Running back value in the NFL has been a recurring discussion the last few off-seasons. With that, we’ve seen teams develop a more direct strategy toward the position. For dynasty fantasy football managers, we must understand how specialized this position is in 2023.
Clearly, NFL teams have a willingness to invest capital into the position. However, they also have shown game plans that require two or three backfield options in the offense. For us dynasty managers, the emphasis on youth is even more important than ever.
Players like Elijah Mitchell and Isiah Pacheco have come from late rounds to give fantasy production and value to managers. James Robinson had a moment of production coming from an undrafted beginning. Additionally, fellow UDFA Austin Ekeler turned into a sustainable asset for years at the position. Overall, the commonality between these players is the production they were and are able to give while being affordable.
Fantasy football production can come from multiple places in any draft. It appears teams aren’t afraid to give those lower-capital players a chance if the need or talent is there. For 2024’s running back class there are a couple of players that may reach Najee Harris or Travis Etienne’s level of capital. However, the running backs taken day two or three should also develop NFL roles.
Today, we’ll take a deeper look at the top 10 running backs in this talented 2024 NFL Draft class.
1. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
Arkansas has been producing large NFL offensive talent for a few seasons. Starting with Treylon Burks and upcoming in 2024 with running back Raheim Sanders. Sanders is a big back who uses a lot of similar strength and shiftiness that we saw from Burks as a member of the Razorback offense. Overall, he was the most talented player in this offense in 2022 and that should continue in 2023.
Furthermore, Sanders rushed for over 1400 yards and gained 10 touchdowns in 2022 while adding 28 catches and another 271 yards in the air. That comes out to an average of 9.7 YPR. Overall, that isn’t a surprise due to his talented ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Sanders can be moved around in an offense and even run routes from the outside.
Ultimately, he is the top back in 2024 as of right now and should be a priority pick for a team in need of offensive help late Day 1 or early Day 2.
2. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
TreVeyon Henderson and Sanders are the two backs most managers will likely prioritize in your 2024 dynasty rookie drafts. Unfortunately, Henderson was injured last season for the Buckeyes. However, he is only one year removed from a 1200-yard, 15-touchdown Freshman season. Additionally, he caught 27 balls and gain another 312 yards receiving that season. Henderson is a speedy playmaker who wins with his agility in the receiving game and open field.
We all know Marvin Harrison Jr. may get the most production and recognition from this offense. However, it’s Henderson who will need to be as impactful in 2023 for them to move forward from the CJ Stroud era.
Henderson has a good backfield compliment in Miyan Williams. This could allow for both to come through this season healthy and improve their 2024 draft stock along the way. In the end, Henderson may be taken early on Day 2 like Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker in 2022. That confidence from a team and his ability should allow Henderson to display a similar upside to those players early in his career.
3. Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum will lead Michigan’s backfield in 2023. Moving forward, both should become even more refined in their roles. Edwards is a receiving back that also should have the size to hold up rushing on first and second in the NFL. Even while not being the starter in 2022, Edwards was able to scamper for seven touchdowns and 991 rushing yards. In two seasons, he’s had a respectable 20 and 18 catches each year.
Furthermore, Edwards is about two years younger than Corum. Not to mention, even with the production from Corum, Edwards has shown he certainly belongs. Edwards’ game may be more conducive to the modern NFL passing game, and that could mean a very defined role for him quickly. Not to mention, he has youth on his side. Additionally, he has versatility and the pedigree working in his favor as well.
This is a player that managers will love to take because he’s shown high-end ability in college while not requiring an extensive workload. Efficient and talented receiving backs should be able to find a role at the next level and Edwards can do that.
4. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Contrary to Edwards, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen has a completely separate skillset for the modern-day game. Edwards is more of an every-situation talent and excelling between the 20s, allowing the offense creativity when he takes the field. Overall, he is more in a Derrick Henry mold of a downhill punisher at the running back position. Don’t get too excited though, as Allen should start his career as more of a goal line threat.
Allen has been consistent in the college game, rushing for over 1200 yards each season while scoring double-digit touchdowns at ages 17 and 18. He doesn’t turn 20 until January of 2024, meaning he won’t be 21 until after his first NFL season. However, Allen is one of the younger prospects in this draft and has produced as well as any name on this list.
If he can develop over his first couple of NFL seasons, we may be looking at a consistent touchdown threat in the near future. With another productive year, Allen should solidify Day 2 capital and become a savvy late first round pick for your 2024 rookie drafts.
5. Blake Corum, Michigan
Corum would’ve been a late rookie first-rounder if he had declared and been eligible in the 2023 rookie draft class. Corum has done all he needed to prove his abilities at the college level, evidenced by a Heisman surge during the 2022 season. That year, he rushed for 18 touchdowns and 1463 yards, averaging 5.9 YPC in his best collegiate season.
One knock you might see on Corum is his age. He is a very solid back who will turn 24 during his first NFL season. However, his age shouldn’t greatly affect his status. In the end, he should be a Day 2 pick with another solid year of production.
Corum is not a liability in the passing game, but he wasn’t put in the position to produce their last year for the Wolverines. He may start this year as a first and second-down back, and that’s what dynasty managers should expect from him at the next level. He’s a great player to give 10-12 touches and get a solid 50 or 60 yards from, but he doesn’t quite have the speed or receiving chops to be a team’s top offensive option.
Finally, Corum is a solid back who could exceed expectations in favorable situations. Having him become a player of Jeff Wilson’s top production while providing a bit more juice is not a bad outcome. That would be draftable for players with an early second in next year’s draft. The team that takes him will see his value on a football field. In the end, that should at least provide some fantasy production for those who draft him.
