4 RB Dead Zone Running Backs to Draft (2024 Fantasy Football)

Navigating the RB Dead Zone can make or break your fantasy football draft. While we’re avoiding plenty of dead zone running backs this year, here are a few we’re targeting. Let’s dive into a few Dead Zone RB running backs to consider in your fantasy football drafts.

RB Dead Zone Running Backs to Draft

Zamir White (LV)

Zamir White proved capable of carrying the mail last year and should be the Raiders’ workhorse in 2024. In Weeks 15-18, he averaged 23.3 touches and 114.3 total yards as the RB12 in fantasy points per game. During this cup of coffee as the team’s starter, among 41 qualifying backs, he ranked 13th in explosive run rate, sixth in yards after contact per attempt, and 17th in success rate. With Josh Jacobs heading to Cheesehead town, White should be a volume-driven RB2 with upside for more in 2024.
– Derek Brown

Tony Pollard (TEN)

I’ll own the L here. Tony Pollard was a massive disappointment last year. He went from being one of the most explosive backs in the NFL to a rusher that left a ton of yards on the field. Pollard got the role that we all wanted last season, ranking seventh in snap share, 13th in opportunity share, and second in red zone touches. He was a volume-eating machine, ranking seventh in carries and 11th in targets among backs, but he did very little with the work. Pollard was the RB11 in expected fantasy points per game, but he was the RB23 in fantasy points per game. He was 44th in yards per touch and 37th in yards created per touch. Some of this could easily be due to the injury he sustained in the prior season because his numbers down the stretch were much better. In Weeks 11-18, among 44 qualifying backs, Pollard ranked 15th in yards after contact per attempt, so there’s hope that he bounces back in 2024 with a full offseason to get back to 100%. Tennessee isn’t the sexiest landing spot for Pollard, but considering the contract size and length and the team’s yearning to move quickly to acquire his services, he should be considered their lead back in 2024. Tyjae Spears will push him at every turn, but money talks and Pollard got it this offseason.
– Derek Brown

Aaron Jones (MIN)

Father Time comes calling for all of us. The hope for Aaron Jones is that he can keep him at bay for one more year. Last season, Jones objectively wasn’t healthy until the end of the season. Luckily for him, when he was healthy, we got to see that Jones has plenty left in the tank to consider reinvesting in him in fantasy for one more season. In Weeks 15-20, Jones averaged 21.6 touches and 120.3 total yards as he was a weekly stud. During that same stretch, among 47 qualifying backs, he was eighth in explosive run rate and 10th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Jones should lead the Vikings backfield in 2024 as an RB2 with RB1 upside if he can stay healthy.
– Derek Brown

Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)

To say Rhamondre Stevenson‘s 2023 season was a disappointment would be an understatement. Stevenson was the RB10 in 2022, averaging 86 total yards per game, but he couldn’t come close to those numbers last year, finishing as the RB27 in fantasy points per game with 71.4 total yards per game. Stevenson’s overall numbers stunk, but if we look further into how his season played out, there’s hope for 2024. In Weeks 1-8, among 39 qualifying backs (minimum 50 rushing attempts per Fantasy Points Data), he ranked 33rd in missed tackles forced per attempt and 38th in yards after contact per attempt. In Weeks 9-13 (Stevenson missed the remainder of the season due to a high ankle sprain), he looked like the stud that we thought we were getting for the entire season. In that four-game stretch (minimum 25 carries), among 48 qualifying backs, he ranked 13th in missed tackles forced per attempt and third in yards after contact per attempt. Stevenson could easily bounce back this season and be the hero for Zero RB drafters.
– Derek Brown