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Antonio Losada looks at the running back depth charts for teams in the NFC East and NFC South divisions and identifies RB values and busts.
Today we're looking at the fantasy football running back depth charts for the NFC South and NFC East. The regular season is right around the corner and each team's depth chart is mostly complete! Before diving into the fantasy season, RotoBaller has you covered with some last-minute running back depth chart recaps for each team, including some useful bits of analysis for players you want to keep on your radar.
Please note that the charts below are based on individual team depth charts and come from RotoWire's projected starting units. The DCs project the real-life pecking order expected to be used by head coaches at the respective franchises, not where RotoWire projects those players to finish in fantasy leagues.
Here are the current preseason depth charts at running back for teams in the NFC East and NFC South divisions.
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Fantasy Football Depth Chart Takeaways: NFC South
Turning back the clock is never wrong: Mark Ingram II, New Orleans Saints
I'm glad I didn't write this until the news regarding Alvin Kamara's suspension popped up. Kamara is missing the first six weeks of play, and there is just no other viable option in the Saints depth chart when it comes to rushers other than NOLA Legend Mark Ingram. Yes, that Mark Ingram, the one playing football at age 33 and for the 12th season in a row come September, of course back in New Orleans from the get-go.
Ingram had three very tough seasons to kick his career off (fewer than 100 PPR points and no more than 162 touches) but then absolutely exploded into a perennial RB1. Until he was not (2020 and 2021) but... what if he gets there this season aided by that six-week no. 1 rusher boost?
Ingram has scored 10 receiving touchdowns from 2016 on and five (!) as recently as 2019 on just 29 targets and 26 receptions. It will take a while for fantasy GMs to catch up and start drafting Ingram confidently. It might actually never happen, but for a season-long backup with RB1 upside in the first third of the season you can surely do much worse. Interestingly enough, all rushers from this division – with the exception of Tyler Allgeier and D'Onta Foreman – project to better ranks in PFF numbers than their current ADPs dictate.
Alternative value-play: Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
While the last sentence of the last paragraph in Ingram's blurb above is true, there is no point in comparing the massive value Patterson might give you in terms of ROI compared to those of CMC and Lenny. Patterson's ADP sits at a depressed 99th-overall (RB35) while he projects to an RB20 finish with nearly 200 PPR points over the year.
Atlanta might not be the most encouraging team nor have the most potent offense but Patterson, mind you, is coming off a career year in which he put up 234 PPR points to the tune of an RB9 finish... in what can be considered the same (or even a worse one) environment. Draft bargain.
Fantasy Football Depth Chart Takeaways: NFC East
Score yourself a bargain deal by drafting cold-shouldered Zeke: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
I know. Tony Pollard this, Tony Pollard that, Tony Pollard is better, Tony Pollard should start, etc, etc... Now go check the ADPs of all rushers in the league and try not to bend your face. Zeke is getting drafted around the 42nd position overall. He's just the RB19 these days and below Saquon Barkley (RB19), who also happens to ball in this division.
That's straight nonsense. As simple as that. As much as you hate Elliott because he keeps taking touches off your beloved Pollard, the value here is insane! Elliott projects to 250 PPR points (Barkley to 245, by the way) which would have him as a top-10 rusher next season in the world of PFF projections.
That is also the highest projection for players with an ADP above 40 that do not play the quarterback position (Terry McLaurin and D.J. Moore round the top three at that). The next-best RB with such a low ADP is Travis Etienne, and he's already 25 PPR projected points down to Elliott. Seriously, guys, don't be stubborn and take this gift while you can.
Alternative value-play: Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Pollard had his best season as a pro in 2021, putting up career-high marks in carries (130), rushing yards (719), targets (46), receptions (39), and receiving yards (337). There is nothing in the way between Pollard and an RB2 finish and the upside is even higher than that if Elliott happens to miss any time at all.
Gibson is the third-best rusher in it and he only projects to a putrid 181 PPR and a middling RB24 finish. Don't overpay just one bit for that type of production. Bet on Pollard even if he's the number two rusher in his offense. And if you don't, then bank on the likes of J.D. McKissic and/or Boston Scott for peanuts instead of ponying up huge draft assets on other more famous/less productive players.
