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We are now rapidly approaching the process of free agency, which will soon provide pathways for some running backs to seize significant roles in their new landing spots. Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard, Austin Ekeler, and D'Andre Swift are among the collection of backs who could resurface in new environments. The player movement that will eventually transpire will also negatively impact the stock of other backs whose workloads will be diminished within their backfield rotations.
Participation in the best ball draft process has also intensified, which provides fantasy football managers with the opportunity to construct rosters that will not require additional management following the conclusion of each draft. This makes it essential to assemble rosters that can withstand injuries, insufficient production, and other challenges without the benefit of a waiver wire.
The team at RotoBaller is providing tiered rankings and detailed analysis to help you navigate the draft process in this format, and every alteration within the fantasy landscape will be infused into the best ball rankings throughout the offseason. That includes this article, which will focus on running backs that are contained in Tiers 4-8. We will continually update our rankings in every format and you can find the latest rankings for Tiers 1-3 here.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Running Back Best Ball Rankings
Tier 4
Rhamondre Stevenson, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, Joe Mixon, David Montgomery, Tyjae Spears
Rhamondre Stevenson was drafted as a low-end RB1 during the 2023 draft season (ADP 31/RB11). This was justifiable after he vaulted to 11th in points-per-game scoring (14.7) in 2022. He was also 12th in rushing yardage (1,040/61.2 per game/5.0 per attempt) and ninth in yards after contact per attempt (2.1) while finishing among the top five in targets (89/5.2 per game), receptions (69/4.1 per game), and targets per route run (28.3%).
The Patriots are placing RB Rhamondre Stevenson on Injured Reserve, per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/1WSOSIe1ny
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 27, 2023
| Rushing | Yards/Att | Yards/Gm | YBC/Att | 20+ |
| 2022 | 5 | 61.2 | 2.9 | 7 |
| 2023 | 4 | 51.6 | 1.9 | 1 |
| Receiving | Targ/Gm | Rec/Gm | Yards/Gm | YPRR |
| 2022 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 24.8 | 1.34 |
| 2023 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 19.8 | 0.95 |
Stevenson was also 16th in rushing attempts from Weeks 1-12 (147/13.0 per game) last season before being sidelined with an ankle injury from Weeks 14-18. Stevenson's five-game absence impeded him from replicating the overall numbers that he had attained in 2022. His averages also declined in rushing yards (51.6), targets (4.3), receptions (3.2), and receiving yards per game (19.8).
However, Stevenson remains positioned to operate with a sizable workload if the Patriots do not add significant competition for touches during free agency or the NFL Draft. He is also capable of functioning as an RB2 for fantasy managers if that scenario transpires.
Josh Jacobs has emerged among the most intriguing free agents due to his history of accumulating yardage and fantasy points. Jacobs finished third among all backs with 1,072 rushing attempts (17.9 per game) and 40 rushing touchdowns from 2019-2022 while rising to fourth with 4,740 rushing yards (79 per game). That includes his career-best numbers during 2022 when Jacobs led the league in rushing yards (1,653/97.2 per game) and yards after contact (821).
JOSH JACOBS 63-YARD TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/ekD1C6e9x9
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 26, 2023
Jacobs entered Week 14 with a league-high 220 carries (18.3 per game) last season and was sixth with 771 rushing yards (64.3 per game). However, he was affixed to the sideline from Weeks 15-18 after sustaining a quad injury.
The prospects of Jacobs re-signing with Las Vegas have increased following the decision to retain Antonio Pierce as the Raiders’ head coach. His unsettled situation leaves him available until Round 5 (53/RB16). However, any favorable resolution of his current situation will ignite a rise in his ADP.
Alvin Kamara did not make his season debut until Week 4 in 2023, due to his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. However, he soared to third among backs with an average of 17.9 points per game from Weeks 4-17. Kamara also rose to second with 86 targets (6.6 per game).
