Earnest Horn
Rookie running backs are all the rage in the fantasy world right now, and why wouldn't they be after last season? For those who may need a refresher, this is what we witnessed from rookie RB's in 2023:
Bijan Robinson - 1,463 total yards and 8 touchdowns
Jahmyr Gibbs - 1,261 total yards and 11 touchdowns
De'Von Achane - 997 total yards and 11 touchdowns
Tyjae Spears - 838 total yards and 3 touchdowns
Zach Charbonnet - 671 total yards and 1 touchdown
So, who should we target from the 2024 rookie running backs group? Here are our favorites.
Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Wright has the type of breakaway speed to rack up fantasy points at a high rate game-to-game. The Tennessee halfback flew onto the scene in 2022 with the Vols rushing for 10 TDs. In 2023, he only scored 4 rushing TDs but ran for 10+ yards on 25% of his carries. And by the way, that’s against the majority of the SEC where the best of the best rush defenses live.
Coming into Miami, he will sit behind Achane and Mostert for at least this season. On the bright side, Mostert is 31 years of age and Achane hasn’t consistently seen the field at any point during his career. This feels like a match made in heaven for the 7.4 YPC Jaylen Wright out of Tennessee.
Los Angeles Rams
The National Champion running back finds himself in the ideal situation for a 2nd-day draft pick. The top option among the backup group but still a ways to go to a starting position. After the Rams lost steam at the end of last season, we are expecting McVay to cut Kyren Williams’ carries and hand those off to Corum, who has the potential to become a 3-down back in the league. Blake has a small frame but his jump-cuts and catching potential make him the ideal RB2 for Los Angeles.
While a great north to south runner, Corum has plenty of wear and tear from his time at Michigan and doesn’t break away for long gains at a high rate with only 12 of his last 45 TDs from 5+ yards. The key for Corum will be to get creative at the 2nd level and break off those 20 yard gains that makes the Rams offense so potent.
Denver Broncos
With Perime and Javonte Williams’ contracts up after this season, Estime could be a long-term asset in dynasty that you can draft in the 3rd or final round. Estime got better each season at Notre Dame, capping off his career with an 18 touchdown, 1300 yard season for the Fighting Irish while averaging 6.2 YPC during his career there.
Overall, the Broncos lack a hard-nosed red zone threat that can punch the ball in from 5 yards or fewer. There is a real shot that Audric starts the season at the RB3, but ends up scoring just as many touchdowns as the Broncos RB2 due to the different stature he brings in the red zone.
Philadelphia Eagles
Shipley finds himself behind Saquon Barkely in Philly, but is supposedly already splitting reps with Kenneth Gainwell. With Gainwell’s contract up after this season at 25 years of age, the Eagles could be looking into the long-term pairing of a cheaper Shipley with newly acquired Saquon Barkley.
Out of the 2nd and 3rd round running backs, Shipley had the best combine/RAS score of the bunch which in the long-term could help him pave a way to touches on an Eagles squad that has plenty of mouths to feed for fantasy.