| Tier 1-Elite RB1 | Risk | Reward |
| RB1 | Christian McCaffrey | While still at the top of his position, we are talking about peak CMC. Entering his age 27 season isn’t a doomsday scenario but father time is a sneaky as he is ruthless. | If his post trade usage was a tad more voluminous we’d maybe be talking about him as the consensus 1.01 but his usage was still very good. Is there a chance it increases in more competitive games or will they remain mindful of his workload? There’s a sneaky bit of upside in that question but even if we don’t get the boost there he’s in an offense beautifully suited to his all purpose talent. |
| RB2 | Austin Ekeler | See above…but there’s also the thought that his passing game volume takes a hit if the offense becomes more vertically focused. | Despite having a new coordinator the pace figures to remain fast and while there should be fewer checkdowns, the environment should be even better and the only significant add doesn’t figure to be a target hog or even a full time player to start off (Quentin Johnston). There also doesn’t seem to be a backup RB distinguishing themselves enough to get any more than breather duties. |
| RB3 | Saquon Barkley | Harder schedule and likely less pass game volume. | While he figures to have less targets it’s not like they’ve added multiple target hogs. For what he’s loses in pass game volume he could make back some in a stronger offensive environment with multiple lid lifters to lighten his load in the box. The also didn’t add a player truly worthy of meaningful 2023 touches behind him. |
| RB4 | Nick Chubb | ADP has risen from priority 2nd round pick to backend of the 1st round…thinning out our margin for error. He’s always an incredibly efficient runner but now that passing game usage needs to go from a SHOULD be better to NEEDS to be better in order for him to give you upside. | Bludgeon teams from 11 personnel last year and sounds like he’s going to get a lot more opportunities to do that this year. Many have conservatively projected him for 30 catches this season but with a faster, more spread offense and no Kareem Hunt..what if that number is more like 50? |
| RB5 | Tony Pollard | Pollard is making a similar creep up in adp. We’ve dodged a significant secondary add to this backfield but it’s yet to be seen if the Cowboys will give him true feature back usage. He’ll be productive regardless, he’s just that good but again, it’s an opportunity cost thing. | Pollard is on the shortlist for highest ceilings in fantasy. Zeke was 13th among RB’s in red zone touches last season. At this point is it fair to assume that Pollard scoops up 40 to 50% of that? We could be looking at a truly historic fantasy season. |
| Tier 2-High End RB1 | Risk | Reward |
| RB6 | Bijan Robinson | This weapon talk turns into run of the mill pass game usage. Allegier gets more than + breather back status and CPatt mixes in as well. All fine developments if he were going at the 2/3 turn. | In Arthur Smith run scheme behind one of the best Olines in the NFL, Bijan’s floor is incredibly sturdy. Now if his touch share is decisive and some of the split out action we’ve seen in training camp comes to fruition we’re talking top 3 upside. |
| RB7 | Josh Jacobs | The step from Carr to Jimmy G proves to be steep. Steep enough to shift their EPA into the direction of a subpar TD season for Jacobs. | Now that Jacobs is under the contract the reward will lessen. Maybe the fact that we won’t see him on the field before the season kind of splits the difference from an adp standpoint. Even with a late boost he’ll probably still go close to a round lower than he should in a game where we want to beat adp as many times as possible. |
| RB8 | Derrick Henry | Offensive line concerns are always something I’ve glossed over before with Henry. If they run outside zone 25 times and 22 of those attempts net 1 to 3 yards each..as long as the other 2 are signature Henry long TDs we’re gucci. That becomes a tougher proposition at age 29. He needs to a little more help from his front and the whole fantasy community is side eyeing this group currently. There’s also future hall of famer Tyjae Spears in the fold as a player too talented not to find a role for. | Henry continues to defy logic and makes father time wait another year. The addition of Dhop and year 2 leaps from Burks and Chig lead to a better offensive environment than last season and the moderate passing game he finally got last season holds. |
| Tier 3-Rest of the RB1 | Risk | Reward |
| RB9 | Joe Mixon | Is a suspension 100% off the table? There’s also concerns about his efficiency as a runner as that continues to dip. | Mixon had a career high in targets last year WITHOUT playing on 3rd downs. Perine is gone and whether it’s Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans or a combo of both..i don’t expect them completely absorb what Perine leaves behind. With this offense environment and positive regression due, Mixon is walking into double digit TDs. |
