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In the realm of fantasy football, running backs have traditionally held the throne. This dominance originated from the NFL's emphasis on ground games, but the league has shifted towards a more pass-heavy approach. Similarly, the fantasy football landscape is evolving with the rise of Points-per-Reception (PPR) leagues, which have elevated the value of wide receivers. Pass-catching running backs are now as valuable as their early-down counterparts in these formats. Today, however, we’re returning to a classic approach, highlighting running backs set to thrive in standard-scoring leagues in 2024.
When evaluating running backs for standard leagues, it’s essential to prioritize those who dominate early-down carries and have a strong chance of scoring touchdowns. In this format, backs more involved in the passing game may see their value decrease, while those with heavy workloads and high touchdown potential are in greater demand. Additionally, identifying teams with a coaching staff emphasizing the running game can provide a significant edge.
This article will highlight running backs who are strong candidates for standard leagues while at the same time also those to avoid in PPR formats. The focus is on early-down power backs who excel in rushing but are less involved in the passing game. Several familiar names have thrived in standard leagues recently and are poised to exceed their average draft position (ADP) in 2024. A new coaching staff or a different team altogether position the running backs below to excel in standard scoring, but you should overlook them in PPR formats. Let’s take a closer look at our top targets.
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Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
When considering the quintessential standard league running back, Derrick Henry immediately comes to mind. These players excel in yardage and touchdowns while offering limited contributions in the passing game. Since assuming the lead role in 2018, Henry has recorded at least 1,000 rushing yards and ten touchdowns each season, except for 2021, when an injury sidelined him after just eight games. Even in that abbreviated season, he amassed 937 yards and 10 touchdowns, highlighting his potential in a solid run-oriented offense. After spending eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry joined the Baltimore Ravens in free agency, a team regarded as one of the league's top rushing offenses. His prowess in standard leagues is indisputable, making him a standout choice for your fantasy roster.
Derrick Henry is in for a HUGE season🤯‼️
Henry in 2023….
1167 Rush Yards (2nd)
570 YACON (2nd)
12 Rushing TDs (5th)
23 Broken Tackles (5th)And this is while he had a bottom 5 O-line & faced the MOST stacked boxes out of any RB😳
Now in 2024…..
He is with the Ravens who… pic.twitter.com/6ReX3EGb6c
— Bryce DeGroat (@NFL_Convo) July 17, 2024
Last season, the Ravens ranked fourth in the NFL for rushing touchdowns, trailing the leaders by just one score with 26. Henry's position as the primary goal-line back gives him excellent opportunities to accumulate touchdowns. Gus Edwards, Baltimore's leading running back last year, outscored Henry despite having 82 fewer carries, underscoring the efficiency of the Ravens' rushing attack. The team plans to minimize hits on Lamar Jackson to preserve his health for the playoffs, allowing Henry to handle most goal-line duties. Henry is poised to dominate early-down and goal-line carries with only an injured Keaton Mitchell and third-down back Justice Hill behind him on the depth chart.
Although Henry has improved his reception totals recently, the Ravens utilize their running backs in the passing game sparingly. Last season, they ranked 30th in the league for running back receptions, recording only 79 total catches. Justice Hill accounted for 39 of those receptions and is set to continue in the third-down receiving role, leaving limited opportunities for Henry. Thus, while Henry will thrive in standard leagues, he’s a candidate to fade in PPR drafts.
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
While there is a current king who reigns as the top standard league running back, David Montgomery is a formidable contender for that title in 2024. Montgomery ranked fifth in points per game for standard scoring despite recording just 16 receptions throughout the season. In contrast, he drops to 15th in PPR formats, highlighting how much he thrives under standard scoring rules. His potential in a stacked Lions offense is encouraging, giving fantasy managers ample reason to feel optimistic about his performance.
David Montgomery has been one of the best FA agent pickups for the #Lions in recent memory. When Brad Holmes decided to revamp the running back room, he went with Monty and Gibbs, forming the best RB duo in the league.
I feel Monty gets overlooked sometimes as a running back… pic.twitter.com/wR4iNgJPWE
— caleb (@calebczarnik) June 17, 2024
The goal-line running back role in Detroit has been highly sought after in fantasy, especially since Jamaal Williams topped the league with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022. While last year’s first-round pick, Jahmyr Gibbs, saw some action in the red zone, Montgomery led the team with 51.9% of the snaps. He is poised to retain control over goal-line carries, while Gibbs should be involved more when the Lions are between the 10-yard and 20-yard lines.
