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

Deeper Running Back Fantasy Football Sleepers for 2024

Rico Dowdle - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Deeper running back (RB) fantasy football sleepers for 2024 drafts. Dave details potential RB draft sleeper picks and later-round RB values to target in drafts.

One of the best parts of playing fantasy football is finding potential sleepers in your draft. The second you hear a league mate exclaim “Who?!” immediately after your pick, you know you’ve done something right.

Due to the natural fragility of the position, it's even more important if you can find sleepers at running back. Today, we are going to discuss several deep sleepers at the running back position to consider taking in drafts. Players we discuss here all have a Yahoo average draft position (ADP) outside of the top 125 picks. You should be able to land any of the players discussed in the last few rounds of your draft.

Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Here are five running back deep sleepers to target in your 2024 fantasy football draft.

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

 

Rico Dowdle - Dallas Cowboys

Yahoo ADP: 130.77 Overall, RB43

To the surprise of many, the Dallas Cowboys did not add a running back this past offseason. It was an unexpected move after the team let Tony Pollard walk in free agency. This leaves Dowdle in a position to potentially capitalize.

Dallas did bring back former starter Ezekiel Elliott, but he is nearing the end of his career. Elliott’s yards per carry (YPC) have declined each of the last three seasons, culminating with a career-low 3.5 YPC last year.

He also finished just 41st in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expected (RYOE). Dowdle only carried the ball 89 times last season, but he flashed good vision and explosiveness. He should command a healthy amount of touches. Recent reports out of Cowboys camp suggest that Dowdle has been the team's top back this summer.

Given Elliott’s age and declining play, we are likely looking at a timeshare in Dallas. Dowdle should be the more effective player. If he plays well enough, he might be able to take over lead-back duties in this high-powered offense.

 

Antonio Gibson - New England Patriots

Yahoo ADP: 130.06 Overall, RB48

2023 was not Gibson’s year. He had a career-low 265 rushing yards and scored just one rushing touchdown. Gibson fell out of favor with the Washington Commanders and signed a three-year, $11.25 million deal with the New England Patriots this offseason. While last year was not his best, there’s still reason for optimism.

Among running backs with at least 65 carries, Gibson ranked first in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (MTF/ATT). This suggests that Gibson still has the same playmaking ability that led to RB12 and RB13 finishes in PPR formats from 2020-2021.

Rhamondre Stevenson was not effective last year. If he continues to struggle, Gibson could force his way into a timeshare with potential for more. He is a solid late-round selection for fantasy drafters, particularly for those who choose a zero RB  draft strategy.

 

Jaleel McLaughlin - Denver Broncos

Yahoo ADP: 131.0 Overall, RB 48

McLaughlin displayed impressive burst and quickness whenever he touched the football as a rookie.

He graded out very well across several metrics. PFF graded McLaughlin as its 16th-highest rusher in 2023, and he also finished seventh in Elusive Rating. Among rushers with 65 attempts, McLaughlin also finished fifth in MTF/ATT. There is serious upside here if he is given more opportunities.

Running backs have always been heavily involved in Sean Payton’s offense. After a lackluster season from Javonte Williams last year, McLaughlin may command more touches in 2024. The second-year back has once again impressed the coaching staff with his impressive work ethic.

Listed at 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds, it’s unlikely McLaughlin ever becomes a featured back. However, he can still be a useful asset in PPR leagues if he can carve out a Reggie Bush-type role. At his current cost, he is the exact type of player who can help win your league if he hits. If he doesn’t, just kick him to the curb.

 

Khalil Herbert - Chicago Bears

Yahoo ADP: 130.8 Overall, RB46

Herbert was hoping to become the Bears’ lead rusher for the 2024 season. Instead, the team signed D'Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency. It’s understandable as Swift is coming off a career year and Herbert has never totaled more than 731 rushing yards in a season. However, Herbert’s underlying data paints a different picture.

Among running backs with 65 carries, Herbert finished 11th in MTF/ATT last year. In fact, Herbert finished higher than Swift in MTF/ATT, RYOE, PFF Elusive Rating, and PFF’s Rushing Grade.

