RADIO
In my last article, I highlighted one-man backfields to chase in 2024. In this article, I highlight four of the best backup running backs to chase in 2024. Two of these guys are probably straight “handcuff” type backups that require an injury to the starter. However, two of these guys have a legitimate shot to overtake the perceived “starter” should they outperform them early in the season.
You’ll notice a trend with these backup running backs. They’re all on elite offenses, or what should be elite offenses in 2024. Additionally, they’re all objectively good backs. They all either graded well or showed signs of being efficient on limited opportunities a year ago. Of course, that’s just one step toward getting more touches in the future. A team then needs to actually give you the volume. Remember, volume equals fantasy points at the running back position.
What’s best about all of these guys is that they’re cheap! They can all be easily drafted in your fantasy leagues. These are the kinds of players you want on the back end of your bench. If they outperform the perceived “starter” or the top dog goes down with an injury, these running backs could be league-winners. Chase these backup running backs in 2024!
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Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III was really good last season, but honestly, so was Zach Charbonnet. It was a slow start for the rookie out of UCLA, but he eventually earned more playing time as the season went on. Then Walker got hurt and Charbonnet was thrust into an every-down role. I mean, just look at this guy’s agility:
I didn’t know Zach Charbonnet’s cutting ability was this deadly holy shit pic.twitter.com/hA56CsTNiU
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) June 9, 2024
Between Weeks 11 and 13, he averaged 75.3 total yards on 20 opportunities per game. While not necessarily a lot of yards, the key takeaway here is the utilization. Charbonnet played on over 80% of the snaps with an 80% route participation rate. That’s a feature back, and that’s exactly the kind of running back we want to target in fantasy football. If Walker were forced to miss any time in 2024, we should be able to confidently plug Charbonnet into our lineups as an RB1. Yes, that’s right, an RB1.
Another reason to be optimistic about Charbonnet this season is a change in the coaching staff. Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb take over as head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively. Neither guy has any allegiance to Walker or Charbonnet, both of whom were second-round draft picks.
If Charbonnet proves better for the schemes they want to run, who’s to say he won’t play more than Walker? Walker is the favorite to enter the season as RB1, but there’s no guarantee it continues that way as the season rolls on. Here’s how both guys fared last season:
Kenneth Walker vs. Zach Charbonnet:
Yards/carry: Charb (4.3), Walker (4.1)
Yards over expected/carry: Charb (+0.18), Walker (-0.13)
YAC/carry: Charb (3), Walker (2.9)
MTF/carry: Charb (0.16), Walker (0.26)
Explosive %: Charb (15%), Walker (11%)
Stuff %: Charb (17%), Walker (21%)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 22, 2024
We’ve also heard Grubb will bring his pass-happy attack from the University of Washington to Seattle. If he wants the better pass-blocking back on the field, that’ll be Charbonnet, who received a 61.1 PFF pass-blocking grade last season compared to just a 40.7 pass-blocking grade for Walker.
Currently, Walker’s average draft position (ADP) of 67 (RB16) on Underdog suggests he’s the “starter” in Seattle, while Charbonnet’s ADP of 134 (RB42) suggests he’s the “backup.” However, these guys essentially split snaps down the middle from Week 8 of last season. So not only is there top-10 injury contingent upside with Charbonnet but there’s also a world in which he overtakes Walker in what figures to be a completely different-looking Seahawks offense.
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams had no depth at the running back position last season. When Kyren Williams went down in Week 6, they signed Darrell Henderson off the street, literally. He came in and immediately saw a 60% snap share. That right there tells you everything you need to know. Earn Sean McVay’s trust, and you’re going to play. You’re going to play a lot.
With Williams having dealt with a multitude of lower-body injuries throughout his collegiate and pro career, McVay and the Rams decided to use premium draft capital on Michigan running back Blake Corum. When healthy, this guy is a game-changer out of the backfield:
Blake Corum is the most elusive back in the class when healthy!
This run is absurd. Demonstrates elite COD ability. I get big time JK Dobbins vibes with Corum. pic.twitter.com/GhgPx5sCw5
— Brett Whitefield (@BGWhitefield) February 23, 2024
After being drafted, McVay discussed how similar Corum’s game is to Williams’. But again, in order to get on the field, “they’ve gotta earn trust.” And it seems Corum has started doing that in camp. Here’s what McVay had to say about Corum in early June:
#Rams HC Sean McVay on Blake Corum:
“I’ve seen a guy that’s continued to progress… Great instincts as a runner, good feel in the pass game, great toughness”
“He has definitely been as advertised” pic.twitter.com/Dxi9zYPqMN
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 4, 2024
While it’s unlikely Corum has a huge role right out of the gates, it would make sense for the Rams to reduce Williams’ workload a bit. At 5-foot-9, 194 pounds, it’ll be hard for him to sustain a top-5 workload during a 17-game season. However, it’s McVay, and we’ve always seen him use his most trusted running back on an every-down basis for years. That said, all it takes is one injury to Williams to thrust Corum into that every-down role. After all, they didn’t use a Day 2 pick on the Michigan product to not play him.