Avoid Montgomery in PPR formats because Gibbs will manage most of the Lions' receiving duties. While Montgomery struggled with his reception totals, Gibbs finished 2023 with 52 catches on 71 targets, a number likely to rise in 2024. Gibbs will be a significant presence in the passing game, positioning him as the Detroit running back to target in PPR leagues, while Montgomery is one to fade.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris has gradually transitioned from a promising receiving back to more of an early-down power runner. He had a standout rookie season, catching 74 passes, primarily due to an older, hobbled Ben Roethlisberger’s tendency to check down frequently. However, Harris's receptions plummeted to 29 last year, marking his lowest total in his three seasons. His combined receptions over the previous two seasons fall short of his impressive rookie numbers, suggesting that 2021 may be more of an exception rather than the rule.
Harris will benefit from working with one of the most run-oriented coaches, Arthur Smith, who will take over as the Steelers' Offensive Coordinator this offseason. Smith's teams have ranked among the top three in rushing attempts for the past two years, including first place in 2022, and have been in the top ten four of the last five seasons. With seasoned rushing quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at the helm, the Steelers will likely be near the top of the league in rushing attempts again.
Another significant advantage for Harris last season was his increased usage in the red zone. He raised his red zone carry percentage to 59.2%, owning 59% of Steelers rushes inside the ten-yard line and 43% inside the five-yard line. Unless Fields steps in as quarterback or Arthur Smith opts to utilize an aging Cordarrelle Patterson over a former first-round running back again, Harris should maintain these substantial red zone numbers in 2024.
You can pencil in Najee Harris for 1,000 yards & 7 TD ✏️
🏈 2021: 1,200 yards / 7 TD
🏈 2022: 1,034 yards / 7 TD
🏈 2023: 1,035 yards / 8 TD
🏈 2024: ??? pic.twitter.com/rOGmk7gYlM— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) June 30, 2024
The primary reason for Harris's declining reception numbers other than Big Ben retiring is his teammate Jaylen Warren, who has assumed the passing down role. Warren's receptions surged from 28 in 2022 to 61 in 2023, and there’s no indication that he won’t maintain this role in 2024. Warren is the Steelers' running back to target in PPR formats, while Harris remains the preferred choice in standard leagues.
Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
Gus Edwards will join the Los Angeles Chargers this year, sporting a new uniform but with an old coach. His outlook for standard-scoring leagues remains promising, much like it was with the Ravens.
In a savvy career move, Edwards signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, reuniting with his former Offensive Coordinator from the Baltimore Ravens, Greg Roman. Throughout his 10 years as an NFL Offensive Coordinator, Roman’s teams have consistently ranked in the top 10 for rushing attempts and yards, finishing in the top five for rushing yards every year since his first season in 2013. Moreover, in seven of those 10 years, his offenses have placed in the top ten for rushing touchdowns, including five seasons in the top five. This system appears ideally suited to Gus Edwards's skill set, and his familiarity with Roman bodes well for him to build on his success from last season.
"He's the bell cow, the goal line [guy], the finisher,"
- Chargers GM Joe Hortiz on RB Gus Edwards pic.twitter.com/BDMBLeRmtB
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 22, 2024
The Chargers’ backfield features minimal competition, with only the injury-prone J.K. Dobbins and sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal slated as his backups. While Dobbins was once a highly regarded prospect, his history of injuries limits him to backup status, and sixth-round rookies typically struggle to make a significant impact in their first year, if at all.
Last year, Edwards achieved career highs in attempts, rushing yards, and touchdowns while managing just 12 receptions. This receiving production placed him behind low-level backup running backs like Dameon Pierce and Alec Ingold. His new quarterback, Justin Herbert, recorded the fourth-lowest percentage of targets to running backs last season. It’s unlikely that this will change in 2024 under Roman, as only once has a Greg Roman quarterback targeted running backs more than 20% of the time. The offensive scheme perfectly suits Gus Edwards's skill set, making him an ideal later-round target in standard leagues for your second running back slot.
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