RADIO
Savvy fantasy football managers have become increasingly adept at incorporating multiple factors into their draft preparations. This is also true of the decision-making process that transpires while each roster is under construction during the draft process. It is beneficial to develop a draft plan that integrates all aspects of your league’s scoring and any other unique elements that could contribute to the eventual success of your teams.
It is also critical to maintain flexibility in your plan once each draft has begun. This will improve your prospects of adjusting to opportunities that might develop as you build your team. This is particularly true if you are participating in the best ball format, which does not present the option of altering your roster once each draft is complete.
The rankings team at RotoBaller is delivering daily content that is designed to help you prepare for your upcoming drafts. That includes this breakdown of the updated best ball rankings for running backs in Tiers 4-8. You can also find the latest rankings for Tiers 1-3 here.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024 fantasy football drafts:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Fantasy football rookie rankings
- Best ball fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
Running Back Best Ball Rankings
Tier 4 - Best Ball RB Rankings
James Cook, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, David Montgomery, Rhamondre Stevenson
HAVE YOURSELF A DAY JAMES COOK 🔥
🏈 25 carries
🏈 179 rushing yards
🏈 2 total TDs2+ TDs (+1100) ✅
110+ rushing yards (+880) ✅(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/okQ26LQvqf
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 17, 2023
James Cook provided fantasy managers with RB2 production during 2023 while finishing 19th in points per game (13.7 per game). He also rose to 11th in snaps (610), 10th in attempts (237/13.9 per game), and capitalized on his opportunity by soaring to fourth in rushing yards (1,122/66 per game).
| Weeks 1-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Christian McCaffrey | 1459 | 91.2 | 272 | 17 |
| Derrick Henry | 1167 | 68.6 | 280 | 16.5 |
| Kyren Williams | 1144 | 95.3 | 228 | 19 |
| James Cook | 1122 | 66 | 237 | 13.9 |
| D'Andre Swift | 1049 | 65.6 | 229 | 14.3 |
| James Conner | 1040 | 80 | 208 | 16 |
| Najee Harris | 1035 | 60.9 | 255 | 15 |
| Joe Mixon | 1034 | 60.8 | 257 | 15.1 |
| David Montgomery | 1015 | 72.5 | 219 | 15.6 |
| Raheem Mostert | 1012 | 67.5 | 209 | 13.9 |
| Weeks 1-18 | YBC | YBC/Att | YAC | YAC/Att |
| Christian McCaffrey | 853 | 3.1 | 606 | 2.2 |
| Kyren Williams | 685 | 3 | 459 | 2 |
| Joe Mixon | 671 | 2.6 | 363 | 1.4 |
| D'Andre Swift | 642 | 2.8 | 407 | 1.8 |
| James Cook | 640 | 2.7 | 482 | 2 |
| Rachaad White | 594 | 2.2 | 396 | 1.5 |
| James Conner | 581 | 2.8 | 459 | 2.2 |
| Travis Etienne | 573 | 2.1 | 435 | 1.6 |
| Bijan Robinson | 568 | 2.7 | 408 | 1.9 |
| Derrick Henry | 566 | 2 | 601 | 2.1 |
Cook also finished seventh in yards after contact (482), 10th in routes run (317), and eighth in receiving yards (445/26.2 per game) while vaulting to third in yards from scrimmage (1,567). Cook has also been limited to two rushing touchdowns during each of his first two seasons and registered a 0.8% touchdown rate during 2023, according to Fantasy Points Data.
However, Cook’s role as Buffalo’s lead back will not be altered by the arrival of Ray Davis. Cook’s favorable workload as a rusher and receiving weapon also justifies targeting him in Round 4 of your drafts.
Joe Mixon's future with Cincinnati was unsettled entering the offseason. However, the mid-March trade that sent him to Houston has given the seven-year veteran an opportunity to thrive as the primary back in a surging offense.
Mixon finished sixth in snaps (728/69.5%), fifth in rushing attempts (257/15.1 per game), eighth in rushing yards (1,034/60.8 per game), and was also 12th in missed tackles forced in 2023 according to Fantasy Points Data.
