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A popular strategy amongst fantasy football managers over the past few years has been the Zero RB approach. This strategy is one that some might choose if they want to target every position but running back in the first couple of rounds. Usually, managers grab multiple wide receivers, a tight end, and even a quarterback with their first few picks.
After that, managers prioritize grabbing running backs in the middle-to-late rounds. If you are one of those people who might be taking the Zero RB approach this year or are looking for undervalued backs in the middle rounds, you have come to the right place.
This article will look at four running backs going in the middle round of fantasy drafts who are currently undervalued. These four playmakers are great targets in the seventh to 11th round of drafts this season.
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David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is not the most appealing name to draft in the middle rounds. He is in a timeshare with Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit's backfield, and Gibbs figures to be more involved in his second NFL season. However, Montgomery is definitely a running back to target in the seventh or eighth round of drafts this year.
Last season, Montgomery was one of the best value picks in the later rounds. He finished as the RB17 in PPR formats while averaging 14.8 fantasy points per game. The biggest downfall for the veteran in fantasy this year will be losing touches to Gibbs in the backfield. But that didn't stop the 27-year-old from being a consistent RB2 option in 2023.
Recording a show later today on players going WAY later - or earlier - than their ppg finish last season
...while asking 'why?'
Example, David Montgomery:
~ finished as RB12 last year ➡️ now drafted as RB18
~ In 13 healthy games last season, he never finished outside of the… pic.twitter.com/Vhng0ADo63— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) June 25, 2024
Despite playing less than 50% of the Lions' offensive snaps in seven of the final nine games, Montgomery still gave fantasy managers consistent production. He scored in double figures in all nine contests in PPR formats while scoring a touchdown in seven of those games. On the year, the five-year veteran totaled 219 carries for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground to go with 117 receiving yards.
There's no doubt that Gibbs will continue to take away carries from Montgomery in 2024. However, don't expect head coach Dan Campbell to go away from the veteran in the run game. He relied on him heavily last year, especially at the goal line, and that shouldn't change this season. Given that he will also run behind a top-3 offensive line and a top-5 offense, he is an undervalued option in the seventh or eighth round of drafts.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Sometimes, more isn't necessarily better. That certainly applied to running back Tony Pollard with the Dallas Cowboys last season. With Ezekiel Elliott leaving during the 2023 offseason, Pollard took over as Dallas' RB1 heading into the year. However, that full starter workload didn't necessarily work in his favor.
Pollard averaged a career-low 3.99 yards per carry and barely crossed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on 252 carries. With the 27-year-old also coming off a fractured fibula and high-ankle sprain, he just didn't have the same explosiveness on the ground. Still, he finished as the RB14 in PPR formats, marking the second consecutive season he has finished in the top 15 at the position in fantasy.
After Pollard's 2023 campaign, many fantasy managers are hesitant to draft the 27-year-old in the middle rounds. He goes to a Titans offense that struggled last year, and he is likely in line to split 50/50 with Tyjae Spears out of Tennessee's backfield. But the split backfield with Spears shouldn't really affect his fantasy value in 2024. We have seen him succeed before in a timeshare, most notably with Elliott in 2022. During that year, though, he finished as the RB8 in PPR formats.
another day, another #Titans coach (OC Nick Holz) calling Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears “interchangeable,” while hyping up their potential involvement in the passing game pic.twitter.com/052SO42STg
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 5, 2024
As a result, that 50/50 split shouldn't worry any fantasy managers. The Titans offense could also shock some people this season. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator (Brian Callahan) is now the head coach in Tennessee, and he helped Joe Mixon finish top 10 in fantasy in three straight years. So, there's a good chance that Pollard will bounce back in 2024. With an ADP outside the top 80, he is extremely undervalued entering the season. His ability in the running and passing game should help him produce consistent fantasy numbers.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
One of the best value picks in fantasy football this year is Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White. With Josh Jacobs leaving in free agency, White is now in prime position to break out in his third NFL season. The 24-year-old was stuck behind Jacobs on the depth chart for most of his first two years. But he finally got a chance at the end of the 2023 campaign to showcase his potential.
From Week 15 to Week 18, White took over as the Raiders' RB1 with Jacobs injured. In those four contests, the former Georgia product ran 84 times for 397 yards and one touchdown while catching nine passes for 60 yards. The young back also averaged 15.2 PPR fantasy points per game during that stretch.
Now, with White expected to start in 2024, there's no reason why he should be going in the eighth or ninth round of drafts. He has the chance to be a workhorse back in Las Vegas' offense and showed what he can do last season when given opportunities. The 24-year-old averaged 21 carries and 99.3 rush yards per game over the final four weeks of 2023. Head coach Antonio Pierce has also said he wants to control the ground game and run the ball a lot this upcoming year.
As a result, White is one of the most undervalued running backs in fantasy this year. He doesn't face much competition for touches -- as the team only added Alexander Mattison in free agency -- and he has sneaky RB1 upside in 2024. Take a chance on a running back who might break out in his first full season as a starter.
Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss is another player I find myself targeting in the later rounds. It's not often that you can find a back in the ninth or 10th round of fantasy drafts who is not only a starter but also on an elite offense. Well, lucky enough, that happens to be Moss in 2024.
Despite likely being a starter on a top-10 offense in Cincinnati, Moss' ADP does not make much sense heading into the year. He is currently going later than running backs like Jaylen Warren, Jonathon Brooks, Austin Ekeler, Nick Chubb, and Najee Harris. That is certainly surprising, considering more than half of those players aren't even starters on their own teams.
Moss also showed a ton of great things in a small sample size as a starter in 2023. With Jonathan Taylor hurt, the 26-year-old started four games from Week 2 to Week 5. In those contests, he ran 89 times for 445 yards and three touchdowns while catching eight passes for 72 yards and one touchdown. He also averaged 21.4 PPR fantasy points during that span with three top-10 running back finishes.
When Zack Moss got 15 or more rushing attempts last SZN (he did in 6 games) he averaged: ⬇️👀
- 92.2 rushing yards per game
- 4.33 Y/C on 126 attempts
- .66 TDs per gameI love this signing by the Bengals. Win/Win situation.
- Bengals get a good RB that doesn’t need to be… pic.twitter.com/MQoRbjjBbV
— PPRFantasyTips (@PPRFantasyTips) June 2, 2024
Now, Moss joins a Bengals offense that lost Mixon in the offseason. Second-year running back Chase Brown should see some chances in the backfield, but Moss figures to be the team's early-down and goal-line back. That should lead to some nice fantasy days for the 26-year-old in an elite offense. Take a chance on him in fantasy in 2024.
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