League-Winning RBs Emerge: Week 10 Fantasy Football Outlooks for Chase Brown, De'Von Achane, Chuba Hubbard, James Conner, and More

The 2024 NFL season has been all about the running backs, with two heavy hitters leading the charge: Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia and Derrick Henry in Baltimore. Barkley has turned the Eagles’ backfield into his highlight reel, while Henry is pounding defenses into submission in Baltimore, delivering that trademark power and consistency that fantasy managers dream of.

But Barkley and Henry aren’t the only ones making noise. Just beneath the superstar tier, we’ve got a crop of running backs whose situations are finally opening up for them to shine. Whether it’s a new quarterback under center, a favorable schedule, or a recent trade shakeup, several backs are primed to make some serious fantasy impact in the second half of the season.

With bye weeks and injuries in full effect, finding value at running back has never been more crucial. If you’re hunting for depth or looking to hit a midseason jackpot, now’s the time to check out these potential league-winners who could carry your fantasy team to glory. So, let’s break down the backfields, spotlight those rising stars, and make sure your roster is ready to dominate as we roll into the season’s most critical stretch.

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Is Chase Brown the Bengals' RB1 Going Forward?

Chase Brown’s fantasy stock is heating up at just the right time. After a slow start, he’s taken over as Cincinatti’s RB1 with Zack Moss out indefinitely, and he’s showing us exactly why fantasy managers should be all-in. In Week 9 alone, Brown handled a massive 32 touches, racking up 157 total yards and a touchdown—talk about a workload!

His blazing 4.3 speed is front and center, and with this kind of volume, Brown's looking every bit like a potential league-winner down the stretch.

#Bengals HC Zac Taylor on whether he’s worried about wear and tear on Chase Brown, with Zack Moss sidelined:

“I think it’s important that you have another guy that can take some of the work off of him — whether that’s a couple carries, whether that’s some other snaps in some… pic.twitter.com/Bjbs2BHBir

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) November 4, 2024

On the season, Brown’s sitting at 105 rush attempts for 479 yards and four touchdowns (a solid 4.6 yards per carry), plus he’s chipped in 21 receptions for 98 yards and two receiving scores. While the Bengals recently traded for Khalil Herbert, who might mix in a few snaps, this backfield is looking like it’s Brown’s to command. If you’ve got him, lock him in.

Whether this remains the case for the rest of the season is still unknown, but I believe Brown can still be a very effective back for fantasy, even with a 60% snap share, while sharing some early down duties with Herbert.

De'Von Achane and the State of the Dolphins Offense

Saquon Barkley is the 2024 Fantasy Football MVP

SAQUON BARKLEY IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.

📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/UtCENDw6no

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

This season, Barkley’s been nothing short of phenomenal, and it’s hard not to think about all those wasted years with the Giants, stuck on offenses that couldn’t maximize his talent. Now, he’s thriving in Philly, putting up monster games every week and reminding us why he’s a generational talent. Barkley’s on pace for a historic season, and with the Eagles’ offense humming, there’s no sign of him slowing down.

The bottom line is that Barkley’s not just the MVP; he’s finally where he belongs—on a team that lets him shine, week in and week out.

Chuba Hubbard and the Panthers' Backfield

Someone getting a damn good RB to lead their backfield in 2025. Chuba Hubbard certified GOOD https://t.co/uAtnnCQsff

— Ray G (@RayGQue) November 4, 2024

However, there’s a potential shakeup on the horizon with rookie Jonathon Brooks coming off injured reserve. Brooks could steal some snaps and touches from Hubbard, and while it might not impact his lead-back status just yet, it’s worth keeping an eye on how the backfield split plays out in Week 10.

If Brooks does cut into Hubbard’s workload, it might put a slight cap on his ceiling, but for now, he remains the Panthers’ best offensive weapon and a solid play heading into the back half of the season.

Can James Conner Continue to Fend off the Younger Backs in Arizona?

James Conner has forced 58 missed tackles this year. Not only is that the most in the league, but it's 17 more than second place. Carry on JC! We love ya! #birdgang https://t.co/Dxmv1NND7L

— Suz (@SuzRedSea) November 5, 2024

Even with the younger backs pushing for snaps, Conner remains the go-to option in Arizona’s backfield, and his workload shows the team’s faith in his veteran experience. His role as a high-volume runner and his presence in the passing game make him a solid high-end RB2 option heading into Week 10.

Sure, Conner’s been around the block, but with Arizona sitting in the playoff hunt, he’s got the motivation to keep grinding—and fantasy managers should feel good rolling him out for the back half of the season.

Conclusion

As we hit the midpoint of the 2024 season, it’s clear that the running back landscape has given us a wild mix of predictable stars and surprise breakouts. But the real story lies in the emergence of those under-the-radar backs who’ve taken advantage of injuries, trades, and changing roles to carve out fantasy relevance when we least expected it.

For fantasy managers, it’s all about adjusting on the fly. The top RBs are delivering, but it’s those sneaky waiver-wire gems and mid-round picks like Chase Brown and Tony Pollard who’ve stepped up to fill in gaps and keep rosters afloat.

As more backfields shift roles, finding value becomes even more critical—whether it’s grabbing a hot-hand committee back or monitoring injury reports for the next breakout opportunity.

With the playoff race heating up, the running back position will only get more intense. Depth is going to be crucial as we hit the heavy bye weeks and deal with the inevitable late-season injuries.

If you’ve got solid RBs in place, consider yourself lucky. If you’re still scrambling, don’t lose hope—there’s always a back waiting to emerge. Here’s to a strong second half, where every point counts, and every carry could make the difference.

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