Each year the viability of running backs within the dead zone becomes a hot topic as people fight fiercely for or against players with an ADP between Rounds 3-6. Historically, this has been the area of the draft where running backs fail to pay off their cost and wide receivers typically outperform the running backs in this section. There are currently 12 different backs being drafted in the dead zone, according to Underdog Fantasy’s Big Board average draft position (ADP).
In 2023, nine of the 14 dead zone running backs finished below their ADP. With six over 15 spots below. And that’s in points per game (PPG) scoring, not total points. In theory, that should be friendlier to those running backs, allowing for them to have missed time, but still scored well. Despite the expectation being that the RB dead zone would fare better with receivers being pushed higher up, it still claimed many victims in 2023. Let’s take a look at the current RB dead zone landscape and decipher who we should target.
2024 RB Dead Zone Candidates
These are the current dead zone backs as we approach free agency and the draft. Much will change between now and the start of the season but it seems fair to expect a bunch of these backs to remain in the dead zone.
| Name | Team | Position | Underdog ADP |
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | RB | 27.7 |
| Rachaad White | TB | RB | 28.4 |
| Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX | RB | 32 |
| James Cook | BUF | RB | 39 |
| Kenneth Walker III | SEA | RB | 46.7 |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | RB | 52.3 |
| Josh Jacobs | UFA | RB | 52.6 |
| Derrick Henry | UFA | RB | 60.3 |
| Austin Ekeler | UFA | RB | 61.1 |
| Nick Chubb | CLE | RB | 64.1 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | RB | 65.8 |
| Aaron Jones | GB | RB | 66.5 |
Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC)
So far through his career, Isiah Pacheco has done everything asked of him and more, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt in 2022 and 4.6 in 2023, while picking up the sixth-most first downs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a pending free agent, as is the soon-to-be 32-year-old Jerick McKinnon, leaving this Chiefs backfield firmly in Pacheco’s hands. The Chiefs may well add another back to this rotation but Pacheco isn’t going to be easily replaced and drafters should feel fine about mixing him in.
Verdict: Medium priority target.
Pacheco on favorite part of being a RB: “You get to run as hard as you can. Get tackled. Get back up as fast as you can. Get yelled at by the refs when you throw ball celebrating. It’s fun. You got to love it!” #Chiefs
– Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) February 7, 2024
Rachaad White (RB – TB)
2023 represented a massive step forward for Rachaad White, who has long been viewed as a good receiver of the ball, but not a particularly good rusher. That changed slightly, though, with White averaging 3.9 yards per carry over the last eight games and rushing for 80+ yards in four consecutive games from Week 12 onwards. White had managed 80+ yards just once in his career prior to that. The Bucs have plenty of holes to fill but RB isn’t one of them. Seeing them add a noteworthy name to this offense would be a surprise.
Verdict: Target at or below ADP.
Travis Etienne (RB – JAX)
After finishing as the RB6 in 2023, some drafters might be surprised to see Travis Etienne’s ADP outside the top 30. Those who drafted him, though, remember all too well it wasn’t all plain sailing in both 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Etienne averaged 14.0 points per game and 6.2 yards per carry over the first half of the season before averaging 10.2 the rest of the way. In 2023, Etienne again thrived over the opening half of the season, averaging 20.5 points in Weeks 1-8 before averaging 13.1 the rest of the season. The Jaguars wanted Tank Bigsby to carve out a role to help keep Etienne fresher but that didn’t happen. It wouldn’t be surprising if they added another back this year who does eat into Etienne’s touches.
Verdict: Fade at ADP until we have more clarity.
How did Travis Etienne go from averaging 5.1 yards per carry just one year removed from a Lisfranc injury to just 3.6 yards per carry two years removed from a Lisfranc injury?
– Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) December 28, 2023
More Early 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Prep
- Erickson’s Early Fantasy Football Rankings, Tiers & Notes: QB | WR
- Early Must-Have Running Backs: Feb
- Early Must-Have Wide Receivers: Feb
- Early Must-Have QBs & TEs: Feb
- Players to Avoid
- 3 Early Breakout Candidates
- 6 Early Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers
- Draft Values, Breakouts & Busts: RB
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