Running Back Busts (2022 Fantasy Football)

Running back is one of the most critical positions on your fantasy roster. They can make or break your team. Unfortunately, fantasy players fall into the traps of certain players that wreck their dreams of fantasy success every year. We will help you avoid the landmines at the RB position and show you who can become the bust at the RB position and who should become a fade on your board.

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Nick Chubb (RB-CLE ADP 17)

Unless it’s a standard scoring system, Nick Chubb has to break NFL records to make his draft selection worth it at his ADP. He starts the season with Jacoby Brissett under center for 11 games. The defense will be loading the box, daring Brissett to beat them. Chubb then shares the backfield with a talented running back in Kareem Hunt, who can take not only the first and second down reps from Chubb, but all of the third down passing plays from him. The final issue is that he is a nonfactor in the passing game, which elevates your ceiling in fantasy football. With players like Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette and Javonte Williams all drafted later while possessing better upside; Chubb will drag your team’s weekly scoring potential to the basement more than he can elevate it to the ceiling.

Cam Akers (RB- LAR ADP 38)

Cam Akers shocked everyone in 2021 coming back early from a devasting injury. The issue with his comeback was not that he didn’t see a decent snap share. It was the issue of efficiency with those numbers. Akers produced 2.31 yards after contact per attempt in 2021. This total was much lower than his 2.96 in his rookie season. Akers is currently dealing with a soft tissue injury for the past two weeks and has been in and out of practice. When speaking about this injury and the backfield, Mcvay still includes Darrell Henderson as an essential factor of this team’s offense. Akers doesn’t provide league-winning upside for this ADP while bringing an air of doubt to your roster.

Elijah Mitchell (RB-SF ADP 50)

One day people will learn the golden rule: when drafting a running back in a Kyle Shanahan system, go with the player with the lower ADP. We watched them draft Trey Sermon last year and now he isn’t on the team. We have seen him lean on Jeff Wilson Jr. and now that’s no longer his “guy.” Instead, the team drafted Tyrion Davis-Price in the 2022 NFL draft leading to a convoluted backfield in 2022.

Eli Mitchell is the perfect example of a running back in the dead zone that can ruin your team. Unfortunately, he is a nonfactor in the red zone as well. Mitchell finished 36th in the NFL with RedZone carries inside the 20 last season with 21 total. Mitchell also doesn’t possess a passion game upside for fantasy. He finished with a seven percent target share and was 25th in route participation in 2021. Mitchell is also dealing with hamstring issues to start the season. This running back is an easy fade if you like to win your fantasy league this year.

Miles Sanders (RB-Phi ADP 77)

Miles Sanders is a talented back. The issue with Sanders is “his drive” combined with the team’s plethora of options. With Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott joining him in this backfield, Sanders will have competition for carries all season long. Sanders also struggles with being injured every season. He is currently not practicing due to a hamstring injury. This hamstring has held him out of practice since August 14th. The saying is: ” Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This saying was created for Miles Sanders’ fantasy value. Do your team a favor this season and look elsewhere for your running back depth.

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.