| RB10 | Rhamondre Stevenson | We can argue to what the degree but we can’t argue that Zeke’s addition won’t chip away at Rhamondre’s goal line and 3rd down bottom line. | The reward case is a simple one, he’s too good to put back in the bottle now. Especially of a team that’s not brusting at the seams with offensive difference makers. The offense is being led by a competent play caller for a change and per Pat Thorman they’ve played faster and implemented some no huddle this preseason. So with positive regression coming along with the potential play volume bump, I’m net letting the Zeke signing block my blessings. |
| Tier 4-High End RB2 | Risk | Reward |
| RB11 | Kenneth Walker | The Seahawks aren’t breaking up with Walker by any means but it sure does seem like they went and got a side chick that does the things that he doesn’t. Zach Charbonnet is assignment sound runner with comfort as a pass catcher and pass protector. He also showed well in short yardage in college. If things devolve to Walker getting mostly relegated to mostly between the 20’s work…his ceiling looks noticeably different. | While back to back 2nd round investments at RB is significant from a draft capital standpoint, it only puts them at 30th in spending at the position. Is it possible that the Charbonnet pick had far more to do with ensuring quality RB play then find someone to full on take Walker of the field in these situations? Betting on that gives you a chance at a player whose talent and ceiling would place him 2 rounds higher than where he’s going currently. |
| RB12 | Travis Etienne | The Jaguars are showing the same signs of infidelity as the Seahawks. Rookie Tank Bigsby brings that short yardage hammer and Jamychal Hasty to a lesser extent on 3rd down. Bigsby has turned a strong training camp into buzz that his role will grow. | Etienne was efficient in his touches and has the burst to cheat the math. Granted this was before Bigsbymania, but Doug Pederson did throw out 1600-1700 yards as a goal for Etienne. |
| RB13 | Aaron Jones | Aaron Jones had a career high in receptions last year but how much of that carries over with Aaron Rodgers out and a more threatening runner in Jordan Love in? There’s also the unknown of the offense as a whole. I’ve probably been more optimistic than most on this Packers and even i have to admit that just penciling them in to repeat as the 11th best EPA per play offense is probably bad process. Then as a runner him and AJ Dillion probably just split carries down the middle. | While assuming the Packers offense will operate as efficiently sans a hall of fame QB isn’t good process, I do think betting on the variance of the situation is. If the Packers play at the speed that Lafleur played at with the Rams and more aggressive as a passing offense than many are projecting, we could see Aaron Jones reach near those receiving numbers. |
| RB14 | Jahmyr Gibbs | David Montgomery figures to be the primary goal line back but unlike with Jamaal Williams, beat writers expect Montgomery to be plenty involved as receiver as well. | The template to fantasy friendly usage is already established with the teams deployment of D’andre Swift. Swift had 70 targets last year despite uneven playing time week to week and at times the use of a 3rd back. Negative factors I don’t expect Gibbs to have to deal with. Any goal line work he gets is icing on a delicious looking pass game cake. There’s also talk of him and Montgomery being on the field together. |
| Tier 5-Mid to Low End RB2 | Risk | Reward |
| RB15 | Dameon Pierce | Devin Singletary didn’t do a ton with his pass catching opportunities last season but he graded well as a pass protector last season and has a reputation of it going back to college. A trait that I’m sure was on the minds of the Texans brass when they made him a priority signing early in free agency. A trait that isn’t the strong suit of Pierce’s game. There’s also the question of just how will the offense be considering the lack of upper echelon weapons being led by a rookie QB. | The preseason passing down usage was more than just evaluation. With a talented Oline and bankable run scheme, he should see less stuffed runs this season (9th most last yr)..allowing his upper echelon tackle breaking to shine through. A darkhorse candidate to lead the league in rushing. |
| RB16 | Najee Harris | Since his rookie season, the allure of Harris has been the potential of workhorse volume. Jaylen Warren’s emergence has put a damper on that and if their red zone TD rate doesn’t climb (23rd last yr) it’ll be tough to see a meaningful ceiling here. | The Steelers 1st team offense has had a strong preseason which carries over into the regular season and makes this environment more fantasy friendly than currently projected, raising his TD ceiling. |
