The running back position gave us some major surprises in 2024. We saw the emergence of players we had already written off, such as Kyren Williams, and the explosion onto the scene from other players, like De’Von Achane, who showed us all that size, in fact, does not matter. The good news for fantasy football drafters out there is that even if they miss out on the elite tier of players, there are some late-round gems that can take you to the promised land.
My strategy at running back this year is pretty much the same, no matter where you are drafting. If you can get one of the top six running backs, you take them. After that, you let the draft come to you. Never reach, especially at the running back position. In most cases, it’s too volatile, and there are better options within a few picks. The only other guideline I follow is in the second half of drafts; I make sure to find my favorite running back handcuffs and then draft them. For this year, some names that come to mind here are Zach Charbonnet, Blake Corum, Roschon Johnson, and Dylan Laube, but more on them below.
Tier 1
1. Breece Hall (RB, NYJ) – The race to be the RB1 in Fantasy Football has four names in 2024: Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, and Breece Hall. Hall is one of the most electric players in the NFL. He is one of the very few workhorse running backs left in fantasy football with his rare combination of vision, speed, and footwork. He finished last season as the RB2 overall in PPR leagues in just his first year back from a torn ACL. Hall had only one carry inside the five-yard line last season, and no, that is not a typo. The Jets’ heavy investment in their offensive line this offseason and the return of Aaron Rodgers both bode well for Hall’s scoring opportunities in 2024. He has the least competition for touches of the big three running backs and should be a near lock for 250 carries and 90+ targets. While Garrett Wilson needs Aaron Rodgers to be elite in fantasy football, Hall can do it on his own.
2. Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF) – I know the townspeople are coming for me already. Ultimately, I won’t fight you if you have CMC at one. The point differential between him and Breece, in my rough projections so far, has them less than a point apart. Christian McCaffrey is the best player on one of the best offenses in the league. That should be enough for you, but if you’re still reading, you can have confidence in the fact that McCaffrey almost never left the field last season. He played less than 75% of snaps only four times. We are talking running backs, so injury is always on the table, but he has put “injury-prone” tag in his rearview while racking up an average of 353.5 opportunities per season across his last two seasons. The only real reason he isn’t at the top of this list is that he is entering his age-28 season, and the Niners have the benefit of having plenty of superstars to allocate touches to keep CMC fresh for a late-season run.
3. Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL) – Free Bijan! Free Atlanta! Well, the fantasy football world’s cries were heard this offseason as Arthur Smith moved on to Pittsburgh. The new regime of Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson has made it abundantly clear that they know what they have in Bijan Robinson. Morris comes from the McVay coaching tree, and that has historically meant good things for running backs. The breakout could be here for Robinson. Similar to Breece Hall, an inept offense and odd time share limited Robinson’s touches in scoring situations (2). In 2024, the Falcons get a massive upgrade at quarterback in Kirk Cousins and should be favorites to win the division. Robinsoon lacks the speed of Hall, but he makes up for it with his lateral agility and football IQ. The final player in this tier for a reason, Robinson is likely the only player left who should see 200+ carries and 90+ targets. That’s the good news; the bad news, or should I say annoying news, is that Tyler Allgeier is not going away, and while a 53/47% split isn’t likely, I doubt we see Allgeier fall below 40% of the carries. That is why he falls to three on this list.
Bijan Robinson is one-of-a-kind!
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/pqJEGiWrhH
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 8, 2023
4. Saquon Barkley (RB, PHI) – Saquon Barkley made headlines this offseason when he chose to leave New York to join his former division rival. Barkley has had an up-and-down career thus far, dealing with injuries and atrocious offensive line play. Barkley is unlikely to be the true focal point of this offense like he has been in the past, but that may be better for the now 27-year-old running back. The reduction in volume isn’t a death knell for Barkley, who should see increased efficiency and more scoring opportunities. This season could be a revelation for the veteran running back. OC Kellen Moore has consistently been in the top five in pace of play. To say that his situation has improved would be an understatement. The Giants were the 30th-ranked offensive line last season, according to PFF; the Eagles ranked third. Barkley is headed toward more scoring opportunities and has proven to be a bulldozer in those situations, with a 66% success rate on runs inside the five-yard line. For reference, Jalen Hurts had 15 rushing touchdowns last season, 13 of which came from within three yards of the goal line. My current projections have him at 252 carries, 78 targets, and 10 total touchdowns.
Tier 2
5. Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET) – Jahmyr Gibbs had a slow start to the season in 2023. That didn’t stop him from finishing the season as a top-10 running back. From week seven on, Gibbs produced six different weeks as a top-three running back. He did this while playing over 70% of the snaps only twice. The Lions offense is a perfect fit for Gibbs’ skillset. The only reason he doesn’t find himself in tier one in redraft leagues is the presence of David Montgomery, who was impressive in his own right. Likely in a near 50/50 timeshare with Montgomery once again, he may not sound appealing to draft at the round one/two turn, but in this case, I am buying. For Gibbs, efficiency is the name of the game, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry and scoring on every 21.3 touches. Not only that, but he had 10 rushes of 20 yards or more and was able to score from outside the ten-zone on five of his touchdowns. My current projections have him sitting at 187 carries and 103 targets. The new age Alvina Kamara is here, and you can be confident in spending a late first-rounder on him in 2024.
Tier 3
6. Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND) – Jonathan Taylor is coming off of two tough seasons. Between injury and contract negotiations/holdouts, the last time we saw an entire season of JT was 2021—a season where he eclipsed 2,000 total yards and 20 touchdowns. Taylor gets to continue the prime of his career in the Shane Steichen offense and do it alongside second-year breakout candidate Anthony Richardson. Taylor and Richardson played only two snaps together last season, but the duo could be the best-rushing pair in the league in 2024. While it is true Richardson may eat into Taylor’s goal line carries, his injury history suggests that Taylor will be asked to shoulder more of the load in goal-to-go situations. Taylor is an excellent pick near the top of the second round.
7. Travis Etienne Jr. (RB, JAC) –Travis Etienne may be underrated right now, even by me. He averaged over 16.5 fantasy points per game last season with an atrocious offensive line. He isn’t likely to see a massive upgrade in that department, but the volume should hold firm for Etienne in 2024. He averaged 20 opportunities per game and shared a backfield with only Tank Bigsby, who was uninspiring in his rookie season. An improved offense this season means more scoring opportunities for an already double-digit touchdown scorer. There are a lot of new faces in Jacksonville, but I would not be surprised to see the Etienne to be a focal point of this offense. Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. can take the top off of defenses, which should hopefully create more opportunities for Etienne to make plays in space. Currently, Etienne has a mid-second round ADP, and while he isn’t likely to shatter that value, he is one of the safer options at running back in this range with one of the highest upsides.
