This edition of Dynasty Sleeper of the Week features a player who many have quickly forgotten about and tossed aside in favor of another waiver addition, but could we all have jumped ship just a bit too soon? 

Time to discuss why Eno Benjamin still holds value and is featured as the dynasty sleeper of the week!

Eno Benjamin (RB – ARI)

SLEEPER HISTORY

Once upon a time, Eno Benjamin was a remarkably productive and highly touted running back out of Arizona State University. As a sophomore, he broke the school record for rushing yards in a single game (312) and finished the year with 1,642 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns with an additional 263 receiving yards and two touchdowns. An absolutely phenomenal year at age 19. Benjamin took a step back after a very compelling 2018 campaign but followed up with another fairly productive season playing behind an inexperienced offensive line featuring two true freshmen. He received 253 attempts rushing for 1,083 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 42 receptions for 347 yards and two touchdowns. 

Benjamin opted to forgo his senior year and instead declare for the NFL Draft, where he unexpectedly fell all the way to the seventh round! How could a college prospect with such a resume almost end up undrafted? Not only did his production dip in 2019 (which may have been due to extenuating circumstances) but he also exhibited issues with ball security and pass protection. He also measured in undersized at the NFL Combine and came in a bit overweight in his pro day, which likely gave teams pause. At 5’9” 207 pounds, you’d imagine he would test well in speed metrics but his 40-yard dash and speed score are below average. However, he did finish in the 87th percentile for burst score (127.3), 84th percentile for college dominator (36.2%), and 94th for college target share (15.6%).

Eno Benjamin may not have received the draft capital but he’s certainly no slouch.

SLEEPER HERE AND NOW

With such little draft capital invested, the Arizona Cardinals were under no pressure and in no hurry to force Benjamin into the lineup after selecting him in the seventh round. That said, the fact he made the roster and has stuck around this long speaks volumes. He’s played in just three games this season and scored his first career touchdown in the win over the San Francisco 49ers after Chase Edmonds suffered a high ankle sprain. Reports indicate Edmonds is likely to miss a few weeks if not more, meaning Benjamin will have an opportunity as the direct backup to James Conner. We know the Cardinals like to use a one-two punch at running back so he may be more involved than many of us expect. 

Edmonds was also their passing downs back and Benjamin proved himself as a proficient pass catcher at the collegiate level, making him potentially more crucial to this offense in Edmonds’ absence. He carried nine attempts for 39 yards and a touchdown in Week 9. 4.3 yards per attempt isn’t too bad for the former seventh-rounder. He’s always displayed solid body control and shiftiness, as well as above-average contact balance, allowing him to create extra yards. He does get in trouble dancing around at times while trying to apply his quickness but this is something that can be corrected. I envision Benjamin being quite involved over the next month and if he continues to produce he could possibly be in line for a larger role in the future.

DYNASTY ANALYSIS

Eno Benjamin is still just 22 years old, and while being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft is a virtual death blow to any long-term value or sustainability on the field and in the fantasy community, he’s on a roster with an unstable backfield. James Conner is 26 years old, has a long injury history, and signed to just a one-year deal with Arizona, meaning he’s likely moving on in 2022. Edmonds is also a free agent in 2022. Sure, the Cardinals may intend on re-signing him but, as previously mentioned, they’re intent on utilizing multiple running backs and this is Benjamin’s chance to make an impression and insert himself as the future third-down running back in Arizona. Admittedly, he would need to significantly improve his pass blocking ability and set forth nearly perfect performances over the next few games to even sniff the aforementioned role. 

Your waivers have likely run already, but I did find Benjamin on the waiver wire in a few leagues so he could still be available. If you do successfully snatch him off waivers and he has a monster game, there’s always the opportunity to trade him away for a second-round rookie pick or some other form of sustainable value. Acquiring him from other managers may be out of the question at this point, as most have heard the news and are aware of the name. However, I’d be keen on sending a third-round pick away just for the potential upside with his skillset in the Arizona Cardinals offense.

Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or questions and would like to discuss them, you can reach out to me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF. 

You can read previous articles in this series here:  Pharaoh Brown, Demetric Felton, Mekhi Sargent, Jaelon Darden, Derrick Gore, Tyree Jackson, Kylen Granson, Sammis Reyes