Two drives, two @Bengals TDs!
This time it's Joe Mixon 🐅
📺: #BUFvsCIN on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/T6GLEfxpQv pic.twitter.com/XnelXsDReq— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2023
He was also sixth in routes run (376), ninth in receptions (52/3.1 per game), and 12th in receiving yards (376/22.1 per game) while rising to 11th in points per game (15.7).
Mixon will operate with an extensive workload after resurfacing in a backfield that contains unimposing competition for touches (Dameon Pierce/Cam Akers/Dare Ogunbowale/J.J. Taylor/Jawhar Jordan). That vaults him among your most enticing options during Round 5 of upcoming drafts.
Alvin Kamara remained available until Round 7 (78/RB29) during the 2023 draft season. That was the first time that his ADP had descended below Round 2 since 2017. However, the offseason additions of Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller did not impede Kamara from finishing fifth in points per game (17.9) from Weeks 4-17.
ALVIN KAMARA CATCH AND RUN FOR 6‼️ pic.twitter.com/w8c3EOrvCx
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 29, 2023
Kamara also led all backs in targets per route run (31.4%) and receptions (75/5.8 per game) while vaulting to third in yards per route run (1.70) and sixth in yards after catch (501). Kamara’s rushing numbers were less favorable, as he averaged 3.9 yards per attempt/1.6 yards after contact per attempt.
Kamara is no longer included among the league’s elite tier of backs, but his effectiveness as a pass-catcher should propel him to RB2 output in Klint Kubiak’s reconstructed offense. That makes him a viable option at his Round 5 ADP (55/RB16).
Aaron Jones with his longest run (53 yards) since October 10, 2021 💨#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/1oHZKGZ41C
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) January 21, 2024
Aaron Jones delivered a statistical surge during last season’s fantasy playoffs while accumulating a league-high 247 rushing yards (123.5 per game). Jones also paced the league in yards after contact (171) and averaged 6.0 yards per attempt in Weeks 16-17.
| Weeks 16-17 | Yards | Yards/Gm | YAC | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Aaron Jones | 247 | 123.5 | 171 | 41 | 20.5 |
| Khalil Herbert | 236 | 118 | 102 | 38 | 19 |
| Zamir White | 216 | 108 | 154 | 42 | 21 |
| Najee Harris | 200 | 100 | 150 | 46 | 23 |
| Kyren Williams | 191 | 95.5 | 95 | 42 | 21 |
| Breece Hall | 179 | 89.5 | 114 | 33 | 16.5 |
| James Conner | 173 | 86.5 | 135 | 38 | 19 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 167 | 83.5 | 102 | 28 | 14 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 156 | 78 | 109 | 29 | 14.5 |
| D'Andre Swift | 153 | 76.5 | 80 | 33 | 16.5 |
Jones also forced 26 missed tackles, according to PFF, despite being sidelined during six matchups. His numbers seemingly secured his status as the Packers’ RB1 entering the offseason.
However, Green Bay’s pursuit of Josh Jacobs in free agency ended Jones’ seven-year tenure with the Packers, as he will now accumulate touches for NFC North rival Minnesota.
Jones will turn 30 in December, and Ty Chandler lurks to siphon a weekly allotment of carries. Those factors should not deter Jones from functioning as the Vikings’ primary back. He is also positioned to supply WR2 production to fantasy managers.
David Montgomery assembled a cluster of career highs during his first season with Detroit, even though he shared touches with Jahmyr Gibbs in the Lions’ ongoing backfield rotation.
David Montgomery barrels into the end zone for his first touchdown as a Lion!
The Lions lead 21-20. pic.twitter.com/kiN7eZ4Mo2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 8, 2023
Montgomery finished 15th in rushing attempts (219/15.6 per game) and rose to ninth with 1,015 rushing yards. He also established career bests in yards per game (72.5) and yards per attempt (4.6) and was fifth in yards after contact per attempt (2.3).
Montgomery also secured career highs in red-zone attempts (53), carries inside the 5-yard line (19), and touchdowns (13). He also finished third with a TD rate of 5.9%, according to Fantasy Points Data.