8. Isiah Pacheco (RB, KC) –Isiah Pacheco proved many of his doubters wrong last season. He turned himself into a do-it-all player for one of the league’s most productive offenses. The Chiefs also seemed to think so with their moves or lack thereof to address the backfield during the offseason. With little to no competition for touches in 2024, Pacheco is heading for the best season of his career. One of the most promising indicators of Pacheco’s development, especially in PPR leagues, is his usage in the passing game. He went from 0.8 targets per game in his rookie season to 3.5 targets per game in 2023. In games where Pacheco saw 70% snap share, he averaged over 20 fantasy points per game. He did this for the first time in week 12 of last season and did it in every game but one from week 12 through the Super Bowl. The arrow is pointing up for Pacheco. Grab him in the late second round and secure your RB1.
Tier 4
9. Alvin Kamara (RB, NO) –Alvin Kamara is in the middle of some contract back-and-forth, but assuming that doesn’t keep him off the field, he looks primed to head into his age-29 season as a back-end RB1. His efficiency continues to dip, but the volume he sees in a Derek Carr-led offense makes him a reasonably safe option at the position. Kamara shares the backfield with Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller. Miller continues to battle injuries, and Williams looks to be on the wrong side of the age cliff. Kamara was on pace for 112 targets last season and 235 carries, a mark he has only ever eclipsed one other time in his career. He is currently being drafted around RB16, which is an excellent value for what could be his final trip to RB1 territory.
10. Derrick Henry (RB, BAL) –Derrick Henry’s move to the Baltimore Ravens is one of the more intriguing moves of the 2024 offseason for fantasy football. The Ravens now sport the epitome of thunder and lightning in their run game with Henry and Lamar Jackson. Despite a somewhat down season for the Titans, he still finished as a top-10 RB in PPR leagues. Of course, concerns about his age and wear and tear exist, but Henry has been an outlier for most of his career, and in 2024, with a new team and scheme, he looks to be heading toward another premier season. Efficiency continues to drop season to season for the former Titan. Still, he is expected to be the primary ball carrier and goal-line option for the Ravens, which should see him eclipse double-digit touchdown numbers for the seventh time in his career.
11. De’Von Achane (RB, MIA) – De’Von Achane is one of the biggest question marks at the running back position. His talent isn’t the question; his usage and health are. Achane averaged an eye-popping 7.77 yards per carry last season while also scoring a touchdown on roughly every 12 touches. There really isn’t a comparable player we have seen in the NFL. Some combination of Jamaal Charles and Chris Johnson comes to mind, and that is rarified air. In his roughly 11 games played last season, Achane saw 50% of the snaps just four times. The questions about his health are legitimate. We have never seen anything like Achane succeed with any consistency, and it is the only reason he falls to RB11 in ADP and my rankings. The only real question you need to ask yourself is how risk-averse you are as a fantasy football manager. Drafting the RB1 overall historically tells us you have a massive advantage over your league mates, and Achane is one of the few players outside of the top five that has that in his range of outcomes. He is similar to Jahmyr Gibbs in that he is likely capped in the 12-15 touch per game range if he wants to play an entire season, so his sharing the backfield with veteran Raheem Mostert is not that alarming. Typically, slotting in at the end of round two, Achane is a gamble I am taking if I go with an elite WR in round one.
De'Von "fastest RB at the '23 Combine" Achane 😎
📺: #NFLCombine begins 2/29 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ZMKDuCbom1
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) February 28, 2024
12. Kyren Williams (RB, LAR) – Kyren Williams is coming off of a breakout season for the Los Angeles Rams. He averaged over 21 fantasy points per game and established himself as a premier player for fantasy football. So why does he land as a fringe RB1? There is a good chance Kyren never sees a season with that type of production again. His efficiency metrics are due for regression in 2024, and not only that, but he has a smaller frame and has struggled with injury during his brief career. History tells us that late-round running backs are a dangerous bet, and the Rams didn’t necessarily give us reason to think otherwise when they drafted Michigan standout, Blake Corum. The good news is that rookies tend to be slow to learn the McVay system, and Kyren should get enough opportunities to keep him near the top of the league. Right now, his ADP has him sitting near the top of the second round, but if he were to fall to the back end of round two, he might present a decent value for fantasy managers.
13. Josh Jacobs (RB, LV) – Josh Jacobs is a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, he is one of the most violent runners in the NFL who has the skill set to be a workhorse, and on the other, he seems to always be battling an injury and has struggled with efficiency for most of his career. It is hard to tell if that is because of Jacobs or because of the often laughable Las Vegas Raiders. In 2024, we will get some clarity on that question. The Green Bay Packers not only cut Aaron Jones but backed up the Brink’s truck to bring in Jacobs to be their lead rusher. The new-look Packers are always on the rise, and this time, it is due to the emergence of Jordan Love. With a multifaceted passing attack, Jacobs should be able to find plenty of room to run and be a weapon in the passing game. Even coming off of the least efficient season of his career, Jacobs, only 26 years old, should have a chance to return to his 2022 form.
14. Rachaad White (RB, TB) – If you have just checked the fantasy points for Rachaad White, you will probably be appalled by my ranking. The truth is when you watched White play and dive further than the counting stats, you realize that he was an abysmal rusher in 2023. He turned 272 carries into less than a thousand rushing yards (990). For context, White tied CMC in carries, but his rushing production fell nearly 500 yards short. The silver lining for White is that his work as a receiver was Alvin Kamara-esque, and that is not to be ignored, especially in full PPR leagues. The Buccaneers did add Bucky Irving in this year’s draft, which is likely to impede White’s lead leading snap count from last season and ultimately limit his ceiling in 2024.
Tier 5
15. Joe Mixon (RB, HOU) – Joe Mixon is among the veteran rushers on the move this year, going from the Bengals to the CJ Stroud-led Texans. Mixon is coming off the second-best fantasy season of his career and now joins a team that has a far superior offensive line and one of the most talented wide receiver groups in the league. There isn’t much more a 28-year-old running back could ask for. Coming in at RB15 for me has a lot more to do with the fact that he will share the backfield with Dameon Pierce and potentially Cam Akers, who have not been impressive but have been good enough to be a thorn in the side of Mixon managers.
16. Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE) – Rhamondre Stevenson came into last season on the heels of a massive breakout in 2022. Unfortunately for him, the Patriots offense came to a grinding halt, and Stevenson bore the brunt of that burden. Even before his high ankle sprain, his yards per carry dropped from 4.95 to 3.97, and his usage on passing downs also dipped slightly. Needless to say, a new offense, a new head coach, a new quarterback, and a new contract all bring greener pastures for the bruising back. Even with the addition of Antonio Gibson, Stevenson should have a chance to reclaim his former glory. While RB1 is not likely in his range of outcomes, he should be a consistent and rock-solid RB2, landing somewhere between 230 and 285 touches and eclipsing 1,000 yards on the ground.
17. D’Andre Swift (RB, CHI) – D’Andre Swift lands in a new home for the third time in his young career. He is coming off his first thousand-yard rushing season and the healthiest season of his career. He enters a running back room that brings back Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. The Bears are a team on the rise, and Swift looks to be the favorite to lead the team’s efforts on the ground. Swift is best served when he gets 15-18 touches a game, and while that keeps him a tier or two below the volume of the best in the league, his big play ability could be on full display in Chicago. The big win, though, comes from the fact that he doesn’t need to worry about the tush push in 2024.
Too swift with it @DAndreSwift + #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/T4F4ZyzpSw
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 26, 2023
18. James Cook (RB, BUF) – James Cook wasn’t the prettiest person in the bar; he was just the only one left. One of the few running backs who stayed healthy last season, Cook benefitted from tremendous offensive line play in Buffalo on his way to over 1,500 total yards. The concern with Cook is that he needs to be more present near the goal line, totaling only two touchdowns on the ground. The Bills didn’t add any game-breakers to their running back room, but they did select Ray Davis in the fourth round of the draft. Davis is a sturdy back who had an impressive collegiate career. Coming in at 5’8″ and 220 pounds, Davis has a chance to eat into Cook’s early down touches and any scoring opportunities that Cook may have had.
19. Kenneth Walker III (RB, SEA) – Kenneth Walker has been relatively consistent in his first two seasons in the NFL. He has filled the early down and goal line role for the Seahawks thus far, and last season, he continued to dominate rushing opportunities, even with the addition of Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet’s impact in the passing game as a blocker and receiver will limit Walker’s ability to be a three-down player. Still, with new offensive coordinator Ben Grubb in town, there may be more scoring opportunities and a faster-paced offense than we are used to in Seattle. Walker is fairly priced in fantasy drafts right now, going right around RB17 at the back end of round four.
20. Austin Ekeler (RB, WAS) – Austin Ekeler had a difficult 2023 season. He dealt with a high ankle sprain as well as the loss of Justin Herbert for a brief stint. Ultimately, it led to Ekeler failing to hit the 4.0 yards per carry mark for the first time in his career. He enters his age-29 season, an obstacle in its own right, playing for the Washington Commanders. The Commanders have Brian Robinson, who is the betting favorite to take the early down work, as well as second-year player Chris Rodriguez. Neither have been difference makers in the passing game which is a perfect situation for the aging Ekeler. In full PPR leagues, his receptions alone make him a viable flex option, and if he can show glimpses of his former self, an RB2. If you end up punting the running back position, I like pairing Ekeler with Brian Robinson in rounds eight and nine, as both can bring value at their ADP, but more on that later.
21. Aaron Jones (RB, MIN) – Veterans on the Move should be the tagline for the running back position in 2024 because here we are again. Aaron Jones takes over the lead back role in Minnesota, and as things stand now, he is the only viable option they have at the position. Similar to Ekeler, Jones is at a dangerous age for running backs (29). Jones may have more juice in the tank than Ekeler does at this point, but he has battled injuries for most of his career. The Vikings have a new signal caller at the helm, and whether it is Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy, it will be a downgrade for 2024. Scoring opportunities may be limited for Jones, but he has the skill set to be involved on all three downs. My current projections have him with 181 carries and 63 targets.
22. David Montgomery (RB, DET) – The thunder to Jahmyr Gibbs lightning, David Montgomery showed everyone last year just how potent the Lions’ rushing attack can be. In just 14 games last season, Montgomery was able to rack up over 1,000 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Detroit has the best offensive line in the NFL, which makes Montgomery’s sixth-round ADP such a great value. The lack of work in the passing game hurts, especially in PPR leagues, but he should see over 200 carries in a high-octane offense. While he currently ranks as my RB22, his ceiling would be much higher if Gibbs were to miss any time because he has a three-down skill set when he is called upon in that capacity.
💥Montgomery up the middle for 6⃣💥#DETvsDAL |📺 ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/pdsu8Gio7U
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 31, 2023
23. James Conner (RB, ARI) – James Conner is the running back everyone wants to overlook. The issue is that he keeps on producing. Conner was an RB1 in 6 of his 13 games played last season and had two more games as an RB2. The Cardinals get Kyler Murray back to full health in 2024, and they will benefit from rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. demanding the attention of defenses. When it comes to fantasy, the Cardinals have a dream scenario: a potent offense and a defense in the bottom half of the league. Rookie Trey Benson is currently in a battle for the RB3 position in training camp, which makes me believe Conner could be headed for his second consecutive thousand-yard rushing season in 2024.
Tier 6
24. Zamir White (RB, LV) – Zamir White has been a popular name this offseason, but it’s hard to think this isn’t Alexander Mattison all over again. White had a small stretch of opportunity to end the year (weeks 15-18). In that time, he didn’t disappoint, averaging 15.18 fantasy points per game. The issue is that all of that production came from volume. He isn’t a factor in the passing game. He will likely cede those snaps to Alexander Mattison or, more likely, rookie Dylan Laube. Additionally, there may be limited scoring opportunities available for the Raiders in 2024. White’s ADP is still climbing, so while he is slightly overpriced in drafts now, he is more than likely going to be an even worse value three weeks from now.
25. Najee Harris (RB, PIT) – Najee Harris has slowly seen his production dip in each of his first three seasons. The Steelers’ offense is going through a massive overhaul, and Jaylen Warren’s emergence has made Harris’ future in fantasy football bleak. The silver lining to the Steelers not picking up the fifth-year option on his contract is that they are likely to lean heavily on their run game, feeding Harris as their lead back. Even with Warren proving to be the more explosive option, Harris led the backfield with 255 carries to Warren’s 149. He should be locked into another season of over 250 carries in 2024 with an additional 30+ targets as well. If you are looking for a high-floor player, Harris fits the bill.
