Fantasy Football Discounted Veteran Running Backs to Target in 2024

August 29, 2024

Which veteran running backs should fantasy football managers target in 2024? Joey looks at four veteran running backs who are discounts in drafts this season.

Every fantasy manager wants to draft the young, explosive running backs. Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, Jahmyr Gibbs, and De'Von Achane are all currently going within the first 22 picks of fantasy drafts. Robinson and Hall are usually going later in the first round, while Gibbs and Achane are going somewhere in the second round.

Sometimes, though, there are discounted running backs to target later in drafts, especially veterans in the latter part of their careers. Last year, veterans like Raheem Mostert, David Montgomery, and Gus Edwards provided solid value throughout the year.

So, which running backs could fantasy managers draft at a discount in 2024? Let's dive in and find out.

Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will play for a new team in 2024 after spending the past seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. However, his new home in Houston has dropped his ADP. Mixon is usually the 15th running back off the board in fantasy drafts this year -- which doesn't make much sense.

Last season, Mixon finished as the RB6 in PPR formats and averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game. The 28-year-old has also only finished outside the top 15 in fantasy twice over his career (2017 and 2020). In 2017, he was a rookie, and in 2020, he played in just six games after suffering a foot injury. Yet, for some reason, he is going as the RB15 in drafts this season.

Coming at you. Joe Mixon. #Texans #minicamp pic.twitter.com/SyHJisL0fr

— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) June 4, 2024

That makes Mixon a smash selection at his current ADP, and fantasy managers can get him at a significant discount this summer. His landing spot with Houston also shouldn't affect his fantasy potential. He will undoubtedly be the Texans' RB1 while seeing another heavy workload season. The veteran has totaled at least 280 touches and 1,400 yards from scrimmage in four of the past six years. That workload shouldn't change in 2024.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is another discounted player who fantasy managers can select in the middle rounds. Despite missing the first three games due to a suspension and playing in just 13 games, Kamara was one of the best value picks in last year's draft. He finished as the RB11 in PPR formats while averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game.

Those 17.9 PPR points per game were the third most at the position last season, only behind Christian McCaffrey (24.5) and Kyren Williams (21.3). However, the 28-year-old is being priced as the RB17 in drafts.

Of course, fantasy managers are expecting some regression from Kamara in 2024. But, in a PPR league, he should be an easy pick as your RB2. The Saints running back has finished inside the top 16 in PPR formats in every season of his seven-year career. He also should remain a key part of New Orleans' passing offense where he has caught at least 75 passes five times.

Last season, Kamara had 694 rush yards and five touchdowns while catching 75 passes for 466 yards and one touchdown. Even if the veteran loses some carries to Jamaal Williams, his versatility in the receiving game should earn him plenty of chances on offense. That's why the 28-year-old is a great value pick in 2024 drafts.

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

There are things certainly working against Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner in 2024. He has never played a full season in his career, he just turned 29 years old, and the Cardinals selected running back Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. But, despite all that, Conner should not be slept on in fantasy drafts this year.

For starters, he has finished inside the top 20 in PPR formats in three straight seasons. Conner also showed late last season that he still has plenty left in the tank after rushing for 514 yards and five touchdowns over the final five games. During that span, the veteran averaged 23.9 fantasy points per game.

Now, it would be wild to see that type of success from Conner in 2024. However, he's the clear RB1 in Arizona -- even with Benson in town -- and should continue to be the Cardinals' goal-line back on offense. As a result, some nice fantasy days could be in store for him.

Coming off a career year where he rushed for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns, Conner has sneaky RB2 value again in 2024. He scored double-digit fantasy points in eight of 13 games and averaged 15.5 PPR fantasy points per game last season. With Kyler Murray back to full health, Arizona's offense should score more touchdowns in 2024. That should lead to more scoring opportunities for the veteran, who had a 15-touchdown season back in 2021 with the Cardinals.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

The last player fantasy managers can get at a huge discount in drafts is Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott signed with the Cowboys on a one-year deal this offseason after spending the 2023 campaign with the New England Patriots. With the veteran now back in Dallas, he should be someone to select in the later rounds.

Right now, Elliott's consensus ADP puts him as the RB36. That seems like tremendous value for a running back who could score double-digit touchdowns in 2024.

Value RBs who end up smashing ADP because of touchdowns:

2021: James Conner
2022: Jamaal Williams
2023: Gus Edwards
2024: ???

The answer is Ezekiel Elliott.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) June 4, 2024

Now, all offseason, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has said the team will approach the backfield as a committee. That could certainly explain why Elliott's ADP is what it is. However, he could definitely be a weekly flex play for your team in a top-five offense. He scored at least 10 touchdowns in four of his seven seasons in Dallas, including 22 total rush touchdowns in his final two years in 2021 and 2022.

Take a chance on the veteran this year because he does have some upside in that Cowboys offense, even at age 28 (soon 29). He could emerge as a nice weekly flex play for fantasy teams.

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