This early into the drafting season much can and will change, but as the old best ball saying goes, there’s opportunity in ambiguity and we can look to take advantage. No position is more susceptible to a massive change than the running back position where all it takes is an unfortunate season-ending injury in training camp and all of a sudden Ty’Son Williams is a fifth-round pick. Not every player who jumps up in value will be worthwhile, see Ty’Son Williams once again, but it’s better to be ahead of the ADP change than chasing it. This article will examine a few handcuffs, not just at the RB position, who have value above their current Underdog ADP.
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Underrated Handcuffs to Target
Elijah Mitchell (ADP 163.5)
After bursting onto the scene in 2021 with 963 rushing yards, five touchdowns and 19 receptions, Elijah Mitchell has been held in reserve for much of the last two years with Christian McCaffrey being used almost to the point of exhaustion. McCaffrey’s 21.2 touches per game trailed only Kyren Williams‘s 21.7, and it was the most that McCaffrey has had while staying healthy since 2019 when he saw 25.8 per game. McCaffrey will be heading into his age 28 season and while he’s showing no signs of slowing down, people need only look as far as Austin Ekeler to remember how quickly the cliff edge can come for running backs. McCaffrey has stayed remarkably healthy over the last two years, missing just one meaningless game, but we shouldn’t count on that always being the case.
Isaiah Likely (ADP 181.4)
It’s by no means likely that Mark Andrews will miss as much time in 2024 as he did in 2023, but Isaiah Likely is worth drafting regardless. The Ravens are currently set to lose both Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency, and even if either or both of them re-sign in Baltimore, it’s fair to question whether they deserve reps over the mightly impressive Likely. From Week 14 onwards, Likely finished with over 18 PPR points in three of four regular season games before adding a 3/34 and a touchdown against the Texans. Offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, has made use of multiple tight end formations throughout his career and it shouldn’t be surprising to see that become a point of emphasis for the Ravens in the off-season, especially with Likely able to win on the perimeter while Andrews typically works best across the middle of the field.
Lamar Jackson —> Isaiah Likely ??????????????? pic.twitter.com/GmTbi4BQSv
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) December 18, 2023
David Montgomery (76.3)
An ADP of 76.3 is certainly not enough to consider David Montgomery completely disrespected, but it might be fair to say that it’s a little low for a player who just finished as the RB8 in Half PPR total points. Jahmyr Gibbs will most likely see an increased role in his sophomore season, with him impressing down the stretch of 2023, but the Lions have consistently used a two-back backfield for much of Dan Campbell’s tenure as head coach. Montgomery saw the 13th-most touches among running backs, along with the sixth-most red zone attempts. Gibbs will continue to grow into his role, but if anything were to happen to him, Montgomery will go from having standalone value to league-winning upside.
14. 75-yard TD run by David Montgomery! Making Barry Sanders proud with that shake n' bakepic.twitter.com/U3bcC55F93
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) February 12, 2024
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
- Early Undervalued Players
- Early Overvalued Players: RB
- QB2s w/ Top-5 Upside: Feb
- Players to Avoid: QB
- 3 Early Breakout Candidates
- 6 Early Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers
- Draft Values, Breakouts & Busts: RB
- RB Dead Zone Running Backs: Draft or Fade?
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