saquon Barkley worth picking in fantasy?

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Is Samaje Perine a good pick in fantasy football?

Samaje Perine is not a great selection in fantasy football for the reasons mentioned above. Javonte Williams has shown that he's the top back in Denver and he's going to resume that role once he's fully healthy.

It's never a good idea to draft someone who's going to be good only for a few weeks, so it might be best to avoid Perine. Don't be fooled if he does well in the first few weeks, because his role will almost assuredly shrink over time.

On the other hand, backup running backs are somewhat viable. A lot of teams utilize two running backs, and the Broncos could do that. Plus, with a struggling Russell Wilson running the offense, there could be a lot of runs to go around.

If you're looking at Perine to be a semi-weekly occurrence in your lineup, that's less than ideal. However, as a backup with only a few weeks of need in the lineup, he could be a fine selection.

Also read: Is Dalvin Cook worth taking?

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Where should you draft Samaje Perine in fantasy football?

If you're going to end up drafting Samaje Perine, he should be a late-round selection. His current ADP is above 100, which means the 10th round or later.

He's currently ESPN's 36th-ranked running back, and he should probably not go any higher. He's in the same range as AJ Dillon, Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson, and Jamaal Williams. The other options might be better in this range.

If you do end up taking him, which wouldn't be the end of the world, it might be wise to monitor his usage in the early weeks.