RADIO
As Week 5 approaches, some highly speculated backfields from the preseason start to finally take their shape. It seems as if every year, the running back position in fantasy football becomes increasingly challenging to navigate in the offseason.
These days, teams now view the position as interchangeable as ever. It appears the days of “workhorse” running backs are long gone, and teams are implementing more of a “hot-hand” approach.
With a four-week sample size under our belt, we wanted to take a look at some fantasy running back tandems from across the league and assess who the starter will be going forward and who fantasy managers should prioritize for the rest of the season.
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Miami Dolphins
Players: De'Von Achane, Raheem Mostert
The Miami Dolphins somehow found a way to get even faster on offense by way of their 2023 third-round draft pick RB De'Von Achane. The former Texas A&M Aggie dealt with a shoulder injury in the preseason that prevented him from being active in Week 1 and was then limited to only one carry for five yards in his career debut in Week 2.
He put all of that behind him when he erupted for 233 total yards and four (!) touchdowns in the Dolphins' 70-20 thrashing over the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
His encore effort in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills wasn’t too bad either, where the rookie ran for 101 yards and another two touchdowns.
While we still have much of the season left to play, it’s not overly ambitious to suggest that Achane is already paying league-winner-type dividends. He is currently the RB4 on the season in PPR formats, despite only playing three games.
That being said, his fellow backfield member Raheem Mostert is also carving out an excellent season for himself, as he is currently sitting as the RB2 in PPR formats.
It’s unlikely that both running backs will continue to have such high levels of success as they share this backfield together, so who should fantasy managers prioritize moving forward?
Since Week 3, the two backs have had largely similar snap counts and touches. Achane has played about 51% of snaps since then to Mostert’s 47%. As for touches, Achane has out-touched Mostert by a thin margin of 33-31.
Despite the similarities in snaps and touches, Achane has outgained Mostert by a total of 166 yards.
Another wrench being thrown into this backfield is the return of RB Jeff Wilson Jr., who is set to return from his stint on IR. The 2022 Dolphins trade acquisition was a productive part of this rushing attack last season, where he ran for almost 400 yards in eight games in Miami. This will continue to spread the volume even thinner amongst this backfield, and it’s important fantasy managers are aware of such ahead of his return.
Who Should I Start Moving Forward?
With Achane’s immediate impact, speed, efficiency, and encouraging usage, fantasy managers should be prioritizing him as the starter moving forward.
With this Dolphins league-leading scoring and rushing offense, it’s fair to assume that Mostert will still continue to have a fantasy-relevant role moving forward. He is still worthy of a start in his favorable matchups, but managers may want to look to trade the 31-year-old and get some solid pieces back ahead of RB Jeff Wilson Jr.’s return.
Detroit Lions
Players: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs
Fantasy managers from 2022 might be finding themselves having a bit of deja vu with the Detroit Lions backfield in 2023. This time, instead of seeing a disparity of touches between RBs Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, it’s with 2023 acquisitions David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Gibbs, the University of Alabama product, was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft. Given the current state of running back contracts, draft positions, etc., many thought this was a pretty heavy investment to make for a running back.
A high draft pick on a rookie running back has historically equated to first-year fantasy success, and fantasy managers were banking on this trend as Gibbs finished the offseason with an RB12 ADP.
Yet so far, this Lions rushing offense has been primarily anchored by 2023 free-agent signing David Montgomery.
Despite missing Week 3 with a thigh injury, Montgomery has already carried the ball 69 times, the fourth-highest amount in the league among RBs. He’s tallied 262 total yards and five touchdowns to go along with it, having him currently sitting as the RB10 in PPR formats.
This heavy usage has left Gibbs owners underwhelmed, and rightfully so. Through four games, Gibbs has toted the ball a total of only 39 times for 179 yards and no touchdowns.
Gibbs is still fighting for fantasy relevancy by way of his production in the receiving game. The 21-year-old has reeled in 14 catches, which is sixth amongst running backs. This has been his niche in the offense and he’s doing so effectively.
What Should Fantasy Managers Do Moving Forward?
To those who drafted Gibbs expecting him to be the lead back in this offense, unfortunately the only remedy at this point is to lower expectations and have patience. It’s unlikely fantasy managers can get an adequate return for him in a trade right now, and he’s still too valuable of a player to drop.
It’s unclear whether Gibbs’ low volume is part of a ramp-up period for the rookie, or if the Lions are playing out their backfield how they expected to all along. Until we get a better sample size to understand, Gibbs can be played as an RB3 in lineups for the foreseeable future.
For the managers who drafted Montgomery, they can confidently include him in starting lineups until it’s seen whether Gibbs will take up enough volume to drive away from his production.
Philadelphia Eagles
Players: D'Andre Swift, Kenneth Gainwell
Probably the most confusing backfield of the 2023 offseason was no other than the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles traded for both RBs D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny this offseason while parting ways with the team’s 2022 leading rusher in RB Miles Sanders.
With a backfield consisting of Swift, Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott, fantasy managers alike were worried that the volume would be spread too thin amongst this group, as the Eagles have been known to do under HC Nick Sirianni.
Thus far, it appears Penny has been the odd man out in this backfield, as he has only made an appearance on offense in the Eagles' Week 2 win over the Minnesota Vikings, carrying the ball three times for nine yards.
After a surprise low-usage Week 1 outing, Swift has completely taken over this backfield behind the Eagles' superb offensive line. Since Week 2, he has out-touched Gainwell 66-21 and outgained him over 300 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the process.
Swift is the clear-cut back for the Eagles moving forward, and fantasy managers should be prioritizing him accordingly moving forward.
There will remain an opportunity for Gainwell to keep some fantasy relevance and he’s worth a roster spot or even a start in some deeper leagues, but the evidence has shown us that Swift will be getting the majority of the volume moving forward.
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