26. Chase Brown (RB, CIN) – In maybe the least surprising news out of training camp, Chase Brown, not Zack Moss, looks to be in the driver’s seat to lead the Bengals’ backfield in 2024. Brown is a sturdy back, measuring in at 5’10” and 215 pounds. He also boasts a three-down skill set that should serve him well behind in an already potent offense. His rookie season gave us very little to work with, but in his senior season in college (University of Illinois), he posted over 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns. Doing it in the NFL may prove more difficult, but the opportunity should be there for Brown. Moss saw just over 200 touches last season for the Colts, and while I don’t see him hitting that number, he should eat enough into Brown’s workload to keep them both capped as low-end RB2 to mid-range RB3 options for fantasy football.
27. Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN) – Tyjae Spears was one of my favorite breakout candidates for the coming season before the Titans brought in Tony Pollard. Spears is the most talented of the two backs, but both seem to have a limited ceiling as they head towards a 50/50 split. The Titans also brought in a number of veteran pass catchers in an attempt to surround Will Levis with weapons. The old run first, run second scheme we are used to in Tennessee is not what fantasy managers should be expecting in 2024. Unless one of Spears or Pollard goes down with an injury, they are more FLEX options than reliable RB2s this season.
Endzone, meet Tyjae Spears 🤝
First career TD for @tyjae22
📺: Watch #TENvsIND on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/z011MF4Byc
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 8, 2023
28. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, WAS) – Brian Robinson Jr. is one of the more interesting players to draft this season. On the one hand, the Commanders brought in veteran superstar Austin Ekeler, but on the other, Ekeler is 29 and has dealt with injury, leaving many wondering what he has left in the tank. Robinson is the favorite to lead the team’s early down work but he did struggle with fumbling last season, fumbling six times on 178 carries. He was able to increase his efficiency from his rookie year, though, and proved to be helpful through the air as well. Kliff Kingsbury is the new OC in Washington, and he is bringing with him what has historically been one of the fastest pace-of-play systems in the NFL. In addition, a rookie signal caller in Jayden Daniels and Robinson has the potential to have a breakout season in 2024. If there is one name on this list that I would mark as a name on the rise, it’s Robinson, so make sure to check his ranking on the next update.
29. Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) – Jaylen Warren is an absolute bulldozer with a surprising amount of explosiveness. He ran well last season and made a significant impact as a receiver out of the backfield. Many are calling for Warren to take over the lead-back duties, but I am not there yet. Warren can still be useful for fantasy managers, even with only 40% of the workload, as long as he continues to lead the backfield as a receiver. The Steelers invested heavily in their offensive line during the draft, and Arthur Smith’s run-first scheme coming to town also bodes well for both Harris and Warren.
30. Raheem Mostert (RB, MIA) – Raheem Mostert is 32 years old. He shares a backfield with De’Von Achane. The Dolphins added Jaylen Wright in the NFL draft. He is due for massive regression in the touchdown department. That’s the bad. The good news is that he is the perfect fit for the Mike McDaniels system and is the leader in the running back room. While Mostert’s best is behind him, he should see between 180-200 touches and should have the edge on Achane when it comes to goal-line carries. Right now, I have him sitting at just shy of 1,000 total yards and eight touchdowns.
31. Javonte Williams (RB, DEN) – The rumors of Javonte Williams’ death are greatly exaggerated. Williams, in his second year back from an ACL tear, should be the leading rusher for the Denver Broncos. The difficult part for fantasy purposes is trying to predict just how much work Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin will siphon off. Luckily, for redraft purposes, these questions have suppressed his ADP to a very palatable RB34. Williams has all the traits to be an elite fantasy running back. Outside of last season, he showed incredible tackle-breaking and forced-missed tackle ability, setting the single-season record for the latter in his rookie year. Williams plays with a violent run style, which could mean he is better suited for around 200 touches rather than the prototypical workhorse load of 300+ to be at his best.
32. Tony Pollard (RB, TEN) – Tony Pollard gets a new contract to join the Titans’ new regime led by Will Levis. After suffering a brutal leg injury in 2022, he returned last season to post the least efficient season of his career while also seeing over 300 opportunities for the first time. He will share the backfield with Tyjae Spears, which is projected to be a near 50/50 split as things stand now. Both Pollard and Spears are smaller-framed runners who benefit from not being the guy to lead a backfield, so the pairing should prove an interesting season-long evaluation. If I am betting on a running back out of Tennessee, I am going with Spears over Pollard.
33. Jonathon Brooks (RB, CAR) – Jonathon Brooks was the top running back of the 2024 rookie class. The only challenge when navigating his value in redraft leagues is that he is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered late last season. The most recent news out of Carolina is that Brooks won’t be participating in the preseason, which makes his outlook for the season a little murkier. He should drop in ADP over the next two weeks, and when that happens, the sharp fantasy managers will pounce on the potential late-season league winner at the position. Brooks, when he is healthy, is immediately the Panthers’ best rusher and receiver out of the backfield. Even if it is a slow burn, the juice will be worth the squeeze.
Brooks powers it in 🤘 @2brookss
pic.twitter.com/YJPdPGtAiG— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 4, 2023
34. Zach Charbonnet (RB, SEA) – Zach Charbonnet wasn’t the threat many thought he might be to Kenneth Walker’s touches in his rookie season. Walker outpaced him by over double on the ground (219 vs. 108) and fell just three targets short of Charbonnet as well (37 vs. 40). That being said, Charbonnet did show that when given the opportunity, he has the talent to carry the load for the Seahawks. We are officially in what I like to call handcuff+ territory. The 6’1″, 214-pound back has some matchup-based FLEX appeal, and if Walker were to go down, he would immediately be in the RB1 conversation.
35. Jerome Ford (RB, CLE) – Jerome Ford will never be the league-winning running back in fantasy football. He gets what is given to him, sometimes slightly more, sometimes slightly less. Filling in for the injured Nick Chubb last season, he averaged just shy of 4.0 yards per carry while eclipsing 800 rushing yards and hauling in 44 receptions. Chubb’s return to 100% looks to be a ways away still, which means the Browns will be relying heavily on Jerome Ford to carry the load in his absence. Ford is one of the few guys I don’t even put on my draft board, but if you find yourself desperate for a running back, he has a 200+ touch floor, and in fantasy football, that keeps you in a matchup most weeks.
36. Devin Singletary (RB, NYG) – Devin Singletary is the running back you can’t leave on waivers but never want to inject into your lineup. He is looking at a potentially massive workload with the Giants in 2024, during which he could amass the largest touch totals of his career. That being said, there are questions about the offensive line and how many scoring opportunities Singletary will have. Last season, he averaged around 15 touches a game for the Texans and finished just outside the top 30 in the position. He lands right at RB36 for me in 2024.