ALVIN KAMARA CATCH AND RUN FOR 6‼️ pic.twitter.com/w8c3EOrvCx
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 29, 2023
Kamara also paced all backs in targets per route run (31.4%) and receptions (75/5.8 per game), was third in yards after catch, (465) and finished fourth in receiving yards (466/35.8 per game). He also tied for 12th in rushing attempts (180/13.8 per game). However, he only averaged 3.9 yards per attempt, which was the second-lowest average of his career.
He would retain a sizable workload under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak if he remains with New Orleans, although the Saints are contending with significant cap issues. This has elevated Kamara among the league’s potential cut candidates. His unresolved situation also creates risk in targeting him at his current ADP (50/RB15).
Joe Mixon’s ADP placed him in Round 3 during the 2023 draft season (29/RB10), which was the first time that his draft position had dropped below Round 2 since his 2017 rookie season. However, Mixon played in a career-high 17 games, while ascending to sixth with 728 snaps (69.5%), rising to fifth in rushing attempts (257/15.1 per game), and finishing eighth in rushing yards (1,034/60.8 per game).
JOE MIXON TOUCHDOWN ‼️
15.5 points before halftime 🙌 pic.twitter.com/n0nlLMb8lL
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) November 17, 2023
He was also sixth in routes run (376), ninth in receptions (52/3.1 per game), 12th in receiving yards (376/22.1 per game), and 13th in targets (64/3.8 per game), while rising to 11th with an average of 15.7 points per game. Mixon was also eighth in carries (96/16 per game) and ninth in rushing yards (413/68.8 per game) from Weeks 13-18 (413 yards/70.8 per game), which coincided with Chase Brown’s emergence within Cincinnati’s backfield rotation.
Mixon’s contract was restructured in 2023, although his status for 2024 is still unclear. He is no longer an unquestioned RB1 for fantasy managers, but is worthy of selection at his Round 6 ADP if he remains with the Bengals.
David Montgomery signed a three-year contract with Detroit during the 2023 offseason, which appeared to position him for lead back duties with the Lions. The configuration of Detroit’s backfield was quickly altered when Detroit seized Jahmyr Gibbs during the NFL Draft. However, both backs maintained critical roles within the offense even though they shared opportunities throughout the year.
WELCOME BACK, DAVID MONTGOMERY!!!!!!!!! 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN. 😤🔥 @MontgomerDavid
WHAT A BLOCK BY Jameson Williams, TOO. @bigsgjamo #OnePride
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/J2bVPDZCrw— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) November 12, 2023
Montgomery rose to ninth in rushing yards (1,015), while securing career-best averages in yards per game (72.5) and yards per attempt (4.6). He also finished fifth in yards after contact per attempt (2.3) and vaulted to fifth with a career-best 53 red zone carries. He also accumulated a career-high 13 touchdowns, while finishing 15th with an average of 14.8 points per game.
Gibbs has ascended into RB1 territory for fantasy managers. However, that will not prevent Montgomery from functioning as an RB2.
.@tyjae22 goes 28 yards for the score!
📺: Watch #JAXvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/jLPbeGzm97
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 7, 2024
Tyjae Spears’ enticing blend of speed and explosiveness fuel his big-play capabilities. Those attributes also provided his path to a sizable role as Tennessee’s RB2 during his promising rookie season.
Spears secured a 52.4% snap share while eclipsing 50% during 12 of his matchups. Derrick Henry’s probable extraction from the Titans’ depth chart now positions Spears to seize a larger workload this season.
