Fantasy Football Backup Running Back Rankings For Dynasty Leagues

Ah, the backup running backs. Fantasy football managers hold them all season in the hopes that, for at least one week, they have a fantasy starter.

Not all backup running backs are created equal. The top-end runners technically don't start but see an equal share of touches. There are the high-value handcuffs, the running backs who are an injury away from 15-20 opportunities. A group of backups may or may not dominate the workload if the starter is inactive. Finally, the backfield puzzles that free agency or the NFL Draft may solve.

Below, all backup running backs are ranked, based on the categories described above. Fantasy managers have different needs when hunting for running backs. Someone like Austin Ekeler contributes now but would be ranked below many backs in the following groups. Others, like MarShawn Lloyd, are projects for future seasons.

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Group 1: The 1Bs

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit
2. Jaylen Warren*** (RFA), Pittsburgh
3. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville
4. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay
5. Austin Ekeler, Washington

Technically, Jahmyr Gibbs plays a reserve role. David Montgomery dominates touches on Detroit's first drive. Gibbs logged four starts in 2024 and just one with a healthy Montgomery. Yet, he finished as the RB1 in PPR formats (including Week 18 when RB2 Saquon Barkley rested). There's a gulf between Gibbs and the rest of this group.

Randomly remembering this BEAUTIFUL run from Jahmyr Gibbs against the Vikings earlier in the season ⚡️#OnePride pic.twitter.com/xJ6yY8B62M

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) December 26, 2024

To various degrees, Jaylen Warren, Tank Bigsby, and Rachaad White are 1Bs in their respective backfields. Warren, a restricted free agent, takes a significant number of snaps away from Najee Harris (an unrestricted free agent). Bigsby averaged double-digit carries in the back half of the regular season. White remained Tampa Bay's "starter" through Week 17, although Bucky Irving usurped him.

29-year-old Austin Ekeler is spending his final NFL seasons as the pass-catching back in the nation's capital. While he's currently splitting touches with Brian Robinson Jr., he doesn't hold long-term dynasty value.

Group 2: The Clear Backups

1. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta
2. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle
3. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee
4. Ray Davis, Buffalo
5. Braelon Allen, New York Jets
6. Trey Benson, Arizona
7. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco
8. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
9. Devin Singletary, New York Giants
10. Zack Moss, Cincinnati
11. Kenneth Gainwell (UFA), Philadelphia
12. Antonio Gibson, New England
13. Roschon Johnson, Chicago
14. Miles Sanders, Carolina
15. Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers

The four backup running backs atop this list have proved they can produce when their names are called upon. 24-year-old Tyler Allgeier rushed for 1,000 yards in his rookie season. Zach Charbonnet was a few yards shy of 200 against Arizona in Week 14. Tyjae Spears and Ray Davis shined when given the bulk of their team's touches. Allgeier and Charbonnet (younger than Davis) could sign into a starting spot during free agency following the 2025 season.

Braelon Allen, Trey Benson, Isaac Guerendo, and Blake Corum enter their sophomore seasons with plenty to prove. Allen flashed in limited usage behind Breece Hall but began to lose backup touches to Isaiah Davis late in the season. The amateur scouts love Benson's potential but he couldn't show it. He was injured concurrently with starter James Conner, who was signed to a two-year extension during the season.

Guerendo passed his audition filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey (and Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell). San Francisco could (and should) add another running back this offseason, especially if it doesn't bring back Mason (RFA). Corum was scarcely utilized behind Kyren Williams in Los Angeles.

ISAAC GUERENDO. 76-YARD RUN TO START THE DRIVE.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Pt3BWP6JEF

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

Devin Singletary and Zack Moss fall into the same camp: veterans lacking juice who can score like low-end RB2s when given volume.

Unrestricted free agent Kenneth Gainwell is a beloved backup in Philadelphia who rarely gets double-digit touches. The Eagles could cheaply re-sign him as insurance for Saquon Barkley.

Antonio Gibson, Roschon Johnson, and Miles Sanders are second-stringers on poor offenses. Gibson edges out Johnson and Sanders because of his pass-catching prowess.

Gus Edwards is technically the starter in Los Angeles. J.K. Dobbins is a free agent but the Chargers won't enter training camp with Edwards atop the depth chart.

Group 3: Muddy Backfields

1. Jaylen Wright, Miami
2. Kendre Miller, New Orleans
3. Audric Estime, Denver
4. MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay
5. Justice Hill, Baltimore
6. Dameon Pierce, Houston

Fantasy managers should swing for the upside of Jaylen Wright, Kendre Miller, Audric Estime, and MarShawn Lloyd over the veterans at the bottom of the previous list. However, if the starters in their respective cities were to get injured, it would not necessarily be these young runners who would take over. Miami (which released Raheem Mostert) and Denver (Javonte Williams is a free agent) will add running backs through the NFL Draft or free agency this offseason.

The former New Orleans coaching staff (mainly Dennis Allen) was not a Kendre Miller fan. Kellen Moore could take better note of his talent or Miller's injury woes could submarine his chances of becoming a successful professional. It's a similar story for MarShawn Lloyd, who played one game (seven touches) due to various ailments.

Justice Hill won't be a three-down running back. If Derrick Henry were to miss time, he'd split touches with Keaton Mitchell.

Dameon Pierce has sputtered since his explosive rookie season. He's entering his last season under contract in Houston.

Group 4: Work In Progress

1. Jerome Ford, Cleveland
2. Rico Dowdle (UFA), Dallas
3. Cam Akers (UFA), Minnesota
4. Kareem Hunt (UFA), Kansas City
5. Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas
6. Tyler Goodson, Indianapolis

Jerome Ford's value could vault into 1B territory or collapse into irrelevancy. Nick Chubb is a free agent and Ford has a handful of starts and an 800-yard season under his belt. If the Browns don't re-sign the longtime starter in Chubb, the franchise will add another major piece to the running back room. Ford could wind up a starter (if, say, the Browns draft a Day 2 rookie who needs easing in). He could also become part of a committee in a backup role to a free-agency addition.

Our Steelers insider @jhathhorn says on @937thefan the Steelers are "very much interested" in signing Browns RB Nick Chubb in free agency. Provided the medical on Chubb went well. pic.twitter.com/QZ9BzXJ7fO

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 19, 2025

It's a similar story for Rico Dowdle, who has lower odds of sitting atop a depth chart in September. Dallas' 1,000-yard rusher is a free agent. He could re-sign with the Cowboys but the team will also pick up a splashier name. Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, or Ashton Jeanty would fit the bill, relegating Dowdle to backup duty and a spot in the middle-to-low end of Group 2's list.

There are too many variables to properly rank the Minnesota Vikings backfield. Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are unrestricted free agents. The team needs a starter before we can name a backup. If it's Akers again, he'd fit in well in the Gainwell-Gibson territory in Group 2.

Will the Kansas City Chiefs ride with soon-to-be 30-year-old Kareem Hunt again? The results for Isiah Pacheco, following his broken leg, were less than favorable. My hypothesis is the Chiefs add through the draft and let Hunt walk.

The Raiders running game stayed grounded in Zamir White's first season as the full-time starter. Then, Las Vegas experimented with Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah before settling on Sincere McCormick. He received starter-level volume for two games before a season-ending injury. He's better suited as a backup but the team will need to acquire a starter first.

Tyler Goodson is a replacement-level player. It would be a surprise if the Colts didn't add a body to their committee-backup approach to Jonathan Taylor.

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