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Given the rate at which injuries strike the running back position, knowing who's next in line for carries is critical for fantasy owners.
Not all backup rushers are created equal. And though the league-winning potential of players like AJ Dillon and Samaje Perine appears obvious, many second-string ball carriers don't get the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.
Here's how we rank the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers and based on their fantasy value:
Co-starter/Overqualified backup
Rk
Backup
Team
1
David Montgomery
DET
2
Dalvin Cook
NYJ
Top-10 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Shares backfield with a more talented back
Will offer RB2 value/flex value while splitting touches
Elite backup options
Rk
Backup
Team
3
Antonio Gibson
WAS
4
AJ Dillon
GB
5
Samaje Perine
DEN
6
Jaylen Warren
PIT
Top-15 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Stuck behind a more talented back
Will offer RB2/flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Chance to carve out significant role
Rk
Backup
Team
8
Zach Charbonnet
SEA
Top-20 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Should offer flex value in complementary role
Outside chance they could emerge as starter in 2023
Proven short-term starters when needed
Rk
Backup
Team
9
Kenneth Gainwell
PHI
10
Jerick McKinnon
KC
11
Jamaal Williams
NO
12
Elijah Mitchell
SF
13
Ezekiel Elliott
NE
Top-25 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Stuck behind a more talented back
Unlikely to offer enough production unless lead back gets injured
Unproven but enticing
Rk
Backup
Team
14
Tyjae Spears
TEN
15
Roschon Johnson
CHI
16
De'Von Achane
MIA
17
Tank Bigsby
JAX
18
Kendre Miller
NO
2023 role yet to be determined
Top-25 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
Workload questions due to crowded backfields
Volume-dependent veterans
Rk
Backup
Team
19
Damien Harris
BUF
20
Tyler Allgeier
ATL
21
Devin Singletary
HOU
22
Rashaad Penny
PHI
Veteran backup
Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
Would need the majority of touches to be a fantasy starter
Underrated second options
Rk
Backup
Team
23
Chuba Hubbard
CAR
24
Ty Chandler
MIN
25
Joshua Kelley
LAC
26
Jerome Ford
CLE
27
Keaontay Ingram
ARI
28
Gus Edwards
BAL
29
Zamir White
LV
30
Rico Dowdle
DAL
31
Kyren Williams
LAR
Top-30 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Behind a RB who the team is more invested in
Can provide flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Unclear situations
Rk
Backup
Team
32
Evan Hull/Zack Moss/Deon Jackson
IND
33
Sean Tucker/Chase Edmonds/Ke'Shawn Vaughn
TB
34
Chris Evans/Trayveon Williams/Chase Brown
CIN
35
Matt Breida/Eric Gray/Gary Brightwell
NYG
Upside if a clear backup emerges and the starter is injured
Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
Players to draft as bench stashes in final rounds
Deep-league stashes
Backup
Team
Jeff Wilson Jr.
MIA
D'Onta Foreman
CHI
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
KC
Cordarrelle Patterson
ATL
Jordan Mason
SF
Justice Hill
BAL
Isaiah Spiller
LAC
Latavius Murray
BUF
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
WAS
Pierre Strong Jr.
CLE
Israel Abanikanda
NYJ
Julius Chestnut
TEN
Emanuel Wilson
GB
Emari Demercado
ARI
Long shots with intriguing upside if injuries hit their backfield
Have the skills to produce over short stretches
Watchlist candidates who could turn into key waiver-wire pickups