| RB17 | Breece Hall | The eventual later season shift to feature back status never comes to fruition. Cook becomes the preferred green zone, leaving Breece in desperate need of a bankable pass catching role to approach value. There’s also that pesky ACL thing. | The assumption is that Dalvin Cook will carry the load early on while Breece eases into action but Breece has actually made it back to the field before Cook. What if Breece just skips the 1B ramp up and goes straight to 1A? What if Rodgers, playing behind an OL with questions, gives Breece a healthy amount of targets i.e. Aaron Jones? We saw last year the type of outlier talent Hall has, with a no question better offensive environment he could beat his adp even with very involved Cook. |
| RB18 | Alexander Mattison | The Vikings were 26th in RB fantasy usage last year per Hayden Winks. They were also 2nd in the NFL in redzone pass rate. With a current 5th round adp I don’t think there is a noticeable difference between him and some of the guys going in the 7th. In fact, a few of them have more upside. | The Vikings haven’t added a RB of consequence and while Ty Chandler has impressed in preseason I don’t if it was to the level of carving out a significant role. While I expect Minnesota to be pretty pass heavy regardless, there’s a world where Brian Flores makes this defense formidable enough to get Mattison more clock killing opportunities. |
| RB19 | JK Dobbins | We know he’s the lead back but the extent of that role is a complete unknown at this point. Does Justice Hill’s preseason usage foreshadow a small role alongside JK and Gus? | I like to be aggressive where people are scared and move with caution where people are too confident. This is a prime example of a situation that could bare fruit at his adp. Dobbins is one of the better pure runners in the NFL, will inherently have the most pass game involvement of his career and is in a good offensive environment. Sounds like an adp beater to me. |
| RB20 | Cam Akers | Raheem Morris is hella underrated but he’s going to have to do some heavy lifting with this Rams defense. If the Rams devolve into a shootout team, that could spell mean more looks for Kyren Williams. | Akers should have free reign of the early down work after a strong close to last season. A run that happened while their Oline was in shambles. Nobody will confuse this year’s group with the great wall but it should certainly be better and healthier than last year. |
| RB21 | James Cook | With 2 between the tackle hammers added in free agency, Goal line work may be too much to ask for but what happens if he loses some redzone work as well? The Bills tendency not to throw to their running back proves to be a habit they have trouble kicking, leaving Cook challenged for upside. | Cook’s preseason usage sure looks a lot stronger than the “JD McKissic what could been” role. He looks poised to not only handle a large share of the RB carries but there also seems to be a focus on getting him the ball as a receiver. If you thought outside the box early on in best ball you’re about to get rewarded handsomely. |
| RB22 | Miles Sanders | He’s currently nursing an injury so we aren’t when he’ll suit up and how long it takes for him to get his full workload. There’s also the offensive environment downgrade which may be a little bit sharper than we expect considering the August that Carolina has had. | The 50 catch talk comes to fruition. In a winnable division, if they can sort out their more than reasonably talented Oline and their strong offensive coaching staff can churn out more efficiency than their weapons represent…Sanders could be a strong RB2. |
| RB23 | David Montgomery | As pointed out by John Daigle, some of Jamaal Williams TD good fortune came down to Amon Ra St. Brown’s awful TD fortune. Penciling him in for the same opportunity is probably a bad idea and as much as him dominating early down work makes sense, the Lions did just take a RB in the 1st round. | Even if his goal line opportunity isn’t a carbon copy of Jamaal Williams, it’s still of the double digit TD variety. Beat writers also believe he’ll be involved in the passing game. Montgomery is one of my favorite value picks regardless of position. |
| RB24 | James Conner | The good news is the Cardinals seemed to be committed to Caleb Williams. The bad news he plays for USC this year. Conner’s environment could be truly dreadful and unlike last year he likely wont have the benefit of as many spread formations. A meaningful ceiling could be really hard to come by. | As rough as it looks, Conner has been battle tested. His strong run threw the 2nd half last year came mostly without Kyler and on a struggling offense. If his targets hold (12th among RB’s last season) and the offense isn’t quite in the basement maybe he can help a stacked roster as a RB2 that puts up enough boring points to keep everything on schedule. |
| RB25 | Dalvin Cook | Coming off shoulder shoulder, Cook has yet to practice with the Jets. Signed to take the early season load off Breece Hall, what if ends up being the other way around? While Breece is coming off injury himself, his talent is immense…would anybody be surprised if he plays so well that he boxes Cook out of a meaningful enough role to make a difference in fantasy? | Things go as planned early and Cook shoulders the load early. With the amount of guaranteed money on his deal it would not be a surprise if it extended further into the year than assumed…and by the time his 1A role flips to a 1B role he’s helped you solidify a playoff berth. |
| RB26 | Alvin Kamara | Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller get a 3 game audition to earn touches when Kamara returns. He’s also got red zone competition coming at him left and right with Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill around the goal line, Juwan Johnson led the team in red zone targets last season and they curiously spinned the block with end zone fade connoisseur, Jimmy Graham. | Kamara looked explosive in the preseason with strong usage. If the Saints opt to use 2023 as a growth season for Kendre Miller, Kamara should have no issue beating his 6th round adp. |
| RB27 | Javonte Williams | With Javonte coming off major injury, the Broncos made Samaje Perine a priority signing in free agency. It seems pretty obvious that Williams will have his workload managed but he also stands to lose a lot of passing game work to Perine, whose also a trusted short yardage back. There’s also the question of just how good this Russell Wilson led offense will be. | If anybody can steer this offense back to relevance, Sean Payton would be on the shortlist of current day options. Even if Javonte were in a early down early role it wouldn’t prohibit him from racking up a 40 ish catch season in Payton’s system. I’m expecting a run first outfit and if the Oline they threw plenty of cash at gels, Williams has upside above where he’s going. |
| RB28 | Isiah Pacheco | He remains boxed out of pass game work by Mckinnon and a healthy CEH starts to chip at some of his early down/short yardage work. | He’s pretty solid value where he’s going in drafts right now but if gains any pass game work and/or refines his running from a technical standpoint he could flourish in this rosy environment. |
| Tier 6-High End RB3 | Risk | Reward |
| RB29 | Rachaad White | A volume play in a questionable offense with efficiency concerns of his own. Chase Edmonds is the 3rd down back to start the season. Desire to get him more touches in space goes for not with a slower pace and less plays. | The Bucs didn’t make any significant adds to their backfield, making way for White to get his shot at feature back usage. His ability as a pass catcher is leveraged and his patience and precision as a runner grows…giving him a shot to move toward the top of tier 5. |
| RB30 | D’Andre Swift | Roles materialize and he’s unable to carve out one to himself. With Penny being a talented between the tackles runner and more suited for goal line work and Kenneth Gainwell already trusted on 3rd down and in the red zone..there’s a world where Swift is there to pick up the scraps. There’s also the fact that RB targets weren’t very plentiful in Philly last year. | There’s also a world where he’s first in line for touches. In fact it seems like the more likely scenario at this point. Even without a voluminous pass catching role this offense will breed production and TD upside. |
| RB31 | Jonathan Taylor | Whew this is messy…we got the doomsday scenario with JT not being traded and being placed on short term IR. Had he been traded to say the Dolphins, i would have vaulted him up to RB9 but now he tumbles. If he returns and plays for the Colts there are concerns about just how good the offense will be and if they’ll throw to the RB (Eagles were 31st in RB targets last season under Steichen per Hayden Winks). | All isn’t lost here. Out of the 11 other people in your leagues you’re probably looking at 8 or 9 of them being incredibly risk adverse..making JT a potentially interesting lottery ticket if he falls far enough. Now if he remains in Indy you need some things to break right but we are talking a super talented back with the gravity of Anthony Richardson holding edge defenders. If anybody can just rip off a bunch of long runs to bend the math, it’s Taylor..and if he does get traded to a better situation he could give your RB2 spot a league winning boost. |
| RB32 | Brian Robinson | By the end of last year BRob operated as the clear lead back but that lead was much less pronounced in the preseason. While the Commanders offense should be improved I don’t know if it can support 2 backs with ceiling. | The split is a bit more definitive than it was in the preseason with Robinson leading the way on early downs but with more targets than last year due to change in offense. |
| RB33 | Khalil Herbert | Another potential thruple | Herbert is running as the lead back coming into the season and while the catches may not plentiful he does benefit from the gravity of Justin Fields as a runner. Herbert has flashed strong talent and efficiency early in his career. If he can squeeze either Donta Foreman into a pure backup he becomes a really interesting RB2 option. |
| RB34 | Raheem Mostert | The team drafted a young carbon copy of him in Devon Achane. Does his role inevitably shrink as the season progresses? | I felt like Wilson wasn’t so much ahead of Mostert as a player that it wasn’t a world where he could run ahead of him. Now he doesn’t have to worry about him at all in the first 4 games, a stretch where the young Achane may not see a ton of looks either based off of his preseason usage. |
| RB35 | Rashaad Penny | There are enough options on the roster that they don’t need Penny. We’ve heard him as potential cut candidate enough to believe there could be at least a little smoke there. | Miles Sanders parlayed this early down role into 1,200 yards and 11 TDs. He had a healthy 49 red zone touches, ranking 4th among all RBs. Penny certainly has the talent to push for that role. |
| Tier 7-Mid to Low End RB3 | Risk | Reward |
| RB36 | Samaje Perine | He’s boxed out of ever having a feature role and Javonte Williams roles grows as the season progresses. | Sean Payton prioritized bringing him and keeps him very involved on 3rd downs and in the screen game. Becoming his confidant on short down and distance and around the goal line could give him every week viability even with a healthy Javonte. |
| RB37 | AJ Dillon | The assumed lean on the run game never materialized and Jordan Love is less inclined to check down, making Dillon a boring source of 10 or so touches a game. | The Packers either make it a point from the outset to be more run first. Dillon command over the goal line work continues, and armed with a few more carries he sets up anchor RB teams up quiet nicely as a cheap mid to low end RB2. |
| RB38 | Zach Charbonnet | The Seahawks opt to mix in DeeJay Dallas on pass downs and Kenneth Walker shows short yardage growth. Leaving Charbonnet involved but unpredictable. | The Seahawks lean on the aspects of his game that differ from Walker right away. Making him the back on 3rd down and in the green zone. Couple that with a couple series of his own each game and we’re working with something…and if his efficiency stands out compare to Walker maybe he carves out more. |
| RB39 | Devon Achane | How long will it take to get a role and is said role fantasy relevant? | I like swing for the fence picks in the back half of drafts and Achane is that. He has 4.3 wheels in a 1 cut system he was handpicked by his head coach to play in. There also seems to be a desire to get him touches in the passing game. |
| RB40 | Jamaal Williams | Today’s offense is not yesterday’s offense. I would not expect anywhere near the goal line opportunities he got last year. Especially with Taysom Thee Vulture lurking. He’ll also have to contend with talented rook Kendre Miller and Alvin Kamara after the first 3 games. Williams’ contract locks him onto the team for at least 2 years but his touches are certainly at risk. | For people that draft lean at RB or have early injury concerns, Williams is your guy. With Kamara suspended the first 3 games, Williams is the odds on favorite to lead the team in touches, goal line carries and 3rd down work. |
| RB41 | Antonio Gibson | We know what kind of open field talent Gibson is but it doesn’t matter if the coaches don’t prioritize it. A handful of targets and carries a game won’t get us what we need. | His preseason usage was favorable. With new OC Eric Bienemy on board, Gibson should get opportunities to make plays in the screen game and in space. A McKinnon role with more carries please. |
| RB42 | Kenneth Gainwell | The 3rd most talented back on the Eagles roster could always end up 3rd in the pecking order. If he plays close to the role he did last year he’s being drafted a few rounds too optimistically. | 3rd most talented is not an indictment of Gainwell as it is a credit to Swift and Penny..and the T word that most important here that we know Gainwell has is trust from the coaching staff. With buzz from camp that he’ll lead this backfield in opportunity, getting 3rd downs and good chunk of red zone work seems to be a good bet. If he can parlay that into a share of the goal line work he can definitely outkick his adp. |