Montgomery was also 15th with an average of 14.8 points per game and should continue to provide fantasy managers with RB2 output. That makes him an enticing option at his Round 6 ADP (72/RB20).
RHAMONDRE STEVENSON TURNS ON THE JETS FOR A 64 YARD TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/coDhkr1v6b
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) November 5, 2023
Rhamondre Stevenson's status as New England’s primary back has been solidified by the contract extension he secured in June. The long-term deal also reduced concerns regarding Stevenson’s outlook following a largely disappointing season in 2023.
Stevenson had risen to 16th in attempts from Weeks 1-12 (147) while averaging 13.7 per game. However, his averages in yards per attempt (4.0), yards before contact per attempt (1.9), and yards per game (51.6) failed to match his averages from 2022 (5.0/2.9/61.2).
Stevenson also experienced declines in targets (5.2/4.3), receptions (4.1/3.2), and receiving yards per game (24.8/19.8) before an ankle injury sidelined him from Weeks 14-18.
The Patriots signed Antonio Gibson to a three-year contract and Gibson’s presence will impede Stevenson from matching his receiving numbers from 2022. However, New England’s willingness to retain Stevenson bodes well for his prospects of functioning as the team’s unchallenged RB1.
Tier 5 - Best Ball RB Rankings
D'Andre Swift, Zamir White, Najee Harris, Raheem Mostert, James Conner, Jaylen Warren, Tony Pollard
D'Andre Swift will resurface in a new environment for a second consecutive season after signing a three-year deal with Chicago. Swift had operated as Philadelphia’s primary back during 2023 while finishing 14th in snaps (646) and 12th in attempts (229/14.3 per game).
He also vaulted to fifth in rushing yards (1,049/65.6 per game) and fourth in yards before contact per attempt (2.8). Swift’s numbers as a receiver were less inspiring, as he registered career lows in targets (3.1), receptions (2.4), and receiving yards per game (13.4).
The Bears didn’t give D’Andre Swift a 3 year deal with $15M guaranteed to not make him the featured back. Swift is coming off the best year of his career and has a better chance of getting more receiving and goal line work in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/HFe2qJF68G
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) June 6, 2024
Swift’s $24.5 million contract ($15.3 guaranteed) should incentivize the Bears to keep his role as the team’s RB1 intact. Touches will also be distributed to Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert, However, the Bears are unlikely to replicate the erratic usage that existed with their backfield throughout 2023.
The departure of Josh Jacobs has created an unobstructed path for Zamir White to stockpile carries as the Raiders’ workhorse back. It has also provided White with the opportunity to sustain the usage and output that he attained after Jacobs was sidelined by a quad injury in 2023.
RUNNING WITH A PURPOSE 😤#LVvsKC | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/593gDwhIDx
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 25, 2023
White soared to fifth in snaps (177) during that sequence (Weeks 15-18) and tied for the league lead in carries (84/21 per game). He also rose to third in rushing yards (397/99.3 per game) and finished fifth in yards after contact (244).
| Weeks 15-18 | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | Yards/Gm | YAC |
| Zamir White | 84 | 21 | 397 | 99.3 | 244 |
| Najee Harris | 84 | 21 | 345 | 86.3 | 254 |
| James Conner | 79 | 20 | 409 | 102.3 | 325 |
| Aaron Jones | 76 | 19 | 411 | 102.8 | 269 |
| Breece Hall | 76 | 19 | 369 | 92.3 | 214 |
| Devin Singletary | 75 | 18.8 | 308 | 77 | 176 |
| James Cook | 74 | 18.5 | 333 | 83.3 | 189 |
| Chuba Hubbard | 72 | 18 | 258 | 64.5 | 173 |
| Rachaad White | 71 | 17.8 | 245 | 61.3 | 174 |
| Kyren Williams | 69 | 23 | 343 | 114.3 | 180 |
The Raiders added former Viking Alexander Mattison and drafted Dylan Laube in Round 6 of April’s NFL Draft. However, neither back is a candidate to confiscate a sizable workload. That justifies the selection of White in Round 7 of your drafts.