Tier 7
37. Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL) – Zeke makes his return to Dallas in 2024. It has already been established that he will be on a committee alongside Rico Dowdle, with Royce Freeman or Deuce Vaughn mixing in here or there. It’s a murky backfield with limited upside right now. Ultimately, Zeke put up an abysmal 3.49 yards per carry last season. Yes, part of that was the failing Patriots offense, but it also follows the trend of the tread wearing thin for the former fantasy superstar. If you are drafting Elliot in 2024, you are praying he falls into the endzone ten times, and while that is certainly possible, I wouldn’t be relying on that for your lineup or bench spots.
38. Zack Moss (RB, CIN) – Zack Moss was thought to be the favorite to lead the Bengals’ backfield in 2024, but less than three days into training camp, that has changed. Chase Brown is now the leading man in Cincinnati. Moss will still have a role, and on a potent offense, there are worse gambles to take when you are this late in drafts. Similar to Brown, Moss does carry a three-down skill set, and he was efficient on the ground for the Colts in 2023. He is likely the lesser of a 60/40 split, but if Brown were to miss any time, he could flash some high-end RB2 weeks.
39. Gus Edwards (RB, LAC) – Fantasy managers should invest in the Chargers’ backfield even if none of the choices seem like the correct answer. Enter Gus Edwards. Edwards appears to be the guy in LA this season. As things stand now, he and JK Dobbins are the only running backs getting first-team reps. I wouldn’t be surprised to see rookie sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal get some run with the ones by the end of the pre-season as well. The case for Edwards to lead this team in rushing is fairly obvious. He has spent his entire career being a highly efficient, bruising rusher with impressive vision. Not only that, but his primary competition, Dobbins, while more talented, is returning from a brutal torn Achilles injury, which history tells us is a death knell for running backs. His RB37 ADP is a reasonable cost, and he is a viable FLEX and bye-week fill-in if he is indeed handed the keys to the run game.
40. Trey Benson (RB, ARI) – Trey Benson is big, fast, and strong. He has all the skills to be an elite running back in the NFL. Drafted in the third round, he should be James Conner’s immediate backup in 2024. He is graded similarly to Zach Charbonnet as a handcuff+ running back. As long as Conner is healthy, I expect around 8-10 touches a game for Benson. His value surpasses even Conner’s if he does get a crack at the starting job at some point in the season, and he has the potential to be a league winner if Conner misses time. He is a priority handcuff in the late rounds of your drafts.
41. Roschon Johnson (RB, CHI) – Roschon Johnson has an intriguing skill set for a Bears offense on the rise. He will be battling it out for the RB2 with Khalil Herbert after the Bears made D’Andre Swift one of the top-10 highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Still, Johnson was one of the Bears’ best blockers last season, and he contributed on the ground and through the air, averaging over 4.0 yards per carry while adding 34 catches on his way to an 85% catch rate. Drafted just last season, if you are taking a shot on a non-Swift running back in Chicago, Roschon is the guy you want.
42. MarShawn Lloyd (RB, GB) – MarShawn Lloyd enters the season fighting for the RB2 job in Green Bay. It’s a battle he should win against AJ Dillon. Lloyd brings a more versatile skillset and more explosiveness. The only real drawback with Lloyd from a skill set perspective is his history of fumbles in college (10 in 325 touches). He will have to wait to get significant, meaningful touches behind Josh Jacobs. Still, in the Matt LaFleur system, he should have an opportunity to see the field to spell Jacobs regularly if he can reign in his fumbling concerns, especially in high-leverage situations.
43. Blake Corum–Blake Corum was drafted by the Rams in the third round of this year’s draft, and he poses an immediate threat to Kyren Williams’ ceiling. He can make an impact in all phases of the game. Corum is a slightly more athletic version of Kyren Williams, and so his fit in the McVay system couldn’t be more perfect. You can expect Williams to command touches early and often, but Corum should start to eat into that playing time by mid-season. With all that in mind, Corum may need to rely on his nose for the endzone (58 rushing touchdowns at Michigan) if he wants to find high-end fantasy value in 2024.
Blake Corum will not be denied 😤
📺 ESPN#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/oodNCYI0mr
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 9, 2024
44. Tyler Allgeier (RB, ATL) – Tyler Allgeier may not have Arthur Smith this season, but the Falcons have been lauding his praises in training camp thus far. I don’t think he approaches a 50/50 timeshare with Bijan Robinson, and he is likely to lose most of his goal-line work from last season. Still, he could be in line for around 40% of the touches for a significantly improved offense with an OC from the McVay coaching tree. Allgeier is one of the rare instances in which I would recommend that the manager with Robinson draft their own handcuff.
45. Jaleel McLaughlin (RB, DEN) – Jaleel McLaughlin had some surprising utility in 2023. His size (5’7″, 187 pounds) will limit how often he gets on the field, but he will serve as a change of pace back to Javonte Williams and the Broncos. He caught 31 of his 36 targets in his rookie season but wasn’t able to turn them into much as the Broncos offense faltered. In PPR leagues, you can expect to use McLaughlin as a bye week fill-in or a FLEX play if Williams misses time.
Tier 8
46. Deneric Prince (RB, KC) – Deneric Prince did not get much run last season for the Chiefs, but right now is acting as the RB2 for Kansas City. Similar to Pacheco, Prince has elite athleticism. He would need Pacheco to miss time to have much value in 2024, but he is a priority handcuff if he does, in fact, win the number two job by season start.
47. Nick Chubb (RB, CLE) – Nick Chubb has been one of the best running backs in all of football over his first five seasons. Unfortunately, he dealt with a catastrophic injury that destroyed his knee as he tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. Chubb is more of a hope-and-pray selection in redraft leagues, but his talent means that if Chubb does step on the field, you need to pay attention. Reports out of training camp suggest that he could be active as early as week one, but you shouldn’t expect to see 100% of Nick Chubb until late in the season, if at all.
Nick Chubb doing Nick Chubb things 🤷♂️
📺: #CLEvsCAR on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+https://t.co/Pu2ZvH4F5T pic.twitter.com/oqlXk45n0L— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 11, 2022
48. Antonio Gibson (RB, NE) – Antonio Gibson has never quite lived up to his potential. He has struggled with efficiency and ball security for most of his career in Washington. In 2024, he joins a new regime with the New England Patriots. The Pats offense was lacking in pass catchers last season, and they tried remedying that in a number of different ways, Gibson being one of them. He should get a shot to make an impact on third downs, and if Rhamondre Stevenson were to miss any time, Gibson could catapult to being a top-15 running back.
49. Dylan Laube (RB, LV) – Dylan Laube is one of my favorite sleepers at the running back position. Like many of this year’s running back draft class, Laube fell to the later rounds. Laube served as the workhorse at New Hampshire and, while he is slightly smaller, can fill a similar role in the NFL. He has had an incredible change of direction and posted impressive explosiveness metrics at the combine as well. His only obstacle, as with most rookies, is his contributions as a blocker. Zamir White will get the first crack at the first and second down touches as he is the only returning player in this backfield. Laube will contend with Alexander Mattison but should start the season as the primary receiving weapon and third-down option.
50. Ty Chandler (RB, MIN) – Ty Chandler had some flashes last season on his way to 620 total yards and two touchdowns. Chandler looks to be the backup to the newly acquired Aaron Jones. Jones should dominate touches as long as he is healthy, but Chandler has the athleticism to carve out a role for a Vikings team that will be running more than they have in the past in the post-Kirk Cousins era. His best value to a team that rosters him may be the manager who trades him away after an Aaron Jones injury.
51. Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR) – Chuba Hubbard took over for a struggling Miles Sanders last season as the Panthers offense searched for answers. While he wasn’t very efficient, he was able to post over 1,000 total yards and five touchdowns. With Jonathon Brooks still on the mend from his late-season torn ACL, Hubbard should get one last shot to prove he belongs. Hubbard becomes an afterthought after mid-season, even in larger leagues.
52. Ray Davis (RB, BUF) – Ray Davis is an absolute wrecking ball out of the backfield and joins the Buffalo Bills as their fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. The Bills are an offense in transition as they bid farewell to Stefon Diggs and drafted Keon Coleman in his place. They also have emerging stars such as Dalton Kincaid and James Cook. The latter had a solid season in 2023 but needed to improve in one major area: touchdowns. Cook’s smaller frame left no one but really Josh Allen when they got in close. Enter Ray Davis. Davis probably won’t see enough volume to be trusted week in and week out, but he could end up with double-digit touchdowns by falling into the endzone whenever the Bills land inside the five-yard line.
53. Khalil Herbert (RB, CHI) – Khalil Herbert was efficient as always last season, averaging over 4.5 yards per carry. The issue with Herbert has always been durability. He fits more as an early-down committee running back. There is a chance Herbert is cut this season, but if he remains a Chicago Bear in 2024, he will be more of a breather for Swift than a true weapon for the offense. In PPR leagues, he takes another hit because he has averaged only 20 targets per season.
54. J.K. Dobbins (RB, LAC) – J.K. Dobbins’s career has been one of the more unfortunate in recent memory. Coming out of Ohio State, he was primed to be the next superstar for the Baltimore Ravens, but he suffered multiple knee injuries and eventually an Achilles tear last season. History tells us that we should avoid running backs with this injury essentially for the rest of their careers, but especially in year one. So why is he even ranked, you may be asking? The answer is that he is now a Los Angeles Charger. The backfield includes Gus Edwards, Dobbins, and sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal. Dobbins is unquestionably the best player of this group. If he can buck the trend and prove he still has juice left in the tank, he could be a league winner. I do want to temper expectations, though, and say the odds of that fully coming to fruition sit at around 5%.
55. Kendre Miller (RB, NO) – Kendre Miller may be fighting a losing battle. His rookie season never got off the ground as he dealt with a knee injury, and he missed all of training camp this season due to a hamstring injury. Miller is young enough that managers can add him as a last-round pick or to their waiver wire watch lists and hope he gets healthy. If he can do that, he is a big-bodied, explosive back who can win in space. In Miller’s one game where he saw 40% of snaps, he was able to rush 13 times for 73 yards (5.62 ypc) while adding another six yards on his lone reception. That is worth a gamble on a team led by an aging Alvin Kamara.
56. Rico Dowdle (RB, DAL) – Rico Dowdle has yet to give us much in his four-year career, but what he showed last year is that he can be a viable option in a committee for NFL purposes. That translating to fantasy remains to be seen. Dowdle will share the lead back duties with Ezekiel Elliot in 2024, and that should provide some decent weeks. Predicting those will be difficult as they will need to come on the back of sheer volume. Elliot projects to be the goal-line vulture we all love to hate.
RICO DOWDLE FOR 6!
pic.twitter.com/sz5QnaYer5— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 23, 2023
57. Dameon Pierce (RB, HOU) – Dameon Pierce was one of the more recent victims of the low draft capital running back torpedo. In 2023, he saw his yards per carry drop from 4.27 to 2.87 on half of the carries. The Texans scheme doesn’t fit Pierce’s skill set as it stands now. He will also now serve as Joe Mixon’s backup during his first season in Houston. Pierce is best left on waivers until we know more about his status with the team.
Tier 9
58. Elijah Mitchell (RB, SF) – Elijah Mitchell could be one of the better backups in the NFL. His health concerns are the only thing that prevents him from claiming that title. His job as the backup to Christian McCaffrey may need to be safer as the Niners went out and added Isaac Guerendo, who sports a similar bruising style, but he does it with more speed. Much like Mitchell, Guerendo has an extensive history of battling injury, so Mitchell should have the job for at least the early parts of the season.
59. Jaylen Wright (RB, MIA) – Jaylen Wright lands in the dream scheme for his success at the NFL level. He has a skill set similar to Raheem Mostert’s, and therein lies the problem. Wright is more of a dynasty stash and handcuff in 2024. He shouldn’t see much of the field if both Mostert and Achane are healthy. While that is an enormous IF, it is enough to have him be off the radar in 12-team redraft leagues.
60. Bucky Irving–Bucky Irving was a do-it-all back in college (Minnesota and Oregon). He joins Rachaad White in Tampa Bay, who was one of the most elite pass-catching running backs in the NFL last season. Where White faltered was on the ground, where he posted numbers as bad as his receiving numbers were good. Irving should run away with the backup job and could eat into early down work by the season’s end. While I don’t think he warrants a draft pick right now, he should undoubtedly be on your watch list for waivers.
61. Audric Estime (RB, DEN) – Audric Estime saw his draft stock plummet after an abysmal showing at the NFL combine. But when you watch the tape during his time at Notre Dame, you can’t help but be impressed. He is a bruising runner at 5’11” and 227 pounds. While he did fall to the fifth round, he has a path to playing time in Sean Payton’s system in year one. Javonte Williams, despite current reports, is the favorite to lead this backfield, but don’t be surprised to see Estime take a fair amount of goal-line work. His primary limitation for fantasy football is that he is a zero in the passing game.
62. Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PHI) – Kenneth Gainwell continues to be a staple in the Eagles’ backfield. In week one of last season, with D’Andre Swift on the roster, the Eagles showed us all just how much they trust Gainwell by giving him the start over Swift. Now we know that didn’t continue, but it tells us how much they like Gainwell as he battles Will Shipley for the RB2 role behind Saquon Barkley. Gainwell did not get much work last season, but it was still the best season of his career, posting over 500 total yards and two touchdowns and only playing over 50% of the snaps or more in three games. Shipley is the better player, but Gainwell knows the system. Both will need Barkley to miss time to get any meaningful playing time. If Barkley does miss time, Gainwell and Shipley will more than likely split the work.
63. Kimani Vidal (RB, LAC) – Kimani Vidal is a sixth-round pick for the Chargers out of Troy. Vidal has gotten a ton of hype this offseason in fantasy circles, and it may be warranted. He tested well enough at the combine and posted impressive numbers rushing for over 1,600 yards in his final collegiate season. His situation has some intrigue with a player of his profile, even if he has sixth-round draft capital. Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins are on the depth chart ahead of Vidal, and both have extensive injury and/or age concerns. If Dobbins can be one of the first players in NFL history to shake the dreaded Achilles tear successfully, then Vidal has a steeper hill to climb. The sheer volume of rushing opportunities that most are projecting for the Chargers means that every running back on the roster is worth rostering in 12-person leagues. Ambiguous running back rooms are a great place for fantasy managers to find value.
Q2 3:15 | Mama, there goes that man 😮💨
Kimani Vidal notches his 30th career touchdown, this time for 36 yards out!
⛰️: 0
⚔️: 14#RiseToBuild | #OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/NQW2p00Nos— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) December 2, 2023
64. Braelon Allen (RB, NYJ) – Braelon Allen landed in a tough spot with the New York Jets. He looks to be the favorite to backup Breece Hall, but that isn’t likely to produce much fruit for fantasy football. Allen has the size and skill set to be a workhorse in the NFL. He has light, fluid feet for a 235-pound running back. Allen is one of the premier handcuffs in fantasy football, but he falls in the mid-60s because he won’t be getting many touches without Hall missing time. Allen carries significantly more value in dynasty leagues, being that he will be only 20 years old for the entirety of his rookie season.
65. Miles Sanders (RB, CAR) – Miles Sanders, along with the entire Carolina Panthers offense, struggled the whole season. The passing game was anemic, and the offensive line made things difficult for all of the Panther’s running backs in 2023. Sanders eventually lost the starting job to Chuba Hubbard, limping his way to 432 yards and one touchdown while adding a paltry 154 yards through the air. When it comes to 2024, Sanders should be splitting first-team reps with Hubbard. That, of course, is until Jonathon Brooks fully recovers from his late-season ACL tear. Sanders could lost any path to playing time at that point. In most cases, he is fine to avoid altogether.
66. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, NYG) – Fantasy managers love the idea of a wide receiver converted into a running back, and Tyrone Tracy is that. Tracy feels like a trap because of what he COULD bring with his versatility, but he is not a player I am going out of my way to acquire in redraft leagues. If he is able to establish a role for the Giants, he should have some FLEX appeal in full PPR leagues during the chaos of bye weeks.
Tier 10
67. Alexander Mattison (RB, LV) – Mattison was one of the more predictable blunders last year. While volume is a significant factor for any player, managers were naive to think volume devoid of talent would lead to fantasy success. Mattison has proven to be ineffective, and I think he has little utility in 12-man or fewer leagues as the Las Vegas Raiders’ RB3. At their current ADP, Dylan Laube is the only Raiders running back in which I would be investing in.
68. Keaton Mitchell (RB, BAL) – Keaton Mitchell had a couple of games last season that were reminiscent of De’Von Achane. Unfortunately, he had one of the more gruesome knee injuries in recent memory. Fantasy managers won’t have to draft Mitchell, but he could be a great add in the final month of the season as the change-of-pace and pass-catching back to complement Derrick Henry. He flashed impressive efficiency, averaging over eight yards per carry on 47 carries.
69. AJ Dillon (RB, GB) – AJ Dillon had the worst season of his career in 2023. He also now has to compete with rookie MarShawn Lloyd for touches behind Green Bay’s newest lead running back, Josh Jacobs. Dillon has gone from an exciting power runner who needs a chance to a big-bodied plodder in the eyes of fantasy managers, and I don’t blame them for it. He lacks the versatility to provide much fantasy value as the non-primary ball carrier. His only hope to hold onto any value in 2024 is if Lloyd continues to struggle with his fumbling issues from his collegiate career.
70. D’Onta Foreman (RB, CLE) – D’Onta Foreman suffered a scary neck injury just a week ago that required him to be airlifted to the hospital. Thankfully, he returned to the team and should be fine well before week one. With Nick Chubb slated to miss an undetermined amount of time, Foreman should mix in with Jerome Ford to carry the load for the Browns this season. He has only ever seen more than 150 touches once in his career, so if he doesn’t take the goal line, his upside is somewhat limited.
71. Justice Hill (RB, BAL) – Justice Hill is the favorite to back up Derrick Henry for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024. Hill had the most productive season of his career last year, but he isn’t built to be a lead back in the NFL. He should complement Henry well until Keaton Mitchell is fully recovered. When thinking of handcuffs, Hill is far off my radar.
72. Jamaal Williams (RB, NO) – Jamaal Williams’ fall from grace was abrupt. He went from a huge final season in Detroit to barely stepping on the field in 2023. This season brings more of the same, with the Saints’ offense having an equally bleak outlook. The 29-year-old back is on the wrong side of the running back age cliff and will have to contend with Kendre Miller as the backup to Alvin Kamara in what looks to be his final season with the team.
73. Tank Bigsby (RB, JAC) – Tank Bigsby had a tough first season with the Jaguars, but in year two, the hope is that he can acclimate to the NFL game and be a competent backup to Travis Etienne. Jacksonville has yet to bring in much competition, so year two may be a resurgence for Bigsby.
74. Samaje Perine (RB, DEN) – Samaje Perine does not look long for Denver’s roster. He likely will find a team, given that he posted nearly 700 yards last season for the anemic Broncos. Ideally, a team like the Giants would scoop him up with a backfield that needs a true answer at the position.
75. Will Shipley (RB, PHI) – The Eagles selected Will Shipley in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft. Shipley is a perfect fit to be the Eagles’ third-down back if they hadn’t signed Saquon Barkley already. That being said, he will compete with Kenneth Gainwell for the backup job and has already been sharing first-team reps with Gainwell while Barkley is out. With Barkley’s extensive injury history, Shipley has a chance to carve out the value in full PPR leagues. He is a fine last round of your draft stash.