Last season, Williams ranked first among running backs in snap share (83.9%) and fourth in opportunity share (78.4%). Of course, there’s a world in which Corum doesn’t “win” that backup job in camp, but it’s not costing you much to find out. With an ADP of just 121 (RB37), it’s easy to get this guy on your fantasy team in 2024. Follow the drumbeat in training camp and make him a priority in your fantasy draft.
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. In 2023, they led the league in points per game (30.1) and red-zone scoring attempts per game (4.2) and were second in the league in plays per game (67.3). Check out this graphic from Hayden Winks that uses Mike Clay’s play projections to highlight the truly elite offenses in the NFL:
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) June 27, 2024
Now that we understand the Cowboys should once again have a prolific offense, let’s take a look at their running back situation. They lost their bell cow from 2023 in Tony Pollard and brought back former Cowboy great Ezekiel Elliott. They gave him a one-year, $2M contract with $1.6M guaranteed. They also have Rico Dowdle, who himself is on a one-year, $1.25M contract. It appears as if the Cowboys have smartened up when it comes to paying the position.
They also have Royce Freeman, Malik Davis, and Deuce Vaughn, but those guys don’t figure to pose much of a threat to Elliott or Dowdle in 2024. Head coach Mike McCarthy even went as far as to call Dowdle “one of the lead guys in the room.”
The Cowboys can’t seem to quit Zeke. But he’s turning 29 years old and has over 2,000 career rush attempts in the NFL alone. He’s nowhere near the same running back now as he was even 3-4 years ago. Enter Dowdle, who despite grading similarly to Elliott last season (per PFF), was relatively efficient on his carries. He was ninth among running backs in yards created per touch (3.92), 18th in juke rate (20.8%), and 23rd in yards per touch (4.8). Simply put, he can make guys miss. Just look at this play:
#Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle was great today. Tony Pollard had the touches and yards, but Dowdle’s patience, vision, and burst was on display. Legit RB1 type stuff. pic.twitter.com/D3rVgrBDuO
— Dominic White (@DomWWhite) September 24, 2023
“But Zeke is so good in pass protection the Cowboys won’t be able to take him off the field.” Actually, he graded poorly in that area last season with just a PFF grade of 37.1.
Dallas will go with whatever guy has the juice. Right now, that’s Dowdle over Zeke, and that’ll be even more evident when training camp opens up. Elliott’s Underdog ADP is 122 (RB38), while Dowdle’s is 137 (RB43). Take the “backup” and enjoy the plethora of fantasy points in 2024.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Here’s a pure “handcuff” situation. Bijan Robinson is the clear starter in the Atlanta Falcons backfield. But we know running backs get hurt at the highest rate of any skill position on offense. So why not target one of the best backup running backs in football?
Yes, Arthur Smith probably played Allgeier more than Robinson fantasy managers would have liked last season, but because of it, we know the former is an objectively good football player. In fact, PFF graded Allgeier higher than Robinson as a runner, receiver, and pass-blocker in 2023:
Allgeier received the highest pass-blocking grade in the league by a wide margin. When your quarterback is a pocket passer coming off an Achilles tear like Kirk Cousins is, I’m confident pass-blocking is an important part of the equation for a team. Allgeier not only provides that, but he also graded well as a runner and receiver. He’s an objectively good football player.
TYLER ALLGEIER ALL THE WAY!!
📺 CBS | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/Ec8t0YUYMs
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 31, 2023
With Cousins at the helm and a new coaching staff in place in Atlanta, points will be scored, and the best players will be fed the football. That includes Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, but it also should include Allgeier, who has been really good for this Falcons team the last two years.
And if anything were to happen to Robinson, Allgeier would step right in as an RB1. He’s already proved it. In Week 7 last season, when Robinson had a headache, Allgeier shouldered the load. He totaled 112 yards on 24 touches. That included a whopping seven red-zone carries.
With Arthur Smith gone and Cordarrelle Patterson no longer chomping at the bit to steal touches, Allgeier should be considered one of the most valuable backup running backs in the league in 2024. And he won't break the bank being that his ADP is just 149 (RB46).
Zac Robinson: "Certainly, Tyler (Allgeier) is going to have a big role, and at certain points in the season we are going to be leaning on him."
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) July 30, 2024
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