5 Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers to Target: Running Backs (2024)

Welcome to our 2024 Fantasy Football Sleepers series! Savvy managers and players are searching for underrated players who can have huge impacts as the new season approaches. In this piece we will explore some hidden gems that could be the difference in your fantasy team. From unnoticed first-year players to veterans ready to break out, we provide expert insights that can help you make the best choices when it comes to finding sleepers for your league. Are you ready to find the young talents of tomorrow and increase your chances of dominating your fantasy football league? Here are five of our favorite running back sleepers to target.

5 Running Back Sleepers to Target

Rico Dowdle (RB – DAL)

Dowdle will fight Ezekiel Elliott for work in Dallas this season. Dowdle has long been a fav player of mine. Last year, among 53 qualifying backs, he ranked 16th in yards after contact per attempt while also having the 23rd lowest stuff rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Could Dowdle be the next Alexander Mattison? It’s possible, but I’m willing to make the bet that he surprises people in 2024. He’s an RB3/4 who could easily post RB2 numbers if he runs away from Elliott with the job.

MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably already aware that MarShawn Lloyd was one of my man crushes throughout the NFL Draft cycle. While his landing spot has turned many off, I’m not fazed. Will Josh Jacobs be heavily involved weekly? Sure, but that doesn’t mean that Lloyd is a zero or change-of-pace option only. Lloyd crushed every part of the predraft process after jumping off the stat sheet during his final two collegiate seasons.

In each of those two years, he finished in the top 20 in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway percentage, and PFF elusive rating. Lloyd will quickly be a major factor in this backfield, with his main competition for touches (Josh Jacobs) hoping for a bounceback year. Last year, Jacobs struggled mightily to break tackles and create big plays as he ranked (among 49 qualifying backs last season per Fantasy Points Data) 41st in explosive run rate, 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 44th in yards after contact per attempt. Lloyd is an RB3/4 who can easily out-kick his ADP this season.

Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)

Jerome Ford could be the Brown’s starting tailback again this season. Nick Chubb‘s health remains up in the air. While the early returns have been encouraging for his recovery, he isn’t guaranteed to play in the early parts of the season or at all in 2024. Last season, in Weeks 3-17, when Ford was the starter, he averaged 14.9 touches and 66.6 total yards as the RB20 in fantasy. Ford played well, ranking 13th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 16th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If he is the team’s starter again this season, he should be considered an RB2 with upside. He could see even more work this season if he can hold off D’Onta Foreman on early downs and Nyheim Hines for the pass game work.

Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN)

Fully expect me to be above consensus regarding Jaleel McLaughlin this season. Last year, he was electric with every touch he earned. Among all running backs with at least 50 rushing attempts or 20 targets, McLaughlin ranked 14th in explosive run rate, fifth in missed tackles forced per attempt, fourth in yards after contact per attempt, and fourth in yards per route run. Denver made it a point to get him involved in the passing game when he was on the field, as he also ranked first in targets per route run.

McLaughlin could easily earn more opportunities this season, as Samaje Perine wasn’t amazing last season, and Javonte Williams looked like a shadow of his former self. At this juncture, I’m not worried about Audric Estime and Blake Watson stealing any of McLaughlin’s work this season. If McLaughlin earns Sean Payton’s trust, he could be an RB3/4 that vaults into steady RB2 production.

Trey Benson (RB – ARI)

Benson will have to contend with a still-spry James Conner for touches all season. Yes, Conner hasn’t played more than 13 games in a season over the last two years, so Benson could get some run as the team’s starter in 2024. It’s impossible to project that with the uncertainty of injuries, but it has to be mentioned. Even in a 1B role to Conner, Benson could make some noise with big plays. Over the last two collegiate seasons, Benson has ranked 10th and third in breakaway percentage and 42nd and first in elusive rating (per PFF). With an offense that ranked fourth in neutral script rushing rate last year, there should be enough rushing volume weekly for Benson to have flex viability. He’s a priority handcuff this season with some standalone value.

NFL Sleepers Rico Dowdle Ezekiel Elliott Alexander Mattison MarShawn Lloyd Josh Jacobs Jerome Ford Nick Chubb D’Onta Foreman Nyheim Hines Jaleel McLaughlin Samaje Perine Javonte Williams Audric Estime Blake Watson Trey Benson James Conner