There is precedent for a team turning away from a back after signing him to a big contract. Just last year, we saw the Carolina Panthers bench starter Miles Sanders in favor of Chuba Hubbard after they inked Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million deal. If Swift struggles or injuries plague him, don’t be surprised if Herbert wrestles the starting job away. Consider him one of the top handcuffs available in drafts.

There have been some rumors Herbert is on the roster bubble. Should he be released, the odds are very strong a team immediately scoops him up. He most likely would wind up in an even better situation. Either way, Herbert can be a major asset to fantasy managers in all leagues if the opportunity presents itself.

 

Kimani Vidal - Los Angeles Chargers

Yahoo ADP: 133.10 Overall, RB62

Vidal finished second in the nation in rushing last year while playing for the Troy Trojans. He totaled 1,661 rushing yards. The competition in the Sun Belt Conference is lacking, which is part of the reason why he fell to the sixth round of April’s draft. However, the Chargers are a fine landing spot for the rookie.

The competition standing in Vidal’s way is currently Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, and Isaiah Spiller. Dobbins is coming off another devastating injury after tearing his Achilles tendon. Patterson and Spiller have not amounted to much and may not make the final roster.

Edwards is coming off a career year with the Baltimore Ravens and finished a respectable 18th in RYOE. However, he enters his age-29 season and has never handled more than 198 carries in a year. There is plenty of room for another back to emerge in this offense.

There have been some murmurs that Vidal is behind Patterson for the RB3 job and could be on the roster bubble. This is something to monitor going forward. Although Vidal may have surpassed Patterson after his performance in Los Angeles' latest preseason contest.

Vidal has enough talent to be a fantasy difference-maker if he carves out a role. If injuries strike the depth chart, Vidal could be a league-winner. He makes for a good late-round dart throw in all formats.



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

Henry Thrun13 mins ago

Returns From Nine-Game Absence Thursday
Taijuan Walker14 mins ago

Blanks Rockies For Six Innings To Earn First Win
Tanner Houck19 mins ago

Picks Up No-Decision In Four-Inning Outing
Olli Määttä21 mins ago

Olli Maatta Returns To Utah Lineup Thursday
Alex Bregman27 mins ago

Fills The Box Score In Win Over Orioles
Dylan Guenther28 mins ago

Ready To Go Thursday
Jorge Polanco33 mins ago

Reinstated From Paternity List
Anthony Duclair35 mins ago

Takes Leave Of Absence
Carlos Rodriguez41 mins ago

Joining Brewers On Thursday
Alex Pietrangelo42 mins ago

On Track To Return Thursday
Brady Tkachuk47 mins ago

Out On Thursday
DJ LeMahieu48 mins ago

"About A Week Away" From Taking Live At-Bats
Devin Williams53 mins ago

To Return From Paternity List On Friday
Jake Fraley57 mins ago

Gavin Lux, Jake Fraley Sitting Against A Lefty
Trey McBride1 hour ago

Cardinals Making Trey McBride The Highest-Paid Tight End In NFL History
Geno Smith2 hours ago

Raiders, Geno Smith Agree To Two-Year Extension
Jeferson Quero2 hours ago

Set Back With Hamstring Injury
Eguy Rosario2 hours ago

Clears Waivers, Outrighted To Triple-A
Xavier Isaac2 hours ago

Rays Hopeful Xavier Isaac Will Return In A Couple Of Weeks
Angel Genao3 hours ago

Won't Return Until June
Austin Wells3 hours ago

Being Rested On Thursday
Paul Goldschmidt3 hours ago

Sitting In Finale Against Arizona
Masataka Yoshida3 hours ago

Not Ready For Rehab Assignment
Edward Cabrera3 hours ago

Goes Three Innings In Rehab Start
3 hours ago

Tyler Shough Could Be Day 2 Pick In NFL Draft
Jake McCarthy3 hours ago

Gabriel Moreno, Jake McCarthy Sitting On Thursday
Dallas Cowboys3 hours ago

Shemar Stewart Meeting With Cowboys Staff
Ketel Marte3 hours ago

Sitting On Thursday After Signing Extension
New York Giants4 hours ago

Travis Hunter The Likely Pick For Giants?
Jake Meyers4 hours ago

Taking Seat For Third Straight Contest
Dallas Cowboys4 hours ago

DeMarvion Overshown Aiming For Comeback Player Of The Year Award
Luis Garcia4 hours ago