6. Trey Benson, Florida State
The top five running backs in this class have a lot of production and a lot of familiarity with their names going into 2023. As of right now, that top five is a superior tier that has smaller tiers within it. However, the names to finish out this list may have less production or are players the general dynasty player may not yet know. These are your Tyler Allgeier and Roschon Johnson type of players. Your solid tier of depth running backs who can ascend or descend based on their NFL team’s approach. With that, Trey Benson of Florida State has the youth and more so the explosiveness that dynasty managers will love to look at in the second and third rounds.
Benson transferred to the Seminoles back in 2022. There, he showed off his speed by scoring nine times and rushing for 990 yards. Additionally, he would average an impressive 6.4 YPC last year. Now, he’ll develop more chemistry with quarterback Jordan Travis in 2023.
Overall, Benson is a speedy back who also has the strength to break tackles. He’s hard to catch when he gets going, and he’s the last player with the talent to join the top running backs in this class as of right now. Moving forward, he only needs to replicate his production and watch his draft stock rise.
7. Will Shipley, Clemson
Will Shipley has already shown his best skills for future NFL projection. Will Shipley caught 38 balls for the Clemson Tigers in 2022 and he could be a shifty receiving back at the NFL level already. Will Shipley has great agility and quick moves that thrive behind his linemen and then in the open field. He doesn’t have next-level speed, but he is always making players miss and gaining extra yards.
Shipley is a perfect role player in today’s NFL game. He knows his best skills and those always come out in the passing game. Last year he would also rush for 15 touchdowns, but his size and strength long term are slight worries with a lack of speed. Shipley will be a name talked about during the season but may make more sense as a Day 3 pick come NFL Draft time. What he does well he does really well, and those with running back needs outside of the first will be interested. Shipley is a perfect target in the second or third round of rookie drafts while having a semi-clear path to production.
8. Devin Neal, Kansas
Kansas’ Devin Neal could go end up in either direction on this list by Spring next year. He’s had two productive collegiate seasons and will turn 21 the August of his first NFL season if he declares after this season. Additionally, he ran for 1090 yards last season and would gain 9 touchdowns on the ground. Those numbers improved from a 707-yard and 8 touchdown Freshman season. In 2022, Neal would also add a receiving element to his game by improving from 7 catches in his first year to 21 catches in 2022.
Benson, Neal, and Shipley are all candidates to rise on this list. However, that would require those in the top five to fall. I expect all of these running backs on this list to be drafted, but managing expectations from the seventh to 10th ranked players in these sorts of exercises is important. Neal can do many things well, but that may only translate into a Day 3 pick with the hope he can step in if someone above him gets hurt. These talents are closer to the Elijah Mitchells and Alexander Mattison’s. Players who can produce but would need a few dominoes to fall correctly to reach their opportunity.
9. Miyan Williams, Ohio State
Miyan Williams stepped in well for an injured TreVeyon Hendeson for the Buckeyes in 2022. Williams would go for 14 rushing touchdowns while gaining 825 yards on the ground. Additionally, he would average 7.2 YPC and 6.4 YPC in his second and third collegiate seasons. This is to say that Williams can step up and play whatever role is needed from him. While he likely won’t be asked to catch the ball much at the next level, Williams seems like the perfect depth back for an NFL franchise.
Williams is smart and capable, but he’s played his role wonderfully behind a more talented back. In many ways, this may be a perfect reflection of the Texas Longhorns running back situation from this 2023 draft. Henderson is the Bijan Robinson of the situation. Everyone is excited for Henderson, everyone is gonna love his high-end receiving and quickness. Meanwhile, Williams is closer to a Roschon Johnson mold of solidity and a player who is gonna do whatever is required to see the field. If Williams sees the field, he can make plays and provide handcuff upside to your dynasty team.
10. Alton McCaskill, Colorado
We finish out our 2024 running backs list with yet another transfer and this time it’s Alton McCaskill. Formerly of the Houston Cougars, McCaskill is playing in a more talented offense with the 2023 Colorado Buffaloes. That should allow him to put up similar numbers to his Freshman campaign. Last year, he was injured the entire season. However, he certainly proved his talents in his first year. During that time, he rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns while also providing 21 catches in the receiving game.
Furthermore, McCaskill is a hammer and punishes defenders with his downhill style. He is a very strong running back who will fill a very specific role at the next level. In the NFL, he could do well in short-yardage and goal line areas. However, those responsibilities need to be something he’s capable of early on. If McCaskill comes back from his torn ACL and is able to provide again, expect him to be a solid Day 3 pick and a dart to remember late in your rookie drafts third and fourth rounds.
Honorable Mentions
In 2024, the list of talent at running back is not short. Names not mentioned here such as Michigan State’s Jalen Berger or Utah’s Ja’Quinden Jackson could see their roles expand. Marshawn Lloyd of USC is another name to watch with a larger stage to prove his abilities. Oregon’s Bucky Irving even has some speed on him that NFL teams could like. The nature of this position for dynasty leagues in 2023 leads us to continue searching and searching for more names that can produce. Last year we saw Zonovan Knight go undrafted and then he was starting games mid-year.
Anymore, the running back position is all about what have you done for me lately. That, and how much can be extracted from a cheaper asset. Dynasty managers may end up holding some running backs that turn into nothing. However, with so much turnover and need at this position, production is never too far away.
It’s all about investing early, investing late, and investing for what you feel comfortable with. If you’re throwing enough darts and developing enough trust in your assets, the production should follow at running back. The 2024 running back class should be no different and there’s enough talent to excel at the next level.
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