Today, we are going over the top 5 cheapest three-down running backs for fantasy football purposes in 2023. Anymore, it is very common to see NFL teams go with a running back by committee (RBBC) approach. However, depending on how rosters shake out and teams deal with cap situations, there always end up being some potential workhorse running backs out there.
A three-down running back is a player who can essentially do it all. They can run well, catch the ball well out of the backfield, and step in and block when needed. Overall, being able to handle all of these roles allows them to be on the field more, making them a three-down back. The more they are on the field, the more opportunities they have to score.
Without further ado, let’s get into my Top 5 Cheap Workhorse Running Backs for Fantasy Football in 2023.
Be sure to check out our updated 2023 Fantasy Football Rankings so you know where to draft these sleepers to dominate your draft.
James Conner
The workhorse himself, James Conner, ends up on the list even after finishing as RB19 in 2022.
The Arizona Cardinals project to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this year. Kyler Murray is expected to miss some, if not the entire season, with a torn ACL. Gamescript might not go in the Cardinals’ favor but it will benefit James Conner.
If you are worried about Kyler Murray being gone and ruining his value, here are his finishes in the last four weeks of the year without him.
- RB5
- RB12
- RB4
- RB15 (Left game early)
Outside of Marquise Brown, the rest of the playmakers on offense shouldn’t be too impactful, leaving a lot of the workload to be handled by Conner.
Conner is currently going off the board as RB23. Even if the offense stinks, as long as he is on the field and stays healthy, he should be a smash at his current ADP.
Isiah Pacheco
The second half of the 2022 season put Isiah Pacheco on the map for fantasy players and he is still being undervalued going into 2023.
Even though the Chiefs are bringing back Jerick McKinnon, he just turned 31 and the probability of him having the boom weeks like he did last year with RB1 and RB3 finishes is slim. They still have Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the roster but at this point, if he were going to be more prominent in the Chiefs offense, it would have happened by now.
The biggest green flag as far as Pacheco usage goes comes from the playoff run last year. In the AFC Championship against Cincinnati, it was Pacheco with five receptions for 59 yards over McKinnon’s two receptions for 17. Andy Reid showed during the second half of last year that he trusted Pacheco and leaned on him with more work on the ground and through the air.
With one of the best offenses in the league and the obscurity in the wide receiver room, it would be no surprise at all if Pacheco gets a much bigger workload in 2023. Even if he doesn’t get as much volume as other guys on this list, the offense is too good and makes up for it with the opportunity for big spike weeks.
Pacheco at RB24 is one of my favorite later-round draft picks.
Rachaad White
Tom Brady retiring changes the entire landscape on offense for the Buccaneers. There will be a massive swing from being one of the most pass-heavy teams in the league to a more balanced offense with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask at the helm. A big contributor to this change will be Rachaad White.
With Leonard Fournette gone, White steps into the workhorse role in Tampa Bay. As you can see from the chart below, Fournette had a pretty significant role last year. White should take over most of Fournette’s work from last year and make him a true three-down back in 2023.
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I don’t expect Mayfield or Trask to be lighting it up or pushing the ball downfield, leading to a lot of receptions coming for White.
Furthermore, the Bucs brought in Chase Edmonds this offseason and also have Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Those two shouldn’t be too much of a worry as far as getting into White’s role on offense.
Right now, White is currently going as RB28 in drafts. With that price, even if the Bucs aren’t as good on offense as they have been the last few seasons, White will be a pure volume play for fantasy football managers.
Miles Sanders
Miles Sanders signed a four-year deal this offseason to join the Carolina Panthers. He has a lot of familiarity with head coach Frank Reich and running backs coach Duce Staley from their days in Philadelphia.
Even in a loaded backfield and with Jalen Hurts vulturing touchdowns, Sanders finished 2022 with 1,269 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. Now, he goes to a Panthers team that has less running competition and a quarterback in rookie Bryce Young that won’t be getting near the rushing touchdowns Hurts did last year.
Right now, Sanders is currently being drafted as the RB18. Additionally, Chuba Hubbard is about the only competition currently for Sanders in the backfield.
Frank Reich should rely on the run behind a good offensive line to help Young settle in. Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, Hayden Hurst, and Terrace Marshall are the other weapons on offense. It’s fair to say Sanders is arguably the most talented player on offense and will be relied on heavily this season in Carolina.
Samaje Perine
Denver went out and signed Samaje Perine to a two-year deal right when free agency opened this past March. He will become the bell cow in Sean Payton’s offense until Javonte Williams returns from his torn ACL that he suffered last October.
Perine was initially the third-down back in Cincinnati before carving out a bigger role to end the year in 2022. His biggest game of last year was when he filled in for Joe Mixon in Week 13 against Kansas City. During that game, he ran for 106 yards on the ground and caught six targets for 49 yards.
Reports have been across the board for when Williams will return. Anywhere from Week 1 to early November. If it is the latter, that is about half the season already where you will get value with Perine.
Perine is currently being drafted around RB41. Running backs coming off of a torn ACL typically do not return to their prior form right off the bat. Even when Williams returns, he will be worked into the rotation and Perine will still have a significant role in the offense. Perine is a value right now that could end up being a league winner in 2023 if things go his way.
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