X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Early Fantasy Football Running Back Sleepers for Best Ball Drafts (2024)

Tyjae Spears - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Adam Koffler identifies four sleepers at the running back position that you should target in 2024 best ball fantasy football. Fantasy managers should draft these four running back sleepers.

So what's a "sleeper" anyway? In its purest form, it's a player that's being "slept" on. They are players who should be valued more highly by the fantasy football community for one reason or another. No, De'Von Achane is not a sleeper, stop kidding yourself. But maybe Raheem Mostert is? Maybe, maybe not, considering the role we expect Achane to play in his second season.

In Best Ball, we want to focus our attention on guys that have big potential. No, that's not AJ Dillon or Khalil Herbert, sorry to crush your dreams. Instead, it's guys that have juice and/or a nice opportunity in front of them. When opportunity knocks, these guys should be able to take full advantage.

In 2023, Kyren Williams, Rachaad White, and Raheem Mostert all fit the bill as running back sleepers. This season, I've identified four new backs that are currently extremely undervalued. That's just my opinion, but I feel really good about these four guys far out-producing their current average draft position (ADP) on Underdog. Here they are, my 2024 Best Ball Running Back Sleepers.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2024 Best Ball Running Back Sleepers

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

Spears is electric. As a rookie, he was 5th among running backs in yards created per touch (4.58) and breakaway run rate (7.0%), per PlayerProfiler. A breakaway run is any rush of 15 yards or longer, so Tyjae was consistently breaking long ones despite a below-average offensive line. The consensus has Tennessee taking an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, which should make it even easier for Spears to operate in 2024. 

“But Adam, what about Tony Pollard who the Titans signed to a three-year, $21.75M contract, isn’t he the guy you want?” Did you see Pollard try to operate as the bell-cow in Dallas last season without Ezekiel Elliott? His efficiency took a nosedive with the heavier workload. The Titans are most definitely going to scale that back. But how will the roles be defined between Pollard and Spears? Here’s head coach Brian Callahan referring to his backs as “interchangeable” on multiple occasions:

If they’re truly interchangeable, give me the younger guy who looked electric last season vs. the guy coming off a season with 300+ touches who couldn’t handle a heavy workload. Pollard was so much better in 2022 when he played between 40% and 55% of the snaps. Spears also had 70 targets as a rookie, a sign the team trusts him in high-value situations. 

Spears has a current ADP of 103.5 (RB31), while Pollard has an ADP of 80.9 (RB21). Give me that sweet discount every day of the week and twice on Sundays. 

Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals

Opportunity knocks for Mr. Moss in 2024. His first couple of years in the NFL were a bit rough. Despite what many people saw as an opportune landing spot in Buffalo, he never really took off. 

But then he landed in Indianapolis and got those opportunities in 2022 and 2023 with injuries to Jonathan Taylor. He more than made the most of those opportunities, even showcasing his abilities as a three-down back. It clearly caught Zac Taylor’s attention as he called Moss “a great fit for what we’re doing on offense” and mentioned his ability to play on all three downs at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in Orlando, FL.

It’s possible Chase Brown eats into the pie a little more than he did last season with Joe Mixon operating as the primary back. But, it’s also possible this Bengals coaching staff likes a veteran as the primary back, like with Mixon last season. The 27-year-old was 3rd among all running backs in opportunity share (78.9%) and 7th in weighted opportunities per game (15). 

Moss is entering his 5th year in the league and is a high-IQ player. He’ll likely get the first crack at the “starting” job and could legitimately run with it and never look back. You’ll recall Mixon had over 1,400 total yards and 12 total touchdowns a season ago en route to a back-end RB1 finish. Moss is currently being drafted as RB34 with an ADP of 108.4. Maybe the Bengals draft somebody and crush this dream, but why? Moss is more than capable of shouldering the load (with some Brown sprinkled in).

Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos

Draft good running backs! Often, teams will eventually have no choice but to play them more because they’re good, if not better than, the team’s “starter.” That sentiment rings extremely true for Broncos 2nd-year back Jaleel McLaughlin. Just check out this chart for a minute. 

McLaughlin was one of the most elusive backs last season, while “starter” Javonte Williams was actually one of the least elusive backs last season. Many will point to Williams coming off a significant knee injury, and while that’s true, it’s no guarantee he ever gets back to what he once was either.

Yes, it’s true that McLaughlin only had 107 touches as a rookie to Javonte’s 264, so in all likelihood, that elusiveness is a little skewed. However, it says something that the gap is as large as it is between him and Williams. 

And with his ability as a pass-catcher, it’s quite possible McLaughlin can become what Sean Payton had in New Orleans with Alvin Kamara or Darren Sproles. At the end of last season, Payton mentioned that “periodically, he’ll come up and he wants to expand his role as a receiver in that, if you will, ‘Joker’ category.” Let’s see if his elusiveness can get him those extra touches this season. With an ADP of 151.2 (RB45), I’m willing to take that gamble. This kid is electric.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

You’ll notice somewhat of a theme here with these sleeper running backs. They are guys who haven’t shouldered a big workload before and have declining incumbents in front of them. Kendre Miller fits a similar bill heading into the 2024 season. 

Miller was highly productive at TCU and was the 4th running back off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft as the 71st pick overall. But it was an injury-riddled rookie season for Kendre, and he never really found his footing. That could all change this season, especially as Alvin Kamara continues to decline as a productive rusher. Check this out:

Kamara regressed in a big way last season. With Jamaal Williams’ struggles (career-low 2.89 yards per carry) and Miller being injured on and off throughout the season, the Saints had no choice but to feed Kamara. But that could all change in 2024 with a fully healthy Miller heading into training camp.

