X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Backup Running Backs To Draft In 2024

Jaylen Warren - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Quincy Milton highlights fantasy football backup running backs that could have value in your redraft leagues in 2024. Which backups should make your team?

Gone are the days of the workhorse running back. Unless your name is Christian McCaffrey or Derrick Henry, then odds are you have a backfield running mate who sees significant touches.

In fantasy football, the running back position is diluted due to running back committees. As such, many teams have multiple backs that provide fantasy value, but very few teams have high-end fantasy running backs.

Knowing which backup running backs to draft is important to maximize the value of your fantasy team. Everyone should strive to have at least one starter on their fantasy team, but after the top 10-12 running backs are drafted, the pickings get pretty slim. Players such as Jahmyr Gibbs and De'Von Achane, who are technically not the starter, have been omitted from this list because there is no question that they will be highly drafted. Let's take a look at your best true backup bets this coming season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown enters his second NFL season after flashing serious juice in 2023. Last season, Brown was stuck behind Joe Mixon, who is a true workhorse back. The Bengals signed Zack Moss and did not otherwise address the position this offseason.

Moss will get the first chance to start, but Brown displayed enough talent last year to earn more touches. Moss is a quality back. He is a good pass-catcher and is relatively efficient at running the ball. He is not a speed demon by any means, but he can break off a long run or two throughout the season.

Brown is far more electric and it feels like he will be difficult to keep off the field. After only logging two carries through the first six games in 2023, Brown saw a huge uptick in opportunities (targets and rushes) due to the inefficiencies of Joe Mixon. Brown finished the season with 59 total opportunities. That number is poised to grow in 2024.

It is unlikely that Moss was brought in to be a true feature back and it would behoove the Bengals to use Brown's skill set. Brown will likely only cost a double-digit round pick to acquire in fantasy football. If anything, he is an excellent insurance back.

 

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Since signing Jaylen Warren as an undrafted free agent, the Steelers have tried to capitalize on his skill set and spell Najee Harris. Both backs will see a lot of involvement behind a significantly improved offensive line and quarterback situation.

The Steelers are not a darling team of the NFL. They are gritty and boring, which will likely leave Warren, and even Harris, as solid values in fantasy. Although both players should be drafted right next to each other in fantasy, the reality is that Warren's early ADP of 90.80 is more than two rounds behind Harris.

This situation is very similar to the Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard tandem of 2022. Harris is a big bruiser (Elliott) and Warren is a shifty, electric player (Pollard). Harris needs the Steelers to use Warren so that he can receive a break and continue being effective. Likewise, Warren needs the Steelers to use Harris so that he can stay fresh and use his speed. We all witnessed what Tony Pollard looked like as the workhorse back in 2023; it was not pretty.

Pittsburgh's offensive situation should be much improved. The hiring of Arthur Smith should also help Pittsburgh support two running backs. Smith was the offensive coordinator for very good Derrick Henry-led offenses in Tennessee. Additionally, much to fantasy players' chagrin, we witnessed multiple backs have value in Atlanta during Smith's tenure as head coach.

Warren is far more than an insurance back, and should be rostered in every fantasy league.

 

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

Incumbent James Conner is a very good running back and the Cardinals love him. However, Conner has had issues staying on the field, missing at least two games in each of his seven NFL seasons. Do not expect him to buck that trend in Year 8 at age 29.

The Cardinals drafted Trey Benson at the top of the third round of April's draft to improve their depth and presumably ensure the future of the position. Benson is a certified beast. At six feet and 216 pounds, Benson has the size to carry a full workload in the NFL.

Benson ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash predraft. His combination of size and speed should translate well to an offense with a running quarterback. Benson will slot in as the backup this year but he should see a decent amount of touches if the Cardinals want to take some of the load off Conner. Should Conner go down with an injury, Benson would be an instant top-20 fantasy option.

 

Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills

Many of you may not know the name Ray Davis. He was drafted in the fourth round of April's draft by a Buffalo team that just let Latavius Murray walk.

Make no mistake, James Cook is the running back you want in Buffalo, but Davis is currently listed as the No. 2 back behind Cook on the depth chart. The Bills demonstrated last season that they want to use multiple backs to spell Cook and they especially like to use bigger backs inside the 5-yard line.

At 5-foot-8 and 211 pounds, Davis fits the archetype of a powerful goal-line back. Murray had flex value throughout 2023 and Davis appears poised to step into that role. Cook will get the Bills close to the end zone and look for Davis to finish the job.

Ty Johnson is another name to watch in the Bills backfield. Johnson is a speedy running back with solid pass-catching chops. It's unlikely that he will see significant red-zone snaps, but given his status as a veteran in this backfield, he could be a solid insurance back.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mike Trout

Pulled As Precaution Due To Knee Soreness
Dylan Moore

Expected To Return From Injured List After Minimum Stay
Max Scherzer

Completes Another Successful Bullpen Session
Jared Jones

Begins Throwing Progression
Chase Dollander

Leaves Early On Wednesday With Blister Issue
Lance McCullers Jr.

To Make Season Debut On Sunday Against White Sox
Griffin Conine

Expected To Miss Rest Of The Season
Bryce Miller

Battles Through Back Injury On Tuesday
Taylor Ward

Sitting On Wednesday
Tyler Glasnow

Shut Down For 10-14 Days
Ketel Marte

Likely To Return This Weekend
A.J. Puk

Won't Need Surgery, Won't Throw For 2-3 Weeks
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Could Be Forced To Injured List With Oblique Injury
Jeimer Candelario

Placed On 10-Day Injured List With Spine Strain
Ben Rice

Smacks Two Homers To End Slump
Jorge Polanco

Hits Two More Homers, Drives In Five
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Set To Start Wednesday
Shota Imanaga

Exits With Leg Cramps
George Kirby

"Feeling Great," Could Throw Again On Sunday
Tyler Fitzgerald

Returning To Starting Nine
Josh Lowe

Progressing Well, Could Play In Rehab Games On Saturday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
14
11
18
12
20
13
22
14
23
15
24
16
32
17
38
18
39
19
44

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF