4 Must-Draft Running Backs for 2024: Fantasy Football Advice
Every season there are certain must-draft players to target for your fantasy football team. The running back position in particular can be crucial to your team’s success given the volatility and significance of the position. These 4 running backs we’ve highlighted below blend together talent, potential bell-cow opportunity, and team situations to present league-winning upside for these must-draft players.
4 Must-Draft Running Backs for 2024
I’m taking a look at four running backs who I believe are must-draft players for fantasy football in 2024. I’ve mixed together higher-priced players with a few guys going later in drafts that all can out-produce their ADP and help to win you your leagues. Make sure you’re leaving your drafts with at least one of these must-draft running backs.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
A player that can be a true league winner this year is Kansas City Chiefs third year running back, Isiah Pacheco. The Rutgers product finished last season as the RB15 in points per game (13.7 in 1/2-PPR) in a Chiefs offense that surprisingly finished 14th in scoring.
The Chiefs offense has gone through an overhaul this offseason by bringing in multiple projected starters including first-round pick Xavier Worthy, free agent Hollywood Brown, and left tackle Kingsley Suamataia. These moves should help to improve a league-high drop rate among wide receivers, while the team is likely to see a bottom-five turnover differential regress positively. The Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Rashee Rice and should push to be a top-five scoring offense.
Perhaps the most important offseason move for Pacheco’s fantasy value was the loss of Jerick McKinnon to free agency. McKinnon has been a staple in the Chiefs passing game and has scored 15 touchdowns over the prior two seasons. Last year Pacheco played in four games without his veteran counterpoint and averaged 19.4 fantasy points per game, a pace that would’ve made him the RB3 overall.
Pacheco has breakout potential as he looks to carve out a larger role in the Chiefs backfield. With only rookie UDFA Carson Steele and Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind him on the depth chart, the standout back should increase his 51.6% snap share from the 2023 season.
With an improved Chiefs offense, increased opportunity, and the proven ability to be a top-five RB without McKinnon, Pacheco is a must-draft player for your fantasy football teams. Despite his current ADP of RB11, Pacheco has the upside to finish top five at the position and be a league-winning running back.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker battled through injury to finish last season as the RB20 in points per game (12.3). While the young back was limited to 48.9% of the team’s snaps, he was much more productive than teammate Zach Charbonnet. Walker averaged twice as many fantasy points per snap compared to Charbonnet (0.38 vs 0.19), per our player analysis tool, despite the latter getting more of the third down snaps.
New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is expected to bring in a more up-tempo offense with more pre-snap motion. Per Jared Smola, Grubb has already praised Walker’s playmaking. Notably, his pass-catching abilities this preseason, stating, “He’s electric out of the backfield as a pass-catcher.”
Walker is a must-draft player in Grubb’s system with the potential for more pass-catching work in the up-tempo scheme. Now that he’s fully healthy and gaining the trust of the staff, Walker is well worth his current RB16 ADP. All things considered, he has the potential to finish much higher if he can continue to gain more passing work in addition to his explosive runs.
David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
David Montgomery has been a reliable fixture in fantasy leagues for years, finishing as a top-25 RB in total points each of his first five seasons in the league, according to our fantasy football tools. Last season the Iowa State product finished as the RB12 in points per game, his first year with the Detroit Lions.
Furthermore, the Lions come into this year with the same offensive system and a majority of the same personnel. This leads to high expectations. Notably, top-five Super Bowl odds per FanDuel. The team returns four of the five starting offensive linemen, with the lone exception being replaced by Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler.
With Montgomery and backfield running mate RB Jahmyr Gibbs expecting to dominate the touches for an elite team, there needs to be plenty of touchdown opportunities and rushing attempts for both. Gibbs is already dealing with a hamstring injury that could lead to additional opportunities for Montgomery early in the season. Even if Gibbs is fully healthy come Week 1, both players are capable of producing together as shown last season after the team’s bye week when both Gibbs and Montgomery were top 12 fantasy back over a nine-week sample.
Montgomery is currently going as the RB21 in ADP, which feels closer to his floor given the offense and his fantasy finishes over the years. The veteran back ranked top five in our Consistency Score metric last season and has top-five upside if Gibbs does miss time with the injury. Montgomery averaged a career-high 4.6 yards per carry last year and looks to be peaking in his age-27 season, he’s a must-draft player for me at cost.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
After being stuck behind Derrick Henry during his rookie season, Tyjae Spears now has the opportunity to take on a leading role in the Tennessee Titans backfield. While Spears finished as a low-end RB3 last season (RB35 in total points), he showed flashes that inspire hope for this season. The Tulane product averaged 4.5 yards per carry, higher than Henry’s 4.2, behind a terrible offensive line and was top ten in the league in targets for a running back.
Spears now faces competition from veteran Tony Pollard, about which new head coach Brian Callahan stated “They are both starting players to me.” Given his explosive nature, Spears should continue to see more of the passing game work for a team that’s projected to lead the NFL in pass rate, per Mike Clay. The second-year back was able to punch in a goal-line touchdown earlier this preseason against the San Francisco 49ers, I’d expect that he and Pollard share that role in the offense.
Furthermore, Spears’ current ADP is RB35. That’s exactly where he finished last season. Spears should flourish with increased volume opportunity, particularly in the passing game and red zone, and a more modern offensive system. At cost, Spears is a must-draft player with RB2 potential even with Pollard on the field, and much higher if he misses time.
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