Najee Harris finished sixth in carries (255/15.0 per game) and seventh in rushing yards (1,035/60.9 per game) from Weeks 1-18. He also accumulated a league-high 618 yards after contact despite the ongoing restrictions of Pittsburgh’s timeshare between Harris and Jaylen Warren.
Harris also vaulted to second in carries (171/17.1 per game and yardage (722/72.2 per game) from Weeks 9-18. He also averaged 18.1 attempts/76.6 yards per game, paced all backs in red-zone attempts (38), and finished fifth in rushing touchdowns (seven).
Najee Harris with a Touchdown 🤩🔥pic.twitter.com/Ny6Hfu8iVI
— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) November 3, 2023
Harris is positioned to operate with another sizable workload and can match the expectations of his Round 7 ADP (82/RB24) - providing that Arthur Smith’s penchant for utilization of the run does not compel him to integrate Cordarrelle Patterson into a three-man rotation with Harris and Warren.
Raheem Mostert will return for his third season with Miami while sharing touches with the explosive De'Von Achane. Rookie Jaylen Wright could also secure touches as the season progresses. However, it is premature to dismiss Mostert as a viable roster asset.
Mostert has accumulated 1,903 rushing yards (61.4 per game) since joining the Dolphins in 2022, which places him ninth overall. His 21 touchdowns also represent the third-highest total among all backs.
Touchdown number 2️⃣1️⃣ for Raheem Mostert 👏 pic.twitter.com/vyyxXSE6lz
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 24, 2023
Mostert also finished 10th in rushing yardage (1,012/67.5 per game) and ninth in yards after contact (465) during 2023 while stockpiling a league-best 18 touchdowns. He also finished fourth in points per game (17.8) and received the sixth-highest grade for running backs from PFF.
Mostert should sustain a favorable workload and is worthy of investment at his Round 8 ADP (89/RB28).
James Conner performed effectively during his third season with Arizona while vaulting to 13th in points per game (15.5). He also finished sixth with a career-high 1,040 rushing yards (80.0 per game) and was third in rush yards over expected (211).
James Conner TOUCHDOWN X2 pic.twitter.com/tLPDCxevdw
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) December 3, 2023
Conner appeared cemented in his workhorse role before the NFL Draft. However, Arizona’s selection of Trey Benson in Round 3 has altered the outlook for the Cardinals’ backfield.
Conner will maintain his role as Arizona’s RB1 when the regular season launches, but he is also 29 years old as he enters the final year of his contract.
That could incentivize the Cardinals to entrust Benson with an expanding workload during the year. It should also delay your selection of Conner until Round 7 in your drafts.
The Steelers' committee approach in their deployment of Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris restricts Warren from attaining the numbers that he would deliver if he were operating as a lead back. However, he has proven that he can function as an RB3/flex on your rosters.
Warren secured a 48.4% snap share in 2023 while rising to second in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.34), according to Fantasy Points Data (8.1%). He was also third among backs with 50+ attempts in explosive run percentage (runs of 15+ yards).
Just a Jaylen Warren Appreciation post #steelers
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) June 21, 2024
Warren also vaulted to fifth among backs in targets (74/4.4 per game) and receptions (61/3.6 per game), and finished seventh in yards after catch (486). He should remain heavily involved in Pittsburgh’s offense despite the aforementioned potential for Cordarrelle Patterson to pilfer touches.
Tony Pollard's ADP was located at the periphery of Round 1 (13/RB6) during the 2023 draft season amid surging expectations. However, Pollard’s current draft position has plummeted to Round 9 (100/RB29) following the disappointing results that he manufactured last season.
Ridiculous effort by DeShon Elliott to prevent a TD right before the fumble
📺: #DALvsMIA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB pic.twitter.com/RcMVfg6PUO— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
He finished seventh in attempts (252/14.8 per game) but failed to match his 2022 yardage total (1,007/1,005) despite accumulating 59 additional carries. He also established career lows in yards per attempt (4.0) and yards after contact per attempt (2.0). However, Pollard did finish fifth in routes run (399) and eighth in receptions (55/3.2 per game).
