3 NFL Position Battles To Monitor: Running Backs (Fantasy Football)

There are well over 100 days until the NFL season officially kicks off on Sept. 5, but it’s never too early to start your fantasy football draft prep! We have plenty of depth chart battles to watch, and perhaps no position has more fluidity than running back.

Let’s take a look at the three most intriguing running back battles to monitor and the potential fantasy football impact, following the outcomes of the 2024 NFL Draft and Free Agency.

Fantasy Football Running Back Battles To Monitor

Here are a trio of running back position battles to monitor over the summer to see where you can mine some fantasy football draft value.

Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane | ECR: RB13
Raheem Mostert | ECR: RB26
Jaylen Wright | ECR: RB56

The battle of all battles exists in Miami! It may not seem like an intriguing battle since we know Miami’s offense can produce two top-12 backs. However, this is a critical battle for fantasy purposes because of the stark difference in cost between the three backs. As the young incumbent running back, De’Von Achane will be the first Miami running back off the board in fantasy drafts. Achane averaged 17.3 fantasy points per game, and in games where he played over 39% of snaps, he averaged over 20 fantasy points per game.

On any other team, this wouldn’t be a battle. But while Achane was impressive, Raheem Mostert averaged 17.8 fantasy points per game in his own right and will have a far lower ADP. Conceptually, Mostert is 32 and could certainly take a backseat to Achane. Still, Miami’s backfield has been a clear committee under Mike McDaniel, and Mostert should remain a critical part of this backfield, offering RB1 upside at an RB3 ADP.

The wildcard in Miami’s backfield is Jaylen Wright. I recently wrote an article on the best rookie landing spots, and Wright was on that list. While I don’t believe Wright will immediately cut into Achane’s and Mostert’s work, I see Wright as a strong late-round pick in fantasy drafts because of the upside he’ll offer if either back goes down with an injury.

Cincinnati Bengals

Zack Moss | ECR: RB31
Chase Brown | ECR: RB36

With Joe Mixon in Houston, the Bengals’ backfield is truly up for grabs for the first time since 2017. Mixon’s run in Cincinnati was often met with uncertainty, particularly over the past two seasons, where Mixon struggled with efficiency and consistency. Despite those issues, Mixon has produced top-10 fantasy seasons in total points for the past three years with over 3,000 total yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, plus strong receiving volume. If Zack Moss or Chase Brown can separate as the RB1, the result would be an absolute steal at their ADPs.

But which back will lead the way?

For now, Moss appears to have a leg up, coming off a season where he put up RB1 numbers in Jonathan Taylor‘s absence before eventually taking a back seat during the second half of the year. Moss has a proven workload and could maintain the RB1 role through the season.

Still, this backfield could be more ambiguous. Chase Brown struggled to see the field through the first half of 2023 and dealt with an injury. Yet, once he returned, the Bengals began to increase his role, and he thrived, particularly through the air. This is a critical backfield to monitor throughout the offseason. It’s possible it operates as a committee, and Brown is the better fantasy value at a lower ADP with receiving upside for PPR formats.

Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard | ECR: RB25
Tyjae Spears | ECR: RB34

After ascending to the Cowboys’ lead back in 2023, Tony Pollard broke our hearts and underperformed. His overall finish of the PPR RB14 was misleading. Pollard averaged just 13.1 fantasy points per game and exceeded 15 fantasy points just twice in the entire season. Pollard also struggled at the goal line with the second-most attempts at running back inside the 20, yielding just four touchdowns. It’s possible Pollard’s struggles were due to him recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in the 2022 playoffs, but operating as a lead back simply might be too much for him.

The signing of Pollard crushed Tyjae Spears’ fantasy value, but don’t count Spears out of this backfield. Pollard’s signing was peculiar because they have similar skill sets rather than complementary roles. But the fact that they aren’t complementary might benefit Spears. This backfield will likely operate as a 1A/1B situation, with the best man earning the stronger workload.

Spears had strong statistics behind a poor Titans’ offensive line. He had 52 receptions on 70 targets for 385 yards and was graded as a top-10 back in PFF’s Elusive Rating. If Spears continues to perform at a high level, he could outshine Pollard and win the lead-back role outright.

Monitor this backfield closely throughout the offseason. With the Titans’ upgraded offensive line and coaching changes, the run game will see an uptick in efficiency. The lead back has top-12 potential.