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The 2024 NFL Draft class wasn't loaded with running back talent, but Jonathon Brooks, Blake Corum, and Trey Benson were the first three ball carriers off the board, and they each have intriguing fantasy football upside.
Workhorse running backs are close to becoming extinct, but Brooks, Corum, and Benson have workhorse size and adequate speed to be game-changers in the NFL.
Let's dive into each of their fantasy football outlooks below!
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The Carolina Panthers beefed up their running back room by drafting Jonathon Brooks out of Texas with the 46th overall pick in April. While Brooks was the first RB among his class to be drafted, he joined a crowded room next to Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny in one of 2023's worst offenses. If Brooks' knee looks great at camp following November 2023 surgery to repair a torn ACL then his draft stock will rise.
His career at Texas was limited in 2021-22 before he racked up 187 carries as a redshirt sophomore, averaging over six yards per carry (1,139 yards) with 10 touchdowns before the ACL injury. Brooks also chipped in 25 catches for 286 yards, which bodes well with joining a Dave Canales offense after he heavily involved Rachaad White through the air. For now, Brooks is on track to be ready for training camp.
JONATHON BROOKS 40 YARD TOUCHDOWN
TEXAS 7-0 pic.twitter.com/A6ovcG8cwx
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) September 24, 2023
Carolina may ease Brooks into the action but the upshot is he overtakes Hubbard and company for lead-back duties. Mind your bench space as a result while supplying ample depth around him in best ball drafts. If Canales can help Bryce Young and company grow then Brooks could find weekly top-25 RB value by year's end.
Blake Corum 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Blake Corum was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft to help ease Kyren Williams' workload. Williams is already set to miss OTAs with a "foot issue" but Sean McVay says the RB is expected for training camp. The red flags there have elevated the rookie's buzz this summer. The 5-foot-8 Corum showed immense power behind Michigan's stout offensive line, totaling nearly 60 touchdowns in 49 games across three starting seasons.
There is never a bad time to post Blake Corum’s game-winning touchdown in the Rose Bowl, so here it is! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/V7yI9jj0MS
— Don Thomas (@REALDonThomas) March 10, 2024
Most swoon over 27 rushing TDs in '23 but his 4.8 yards per carry was a drop from 5.9 the year before. Volume is no concern here as Corum topped 250 touches as both a junior and senior, though he was rarely involved as a receiver. If that more effective rusher seen at Michigan in 2022 meets a starting opportunity within McVay's creative rushing scheme then top-10 weeks are possible. Corum's half-PPR ADP has risen into the first 10 rounds of 12-team drafts as of early July to go with a RotoBaller rank of 134.
Trey Benson 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson was the second ball carrier off the board during the 2024 NFL Draft, and his landing spot sets him up to potentially make an impact in Year 1. The former Florida State Seminole is athletically comparable to Kenneth Walker and J.K. Dobbins, meaning he has tremendous size-adjusted speed. This was demonstrated by his 4.39 40-yard dash time at 216 pounds. He also averaged over 11.0 yards per reception in college, suggesting he can be a weapon in the passing attack. While James Conner remains the team's starter for now, he is set to enter his age-29 season, and he's never played a full season in his seven-year career.
With Kyler Murray fully healthy and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride looking like future stars at their positions, the Arizona offense could exceed expectations in 2024. Benson will likely see touches alongside Conner right away, and his role could grow as the season moves forward. In any potential Conner absences, he's likely to see workhorse volume behind an improved offense line that could yield at least high-end RB2 production. At his current cost outside the top 100 picks, he's a great running back handcuff stash with flex standalone potential.
— go to ➡️ collegefootballnetwork.com (@PickettsPool) November 26, 2023
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