Pollard has resurfaced in Tennessee, where he will share touches with Tyjae Spears. He should garner a respectable workload after the Titans signed him to a three-year deal.
Tier 6 - Best Ball RB Rankings
Nick Chubb, Javonte Williams, Jonathon Brooks, Brian Robinson Jr., Zack Moss, Devin Singletary, Ezekiel Elliott, Austin Ekeler, Jerome Ford, Tyjae Spears, Zach Charbonnet, Gus Edwards, Trey Benson
Browns’ statement on Nick Chubb’s knee surgery: pic.twitter.com/iT6NkMh7gl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2023
Nick Chubb's status for 2024 remains uncertain due to his continued recovery from the significant knee injury he suffered last September (torn ACL/torn MCL). The timeline for Chubb’s return remains unclear, which provides the potential for him to remain sidelined when the regular season launches.
He could also lose touches to Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman whenever he does resurface and may not resemble the back who finished second in rushing yards (5,345/90.6 per game) from 2019-2022. These factors should compel you to delay your selection of Chubb until Round 11.
Javonte Williams will enter the final year of his rookie contract having failed to replicate the career-best 903 rushing yards that he generated during 2021.
| Year | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | Yards/Gm | Yards/Att | 20+ |
| 2021 | 203 | 11.9 | 903 | 53.1 | 4.4 | 6 |
| 2022 | 47 | 11.8 | 204 | 51 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 217 | 13.6 | 774 | 48.4 | 3.6 | 2 |
Williams accumulated a career-high 217 carries (13.6 per game) in 2023. However, he established career lows in yards per attempt (3.6), yards per game (48.4), and yards after contact per attempt (1.7).
| Year | YBC | YBC/Att | YAC | YAC/Att | FPPG |
| 2021 | 443 | 2.2 | 460 | 2.3 | 12.1 |
| 2022 | 94 | 2 | 110 | 2.3 | 10.5 |
| 2023 | 402 | 1.9 | 372 | 1.7 | 11.2 |
Javonte Williams broke two tackles before picking up the first down 😤 @javontewill33#DENvsKC on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/U9rA3YdBnZ pic.twitter.com/7VsTtIX0rz— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2023
Williams is one year further removed from the knee injury that he suffered in October 2022. He will also operate within a congested backfield that contains Jaleel McLaughlin, Samaje Perine, and newcomers Audric Estime and Blake Watson. That should encourage you to delay your selection of Williams until Round 10 of your drafts.
Carolina has placed Jonathon Brooks on the Active/NFI list, as he recovers from the torn ACL that he sustained in November.
However, Brooks can perform effectively as a three-down back once he regains his health. He flourished while operating as the lead back for Texas during the final season of his collegiate career, as he accumulated 187 carries (17 per game), 1,139 rushing yards, (103.5 per game), and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Brooks also averaged 3.9 yards after contact per attempt and assembled 16 runs of 15+ yards, according to PFF.
He also generated 1,425 yards from scrimmage and collected 25 of his 30 targets last season.
Jonathon Brooks’ 64-yard TD run from the backfield view is pretty.
Perfectly blocked up front, neither LB fits correctly and AD Mitchell gets just enough on the safety. Sea opens right up. pic.twitter.com/vezBnhPJ8W
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) October 2, 2023
Anyone who selects Brooks near his Round 8 ADP may need to exercise patience when Week 1 matchups begin. However, his favorable blend of speed, acceleration, and elusiveness will eventually propel him atop the Panthers’ depth chart.
Brian Robinson Jr. finished 21st in points per game (13.2) last season while ascending to 12th in attempts (153/12.8 per game), 17th in rushing yards (611/59 per game), and 10th in yards after contact (425) from Weeks 1-12. Robinson also ran 193 routes and averaged 3.0 targets/2.4 receptions/27.1 receiving yards before a hamstring injury limited him to 58 snaps from Weeks 13-18.
TOUCHDOWN
WOW!