Shut Down With Elbow Inflammation
Brett Harris4 hours ago

Activated, Optioned To Triple-A
Washington Commanders4 hours ago

Commanders Sign T.J. Maguranyanga
Kansas City Chiefs5 hours ago

Mike Edwards Reunites With Chiefs
New Orleans Saints5 hours ago

Saints Could Take A Quarterback Early In The Draft
Joe Milton III8 hours ago

Traded To Cowboys
Anfernee Simons9 hours ago

Could Be Absent Again Thursday
Scoot Henderson9 hours ago

Misses Third Consecutive Game Thursday
Scottie Barnes9 hours ago

Iffy For Thursday
Immanuel Quickley9 hours ago

Takes Thursday Off
Jakob Poeltl9 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Damian Lillard9 hours ago

May Return To Action Sooner Than Expected
Giannis Antetokounmpo9 hours ago

Likely To Suit Up Thursday
LeBron James9 hours ago

Probable Thursday
Jared McCann11 hours ago

Tallies Three Helpers On Wednesday
Jackson Blake11 hours ago

Scores Twice In Victory
Artemi Panarin11 hours ago

Tallies Three Points In Overtime Victory
Andrei Svechnikov11 hours ago

Exits Early On Wednesday
Jake McCabe11 hours ago

Suffers Injury On Wednesday
Jonathan Drouin11 hours ago

Exits Wednesday's Contest
Los Angeles Chargers19 hours ago

Chargers Sign Tight End Jordan Petaia
20 hours ago

Matthew Golden Making Pre-Draft Visit To Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals20 hours ago

Trey Hendrickson Not Looking For Short-Term Deal
Tutu Atwell20 hours ago

Rams Plan To Give Tutu Atwell A Bigger Role In 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers21 hours ago

Bucs Restructure Antoine Winfield's Deal To Free Up Cap Space
Jrue Holiday23 hours ago

Won't Play Against Miami
New York Jets23 hours ago

Xavier Newman-Johnson Re-Signs With New York
Al Horford23 hours ago

Sidelined Versus Heat
Kristaps Porzingis23 hours ago

Ruled Out On Wednesday
Fred VanVleet23 hours ago

Out Versus Utah
Dean Wade23 hours ago

Sidelined On Wednesday
Trae Young24 hours ago

Expected To Suit Up On Wednesday
Joel Embiid1 day ago

Will Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery On His Left Knee
Evgeni Malkin1 day ago

Joins Penguins For Road Trip
Filip Chytil1 day ago

Could Miss Rest Of Season
Declan Chisholm1 day ago

Back In Action Against Rangers
Keaton Wallace1 day ago

Sidelined Again On Wednesday
Samuel Girard1 day ago

Exits Avalanche Lineup Wednesday
Joel Kiviranta1 day ago

Returning Against Blackhawks
Eeli Tolvanen1 day ago

Misses First Game Of The Season
Jaden Schwartz1 day ago

Unavailable Against Canucks
1 day ago

Kyle McCord Rising Up Draft Boards?
1 day ago

Ashton Jeanty To Raiders Continues To Gain Steam
1 day ago

Emeka Egbuka To Fall To Round 2?
Los Angeles Rams1 day ago

Rob Havenstein Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Cleveland Browns1 day ago

Mike Hall Likely To Miss Offseason Program After Having Knee Surgery
Bennedict Mathurin1 day ago

Iffy For Wednesday
Myles Turner1 day ago

May Miss Another Game Wednesday
Al Horford1 day ago

Considered Doubtful Wednesday
Jrue Holiday1 day ago

Questionable For Wednesday's Game
Kristaps Porzingis1 day ago

Listed As Questionable For Wednesday
Evan Bouchard1 day ago

Tallies Two Assists In Victory
Jake Guentzel1 day ago

Tallies Goal, Assist In Victory
Cameron Young2 days ago

A Player To Avoid At Valero Texas Open
Kurt Kitayama2 days ago

In Search Of Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At Valero Texas Open
Tom Hoge2 days ago

Looking To Build Off Strong Performance At The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick2 days ago

Looking For Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Corey Conners2 days ago

Continues Strong Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Patrick Cantlay2 days ago

Eyeing Victory At Valero Texas Open
Gary Woodland2 days ago

Showing Great Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Akshay Bhatia2 days ago

Aiming For Repeat At Valero Texas Open
Alejandro Tosti2 days ago

A Volatile Choice At TPC San Antonio
Jordan Spieth2 days ago

Needs To Find Consistency At TPC San Antonio
Jake Knapp2 days ago

Making First Appearance At Valero Texas Open
Michael Kim2 days ago

Looking To Find The Magic Again In San Antonio
Tommy Fleetwood2 days ago

Is Nearly A Must-Play At Valero Texas Open
Tony Finau2 days ago

Hoping For Better Approach Play In San Antonio
Eric Cole2 days ago

Trending In Right Direction Ahead Of Valero
Sam Stevens3 days ago

Enjoys Nice Result In Houston
PGA3 days ago

J.T. Poston Seeks To Contend At Valero Texas Open
Denny McCarthy3 days ago

Keeps Making Cuts But Needs To Make More Putts
Brian Harman3 days ago

Off To A Subpar 2025 So Far
Ryan Preece3 days ago

Has Three Straight Top-10 Finishes For First Time In His Career
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace After Third-Place Finish At Martinsville: "What a Great Day"
Todd Gilliland3 days ago

Has Mistake-Free Day At Martinsville, Grabs Another Top-10 Finish
Brandon Moreno3 days ago

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Steve Erceg3 days ago

Losses Third Consecutive Fight
Drew Dober3 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Harry Hall3 days ago

Bounces Back In Houston Last Week
CJ Vergara3 days ago

Gets Submitted
Édgar Cháirez3 days ago

Edgar Chairez Gets Submission Win At UFC Mexico City
Vince Morales3 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Raul Rosas Jr.3 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Mexico City
Saimon Oliveira3 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
David Martinez3 days ago

Wins His UFC Debut
Kevin Borjas3 days ago

Earns His First UFC Win
Ronaldo Rodríguez3 days ago

Ronaldo Rodriguez Suffers His First UFC Loss
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Powers His Way To A Second-Place Finish At Martinsville
Chase Elliott3 days ago

Strong Martinsville Performance Ends With A Top-Five Finish
Kyle Larson3 days ago

Collects A Top-Five Finish At Martinsville
William Byron3 days ago

Places 22nd After Struggles At Martinsville
Joey Logano3 days ago

Claims His First 2025 Top-10 Finish After Up-And-Down Performance
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Fails To Place In The Top 10 At Martinsville
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Silences Doubters After Crew-Chief Change
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Earns Best 2025 Finish At Martinsville Despite Failing Cool Suit
Ross Chastain4 days ago

Has A Great Day At Martinsville
Chase Briscoe4 days ago

Has Solid Run At Martinsville
Erik Jones4 days ago

Disqualified At Martinsville For Weight Violation
Josh Berry4 days ago

Has Top-10 Upside At Martinsville
Joey Logano4 days ago

Don't Overlook Joey Logano This Weekend
Ryan Preece4 days ago

Could Get First Three-Race Top-10 Streak Of His Career
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Looking To Continue Great Runs At Martinsville
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Wins Pole At Martinsville, But Can He Stay Up There?
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Fast In Practice But Skeptical About Car
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

New Crew Chief Has Terrible Martinsville Record
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Russell Wilson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For QBs On New Teams: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, more