Both Kamara and Williams are 28 years old and showed signs of regression in 2023. Miller is just 21 years old and is just two years removed from an extremely productive 2022 season at TCU. With an Underdog ADP of 153.4 (RB46), there’s not much risk with a very high reward should he take on a bigger piece of the pie in the Saints’ backfield in 2024.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Will Smith

Scratched With Hand Soreness on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

has Foot Contusion, Expected to Play Friday
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch This Weekend
MacKenzie Gore

to Start on Thursday
Ketel Marte

Exits Early on Wednesday
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Brock Purdy

"a Long Shot" to Play on Sunday
Aaron Rodgers

Dealing With Back Tightness
Dallas Goedert

Questionable for Week 2 at Chiefs
Anthony Rizzo

Retires
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Jadeveon Clowney

Visiting With the Cowboys on Wednesday
Masyn Winn

Will Require Offseason Knee Surgery
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Strikes Out 12, Earns 12th Win on Tuesday
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Christian Watson

Agrees to One-Year Contract Extension
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Will Smith

Returns to Dodgers Lineup on Tuesday
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
Kyle Stowers

Dealing With Strained Side
Kyle Tucker

Placed on Injured List With Calf Strain
Jauan Jennings

Considered Day-to-Day, has a Chance to Play in Week 2
Jalen Carter

Receives One-Game Suspension, Will be Eligible for Week 2
Bo Bichette

Goes on Injured List With Knee Sprain
George Kittle

Placed on Injured Reserve
Tyreek Hill

Accused of Domestic Violence
Jauan Jennings

Avoids Serious Shoulder Injury
Garrett Crochet

Shuts Out the Athletics
Royce Lewis

Launches Two Homers Monday Night
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
New York Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
Tyler Glasnow

Fans 11 in Seven No-Hit Innings Monday
Slade Cecconi

Takes No-Hitter Into Eighth Inning Monday
Max Muncy

Batting Cleanup in Return to Dodgers
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Younghoe Koo

Falcons Auditioning Kickers, Could Replace Younghoe Koo
Denver Broncos

Sean Payton Says Broncos Need to be Better With Run-Pass Balance
Tank Bigsby

Eagles Acquiring Tank Bigsby From Jaguars on Monday
George Kittle

Likely Out 3-5 Weeks, Could Land on Injured Reserve
Chase Burns

to be Activated on Friday
Brock Purdy

Dealing With Multiple Injuries, Could Miss Week 2
Tyler Glasnow

Cleared to Start on Monday
Logan O'Hoppe

Placed on Concussion Injured List
Christian Yelich

Returning on Monday
Elias Pettersson

Feeling "Good" Ahead of Season
NHL

Alex Formenton Rejoins Swiss Team
NHL

Grigori Denisenko Heads Back Home
CAR

Kevin Labanc Joins Hurricanes for Tryout
Ross Colton

Healthy for Start of Season
Brock Bowers

Considered Day-to-Day With Knee Injury
Jonathan Taylor

is "Good" After Taking a Hit to his Neck in Week 1
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Russell Wilson

Remains the Giants Starter
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Denny Hamlin

Earns his First Cup Victory at Gateway
Kyle Larson

Damage Ruins Kyle Larson's Chance At a Top Finish at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Scores his Third Top-10 Finish at Gateway
Joey Logano

Maintains his Perfect Top-Five Streak at Gateway
Ryan Blaney

Struggles and Recovers for a Top-Five Finish at Gateway
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Xavier Worthy

Week-to-Week with Dislocated Shoulder
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win
Rhys McKee

Suffers Third-Round TKO Loss
Axel Sola

Successful In His UFC Debut
Robert Ruchała

Robert Ruchala Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
William Gomis

Bounces Back In The Win Column
Derrick Henry

Scores Twice but has Costly Fumble on Sunday
Lamar Jackson

Shines With Three Total Touchdowns in Loss to Bills
Chase Elliott

Gets Lucky but Still Has Best Run at Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wins Stage 2, but Was Let Down by Strategy
Tyler Reddick

Despite Bad Luck, Tyler Reddick Does What he Needed to Do
Chase Briscoe

Recovers from Incident with Daniel Suarez to Finish Second
William Byron

Late Caution Foils William Byron's Shot at Gateway Victory
Jayson Tatum

"Moving Around Way Better"
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Gateway
Denny Hamlin

Fastest in Qualifying, the Favorite to Win at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Looking for Redemption at Gateway
Joey Logano

Has Been Elite at Gateway
Austin Cindric

Should Be On Your Radar at Gateway
AJ Allmendinger

Could Be a Sleeper Again at Gateway
Tyler Reddick

Southern 500 Near-Miss Makes Tyler Reddick a Stronger Option for Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace a Likely Gateway Contender
Alex Bowman

a Long Shot to Advance in Playoffs
Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing Looks Slower at Gateway, Which Will Hurt Austin Dillon
Shane Van Gisbergen

Starts 18th in Gateway Debut
Jeremy Swayman

Ready to Get Back on Track
Connor McDavid

Aiming for More Goals
NJ

Luke Glendening Signs Tryout Deal With Devils
Dylan Harper

Hoping to be Ready for the Opener Versus Dallas
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP