3 RB Sleepers to Stash for the Fantasy Football Playoffs 2024
The 2024 fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner, and it’s time to identify the best RB sleepers to stash for the fantasy football playoffs. With most leagues running playoffs during Weeks 15-17, having a deep bench stocked with potential breakout players could be the key to a championship run.
Every year, under-the-radar RB sleepers step up when it matters most. In 2022, Jerick McKinnon and Tyler Allgeier became league winners, while Khalil Herbert and Zamir White surprised many in 2023. This year, finding the right stashes early could make all the difference.
You already know how to start your studs like Saquon Barkley or De’Von Achane. In this article, we’ll highlight the best RB sleepers to stash for the 2024 fantasy football playoffs—hidden gems that might deliver game-changing performances when it counts the most.
Top RB Sleepers to Stash for the Fantasy Football Playoffs
Who will be this year’s unlikely heroes that may lead you to the finals and ultimately a fantasy football championship? Keep reading to find out which RB sleepers you can ride through the fantasy football playoffs all the way to a title.
Trey Benson – Arizona Cardinals
If you read my Trades to Make for the Fantasy Football Playoffs: Must-Have Running Backs article, you would know that I absolutely love the Arizona Cardinals’ playoff schedule and James Conner. Impressively, he is currently the RB16 of the year and is quietly having a productive season.
Entering the 2024 season there was hope that rookie Trey Benson out of Florida State would have a bigger role in the Cardinals offense. However, that did not materialize early on in the season. Recently, Benson had an increase in snap count during the two weeks prior to the Cardinals’ bye in Week 11. During that time, Benson had a 28% and 27% snap count during Weeks 9 and 10. He also had his two highest-scoring weeks during that time – 11.5 fantasy points in Week 9 and 8.7 in Week 10.
So far this season, Conner has been healthy. However, he hasn’t had a history of maintaining that health in recent years. Since entering the league in 2017 with the Pittsburgh Steelers he hasn’t played a full season. Notably, he has missed 10 games in the past three years.
Traditionally, after a team’s bye week, they tend to incorporate their rookie players more into their offensive schemes. Is Benson’s increased playing time in Weeks 9-10 a sign of things to come or simply giving an older back like Conner some rest and reprieve for his aging body? Possibly.
Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Football Playoffs Schedule:
- Week 15 – at New England Patriots (23rd-ranked rushing defense)
- Week 16 – vs. the Panthers (32nd)
- 17 – at Los Angeles Rams (19th)
Championship Week 17 against the Rams forecasts to be a shootout. When the Cardinals played the Rams in Week 2, Conner erupted for 122 rushing yards and one touchdown (18.9 fantasy points).
If for some reason Conner would miss time (let’s not hope for an injury), with the Cardinals’ favorable fantasy playoff schedule, Benson could be a league winner.
Jonathan Brooks – Carolina Panthers
Chuba Hubbard has been nothing short of amazing this year for the Panthers. He is currently the RB11 and one of the best bargains for fantasy managers who drafted him.
Rookie Jonathan Brooks, the highly touted prospect out of the University of Texas, was the highest-drafted running back in the 2024 Draft (46th overall). While many in the fantasy football landscape were pegging Brooks to be the dominant back for the Panthers, many did not foresee him missing the first eleven weeks of the season, while recovering from a torn ACL in November of 2023.
Well, Brooks is finally set to take the field in Week 12. He is surely to be on some sort of snap count for the first few weeks. With Hubbard playing so well this season, he earned a four-year $33 million contract extension. With the Panthers essentially being relegated to a high draft pick for 2025, there is little incentive to overwork Brooks for the remainder of the season.
However, the Panthers will also want to see what they have in their prized rookie. While Brooks will never have the backfield to himself, perhaps the Panthers will want to implement their own version of “Sonic and Knuckles” that the Detroit Lions have in their backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Don’t be surprised if more NFL teams take this approach moving forward.
Carolina Panthers Fantasy Football Playoffs Schedule:
- Week 15 – vs. Dallas Cowboys (31st-ranked rushing defense)
- Week 16 – vs. Arizona Cardinals
- 17 – at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zamir White – Las Vegas Raiders
Some in the fantasy landscape (myself included) pegged White as a breakout candidate this year following his strong finish in the 2023 season. Unfortunately, White’s season has been an absolute disaster.
White is currently the RB68 and hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points once this season. His highest weekly output was seven points in Week 9. Teammate and plodder Alexander Mattison has almost twice as many touches on the season and has more than twice the amount of snaps than White.
White did show a glimpse of promise late last season. During Weeks 15-18, he was the RB8 averaging 14.1 fantasy points per game.
Ultimately, White is nothing more than a deep stash and a dart throw at best. However, the Raiders may want to revisit what they have in White before entering the offseason and possibly moving on.
Keep in mind, that White left the game early in Week 11. He is dealing with a quadriceps injury. As a result, he is questionable for Week 12. A this point, there’s a chance he might have even been dropped in some leagues. You could potentially find him on the waiver wire even.
Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Football Playoffs Schedule:
- Week 15 – vs. Atlanta Falcons (20th ranked rushing defense)
- Week 16 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (21st)
- 17 – at New Orleans Saints (27th)
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