| Weeks 13-18 | Targets | Targ/Gm | Targ% |
| Breece Hall | 46 | 7.7 | 21.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 39 | 6.5 | 23.8 |
| Bijan Robinson | 37 | 6.2 | 20.6 |
| Tyjae Spears | 30 | 5 | 17.6 |
| Austin Ekeler | 30 | 5 | 13.5 |
| Jaylen Warren | 29 | 4.8 | 19 |
| De'Von Achane | 25 | 4.2 | 13.7 |
| Travis Etienne | 25 | 4.2 | 10.5 |
| Alvin Kamara | 25 | 5 | 16.2 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 25 | 5 | 16.8 |
| Weeks 13-18 | Rec Yards | Yards/Gm | YAC |
| Breece Hall | 271 | 45.2 | 297 |
| Bijan Robinson | 247 | 41.2 | 267 |
| Tyjae Spears | 206 | 34.3 | 234 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 199 | 33.2 | 235 |
| Rachaad White | 185 | 30.8 | 191 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 175 | 35 | 120 |
| Travis Etienne | 164 | 27.3 | 185 |
| Jerome Ford | 156 | 26 | 152 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 152 | 30.4 | 174 |
| Austin Ekeler | 150 | 25 | 211 |
Spears also averaged 4.5 yards per attempt as a rusher, vaulted to ninth in targets (70/4.1 per game) and receptions (52/3.1 per game), and forced 27 missed tackles on his receptions, according to PFF.
Spears was also third in receiving yards (206/34.3 per game) from Weeks 13-18, while finishing fourth in targets (30/5.0 per game) and fifth in receptions (23/3.8 per game).
Spears provides the Titans with a dynamic playmaker that will be desperately needed in their attack. That elevates him among your most viable options in Round 5 of upcoming drafts.
Tier 5
Nick Chubb, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, D'Andre Swift, Derrick Henry, Javonte Williams, James Conner, Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris
Nick Chubb exceeded 100 yards for the 30th time in his career during Cleveland’s season opener in 2023. Unfortunately, he only played on 18 snaps in Week 2 before sustaining his season-ending knee injury.
An update on Nick Chubb's recovery progress following his second surgery today: pic.twitter.com/Fg6t5u3vQr
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 14, 2023
That precluded Chubb from building upon the impressive numbers that he had assembled from 2019-2022. This includes his 5,345 rushing yards (90.6 per game), which was second only to Derrick Henry. He also averaged a league-high 5.3 yards per attempt and finished among the top three in yards after contact three times during that span.
The timeline for Chubb’s recovery is unclear, and he might remain sidelined at the onset of the regular season. The Browns are also contending with cap issues and could either restructure Chubb’s contract or release him. Chubb’s Round 8 ADP might change significantly depending on how this situation unfolds during the upcoming weeks.
Tony Pollard averaged 5.1 yards per attempt from 2019-2022 and finished ninth with an average of 15.6 points per game in 2022. His effectiveness while operating in a rotation with Ezekiel Elliott fueled surging expectations surrounding his potential to generate massive numbers if he secured a larger workload.
| Rushing | Att/Gm | Yards/Gm | Yards/Att | YAC/Att |
| 2022 | 12.1 | 62.9 | 5.2 | 2.6 |
| 2023 | 14.8 | 59.1 | 4 | 2 |
| Receiving | Rec/Gm | Yards/Gm | TPRR | YPRR |
| 2022 | 2.4 | 23.2 | 24.7 | 1.7 |
| 2023 | 3.2 | 18.3 | 19 | 0.85 |
That scenario developed in 2023 when the Cowboys released Elliott, but Pollard did not deliver the same level of explosiveness that had been displayed before Elliott’s departure.
He accumulated a career-high 252 carries (14.8 per game), but only averaged 4.0 yards per attempt. Pollard also averaged 2.0 yards after contact per attempt after attaining a league-high average of 2.6 during 2022.
Tony Pollard said he finally felt 'back' from his broken leg injury vs the Panthers (Week 11)
PFF's highest-graded rusher from Week 11 onward...
tony pollard.
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) February 13, 2024
Pollard's ADP has plummeted to Round 6 (70/RB21). However, the degeneration of his numbers could be a byproduct of the broken left leg and sprained ankle that he sustained in January 2023. This creates an opportunity for anyone who believes that he will perform with greater proficiency, whether he remains with Dallas or is infused into a new environment.
Multiple injuries (hamstring/knee) kept Aaron Jones on the sideline during six different matchups in 2023. His numbers from Weeks 1-14 were uninspiring, as he was limited to 245 rushing yards (35 per game) and 66 attempts (9.4 per game).
| Weeks 16-18 | Yards | Yards/Gm | 100+ | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Aaron Jones | 358 | 119.3 | 3 | 63 | 21 |
| Breece Hall | 357 | 119 | 1 | 70 | 23.3 |
| Zamir White | 328 | 109.3 | 2 | 67 | 22.3 |
| Jonathan Taylor | 327 | 109 | 1 | 69 | 23 |
| James Conner | 323 | 107.7 | 2 | 65 | 21.7 |
| Najee Harris | 312 | 104 | 2 | 72 | 24 |
| Derrick Henry | 283 | 94.3 | 1 | 50 | 16.7 |
| Khalil Herbert | 264 | 88 | 2 | 50 | 16,7 |
| Joe Mixon | 219 | 73 | 1 | 46 | 15.3 |
| Kyren Williams | 191 | 95.5 | 1 | 42 | 14 |
However, Jones operated with an average of 21 attempts per game from Weeks 16-18 and erupted for a league-high 358 rushing yards (119.3 per game).
RB Aaron Jones played his 100th game for the #Packers on Sunday + Green Bay closes out the schedule with two NFC North games.
Packers Daily ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/jMmlmNk2Fg
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 27, 2023
That includes his usage and output in Weeks 16-17 (41 attempts/20.5 per game), (247 yards/123.5 per game), which rewarded managers for their perseverance during his production-inhibiting injuries.
Jones turned 29 in December and is entering the final year of his contract. However, A.J. Dillon is a free agent, and Jones’ late-season statistical surge supplies your incentive for targeting him during Round 6 of your drafts.
Detroit jettisoned D'Andre Swift to Philadelphia during the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft, which propelled him into lead back duties with the Eagles. That provided Swift with the opportunity to improve upon the underwhelming numbers that he had assembled with the Lions in 2022 -- (41.3% snap share/7.1 attempts per game/38.7 yards per game/173 yards after contact).
D’ANDRE SWIFT TOUCHDOWN
pic.twitter.com/iCIwgD4UX8— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) December 26, 2023
Swift finished 12th with a career-high 229 rushing attempts (14.3 per game) with the Eagles while vaulting to fifth in rushing yards (1,049/65.6 per game) and eighth in yards before contact per attempt (2.8).
He also averaged 3.1 targets/2.4 receptions/13.4 receiving yards per game, which were also below his averages from 2020-2022 (5.1 targets/3.9 receptions/30.0 yards per game). Swift is an unrestricted free agent, and his Round 8 ADP will rise if he is placed in a position to thrive this season.
14 minute Derrick Henry highlight reel? 🤔
14 minute Derrick Henry highlight reel. 😏 pic.twitter.com/wwyv4Vf4ep— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) February 15, 2024
Derrick Henry stockpiled more rushing yards (7,209/100.1 per game), attempts (1,529/21.2 per game), and rushing touchdowns (68) than any other back from 2019-2023.
That includes Henry’s numbers last season, when he paced the league in carries (280/16.6 per game), finished second in yardage (1,167/68.6 per game), and rose to third in yards after contact (601). He also generated 12 touchdowns and finished 16th with an average of 14.5 points per game.
Henry turned 30 in January, and his impressive tenure as the cornerstone of Tennessee’s offense appears to have reached a conclusion. However, his ability to function as an effective resource for fantasy managers should remain intact. Henry could also exceed the expectations of his Round 5 ADP (49/RB14) if he secures an extensive workload in his new landing spot.
Javonte Williams will enter his fourth season having failed to match the yardage total (903/53.1 per game) or the 12.1 points per game average that he attained during his 2021 rookie season.
Javonte Williams Touchdown!!!
His first since December 2021 😳 pic.twitter.com/z7U5Gy6jLe
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 10, 2023
Williams did remain in the lineup during 16 matchups last season while accumulating a career-high 217 rushing attempts (13.6 per game). However, he also registered career lows in yards per attempt (3.6), yards per game (48.4), and yards after contact per attempt (1.7). Williams also trailed Samaje Perine in routes run, receptions, and receiving yards, while Jaleel McLaughlin's explosiveness could propel the second-year back into an expanded role.
