Mid-Round RB Targets: Jerome Ford, Jonathon Brooks, Gus Edwards, Tony Pollard

Dive into our latest Featured Pros article, where our top analysts break down their must-have mid-round running back and wide receiver picks, along with insights on why these players should be on your draft list.

Fantasy Football Mid-Round RB Targets

Which RB with a half-PPR ADP between RB25-48 are you targeting the most in your drafts and why?

Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)

“Jerome Ford (ECR RB38, ADP 37, my RB27) – Nick Chubb, who has endured multiple offseason surgeries after a gruesome knee injury, is not expected back until midseason and is unlikely to take on a full load upon his return. Enter Jerome Ford, who won a lot of fantasy championships last season as the RB4 in Week 17 on a Cleveland Browns squad vying for a playoff berth. Ford was the RB15 in Weeks 3-17 after Chubb went down; he’ll continue to get plenty of run behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. Ford, who is also an asset in the passing game, represents one of the best Draft Day values at any position at his current ADP (RB37).”
– Drew DeLuca (QB List)

“Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford checks in at RB37 in ADP and will be a massive steal this season. Ford finished last season as RB17 and has plummeted in ADP, with Nick Chubb being the assumed starter. The problem is that Nick Chubb is almost 29 years old and is coming off a season-ending knee injury. We’ve seen how difficult it is for even a young running back to rebound from an injury that serious, and it could prove an impossible task for an aging Chubb. Even if Chubb can return for Week 1, he is unlikely to be anywhere near his full explosiveness, and the Browns will be best served to make this a running back by committee. Even in a timeshare, Ford should easily crush his ADP and be an RB2. Ford could be a league-winner if Chubb can’t make a full return to the field.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)

Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)

“Jonathon Brooks is one of my must-have running backs this year. The former Longhorn would have a top-20, maybe top-15 ADP if he wasn’t coming off a torn ACL. Brooks averaged 6.1 rushing yards per attempt and 113.9 yards per game last season. He had the 11th-most missed tackles forced (63) in 2023 despite missing the final four games with the injury (per PFF). Last year, Dave Canales made Rachaad White an RB1 despite averaging only 3.6 yards per rushing attempt. Brooks will be significantly better once he is 100% healthy.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

Gus Edwards (RB – LAC)

“Gus Edwards is the new RB1 for the Los Angeles Chargers! He was signed by the new Jim Harbaugh coaching staff, which runs at a high rate. In 2023, Edwards was seen as underwhelming even though he ran for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns, with running quarterback Lamar Jackson! This year, he will be on offense with Justin Herbert, a pocket-passing quarterback, which will allow the “Gus Bus” to get rolling and make drafting the RB41 a steal in fantasy drafts!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)

“I would target Tony Pollard in 2024 for the related but opposite reason I faded him in 2023: expected touchdown regression. Pollard scored an unsustainable nine of his 12 touchdowns from 10 or more yards from the end zone in 2022. His touchdown rate was very likely to fall in 2023, but I believe it fell to the opposite, unsustainable extreme. Pollard had 61 carries inside the 5-yard line last year, second most at his position. He could split time with Tyjae Spears on the Titans this season, but bet on better touchdown luck in any case.”
– Scott Spratt (FTN)

Fantasy Draft Advice Featured Pros NFL Jerome Ford Nick Chubb Jonathon Brooks Rachaad White Gus Edwards Lamar Jackson Justin Herbert Tony Pollard Tyjae Spears