| RB43 | Jerick Mckinnon | TD’s should certainly regress and there were too many games for my liking that his touches were minimal. | With training camp darling Deneric Prince not making the 53 man roster, the Chiefs will run back the same RB group, giving McKinnon the pathway to reprise his 3rd down role. You can grab him in the 14th or 15 round and profit. |
| Tier 8-RB4 | Risk | Reward |
| RB44 | Tyler Allgeier | Last year’s Falcons RB2 role hits different this year when there’s a top 10 pick at RB1. | He gets enough work to be a bye week fill in type with elite handcuff status in one of the leagues best run offenses. |
| RB45 | Jaylen Warren | Work remains mostly of the 3rd down variety and it’s just not enough to give you upside barring an injury. | His effectiveness helps him eat into some of the non 3rd down work. |
| RB46 | Elijah Mitchell | San Fran defense takes a small step back with their questions at edge and corner and new coordinator, causing there to be less clock killing opportunities…where he got plenty of his work. | The Niners become even more mindful of CMC’s workload, pushing Mitchell towards a consistent double digit touch role. His ceiling case parallels with Allgeier and makes the two of them prime targets for me in the double digit rounds. |
| RB47 | Ezekiel Elliott | I think many are assuming he plugs right into a Damien Harris like role but how long will it take him to get up to speed and be effective? | The Patriots are clearly trying to be mindful of Rhamondre’s workload. Because of his pass pro acumen and sound between the tackles running…I think he’ll soon gain fans among the coaching staff and we know how far that goes when it comes to touch distribution. |
| RB48 | Tank Bigsby | The buzz doesn’t match the actual role and the Jaguars keep pushing that pass rate up. | Bigsby hijacks the short yardage and goal line work in an ascending offense. |
| RB49 | Jerome Ford | Does his recent, semi lengthy absence give the Browns pause about his weekly role? | The Browns have shown a good deal of confidence in Ford throughout the process, only adding Pierre Strong super late, a player I’m not sure is viewed as anything more than depth/return option. Maybe Ford doesn’t absorb the Kareem Hunt completely but it could be more than we assume. |
| RB50 | Gus Edwards | How much of a running team is this still? Was Justice Hill’s preseason involvement a sign of things to come? | Ravens backs have long benefited from the gravity of Lamar Jackson in the run game but in this new offense they’ll be able to benefit from lighter boxes. An insanely efficient runner, the Gus Bus could run over a few more Kia’s trying to matchup with the Ravens 11 personnel. |
| Tier 9-RB5 | Risk | Reward |
| RB51 | Tyjae Spears | None | That he’s the greatest runner to have ever lived. |
| RB52 | D’onta Foreman | Foreman has fell behind Khalil Herbert and with Roschon Johnson being a better pass game compliment, we could see Foreman phased out as early as week 1. | Foreman has made the most of his opportunities the last 2 seasons and was signed pretty early in the offseason. If he can fight to keep this a 3 man committee early on maybe his play can do the talking. |
| RB53 | Ty Chandler | Pure handcuff status that never come to fruition. | This preseason play earns him a weekly role. |
| RB54 | Damien Harris | Latavius Murray takes on that RB2 role or he wins out but it’s so small that he’s not useful if he’s not scoring TDs. | When he signed I felt he was the odds on favorite to lead the team in carries. Even with James Cook’s preseason emergence maybe he’s not too far off from that as the bigger more physical presence. |
| RB55 | Devin Singletary | The more real this Dameon Pierce pass game role is, the worse it is for Singletary. Could be totally dependent on injury. | Singletary’s pass pro keeps him involved on 3rd down and he gets a little change of pace work. |
| RB56 | Kyren Williams | Mixes in on 3rd downs but doesn’t take it on completely. | The Rams motivation to involve him last year was for a more defined role than just your average long down and distance work. |
| RB57 | Kendre Miller | With Kamara and Jamaal Williams locked in contractually for 2 seasons, they carry the load in 2023. | Kendre does so much with his 3 game audition that they can’t put that lightning back in the bottle. |
| RB58 | Rico Dowdle | He loses out to Malik Davis for RB2 duties or said duties don’t look anything like the Pollard-Zeke split. | He has a fan in Mike McCarthy…is he enough of a fan to get a nice sized portion of the Zeke role? |
