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Projecting Benny Cunningham’s Fantasy Value in 2017

By Bill Zimmerman

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) carries the ball past Carolina Panthers free safety Tre Boston (33) in the second half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Benny Cunningham (23) carries the ball past Carolina Panthers free safety Tre Boston (33) in the second half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is Benny Cunningham worth a fantasy roster spot in 2017?

The Chicago Bears signed several middle of the road free agents in the off-season, one of them being running back Benny Cunningham. Cunningham spent the first four seasons of his career with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and proved to be a useful backup.

Cunningham has a decent yards per carry average and is a useful pass catcher out of the backfield. In addition to that, Cunningham is a reliable, albeit pedestrian kick returner as well. Cunningham doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot, but he certainly is in the driver spot to grab the RB2 spot on the team and be the main backup behind Jordan Howard.

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If Cunningham doesn’t win the RB2 spot out of training camp, there’s a good chance he won’t make the roster at all. The Bears probably won’t see much benefit keeping Cunningham around as the team’s RB4. He will either be relied upon as Howard’s backup and a potential kick returner, or he won’t be on the roster at all.

Based on the fact that his competition for the backup role is Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey, Cunningham looks like he’s the early leader in the clubhouse to win the spot, but a lot can change between now and week one against the Atlanta Falcons.

Even if Cunningham gets beaten out and is released by the Bears, he will almost certainly find himself on another roster. He’s young and useful and he with every team always looking for running back help, he will find work.

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Odds are Cunningham will earn the Bears RB2 role and in a fantasy role, will be an ideal handcuff for Jordan Howard owners in deeper leagues. While he certainly isn’t worth keeping in keeper leagues, he is worth a handcuff only in dynasty leagues. In 10 and 12 team leagues, unless you have deep rosters, there are probably better uses of your roster spot than Cunningham on a handcuff role.

Benny Cunningham 2017 Projections: 74 carries, 311 yards, 2 TDs, 31 catches, 276 yards, 0 TDs

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