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Quincy Milton highlights fantasy football running back committees that could have value in your redraft leagues in 2024. Which committees should you not avoid?
Workhorse running backs are out and running back committees are in. The NFL has shifted to a committee approach to preserve running backs throughout the season from the rigors of modern-day athletes.
Of course for fantasy football, running back committees dilute the potential for points. On the flip side, NFL teams have grown very efficient in their ability to maximize the talent of each running back in a committee.
Some NFL teams rely so heavily on multiple running backs that each back can provide solid if not elite fantasy value. Here are our picks for running back committees not to avoid in 2024.
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Miami Dolphins
De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert are two of the most valuable fantasy running backs in the NFL. Both players have excellent speed traits that fit perfectly into Mike McDaniel's system. The only knock on both players is health. While Mostert has remained largely healthy for the last couple of seasons, he has struggled with injuries in the past. Achane entered 2023 with an injury and had trouble staying on the field throughout the season.
Mostert's value in 2023 came primarily from touchdowns. He tied for the league lead with 21. Do not expect Mostert to match that total again, but he has a good shot to score double-digit touchdowns in 2024. Mostert is also 32, but he has not seen high volume for most of his career.
Achane is one of the most exciting players we have ever seen. He is lightning fast and his speed led him to average *checks notes* 7.8 yards per carry in 2023. Achane ran for 800 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns in only 11 games last year. He also left multiple games early due to injury.
Achane appears to have put on some serious size in the offseason which should help him stay on the field. If both players can stay healthy, then they should be able to help keep each other healthy.
I would be happy with either player on my fantasy team, but Achane is being drafted as the RB8 in the second round while Mostert is being drafted as the RB27 in the eighth round. I would certainly draft Achane before Mostert, but Mostert may end up being the better value. Even so, if Achane stays healthy and ends up with more volume than in 2023, he could be a league winner for your fantasy team.
De’Von Achane led the NFL in runs of over 40 yards with 5. He did this on only 103 carries.
The runner up was Breece Hall with 4. He did this on 223 carries.
Achane is of the most explosive players in the NFL. Can tilt a fantasy week on a single play
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) May 18, 2024
Detroit Lions
Do you remember when the Lions were slammed for drafting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick? Well, it turns out Gibbs is really good at football and he was an electric player in 2023. His running mate David Montgomery is perfect for the Lions' system as well.
Montgomery should do most of his damage on early downs and at the goal line. He scored in 11 of 14 games played in 2023. Gibbs will continue his role as an efficient runner and a weapon in the passing game. The Lions' high-powered offense should have no shortage of scoring opportunities for each player.
Gibbs is currently being drafted as the RB4 and Montgomery as the RB21. Gibbs has a real chance to finish that high, but let's not forget that a lot of Gibbs' production came with Montgomery out of the lineup. Even so, in year two I expect Gibbs to take a serious step forward and be fully integrated in the offense from the jump. Given that the Lions offense should find themselves at the goal line repeatedly, Montgomery has a chance to match his 2023 touchdown total of 13. If he does, he will outpace his draft position.
During their active games, what percentage of their backfield's weighted opportunity did each RB capture?
- Jahmyr Gibbs already finished as an RB1 with just 56% of backfield WO/G
- De'Von Achane finished as THE RB4 with just 42% of backfield WO/G!!! pic.twitter.com/tyPzucBIvo
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) May 20, 2024
Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are boring. They play for a boring team that does not create a lot of big exciting plays. Well, this could be the year some of that changes. Both players were solid for fantasy during the latter half of 2023.
The addition of Arthur Smith as the offensive coordinator will only make this a more attractive backfield. These players seem poised to split time, and Arthur Smith has coordinated excellent running games. The Derrick Henry-led offenses of old were coordinated by Smith. Additionally, Smith led an excellent rushing offense in Atlanta with multiple backs despite fantasy football players pining for change.
Now that Smith is with a team that does not employ Bijan Robinson, it is easier to accept a split backfield. The Steelers have drastically improved their offensive line and Harris and Warren should complement each other perfectly behind the improved line.
As a whole, the Steelers' offense should be better in 2024. This should create more goal-line opportunities for Harris and more big play opportunities for Warren. Harris will likely do most of his damage on the ground and in the touchdown department. It is easy to forget that he has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons in the NFL. Warren will be a perfect change of pace to Harris' running style and will receive no shortage of targets.
Harris and Warren are currently being drafted as RB20 and RB28 respectively. This feels like good value as both players should deliver consistent flex value and could provide low-end RB2 value in any given week.
Najee Harris' footwork is soooo smooth 👀😮💨pic.twitter.com/lJ9LteKkFN
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) May 24, 2024
Cincinnati Bengals
Zack Moss and Chase Brown will form a new running back committee in Cincinnati. Although the Bengals seem poised to start Moss, he doesn't seem like a player who will be featured the same way Joe Mixon was.
Chase Brown emerged during the latter half of the season when the Bengals needed to inject speed into their running game. Brown is a good player who can rip off 20-yard gains in a heartbeat in both the running and passing game.
Zack Moss has always been a solid running back but emerged as a true starter while playing in place of an injured Jonathan Taylor in 2023. Moss is not overwhelmingly fast and athletic, but he runs hard and smart. Moss is also a solid pass catcher, and should not cede too much work in that department.
Neither Brown nor Moss is being drafted inside the top 33 running backs in fantasy. Each player will depreciate the value of the other but do not forget that this is an offense that supported Joe Mixon finishing as the RB6, RB10, and RB4 the last three seasons. Neither player will see Mixon's volume, but at least one of these backs will deliver consistent fantasy value.
Chase Brown going crazy this season pic.twitter.com/ZaUzfgkaRe
— Ace Boogie (@NewStripeCity) May 15, 2024
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