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The running back position is notoriously fickle when it comes to fantasy football. There is a lot of turnover in this position from year to year. Age is a major factor in this regard.
While it’s true that we should generally avoid older running backs, there are exceptions to the rule. We have to be very careful when investing in older backs, as they can hit the dreaded age cliff at any moment. However, there are ways to identify aging rushers who can still be fantasy contributors. Today, we will take at several older backs who can still help you win a fantasy football title.
Make sure to follow RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five aging running backs that you should feel comfortable selecting in your 2024 fantasy football draft.
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Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Henry is entering his age 30 season in 2024. This is typically an age where running backs see a steep decline in production, and Henry is coming off a down season compared to his standards. He did not crack 1,200 rushing yards and tied a career-low 4.2 yards per carry. 12 rushing touchdowns helped ease his final stat line as he went on to finish as the RB8 for the 2023 season.
While the raw stats were meh, the underlying data was quite strong. He ranked eighth in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) Rushing Grade. Henry also finished 12th in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expected (RYOE) and 17th in Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt (RYOE/ATT).
First Sunday touchdown in back-to-back weeks for Derrick Henry 👏 pic.twitter.com/CKgf6cRgRB
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 3, 2023
The above data indicates that Henry’s play did not drop off despite what his 2023 stat line says. He’s still got some juice left in the tank. The Titans' offensive line was also a disaster last season, so this can explain some of Henry’s struggles. He landed in a great situation after signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. Gus Edwards scored 13 rushing touchdowns in this offense last year, and it’s not hard to envision Henry having similar success. Playing alongside two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson should also help boost his efficiency. Fantasy gamers can safely invest in Henry as an RB1 once again in 2024.
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
At age 31, Mostert enjoyed a career year in 2023. Finishing eighth in RYOE, topping 1,000 rushing yards for the first time, and scoring a whopping 22 touchdowns all propelled him to a half-PPR RB2 finish.
Touchdown No. 4 for Raheem Mostert ‼️TOTW? #Madden24 pic.twitter.com/Fv38y1QAtb
— Madden Ultimate Team (@EASPORTS_MUT) September 24, 2023
The conventional logic in the fantasy community is that standout rookie De'Von Achane will shoulder more of the workload this year. While that could be true, it’s worth pointing out that Mostert recently signed a contract extension that keeps him with the club through the 2025 season. This indicates the team still values his presence, and coach Mike McDaniel has often referred to Mostert as the “leader” of the running back room. There’s a strong possibility that Mostert remains heavily involved in the offense. Should Achane miss any extended time due to injury this season, Mostert would step in as the clear RB1.
Given his age and Achane's presence, Mostert is a player that most fantasy gamers have overlooked. Mostert is older, but he’s got young legs. He barely saw any action early in his career and might be able to produce for another season. Mostert is currently going outside the top 80 picks in FFPC drafts despite finishing as a top-5 back. If his stellar play continues, he can once again be a key cog in any team's championship run.
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley finally was able to test the open market this offseason and inked a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. After a few injury-plagued seasons, Barkley has posted two straight RB1 finishes in half-PPR leagues. Unfortunately, he failed to crack 1,000 rushing yards and only averaged 3.89 yards per carry last year in New York. Make no mistake, though, Barkley is still supremely talented.
Tommy Devito TO SAQUON BARKLEY TOUCHDOWN!!!
Giants lead the Commanders 7-0
pic.twitter.com/Ti9DuozJ0Q— Sideline Daily (@sideline_daily) November 19, 2023
Barkley now gets to play behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. Philadelphia ranked as PFF's third-best run-blocking offensive line in 2023. This is a massive upgrade, as the Giants only ranked 30th in this same metric. In addition, Barkley ranked 10th in RYOE and 13th in RYOE/ATT. This data suggests Barkley was still efficient despite New York’s horrific offensive line play. It also tells us that we shouldn’t judge Barkley too harshly on his raw stats.
The seventh-year running back now gets to play alongside Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. This is undoubtedly the best situation of Barkley’s career. It’s salivating to think of what he might accomplish in this offense with all the talent surrounding him. He is a solid RB1 to target in drafts and should return a top-5 finish for fantasy managers.
Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
Coming off a career year with the Baltimore Ravens, Edwards signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Chargers in free agency. He now reunites with former offensive coordinator Greg Roman. While Edwards may not have been the most efficient back in the league last year, he did score a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns in 2023.
With Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman in town, Los Angeles figures to be a run-heavy team. The new regime has praised Edwards multiple times throughout the offseason and has talked about his abilities as a potential three-down back. It remains to be seen if that will be the case, as he has never handled more than 210 touches in a season. Edwards is not a sexy name, but he’ll be a dependable option if he’s given a workhorse role in the Chargers’ offense.
Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
After a successful seven-year career with the Green Bay Packers, Jones now finds himself playing for the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Jones started the 2023 season with a bang as he finished as the RB1 in a Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Wow 😳
Jordan Love with the TD to Aaron Jones.
The #Packers continue to have the Bears number.
pic.twitter.com/pversNiWGA— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) September 10, 2023
Unfortunately, Jones suffered a hamstring injury during that impressive Week 1 performance. It would be a recurring injury that ultimately cost Jones to miss six games. It was slow going once Jones finally returned, but he finished the year strong. He posted five straight games of 100+ rushing yards to close the season and looked to have plenty spry. Despite his hamstring injury, Jones finished 10th in yards after contact per rush. Among 49 backs with 100+ carries, he also finished 13th in PFF’s Elusive rating and fifth in Positive Rush Percentage per RotoWire. While 2023 was not his best season, this does not look like a player in decline.
Yes, it’s always scary trusting an older back coming off an injury-plagued season, but Jones proved he still has plenty of juice left in the tank. He is a fine target as an RB2 or flex play.
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