Later-Round Fantasy Football Running Backs With RB2 Upside

September 4, 2024

Quincy looks at later-round running back draft sleepers with RB2 upside in 2024 fantasy football drafts. Fantasy RB value picks to target late in drafts.

Fantasy managers who employ a Zero-RB or Hero-RB strategy need to nail their later-round running back selections in their drafts. With such a drop-off among running backs after the top tier in 2024, it is more important than ever to hit on the later-round running backs.

Many of the running backs selected in the later rounds are members of a committee and do not present the same upside as the feature backs at the top of drafts. Even so, every year there are at least a few later-round running backs who come through for fantasy.

Let’s take a look at several later-round running backs who have a chance to finish as an RB2, but won't cost you much in drafts. Good luck RotoBallers!

Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson Jr. is a talented young back who could push for 1,000 rushing yards and five-plus touchdowns. Robinson is going to be in a backfield committee with Austin Ekeler, but Ekeler profiles primarily as a pass catcher. Even so, Robinson was successful in 2023 while sharing the backfield with a pass-catching back in Antonio Gibson.

Robinson scored nine total touchdowns in 2023 to go along with 1,101 scrimmage yards. New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will likely run the ball often. James Conner enjoyed great rushing success under Kingsbury in Arizona. Conner was especially successful finding the endzone under Kingsbury with 22 rushing touchdowns in two seasons.

My takeaway from the Jahan Dotson trade is that Brian Robinson Jr. is gonna need some bigger shoulder pads for the massive workload headed his way 📈

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) August 22, 2024

The Commanders do not have a great offensive line, but they do have a promising mobile quarterback in Jayden Daniels. The threat of mobile quarterbacks will generally open rushing lanes for running backs.

Robinson is being drafted as the RB27 in the eighth-to-ninth-round range. He should be an automatic selection if you need a running back at this point in your draft.

Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos

Javonte Williams was pretty much awful in 2023. Coming off a multi-ligament knee injury, Williams just did not have the explosiveness and burst that he displayed during his first two seasons in the league. He only managed 3.6 yards per carry in 2023.

Every Javonte Williams preseason touch⬇️

Year 2 removed from major reconstructive knee surgery. pic.twitter.com/7KSzvOcBJ3

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 20, 2024

Williams returned to play in Week 1 of the 2023 season which was much faster than most expected, though he did not look ready for primetime.

Many players return to their pre-injury form two seasons after suffering their injury. Williams will not have the backfield to himself with likely contributions from Jaleel McLaughlin. However, his talent alone gives him a chance to return RB2 value.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton's offenses typically offer great value to running backs. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram both enjoyed great fantasy success as a duo under Payton. The Broncos are looking to hit the reset button with rookie Bo Nix under center and he should be able to run a relatively efficient offense that is focused on running back play to take pressure off the quarterback.

This is by no means a projection because of how poor Williams played in 2023. However, there is no doubt that he offers RB2 upside and is worth a shot in the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts.

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford continues to be overlooked in fantasy drafts. He is being drafted as the RB37 squarely in the double-digit rounds.

Ford is set to open the season as the starter while Nick Chubb continues to recover from a torn MCL and damaged ACL. Even once Chubb returns, Chubb is unlikely to be the same player he was in the past, so Ford will still be involved out of necessity.

Let's also not forget that Ford was legitimately good in 2023. He ran for 813 yards at four yards per carry and caught 44 passes for 319 yards. He also scored nine total touchdowns en route to a fantasy finish as the RB16.

Jerome Ford had 248 touches last season and it’s like nobody even cares.

— Nick Penticoff (@NickPenticoff) August 20, 2024

With the PFF-ranked No. 4 offensive line, Ford has a chance to excel in this offense. Target Ford in your drafts as a great insurance policy at minimum with the potential for high-end RB2 value.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

I get it, "Zeke" is old and boring at this point. However, with Elliott back on the Cowboys, there is reason for optimism. While Elliott has averaged under four yards per carry each of the last two seasons, he has a chance to score many touchdowns with the Cowboys.

During his final two seasons in Dallas, Elliott scored a total of 22 rushing touchdowns. He only scored three during his one-year stop in New England, but that offense did not have many scoring opportunities. On the bright side, Elliott did manage to demonstrate that he still has pass-catching chops in New England, as he recorded 51 receptions in 2023.

Elliott is going to be touchdown-dependent in 2024. The efficiency issues he has encountered as a runner over the past couple of seasons are not going away. However, Elliott has a legitimate chance to score over 10 touchdowns.

The Cowboys had plenty of goal-line opportunities in 2023 that former running back Tony Pollard was unable to finish. Elliott excels in that department.

Elliott is not going to be the feature back that he once was, but he should provide value to your fantasy team every week.

RB SLEEPERS for Fantasy Football 2024

- Austin Ekeler
- Jaylen Warren
- Ezekiel Elliott
- Chase Brown
- Chuba Hubbard
- Jaylen Wright
- Jaleel McGlaughlin
- Ray Davis
- Khalil Herbert
- Dameon Pierce
- Bucky Irving

Target them in every draft. pic.twitter.com/8u8tDlgBC0

— Joe Orrico (@NoExpertFF) August 16, 2024

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers' backfield is about as much of a committee as you can get. Harris and Warren seem like a package deal as these two already finished as RB2s in 2023, with Harris as the RB23 and Warren as the RB22.

This offense figures to be better than it was in 2023 with either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields running the show. The running game should be especially good with the PFF-ranked No. 9 offensive line and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith coming over from Atlanta.

The Steelers should be able to run the ball efficiently and effectively with both of these backs.

imo this is the best that Najee Harris has looked as a pro.

Eight preseason touches: pic.twitter.com/JwOCS2HV5u

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) August 20, 2024

Warren presents a big-play upside and will add a lot of value as a pass catcher. Harris will continue his role as the starter and will look to record his fourth straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Harris has also been remarkably healthy throughout his career having never missed a game.

The Steelers backfield is boring and unexciting. However, there is value to be had here. Both backs are being drafted as low-end RB2s or flex plays. They should each easily return that type of value.

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Brown is currently listed as the Bengals' No. 2 running back behind Zack Moss, but reports suggest that this race could be closer than it seems.

Similarly to the situation in Pittsburgh, Brown gives the Bengals an excellent big-play upside while Moss is a bruising every-down type of player. Either way, this backfield will have value. The Bengals' offense projects to be excellent and former running back Joe Mixon finished as a top-10 running back in each of the past three seasons.

When you leave your fantasy football draft WITHOUT Chase Brown:pic.twitter.com/OJ7j9vWNI4

— Moody (@EricNMoody) August 22, 2024

Neither Moss nor Brown projects to be a full feature back. In a committee, Brown's ability in the passing game and potential for big plays could boost his value to the RB2 range. As the RB33 in the eleventh-round range, he is well worth a shot in fantasy drafts.

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