Williams will not turn 24 until April, but the potential for Sean Payton to allocate touches to multiple backs should deter you from selecting him before his Round 8 ADP (86/RB25).
James Conner rose to 13th with an average of 15.5 points per game from Weeks 1-18 while he soared to a league-best 23.9 per game from Weeks 13-18. Conner was sidelined from Weeks 6-9 with a knee injury while finishing 21st in rushing attempts (208/16.0 per game).
However, he still rose to sixth with a career-high 1,040 yards despite his four-game absence. Conner was also third with a career-best average of 80 yards per game while finishing fourth in yards before contact per attempt (2.8) and sixth in yards after contact per attempt (2.2).
Kyler Murray TO JAMES CONNER!
SENSATIONAL TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/2J1IOEsId3
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) December 31, 2023
Conner also accumulated a league-high 404 yards after contact from Weeks 13-18, while rising to third in rushing yards (514/102.8 per game) and touchdowns (five). He will turn 29 in May and is entering a contract year. However, his performance during 2023 should keep him atop the Cardinals’ depth chart.
The Steelers’ allocation of touches to Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris has impeded both backs from accruing the numbers that they would deliver if either member of the tandem was operating without the restraints of a timeshare.
However, Warren’s efficiency as a rusher and his role as Pittsburgh’s pass-catching presence from the backfield has enabled him to perform effectively with his allotted workload. Warren generated 784 yards (46.1 per game) with his 149 attempts (8.8 per game), secured the league’s second-highest average in yards per attempt (5.3), and tied for third in yards after contact per attempt (2.4).
Warren also tied for fifth in targets (74/4.4 per game) and receptions (61/3.6 per game), and finished sixth in yards after catch (486). The arrival of Arthur Smith as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator should keep Warren involved in the restructured offense and his versatility elevates him among your most viable options in Round 8 (96/RB31).
Najee Harris TOUCHDOWN 🔥
pic.twitter.com/DU4wckv4ap— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) January 6, 2024
Pittsburgh’s deployment of Warren and Najee Harris (11.5) propelled the duo to averages above 11 points per game (Warren-11.6), (Harris-11.5) -- even though the ongoing constraints that were inherent with the Steelers’ backfield rotation prevented either back from functioning as the team’s unquestioned RB1.
| Weeks 1-18 | YAC | YAC/Att | Yard/Gm |
| Najee Harris | 618 | 2.4 | 60.9 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 606 | 2.2 | 91.2 |
| Derrick Henry | 601 | 2.1 | 68.6 |
| Tony Pollard | 510 | 2 | 59.1 |
| David Montgomery | 504 | 2.3 | 72.5 |
| Breece Hall | 494 | 2.2 | 58.5 |
| Saquon Barkley | 482 | 2 | 68.7 |
| James Cook | 482 | 2 | 66 |
| Raheem Mostert | 465 | 2.2 | 67.5 |
| Kyren Williams | 459 | 2 | 95.3 |
| James Conner | 459 | 2.2 | 80 |
| Weeks 12-18 | Inside 20 | Inside 10 | Inside 5 |
| Najee Harris | 32 | 14 | 8 |
| Kyren Williams | 31 | 20 | 10 |
| Joe Mixon | 31 | 22 | 13 |
| James Conner | 23 | 11 | 8 |
| Tony Pollard | 22 | 8 | 4 |
| Raheem Mostert | 22 | 18 | 11 |
| Aaron Jones | 21 | 5 | 5 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 20 | 13 | 8 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 20 | 8 | 6 |
| Kareem Hunt | 20 | 9 | 6 |
Harris finished 19th with 548 snaps (53.3%), although he ascended to sixth with 255 attempts (15.0 per game). He also finished seventh in rushing yards (1,035/60.9 per game), while accumulating a league-high 618 yards after contact. Harris also led all backs with 32 carries inside the red zone from Weeks 12-18, and should sustain his workload with Smith concocting the Steelers' offense.
