Trades to Make for the Fantasy Football Playoffs: Must-Have Running Backs
As the fantasy football playoffs approach, every roster move can mean the difference between a fantasy football championship run and a quick exit. Securing reliable running backs can be crucial as they can make or break your playoff push with one standout performance. In this article, we’ll dive into 3 running back buys who have solid fantasy football playoff matchups. More importantly, they have the potential to lead your team to victory.
Running Back Buys for the 2024 Fantasy Football Playoffs
In this article, I’ll be looking at which running backs you can target and trade for, for the upcoming fantasy football playoffs. Hopefully, these are running backs who can give you solid depth and production in the final weeks of the 2024 fantasy season.
No, I won’t be suggesting running backs such as Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry. Odds are, the managers who have those running backs on their rosters are at or near the top of your league standings and won’t be looking to trade them. Understandably so. However, these running backs may be ones that you can still acquire.
For this exercise, I will also be using our free fantasy football tool, the RB D-Pac Score. This is our Defensive Points Allowed Consistency tool at Faceoff Sports Network. It can help determine which running backs have the best matchups for the fantasy playoffs. In short, the higher the D-PAC Score, the more often those teams give up fantasy points to the opposition’s running back.
James Conner – Arizona Cardinals
Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule:
- New England Patriots
- @ Carolina Panthers
- @ Los Angeles Rams
Conner’s schedule is fantastic for the fantasy football playoffs. In total, he is going up against three teams that are giving up more than 20 fantasy points per game to the running back position.
Before the season began my concerns with Conner for the upcoming season were twofold. Number one is his health. In three out of the last four seasons, he has missed a minimum of three games. However, Conner has missed zero games this season.
Next, is his teammate, highly touted rookie running back Trey Benson. There was a fear that Benson would eat away at Conner’s production and workload as the Cardinals would be looking to the future and 2025, as Conner is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. Well, over the first 10 games of the season, Benson has averaged six touches and is clearly behind Conner on the depth chart.
During the fantasy playoffs, Conner plays against the Patriots in Week 15 who have the seventh-highest RB D-PAC Score. In Week 16 the Cardinals go up against the Panthers who have THE highest RB D-PAC score. Finally, during Week 17, Conner goes up against the Rams who have the 13th-highest D-PAC Score. Not to mention, he gashed them for 122 rushing yards and one touchdown back in Week 2.
Currently, the Cardinals sit atop the NFC West. If they continue to be on top of the division and/or flirt with a wild card spot, they will continue to treat Conner as their bellcow back which will provide handsome results during the fantasy football playoffs.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. – New York Giants
Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule:
- Baltimore Ravens
- @ Atlanta Falcons
- Indianapolis Colts
Since Week 5, Tracy has officially surpassed teammate Devin Singletary as the number-one running back for the New York Giants. During that span, he has averaged just over 18 touches per game, almost 100 total yards, and 13.7 fantasy points per game, which would make him a mid RB2.
Tracy’s toughest matchup during the fantasy playoffs is unfortunately during Week 15. This is against the Baltimore Ravens who have the number one ranked defense against the rush. While Tracy would not be projected to do much on the ground that week, there is hope for Tracy to accumulate fantasy points through the air. Since Week 5, he is averaging almost 3.5 receptions per game. With the Giants probably trailing for most of the game, the Giants may be forced to throw more, and that could lead to more receptions for Tracy.
If you survive the Week 15 matchup against the Ravens, the next weeks are more favorable for Tracy. In Week 16 he goes up against the Atlanta Falcons who have the sixth-highest RB D-PAC Score and are allowing an average of 133 yards on the ground to opposing backs.
Finally, in Week 17 Tracy faces off against the Indianapolis Colts who are in the middle of the pack when it comes to RB D-PAC score. Additionally, they have the second-worst rushing defense in the league. Notably, allowing almost 150 yards on the ground.
Ultimately, Tracy is still relatively unknown amongst fantasy managers. As a result, he is one RB who could possibly be traded for. In the end, he may return positive results in the fantasy football playoffs.
Brian Robinson Jr. – Washington Commanders
Fantasy Football Playoff Schedule:
- @ New Orleans Saints
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Atlanta Falcons
Unfortunately, Robinson has missed three out of the last four games with a hamstring injury. In the seven games he has played, he totaled 461 rushing yards and an impressive six touchdowns. As a result, a buy-low window has opened.
During the first week of the fantasy playoffs, Robinson and the Commanders go up against the New Orleans Saints who are the 25th-ranked rushing defense allowing 136.6 rushing yards per game along with twelve rushing touchdowns. Here is a list of backs who have performed well against the Saints recently: Bijan Robinson, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving, Javonte Williams, Kareem Hunt, and J.K. Dobbins. Except for Robinson, there aren’t many RBs on that list that teams would be scared of.
Facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 16 who have the 5th-best rushing defense will be a challenge for Robinson. However, if you manage to survive, Week 17 presents an outstanding matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Notably, they have the sixth-highest RB-DPAC Score and are a great team to start your running backs against.
Even with missing three games, Robinson still remains a low-end RB2. Playing with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels has been a massive windfall for the running back position. In total, the Washington Commanders running backs have 16 rushing touchdowns for the season. All in all, this makes Robinson a very solid buy-low candidate right now with the fantasy football playoffs quickly approaching.
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