Sam Howell with incredible elusiveness in the pocket to avoid the blitz, finds Brian Robinson on the wheel, and it's GONE.
Commanders strike first!#HTTC | @Sam7Howell pic.twitter.com/c4Ni3TJvqO
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) November 12, 2023
Robinson's opportunity to increase his role as a pass-catcher following the departure of Antonio Gibson has evaporated due to the arrival of Austin Ekeler. However, Robinson should deliver RB3 production.
Zack Moss soared to the league lead in attempts (89/22.3 per game) and second in rushing yards (445/111.3 per game) from Weeks 2-5. That propelled him to career highs in a collection of categories during 2023.
Zack Moss had such a ridiculous first 4 games last season:
🔵 517 scrimmage yards
🔵 4 Touchdowns
pic.twitter.com/ooozlVjEmh— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 3, 2024
He also rose to sixth in points per game (21.4) during that sequence before ultimately securing career bests in rushing yards (794/56.7 per game), carries (183/13.1 per game), and red-zone attempts (40) from Weeks 1-18. He also finished seventh in rush yards over expected (129).
Moss is now primed to operate as the lead back for Cincinnati. However, touches will also be distributed to Chase Brown, which reduces Moss’s prospects of surpassing low-end RB2/RB3 output.
Devin Singletary vaulted to fourth in snaps (436/68.9%) and rushing attempts (167/16.7 per game) from Weeks 9-18. He also ascended to third in rushing yards (715/71.5 per game), and games of 100+ yards (three), while rising to seventh in yards after contact (420).
Singletary signed a three-year contract with the Giants in March. This creates a reunion with Brian Daboll, who was the architect of Buffalo’s offense for three seasons while Singletary was operating in the Bills backfield. Singletary should sustain lead-back duties for the Giants. However, rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. will siphon touches during the season.
The enormous rise of Ezekiel Elliott's ADP in recent months has transformed the eight-year veteran from an afterthought during the draft process to a viable RB3/flex candidate.
Elliott’s ADP has skyrocketed 121 spots from Round 21 (244/RB64) into Round 11 (123/RB40) since it became apparent that the Cowboys would entrust him with a significant role in their backfield rotation.
Ezekiel Elliott touchdown!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/vRjId4KaOv
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) October 22, 2023
Elliott has elevated atop an unimposing depth chart that contains Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and Deuce Vaughn. Any concerns regarding his inefficiency should be offset by the favorable touch totals he should accumulate during the season.
Austin Ekeler led all backs in targets (394/6.7 per game), receptions (323/5.5 per game), receiving yards (2,765/46.9 per game), and receiving touchdowns (23) from 2019-2022 while accumulating 2,913 yards (49.4 per game) and 29 rushing touchdowns.
His averages declined in 2023 (13 points/5.3 targets/3.6 receptions/31.1 receiving yards per game, 44.9 rushing yards per game) while he manufactured six touchdowns (five rushing/one receiving).
Ekeler no longer resides among the league’s top tier of backs. However, he should deliver high-end RB3 production while functioning as Washington’s pass-catching back.
Jerome Ford secured a significant role in Cleveland’s offense after Nick Chubb suffered his season-ending knee injury in 2023. Ford rose to 12th in snaps (553/52.1% share) from Weeks 2-17, while finishing inside the top 20 in carries (186/12.4 per game) and rushing yards (771/51.4 per game). He was also 10th in routes run (319), and finished 12th in targets (60/4.0 per game).
Jerome Ford for a MONSTER TOUCHDOWN 🔥
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 29, 2023
Ford’s workload during 2024 is dependent on the health of Chubb. However, that should not deter you from selecting him near his Round 11 ADP (125/RB39) as he will operate with a substantial workload if Chubb remains sidelined.
Tyjae Spears secured a 52.4% snap share during his promising rookie season while tying for 17th in yards per attempt (4.5). He also forced 26 missed tackles with his 100 attempts, according to PFF, while rising to ninth among all backs in targets (70/4.1 per game) and receptions (52/3.1 per game).