Tier 6
Jerome Ford, Raheem Mostert, Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr. Chase Brown, Khalil Herbert, Chuba Hubbard, Devin Singletary, Zach Charbonnet, Ty Chandler, Roschon Johnson
Jerome Ford is currently positioned to operate as Cleveland’s RB1 if Nick Chubb’s aforementioned knee injury prevents him from resurfacing in Week 1. Ford operated with a sizable workload during Chubb's absence in 2023, while finishing 12th in snaps (553/52.1% share) from Weeks 2-17. Ford also led the Browns in rushing attempts (186/12.4 per game) and rushing yards (771/47.9 per game) during those matchups.
Flacco finds Jerome Ford for a MONSTER TOUCHDOWN 🔥
pic.twitter.com/IFdD0qpCzi— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 29, 2023
Ford was also fifth in broken tackles (26), 21st in yards after contact (367), and finished among the top 15 in routes run (319), targets (63/3.7 per game), and receiving yards (319/20.1 per game). He is currently being drafted as a low-end RB3 (116/RB36) but will surpass those expectations if Chubb does not reemerge during the Browns' early-season matchups.
Raheem Mostert finished fourth with an average of 17.8 points per game during 2023, while generating a league-high 18 rushing touchdowns. He also rose to 10th in rushing yardage (1,012/67.5 per game) and ninth in yards after contact (465).
Raheem Mostert scores his 14th total touchdown of the year!#MIAvsNYJ on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/PL1eCJzDjs pic.twitter.com/3d13i4ci99— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2023
It will be difficult for Mostert to match the career numbers that he assembled last season, as he will turn 32 in April, and De'Von Achane could exceed last year’s average of 11.9 touches per game. That should compel you to avoid selecting him at his Round 8 ADP (88/RB26).
Austin Ekeler led all running backs in targets (394/6.7 per game), receptions (323/5.5 per game), receiving yards (2,769/46.9 per game), and receiving touchdowns (23) from 2019-2022, while also accumulating 2,913 rushing yards (49.4 per game) and 29 rushing touchdowns.
However, Ekeler failed to match those numbers during 2023. He averaged 5.3 targets/31.1 yards/3.6 receptions per game and generated just one receiving touchdown. He was also 36th overall with 628 rushing yards (44.9 per game) and registered five touchdowns after stockpiling 25 in 2021-2022. Ekeler will turn 29 in May and will reemerge in a new environment. It is unlikely that his numbers will approach the results that he attained during his most productive seasons.
Brian Robinson Jr. sustained a hamstring injury in Week 13 and only registered 46 snaps during Washington’s remaining contests. However, the numbers that he attained from Weeks 1-12 propelled him to 16th with an average of 14.2 points per game. He also tied for 14th in snaps (418/52.4% share) and was 12th in carries (153/12.8 per game), 17th in rushing yards (611/50.1 per game), and 10th in yards after contact (425).
Robinson is currently primed to sustain his role as the Commanders’ lead back, although the offseason transformation of Washington’s coaching staff could fuel modifications within the team’s depth chart.
CHASE BROWN TOUCHDOWN 😤
pic.twitter.com/ZmlMAufDku— Barstool Illini (@BarstoolILL) December 10, 2023
Chase Brown was limited to eight snaps, five touches, and 13 total yards from Weeks 1-12. However, he accumulated 28 snaps, 20 touches, and 166 total yards in Weeks 13-14. He also averaged 5.1 yards per attempt, while finishing in 12th in yards after contact (73) and generating a 54-yard touchdown reception.
Brown also generated 173 rushing yards (28.8 per game) on 42 attempts (7.0 per game) from Weeks 13-18, while infusing an additional level of explosiveness into Cincinnati’s backfield. Brown's role would expand if Joe Mixon is not retained by Cincinnati. Brown would also emerge as an enticing handcuff if Mixon returns.
Khalil Herbert's usage and output fluctuated throughout the 2023 regular season, due to the inconsistent distribution of touches within the Bears backfield. Herbert operated as Chicago’s lead back from Weeks 1-5, while averaging 10.2 attempts/54.4 rushing yards per game. Herbert was inactive from Weeks 6-10 (ankle), but reemerged to pace the Bears in carries (81/11.6 per game) and yardage (339/48.4 per game) from Weeks 11-18.
