Running Back Depth Charts Analysis: NFC Divisions

August 3, 2021

Antonio Losada looks at the running back depth charts for every NFC division and identifies RB sleepers and busts.

The regular season is right around the corner and each team's depth chart is mostly complete! Before diving into the fantasy season, RotoBaller has you covered with some last-minute running back depth chart recaps for each team, including some useful bits of analysis for players you want to keep on your radar.

Please note that the charts below are based on individual team depth charts and come from RotoWire's projected starting units. The DCs project the real-life pecking order expected to be used by head coaches at the respective franchises, not where RotoWire projects those players to finish in fantasy leagues.

Here are the current preseason depth charts at running back for each division in the NFC.

NFC WEST

Stepping Into The Limelight: Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

Okay, folks, the time has come. Darrell Henderson, who projected to a measly finish by PFF no longer than a few days/weeks ago, saw the light of the day with expected-RB1 Cam Akers falling down with an Achilles injury. Henderson, whether he likes it or not, will now be mega-forced into the go-to role at the running back position in Los Angeles, and we'll see what he ends up doing.

Meanwhile, you better be targeting this man in redraft leagues: Henderson is now projected to an RB16 finish in 2021 with 215+ PPR points to his name... while getting drafted at an ADP of 154th overall and RB44--obviously, I'm writing this just hours after Akers' injury and Henderson's ADP will stay sky-rocketing from this moment to Week 1 kickoff.

NFC NORTH

Second-Year Surprise: D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

Swift wasn't bad in his first season as a pro last year. For a rookie playing in a putrid squad--that hasn't changed, I'm afraid--he was still able to rack up 189.8 PPR points to close the season as the 18th-best rusher in the format with an average of 14.6 FPPG. The truth is that this division was packed with talented RB1 players last year, and among all four starters, Swift should be the worst one. Are we sure about that, though?

PFF has Swift projected to more PPR points than David Montgomery for the upcoming campaign... and I agree. Montgomery went from RB24 as a rookie to RB4 last year, and I'm betting on a similar jump up the rankings from Detroit's sophomore.

NFC SOUTH

Not the Time to Drop the Mike: Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons

I don't know how we've reached this point, but for some reason, fantasy GMs out there don't believe what Mike D did last season in Carolina while backing up a banged-up Christian McCaffrey. See, Davis' performance levels were sublime, he did it both on the ground and through the air, and he excelled when called up to the task.

Davis, now a Falcon, is getting into an offense that comes off losing its best WR in years, that features a QB that bombs away, and overall lacks talent all around, let alone the backfield. With a low ADP of RB25 and a projection to finish RB18 in 2021, the steal is right there for you to pull it off in your league draft these days.

NFC EAST

Division of the Backup RB: Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

Instead of going with the boring pick here, I'm going to go a step further and point out the backup tailbacks that are available in this division. Tony Pollard should be the no. 1 among them, as he's been for the past few years while considered one of the best RB2s in the NFL. Other than Pollard, though, Devontae Booker (if he retains that RB2 role) could turn into the steal of the draft if Barkley misses ample time for the second consecutive year (he also skipped three games in 2019). Miles Sanders only played 12 games last season and Antonio Gibson missed two.

I'm not saying injuries are a lock for all those four RBs to go through come 2021, but there is a chance and all of Pollard, McKissic, Scott, and Booker could become key targets and WW-pickups with league-winning upside.

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