The NFL quarterback carousel gets to spin every offseason, and plenty of QBs have already found new homes ahead of the 2025 NFL season. For fantasy football, a player's surrounding team is extremely important, so it's worth looking into each of their outlooks with their new squads. There are still a few unsigned QBs, but […]


Shedeur Sanders - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Superflex/Two-QB

The 2025 NFL Draft is still less than 30 days away. Therefore, dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are nearly here. Much will change between now and the NFL Draft. However, it’s time for another dynasty rookie mock draft. This rookie mock draft is a two-round, 12-team, and two-quarterbacks. For a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, […]


Deshaun Watson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Offseason Team Needs: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

The AFC North, comprised of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, sent two teams to the playoffs in 2024 and had one on the cusp of a playoff berth. The Ravens have the best roster of the four teams by a long shot. The Steelers have a solid defensive group, and […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 2: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2025)

Week 2 of the UFL season is just around the corner. This week will feature one game on Friday, one game on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Birmingham and Michigan will play at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, followed by Memphis-D.C. on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Sunday's game pits the 1-0 Renegades against the […]


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: Overvalued, Undervalued Players (2025)

Dynasty fantasy football rankings constantly shift, especially as we inch closer to the new season and fantasy drafts. Dynasty managers know the importance of finding those underrated players who could be steals in drafts or trades. They also know some players are overhyped due to unsustainable trends or past production. I'll break down two overvalued […]


Justin Fields - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Best Fantasy Football Moves During 2025 NFL Free Agency

It has been a wild offseason so far in the NFL. Plenty of players have switched teams in free agency, and some stars were even traded. Deebo Samuel Sr. was dealt to the Washington Commanders, Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, and DK Metcalf has a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. These […]


Tyreek Hill - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Three Aging Fantasy Football Players To Sell In Dynasty Leagues

It's hard to always know when to sell off your aging fantasy football players. Often, it's also difficult to accept that it's better to move on from a player when he's coming off a productive season and still has a lot left in the tank. But I believe it's better to be a year early […]


J.J. McCarthy - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Draft Sleepers

Five Fantasy Football Superflex Quarterback Breakouts, Draft Targets (2025)

If you’ve ever played in a Superflex fantasy football league, then you know how important quarterbacks are in this format. The ability to start multiple stud quarterbacks can carry you to a Superflex title. Unfortunately, finding two such players isn’t so easy. All the top signal-callers come off draft boards first, and that makes it […]


Omarion Hampton - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Ideal Landing Spots For The Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies - 2025 NFL Draft

Then, the NFL Draft continues to inch closer and closer. This is a very interesting class, with a handful of players who could be stars in the NFL and reshape fantasy football leagues going forward. Here are the ideal landing spots for the top 12 fantasy football rookies. These picks exist in conversation with each […]


Jalen Coker - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Eight Best Ball Late Round Value Fantasy Football Players To Target For 2025

Fantasy football is the most popular game in all of sports. It has gone from a paper-and-pen game to a multi-million dollar-a-year one. While redraft leagues are the most popular form of fantasy football, best ball leagues are quickly gaining steam. The best part of best ball leagues is the ability to draft thousands of […]


Abdul Carter - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Top 10 Fantasy Football Edge Rusher Prospects

Edge rusher is the most important, most coveted, and most highly-paid position on defense in the NFL. It stands to reason that the most important position in the entire game being quarterback, and by a wide margin, means the most important position on defense are the players that are tasked with disrupting opposing QBs as […]


Brock Purdy - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Picks

Brock Purdy Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlook and Trade Value

Despite becoming the all-time leading passer for the Iowa State Cyclones, Brock Purdy wasn't a highly touted prospect due to his perceived lack of athleticism. The 49ers picked him with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Mr. Irrelevant quickly proved everyone wrong. In his first two years, he started in back-to-back NFC […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Scouting NFL Draft Prospects!

Michael F Florio goes over some of the top prospects from this years NFL Draft. Florio talks about what he looks for when watching prospect tape and explains what traits translate best to the NFL level. Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel 87) on Sundays from 6-7 am. You can […]