#TitanUp RB Tyjae Spears. Electric with the ball in his hands. pic.twitter.com/adMbnzYH1k
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) June 20, 2024
The Titans’ decision to sign Tony Pollard fueled the descent of Spears’ draft position to Round 9 (108/RB32). However, Spears possesses the speed and explosiveness to erupt for significant yardage in Brian Callahan's offense. He also remains capable of outperforming the expectations of his diminished ADP.
Zach Charbonnet did not emerge as a threat to Kenneth Walker’s role as Seattle’s RB1 despite the Seahawks’ selection of Charbonnet during Round 2 of the 2023 draft.
Charbonnet averaged 6.8 attempts/28.9 rushing yards per game, which decreased to 5.0/25.6 per game during the 15 matchups in which Walker was active. Charbonnet did lead the Seahawks backfield in routes run (272), targets (40/2.5 per game), and receptions (33/2.1 per game).
Charbonnet’s ability to function as a three-down back could propel him to a higher percentage of touches this season. He will also operate with an extensive workload if Walker is sidelined for any reason. His contingent upside provides your incentive to target him at his Round 11 ADP.
Gus Edwards signed a two-year contract with the Chargers. This provides the opportunity for Edwards to thrive in a restructured offense that will adhere to Jim Harbaugh’s steadfast commitment to the run.
Edwards will also be reunited with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who functioned in the same capacity with Baltimore during four seasons of Edwards’ tenure with the Ravens (2019-2022).
Gus Edwards scores the first TD of the game 🚌pic.twitter.com/NXXvxVevm7
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 5, 2023
| Year | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | Yards/Gm | TDs |
| 2018 | 137 | 12.5 | 718 | 65.3 | 2 |
| 2019 | 133 | 8.3 | 711 | 44.4 | 2 |
| 2020 | 144 | 9 | 723 | 45.2 | 6 |
| 2022 | 87 | 9.7 | 433 | 48.1 | 3 |
| 2023 | 198 | 11.6 | 810 | 47.6 | 13 |
| Year | YBC | YBC/Att | YAC | YAC/Att | FPPG |
| 2018 | 356 | 2.6 | 362 | 2.6 | 8.2 |
| 2019 | 335 | 2.5 | 376 | 2.8 | 5.8 |
| 2020 | 334 | 2.3 | 389 | 2.7 | 8.0 |
| 2022 | 248 | 2.9 | 185 | 2.1 | 6.6 |
| 2023 | 448 | 2.3 | 362 | 1.8 | 11.0 |
Edwards secured career highs in carries (198/11.6 per game), rushing yards (810/47.6 per game), red-zone attempts (39), and rushing touchdowns (13) during 2023. He should also capture a sizable workload despite sharing touches with J.K. Dobbins and rookie Kimani Vidal.
Trey Benson had already emerged among the most intriguing prospects from the 2024 class of running backs even before Arizona seized him on Day 2 of April’s NFL Draft.
Trey Benson goes to the Arizona Cardinals🚨
BANG❗️
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) April 27, 2024
Benson joins an improving offense that is spearheaded by offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. He will begin Week 1 as the Cardinals’ RB2 behind James Conner. However, Benson's workload should rise as the season progresses.
Conner has also missed 22 games since 2018, and Benson would ascend into a massive role if Conner is sidelined once again. That makes him a viable option in Round 10 of upcoming drafts.
Tiers 7 and 8 - Best Ball RB Rankings
Chase Brown, Blake Corum, Ty Chandler, Rico Dowdle, Tyler Allgeier, Chuba Hubbard, Antonio Gibson, Kendre Miller, Roschon Johnson, Ray Davis, Jaylen Wright, Jaleel McLaughlin, MarShawn Lloyd, Alexander Mattison, Khalil Herbert, Dameon Pierce, J.K. Dobbins, A.J. Dillon, Elijah Mitchell, Bucky Irving, Kimani Vidal, Kenneth Gainwell, Audric Estime, Will Shipley, Braelon Allen
Chase Brown, and Blake Corum are among the most intriguing options in Tiers 7 and 8. However, the stock of any back contained in these tiers could be altered by factors that emerge during the remaining weeks of the draft season.
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