Running Back Sleepers: Tyjae Spears & Trey Benson (2024 Fantasy Football)

There are multiple ways to dominate your fantasy football draft. One of those ways is finding running backs outside the top 24 that could end the year as a top 12 guy.

According to FantasyData, three running backs had an ADP outside the top 24 heading into the 2023 season who finished the year as an RB1 in half-point PPR scoring. Raheem Mostert had an ADP of the RB47 but ended the year as the RB2. Kyren Williams went undrafted in many leagues but finished as the RB6 despite missing five games. James Cook was a popular breakout candidate, getting drafted as the RB29 off the board on average, but finished the season as the RB11.

Which running backs drafted in the 25-36 range have a chance to finish top-12 in 2024? Let’s look at potential candidates.

Running Back Sleepers: RB3s with RB1 Potential

ADP via FantasyPros

Tyjae Spears (TEN): ADP 101.7 | RB34

Many had high hopes for Spears heading into the offseason. Unfortunately, the Titans signed Tony Pollard to a significant contract in free agency. Yet, the former Tulane star is one of my favorite mid-round running back draft picks this year. He had the fifth-best explosive run rate (7%) and the ninth-best yards after contact per rushing attempt average (2.92) among running backs with at least 100 attempts last season (per Fantasy Points Data). While Pollard won’t completely disappear into the background, Spears could become the lead running back in Tennessee.

Trey Benson (ARI): ADP 111.3 | RB35

Benson won’t be a fantasy superstar in 2024, with James Conner being the featured running back. However, the rookie is a significant injury to Conner away from a top-12 finish. The veteran has missed over 20% of the games in his career because of injury, including four games in back-to-back seasons. Meanwhile, Benson is an explosive runner with home-run speed, making him a dangerous player with the ball in his hands. The rookie will have some week-winning performances and could be a league winner if Conner misses significant time.