The fantasy football season is just a few weeks away, and whether you just had your draft or are drafting this weekend, you need to know which running backs can become impact players for your fantasy rosters without paying a premium. I love to load the back of my draft with one to two options at running back that are one situation away from having the keys to their backfields handed to them. Usually, this is injury-related, but it could also be players who have a chance to force their way onto the field in a role that gives them a clear path to high-leverage touches such as goal line or passing down opportunities.
It’s important to note that while some of these players may be low in my overall Top 300 rankings and may have some backup running backs ahead of them, these are players who could fight for top-15-level production if they get a more significant opportunity. A prime example of this would be Braelon Allen, who I have ranked as RB56 behind players like Ty Chandler (RB48). If Allen were to take over for Breece Hall, he would become an elite fantasy asset, whereas Chandler would struggle to reach that caliber of production and usage.
Let’s dive in!
Zach Charbonnet (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. With Charbonnet, 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.
Trey Benson (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 Charbonnet as a Handcuff+running back. As long as Conner is healthy, I expect around 8-10 touches a game for Benson by mid-season. His value surpasses even Conner’s if he does get a crack at the starting job at some point in the season, with the potential to be a league winner if Conner misses time. He is a priority handcuff in the late rounds of your drafts.
Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
Tyler Allgeier may not have Arthur Smith this season, but the Falcons have been singing 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.
Braelon Allen (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 his standalone value is lower 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.
Blake Corum (LAR)
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 Williams, making him a perfect fit in Sean McVay’s system. You can expect Williams to command touches early and often, but Corum should start to eat into that playing time by mid-season. He has a nose for the end zone, which could bode well for him in the interim and would enable him to fight for high-end RB2 production if Williams were to miss time.
Roschon Johnson & Khalil Herbert (CHI)
I am lumping in the Bears backups together here because they both possess intriguing values in drafts. Roschon Johnson has a compelling 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, Johnson is more likely to be in the team’s long-term future. 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 or traded this season, and while normally that is a major red flag, I am buying in on Herbert being a contributor in 2024, whether it’s in Chicago or on a team like Dallas.
Bucky Irving (TB)
Bucky Irving was a do-it-all back in college during his time at Minnesota and Oregon. As a new member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he joins Rachaad White, 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.
Audric Estime (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 isn’t likely to see much passing game volume.
Jaylen Wright (MIA)
Jaylen Wright lands in the dream scheme for his success at the NFL level. He has a skill set similar to Raheem Mostert and DeVon Achane. 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, but that is an enormous IF. He will backup both players in an explosive offense and has shown out well during preseason play. I like the player, I like the value.
Tank Bigsby (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. He has looked much better during the preseason and has the frame to hold up in the NFL. If this offense takes a step forward, Bigsby could play even with a healthy Etienne to some degree.
Eric Gray & Tyrone Tracy (NYG)
While it is undoubtedly an uglier outlook on offense, I would be remiss if I did not mention both Giants backups here. Eric Gray was a popular sleeper last season, and while I wouldn’t call him a sleeper this time around, he is near the top of my players to watch on waivers. The Giants’ backfield is led by Devin Singletary right now, but I would not be surprised to see Tyrone Tracy and/or Gray push for more touches in New York. Fantasy managers love the idea of a wide receiver converted into a running back, and Tyrone Tracy is just that. Tracy feels like a trap because of what he COULD bring with his versatility. If he can establish a role for the Giants, he should have some FLEX appeal in full PPR leagues during the chaos of bye weeks and the potential for much more if Singletary were to miss any time.
Ray Davis (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 besides Josh Allen to punch the ball in at the goal line. 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. Add to that, if Cook isn’t as lucky with injuries in 2024, Davis is the next man up behind a solid offensive line.
Deneric Prince & Louis Rees-Zammit (KC)
This is firmly entering the “dart throw” territory of the draft, but when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs offense, I am happy to have as many darts as possible. Deneric Prince did not get much run last season for the Chiefs but is currently acting as Kansas City’s RB2. Similar to starter Isiah 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 win the number two job by season start. Louis Rees-Zammit may be more of a special teams player, but the options behind Pacheco leave plenty up for grabs. Rees-Zammit is a former rugby superstar and has the skill set to compete at a high level.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)