| RB59 | Roschon Johnson | Foreman remains involved and 3rd down role doesn’t materialize until it’s too late and you have to cut him. | He starts off the season as not only the 3rd down back but the change of pace option as well. |
| RB60 | Clyde Edwards Helaire | His full demotion last season was more than just the ankle injury. | CEH isn’t as explosive as Pacheco or McKinnon but can operate in either role. Neither player is so talented that you couldn’t see a scenario where he eats into eithers work. |
| RB61 | Chuba Hubbard | The mixed signals about Miles Sanders workhorse szn lean in the direction of yes. | Until we see Sanders actually take the field, Hubbard is the presumed starter. |
| Tier 10-RB6 | Risk | Reward |
| RB62 | Kareem Hunt | He’s waiting out an injury that never comes. | Probably walks directly into a weekly role of some sort and you’ll get it essentially for free. |
| RB63 | Leonard Fournette | See above. | See above. |
| RB64 | Jeff Wilson | Does he play this year? | The Dolphins have voiced a desire to run the ball more. I don’t know much of that they can do early on now but if the Dolphins stand pat at RB thru his absence, he could come back to a useful role. |
| RB65 | Deon Jackson | Pseudo opportunity when in all actuality he sees a 4 game stretch of committee work in a questionable offense with a vulture at QB. | He separates some from the committee early and JT is eventually traded. |
| RB66 | Evan Hull | See above | Same as above although I feel like Hull has true + pass catching traits. |
| RB67 | Cordarelle Patterson | Kick returns and a handful of touches a week not enough to support anything. | One would expect him to get a couple carries again but if he can carve out a legitimate receiver role, even with just a few targets a game he could be interesting. |
| RB68 | Salvon Ahmed | At risk to Achane come up or a vet like Fournette or Hunt? | Dolphins stay content with what they have and Ahmed is the #2 behind a non workhorse #1. |
| RB69 | Zamir White | The Raiders rides Jacobs again. | He begins to mix in a bit in year 2. |
| RB70 | Trayveon Williams | Chris Evans wins the RB2 job. | Trayveon is the more well rounded back imo. Could see him getting a little more work than Evans if he won the role. |
| RB71 | Matt Breida | Backup to a 3 down workhorse doesn’t leave much upside. | Saquon injury wouldn’t mean a 3 down role I don’t think but could bring enough touches to help in a pinch. |
| RB72 | Latavius Murray | He’s an uninvolved depth piece. | He leap frogs Damien Harris for the big back role. |
| RB73 | Josh Kelley | Could this be a Fournette or Hunt spot? | Kelley operates as the primary backup |
| RB74 | Chris Evans | Unless he’s completely absorbing the complete Perine role, how valuable is he? Color me skeptical. | Sounds like he’s ahead for the 3rd down RB role. Us dynasty players have been teased by potential Chris Evans arrivals before so he’ll likely be free as people will think this is another false alarm. |
| RB75 | Keontay Ingram | Roster clogger whose handful of touches don’t matter. | Conner injury would give us cheapest avenue to touches we could ask for. |
| RB76 | Deuce Vaughn | If everyone is healthy his ceiling is probably a handful of touches a week and he’s not likely to get goal line work even with an injury. | Vaughn starts the season with scarce touches/returns to explosive plays that make it too difficult for them to put him back on the bench. |
| RB77 | Chase Edmond | 3rd down role isn’t enough in a bad offense. | He is a year removed from someone paying him to be a feature back. If he can parlay his 3rd down role into some change of pace work as well we may be working with something. |
| RB78 | Ke’shawn Vaughn | Backup on early downs that doesn’t get a big enough slice of the pie to be worth rostering without an injury. | Vaughn plays a more assignment sound brand of football and starts to eat into Rachaad White’s early down work. |
| RB79 | Jordan Mason | An injury happens in front of him and Kyle Shanahan calls up Alfred Morris | Touches in this run game are as bankable as they come. Eli Mitchell got plenty of clock killing work as the RB2 in San Fran last year. |
| RB80 | Ronald Jones | Dowdle remains the RB2 after RoJo’s suspension | RoJo steps in as the RB2 after his suspension and scoops up some goal line work. |
| RB81 | Myles Gaskin | Depth only piece in Minnesota. | Outside chance to push for the RB2 role. |
| RB82 | Sean Tucker | Roster clog | Parlays training camp 1st team reps into a early season role. From a pure runner perspective…there are much tougher rooms to takeover for early down work. |
| RB83 | CJ Spiller | It continues not to go well. | While Kelley has been better it’s not like he’s set the world on fire the last year or so. |
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