NFL Position Battles to Monitor: Running Backs (2024 Fantasy Football)

For fantasy football managers, the running back position has been increasingly difficult to gauge over the years. With the workhorse RB role being nearly extinct, NFL backfields are more ambiguous than ever.

Long gone are the days when most teams would head into offseason with a predetermined starter. Nowadays, teams are insistent on having these players earn their respective roles through training camp performance.

2024 Position Battles to Monitor: Running Backs

It has never been more important for fantasy managers to keep a close eye on offseason speculation, especially regarding the RB position. Those that accurately predict the touch distribution of NFL backfields will have a distinct edge over their league mates.

Kyren Williams‘ stellar 2023 season is a great example of this. Towards the tail end of training camp last year, rumors emerged that Williams had earned a sizeable workload in the Rams backfield. Many Cam Akers truthers, who held on to earlier reports about the latter being this team’s RB1, chose to ignore the speculation.

Those who payed close attention to the training camp buzz likely benefitted from Williams’ elite RB production on a weekly basis. Those who dismissed them likely dropped Akers mere weeks after investing mid-round draft capital on him.

Below are some NFL backfields with major uncertainties regarding volume distribution. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on beat reporters’ comments about these situations.

Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane (MIA)

It’s important to preface this section by underlining the fact that the Dolphins boast an embarrassment of riches at the RB position. Among RBs with at least 100 carries, Mostert and Achane were the two highest-graded rushers in 2023 according to PFF.

Achane’s 7.9 yards per carry, 153.5 elusive rating, and 5.12 yards after contact per carry were all ranked first among the aforementioned group of RBs (PFF). These numbers, while very impressive, are all due to regress to the mean. They simply won’t be sustainable as he sees an increase to the 102 carries he had in 2023.

Mostert was an elite RB in his own right last season. Among RBs with at least 100 carries, Mostert ranked sixth in yards after contact per carry, sixth in missed tackles forced, and fifth in elusive rating (per PFF). Despite heading into his 10th NFL season, Mostert is simply too effective as a runner to not be featured regularly out of the backfield. That remains true despite Achane’s ridiculous efficiency metrics.

Given the rushing acumen both players possess, they’re likely to split carries relatively evenly. It’d also be in Mike McDaniel’s best interest to limit both of their workloads in an attempt to keep them healthy. Mostert has unfortunately carried the “injury-prone” tag his entire career. On the other hand, Achane missed six games with a number of injuries during his rookie year.

In the receiving department, Achane outperformed his running mate in terms of receiving grade, yards per route run, and yards after catch per reception in 2023 (per PFF). He’s likely to inherit a greater portion of the pass-catching role. Conversely, the goal-line role is Mostert’s to lose. He proved to be a force in the red zone, accumulating a league-leading 18 touchdowns last season.

Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Kimani Vidal (LAC)

The off-season appointments of HC Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman all but confirm that the Chargers will be a run-centric offense in 2024. There is no doubt that there will be plenty of carries to be had in this backfield. That being said, there is ongoing uncertainty about how the volume will be allocated amongst this team’s three main RBs: Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and rookie Kimani Vidal.

Edwards put together a very pedestrian performance as Baltimore’s lead back in 2023. According to PFF, he finished the season averaging 2.71 yards after contact per carry and earned an elusive rating of 32.3. These are hardly impressive metrics. To his credit, Edwards proved that he can withstand a heavy workload as the RB1 on a high-powered offense. The same cannot be said about the other RBs on this depth chart.

Dobbins has always been an efficient producer out of the backfield. His career 5.8 yards per carry and 3.29 yards after contact per carry (per PFF) are notable. Dobbins’ issue remains his inability to stay healthy. His season-ending Achilles injury in week 1 of the 2023 season was particularly demoralizing. The Chargers will be well aware of these injury woes and likely limit his workload as a result.

The true wild card in this backfield is Vidal. The Chargers selected the Troy standout in the sixth round of the most recent NFL draft. While sixth-round draft capital is far from encouraging, Vidal’s statistical profile is great. Per PFF, he earned an elusive rating of 116.3 and accumulated 81 missed tackles forced in his final collegiate year.

All things considered, Edwards is likely to play a significant role as an early down back. Dobbins will mostly be restricted to a pass-catching, change-of-pace role in the offense. If Vidal shows promising signs in the offseason, he may eat into the workload of these veteran RBs. It’ll be especially important to monitor the camp speculation about the rookie.

Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN)

Heading into the second year of his tenure in Denver, Sean Payton will have firmly implemented his offensive philosophy. The Broncos offense will closely mimic the former Saints units that experienced great success over the years.

A key pillar of any Payton-led offense is the heavy utility of the RB position. The likes of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram had career years in these schemes. With a rookie QB and a very limited group of pass-catchers, this offense is even more likely to rely on their backs to keep the chains moving.

Javonte Williams has been employed as this team’s RB1 in the past but has failed to deliver on the opportunity. He’s yet to reach 1,000 rushing yards or eclipse four rushing touchdowns in any given season. What’s more, 2023 was a particularly disappointing season for Williams. According to PFF, he ranked 45th in run grade and 38th in elusive rating among RBs with at least 100 carries.

On the other hand, Jaleel McLaughlin was extremely efficient in a secondary role. Per PFF, he earned a rushing grade of 82.8 and an elusive rating of 113.8. Additionally, he averaged 3.38 yards after contact per carry.

McLaughlin also showed his value as a receiver out of the backfield. PFF graded him highest amongst all Broncos pass-catchers in 2023. Given his ability in space and his prowess through the air, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Alvin Kamara. Payton has already expressed his affinity for the second-year RB.

#Broncos HC Sean Payton on Jaleel McLaughlin:

“He’s here at 5:15, even in the offseason. First one here, running in the weight room, and by the time he’s at breakfast and most people are arriving, he’s put in a good hour and a half’s worth of work. It’s just the way he’s wired,… pic.twitter.com/qMk17cfd6h

— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 5, 2024

All signs point toward McLaughlin winning the training camp battle and taking over as this team’s RB1. Considering he is currently being drafted many rounds after Williams, McLaughlin is screaming value in drafts. Expect beat reporters to speak very highly of him during training camp.

Fantasy Draft Advice NFL Kyren Williams Cam Akers Raheem Mostert De’Von Achane Gus Edwards J.K. Dobbins Kimani Vidal Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Alvin Kamara