Welcome to our Rookie Running Back Rankings for the 2024 NFL season! As fantasy football enthusiasts prepare for their dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts, identifying top talent at the running back position is crucial. As for the 2024 rookie class, there isn’t a clear-cut RB1. While the wide receiver class is loaded, the running back position leaves a bit to be desired.
In this comprehensive analysis, we’ll assess the incoming rookie class of running backs, evaluating their skills, potential roles in their respective offenses, and long-term fantasy outlooks. Specifically, for your dynasty football leagues.
Rookie Running Back Rankings (2024)
Whether you’re looking to bolster your dynasty team’s backfield or seeking instant impact RBs, join us as we dive into the rankings. Most importantly, we’ll help you uncover the next generation of fantasy football stars at the running back position. Most importantly, for your dynasty fantasy football rosters.
Let’s find out who our RB1 is for this 2024 rookie draft class.
MarShawn Lloyd – USC
MarShawn Lloyd is running back for the USC Trojans. Additionally, he played for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2021 through 2022 before he transferred to USC. He tore his ACL as a freshman and didn’t do much. Most impressively, he only had 13 catches out of the backfield in 2023, but averaged 17.8 yards per reception. Notably, in his freshman year he caught just three passes for 44 yards. No, these numbers aren’t insane, but they show that Lloyd certainly has that big play ability in him.
Lloyd ran a 4.48 40 time at the NFL Combine and looks great in many aspects of his game. While he comes in at my RB4 in this class, you may seem him higher up in other dynasty rankings. Personally, I just don’t see anything elite out of him and think he may end up dropping a bit in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jaylen Wright – Tennessee
Spending all three seasons in the SEC at Tennessee, comes Jaylen Wright. After a very impressive NFL Combine performance, he showed us that he exudes athleticism. If he ends up landing in a great spot, he could easily end up being the RB1 in this rookie class. Wright is an explosive back who could end up doing well in the right system.
Furthermore, a 5.7 yards per reception is a fairly low number and something that concerns me a bit. Lloyd did get a ton of dumpoffs in college from his quarterback, Joe Milton. However, he did average 7.4 yards per carry in 2023, racked up 1,013 rushing yards, but saw a drop in rushing touchdowns going from 10 in 2022 to just 4 in 2023.
Trey Benson – Florida State
One of the running backs with the most upside in this 2024 rookie class has got to be Trey Benson out of Florida State. After spending his 2021 rookie season with the Orgeon Ducks, he transferred to Florida State for the next two seasons. In his freshman season with the Oregon, “Benson suffered a severe right knee injury that included a torn ACL, MCL, lateral and medial meniscus plus a torn gracilis tendon (hamstring). He suffered the injury on Dec. 1, 2020 and did not return to game action until Sept. 18, 2021.”
Notably, he is a great athlete and I think he tries to go for the home run on every play. He has great size and elite speed and will be the RB1 in this 2024 class for many dynasty managers.
Personally, I don’t love his vision and don’t have Benson as my RB1 in this class. In the end, I wouldn’t be too shocked to see Benson fall a bit in the draft.
Jonathon Brooks – Texas
Finally, the running back out of Texas is my RB1 for this 2024 rookie class. All things considered, this won’t be a super popular choice as the RB1 in this class. After tearing his ACL back in November against TCU, Brooks should be fully healed and ready to go without any issues. While he didn’t particpate in the Combine drills, Brooks is still my RB1.
Furthermore, Brooks ran for 1,139 yards in just 11 games. These numbers are far and away above these other running backs listed above. Notably, he has a fantastic yards per reception number at 11.4. Additionally, he is just a very well-rounded and can catch a ton of passes out of the backfield. Between the productivity, size, and speed ability, I think Brooks has as much upside as anyone in this class and could easily be the best running back from this class.
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