Chicago’s backfield rotation remains challenging to forecast as Herbert enters the final year of his rookie contract. However, he is worthy of consideration at his Round 11 ADP (131/RB42).
Chuba Hubbard Touchdown‼️ #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/kieE4yYFZ3
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) December 24, 2023
Chuba Hubbard seized lead-back duties in Carolina during Week 5 after that role had initially been entrusted to Miles Sanders. Hubbard also secured career highs in attempts (238/14.0 per game), rushing yards (902/53.1 per game), red zone carries (36), and yards after contact (426), while surpassing his previous bests in routes run (293), targets (44/2.6 per game), receptions (39/2.3 per game), and receiving yards (233/13.7 per game).
Hubbard’s role within Carolina’s backfield will be dependent upon the modifications that are made to the Panthers’ depth chart under new head coach Dave Canales.
Devin Singletary leapfrogged the inefficient Dameon Pierce (2.9 yards per attempt) to seize Houston’s lead-back responsibilities during the regular season. That propelled him to career highs in rushing attempts (216/12.7 per game), rushing yards (898/52.8 per game), and yards before contact (550).
Singletary also finished fourth in snaps (436/68.9%) and rushing attempts (167/16.7 per game) from Weeks 9-18, while vaulting to third with 715 rushing yards (71.5 per game). Singletary is a free agent, and his status should be monitored during the upcoming weeks. However, he can currently be targeted at his Round 11 ADP (127/RB41).
Zach Charbonnet was the third running back to be selected during the 2023 NFL Draft and entered the league with the ability to function effectively as a three-down back. He secured a 48.5% snap share and averaged 8.9 touches/31 total yards per game from Weeks 1-18 while tying for 19th in yards after contact per attempt (1.9).
Charbonnet also averaged 19.7 touches, 75.3 total yards, and 13.2 points per game from Weeks 11-13, as Kenneth Walker contended with an oblique injury. Charbonnet is also capable of seizing a larger role in Seattle’s restructured offense under head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Alexander Mattison rose to sixth in snaps from Weeks 1-9 (377/65.6% share) and was 11th in carries (122/13.6 per game) during that span. However, he averaged 3.6 yards per attempt and was 21st with 434 rushing yards (48.2 per game).
How bout Jordan Addison sealing the edge on this big Ty Chandler run? pic.twitter.com/jR8LLw7uAh
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 16, 2023
Mattison’s inefficiency provided a path for Ty Chandler to seize a sizable workload, as Chandler led Minnesota’s backfield in snaps (260/51.6% share), rushing attempts (94/11.8 per game), and rushing attempts (419/52.4 per game) from Weeks 10-18.
Chandler is now positioned to build upon those numbers following the release of Mattison. He is also capable of capitalizing on any expanded workload that would emerge if the Vikings do not add formidable competition for touches during free agency or the NFL Draft.
The unpredictable touch totals that were allocated within the Bears' backfield led to erratic workloads for Roschon Johnson during his rookie season. He did lead Chicago’s backs in snaps from Weeks 1-18 (378/39.3% share), while pacing the unit in routes run (188), targets (40/2.7 per game), receptions (34/2.3 per game), receiving yards (209/13.9 per game), yards after catch (251), and yards per route run (1.11).
Johnson’s pathway toward an increased workload should expand as D'Onta Foreman is a free agent, while Khalil Herbert will be operating on the final year of his contract.
Tiers 7-8
Braelon Allen, Tyler Allgeier, Kendre Miller, Zack Moss, Jonathon Brooks, Blake Corum, Ezekiel Elliott, J.K. Dobbins, Alexander Mattison, Antonio Gibson, Zamir White, Miles Sanders, A.J. Dillon
The value for backs that are contained in Tiers 7 and 8 could easily rise or descend depending upon various factors that might emerge during the upcoming weeks of the offseason.
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