76. Deuce Vaughn (RB, DAL) – Deuce Vaughn is such a fun player to see on an NFL field. The difficult part is he has too small of a frame (5’6″, 176 pounds) to be a significant fantasy contributor. He is somewhere between Royce Freeman and Rico Dowdle when it comes to backing up Ezekiel Elliot in Dallas.
77. Evan Hull (RB, IND) – Evan Hull may be losing his grip on the backup job in Indianapolis. Still, both he and Trey Sermon would need an injury to Jonathan Taylor to see any value in 2024.
78. Jordan Mason (RB, SF) – Jordan Mason may be a cut candidate for the Niners this offseason. If he does get cut, he could find himself in a more favorable situation and a clearer path to playing time.
79. Michael Carter (RB, ARI) – Michael Carter performed well with the very minimal touches he saw last season with Arizona. That being said, he is likely log-jammed as the RB3 behind both James Conner and rookie Trey Benson.
80. Trey Sermon (RB, IND) – As things stand now, Trey Sermon looks to be Jonathan Taylor’s backup. That being said, I would not be surprised to see Evan Hull become more involved if Taylor were to actually miss significant time.
81. D’Ernest Johnson (RB, JAC) – D’Ernest Johnson chose to stay in Jacksonville and retain his RB3 spot on their roster. He would need injury to be fantasy relevant.
82. Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB, MIA) – Jeff Wilson Jr. may be the odd man out in Miami, but until we get more clarity on that, I am fine having any Dolphins running back on my bench if the league is deep enough.
83. Isaac Guerendo (RB, SF) – Isaac Guerendo, the NFL combine darling, landed with the 49ers, and that alone has our attention. Guerendo has a chance to be the second most talented running back on this team. The only two issues here are that he has struggled with soft tissue injuries his whole career and is currently dealing with hamstring issues. Oh, and Christian McCaffrey isn’t going anywhere.
84. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB, WAS) – Chris Rodriguez Jr. may be a victim of too many cooks in the kitchen, but he showed flashes when given the opportunity last year. If Brian Robinson has a case of the fumbles again Rodriguez could fill in on early downs alongside Austin Ekeler.
85. Cordarrelle Patterson (RB, PIT) – Cordarrelle Patterson is probably more of a special teams player than a running back for the Steelers this year, but with the new kickoff rules, touchdowns are back on the table for one of the best to ever do it.
86. Kyle Juszczyk (FB, SF) – Kyle Juszczyk, I know he is a fullback! But he gets occasional touches, and those touches tend to be valuable and usually near the goal line. Trying to predict those is an exercise in futility, but for those managers who are down bad, there are worse options. Hint: See below.
87. Pierre Strong Jr. (RB, CLE) – Pierre Strong Jr. should get some run for the Browns while Nick Chubb is on the mend, but he hasn’t given us much reason to be excited about those touches. If Jerome Ford misses time, Strong can be near the top of your waiver wire adds that week.
88. Israel Abanikanda (RB, NYJ) – Israel Abanikanda is near the bottom of the depth chart for the New York Jets, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were a cut candidate before the end of preseason. Still, he presents upside as an early down back and should be on an NFL roster this season whether it’s with the Jets or not.
89. Chase Edmonds (RB, TB) – Chase Edmonds is currently injured but should have a chance to make the Buccaneers as their RB3 behind Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. He most likely will remain on waivers unless there are injuries ahead of him.
90. Eric Gray (RB, NYG) – Eric Gray was a popular sleeper last season, and while I wouldn’t call him a sleeper, he is near the top of my players to watch on waivers list. The Giants’ backfield is led by Devin Singletary right now, but I would not be surprised to see Tyron Tracy and/or Gray push for more touches in New York.
91. Emari Demercado (RB, ARI) – Emari Demercado made headlines recently as he pushed both Michael Carter and apparently Trey Benson for the backup role behind James Conner. With Conner’s injury history, Demercado would be a great target if he were able to secure that job, even though I have my doubts.
92. Isaiah Spiller (RB, LAC) – Isaiah Spiller may be one of my biggest misses in recent memory. He is technically on the roster for the LA Chargers, but I would not be surprised if he is cut before the end of the preseason. Maybe a fresh start will help Spiller find some utility in the NFL, but as things stand now, he is a dart throw from a mile away for a backfield in flux.
93. Jerick McKinnon (RB, FA) – Jerick McKinnon will most likely be on waivers in normal-sized leagues, but he is worth putting on your watch list if he signs with a contender late in the season.
94. Kareem Hunt (RB, FA) – Kareem Hunt still has some juice, even if it’s just barely. Right now, he is a free agent, but don’t be surprised if he signs with a team in the early parts of the season.
95. Cam Akers (RB, HOU) – Cam Akers signed with the Texans and made his debut for them during the Hall of Fame game. I wouldn’t expect to see Akers get much playing time in Houston if both Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are healthy, but if either goes down, he could sneak into bye week fill-in territory in a high-scoring offense.
96. Rasheen Ali (RB, BAL) – Ali is currently on the Ravens’ roster bubble. If he does make the roster, he could take over the RB2 spot by mid-season, which should retain value in the Raven’s highly effective run game.
97. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC) – Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns to Kansas City in 2024, but he may somehow find a way to have less value for fantasy football purposes. Reports out of training camp have Deneric Prince and not Edwards-Helaire as the RB2 behind Isiah Pacheco. It isn’t overly surprising, considering that Edwards-Helaire saw his yards per carry drop from 4.25 in 2022 to 3.19 in 2023. With Prince’s skill set, Edwards-Helaire should have some, albeit minimal, value if Pacheco were to miss time.
98. Royce Freeman (RB, DAL) – I wouldn’t be surprised to see Royce Freeman supplant Rico Dowdle as the RB2 on the Cowboys roster. At the very least, he should get run in this committee, and while he isn’t going to win you weeks, he could be a fine stopgap for teams dealing with injury and bye weeks late season.
99. Isaiah Davis (RB, NYJ) – Isaiah Davis is the RB3 for the New York Jets as things stand now behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, but should something happen to Hall, he would be in a timeshare with Allen, and he would almost assuredly get the goal-line work.
100. Louis Rees-Zammit (RB, KC) – Louis Reed-Zammit may be more of a special teams player, but the options behind Isiah Pacheco leave plenty up for grabs. Rees-Zammit is a former rugby superstar and has the skill set to compete at a high level combined with impress
