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The 2024 calendar has reached mid-August, meaning we're only a few weeks away from setting fantasy football lineups! Draft preparation has begun, and it's time to identify which players to target in the early rounds of drafts. Everyone knows the top stud fantasy running backs like Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, and Bijan Robinson, but there are a few ball carriers with immense upside outside the first round.
Sure, nailing mid-round and late-round picks can give you an edge over your opponents, but failing to pick up weekly fantasy contributors in the early rounds can put a ceiling on your squad. That said, we'll highlight three early-round RB values in this article.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2024 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2024 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2024 Draft Kit.
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Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs - Fantasy Football Outlook
Isiah Pacheco enters his 3rd season in the NFL coming off a career-year in 2023. He finished as the RB16 on a per-game basis averaging nearly 14 fantasy points per game. Despite playing just 14 games last season, Pacheco tallied 50 red zone touches, good for 7th among all running backs.
Of players with more than 50 red zone touches in 2023, only Tony Pollard (6) scored fewer touchdowns than Pacheco (9). While many teams added running backs in the offseason via the NFL Draft and Free Agency, the Chiefs seemed content going into the 2024 season with Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Isiah Pacheco gets some big blocks and finds the end zone. 😤 @isiah_pachecoRB
📺: #KCvsNYJ on NBC⁰📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/cLJQ8MOopx pic.twitter.com/Kggr7MHXay
— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2023
Being that CEH hasn't played a ton in recent years, Pacheco seems poised for another big workload this season. Per Fantasy Points Data, the 3rd-year back out of Rutgers was 6th among running backs in explosive run rate with 7+ men in the box (6.1%).
That was higher than Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey. Pacheco, who had a 72.4% opportunity share in 2023, seems poised to at least match that in 2024. Consider him a safe low-end RB1 this season with some upside in one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.
- Adam Koffler, RotoBaller
Josh Jacobs, Packers - Fantasy Football Outlook
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (hamstring) will enter 2024 as the team's starting running back after signing a four-year, $48 million contract with Green Bay during the offseason. With Aaron Jones leaving for Minnesota, Jacobs will step into a huge role to prove he is still elite.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will deploy him in various ways in both the running and passing games. Do not let yourself be entranced by Jacobs' 2022 season, in which he was the fantasy football darling.
Players often have one-off magical fantasy seasons that can never be followed up similarly. Jacobs' history as a relatively inefficient runner before 2022 was on full display in 2023 when he averaged 3.5 yards per carry. The 26-year-old rushed for 805 yards on 233 rushing attempts and six touchdowns while catching 37 passes for 296 yards over 13 games for the Raiders last year.
Jacobs missed the last six games due to a quad injury. His 2023 season can be attributed to the fact that he did not participate in any offseason programming and showed up out of playing shape.
The Packers did bring back AJ Dillon and drafted USC running back MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Expect Jacobs to lead Green Bay's backfield and be a low-end RB1 to high-end RB2 as he has been for most of his career, which is reflected by his current ADP as RB12.
- Quincy Milton III, RotoBaller
Rachaad White, Buccaneers - Fantasy Football Outlook
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' third-year running back Rachaad White was a fantasy gem last season, as many didn't select him until much later in drafts. He ended up being one of the biggest steals in 2023. Despite the team's struggles, White emerged as a bright spot in the Buccaneers' offense during the 2023 season.
The 25-year-old showcased his versatility and playmaking ability as a runner and a receiver. He finished the 2023 season with 990 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 549 receiving yards while adding three more receiving scores.
Tampa has scored on all 5 of its possessions today
📺: #JAXvsTB on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB pic.twitter.com/ZSMUUEeS5k— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
White enters the 2024 season as the Buccaneers' primary running back, poised for a valid breakout year. His main competition for touches is fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving, veteran Chase Edmonds, and second-year back Sean Tucker. White is a valuable target in the early-to-middle rounds of fantasy drafts, typically in the third to the fourth-round range.
His potential for a high volume of touches and involvement in the passing game makes him a reliable and high-upside pick. Managers looking for a versatile running back with the potential for a breakout season should consider drafting White. He is positioned as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside, particularly in PPR leagues.
His dual-threat capability ensures a high floor, and the potential for increased usage in an improved offense provides a significant upside. White could easily exceed expectations and deliver substantial fantasy value if the Buccaneers' offense performs well with returning quarterback Baker Mayfield.
- Justin Pottinger, RotoBaller
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