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 a player like Zach Charbonnet 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 | Raheem Mostert | MIA |
- 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
High-end backup options
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
3 | Tyjae Spears | TEN |
4 | Jaylen Warren | PIT |
5 | Blake Corum | LAR |
6 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA |
7 | Trey Benson | ARI |
8 | Zack Moss | CIN |
9 | Austin Ekeler | WAS |
10 | Ty Chandler | MIN |
- Top-20 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
- Talent level is comparable to the current lead-back
- Will offer RB2/flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Early-season injury replacement
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
11 | Jerome Ford | CLE |
- Top-25 fantasy upside while the starter is sidelined
- Unclear when starter will be healthy
- Will offer flex production when lead back returns
Proven short-term starters when needed
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
12 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR |
13 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL |
- 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 | MarShawn Lloyd | GB |
15 | Ray Davis | BUF |
16 | Jaylen Wright | MIA |
17 | Braelon Allen | NYJ |
18 | Bucky Irving | TB |
19 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG |
20 | Kendre Miller | NO |
- 2024 role yet to be determined
- Top-25 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
- Unlikely to offer enough production unless lead back gets injured
Explosive complementary backs
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
21 | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN |
- Will offer flex value in a complementary role
- Top-30 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
- Workload questions due to their profile
Volume-dependent veterans
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
22 | J.K. Dobbins | LAC |
23 | Jordan Mason | SF |
24 | Roschon Johnson | CHI |
25 | Khalil Herbert | CHI |
26 | Rico Dowdle | DAL |
27 | Samaje Perine | KC |
28 | Tank Bigsby | JAX |
29 | Dameon Pierce | HOU |
30 | Dalvin Cook | DAL |
31 | Miles Sanders | CAR |
32 | Alexander Mattison | MIN |
33 | Jamaal Williams | NO |
34 | D'Onta Foreman | CLE |
35 | Trey Sermon | IND |
36 | Cam Akers | HOU |
37 | Justice Hill | BAL |
- Veteran backup
- Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
- Would need the majority of touches to be a fantasy starter
Upside late-round rookies
Rk | Backup | Team |
---|---|---|
38 | Kimani Vidal | LAC |
39 | Will Shipley | PHI |
40 | Audric Estime | DEN |
41 | Isaac Guerendo | SF |
42 | Dylan Laube | LV |
- Will likely require an injury to starter to have value
- Top-30 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
- Still has a lot to prove due to Day 3 draft capital
Deep-league stashes
Backup | Team |
---|---|
Carson Steele | KC |
Kenneth Gainwell | PHI |
Emanuel Wilson | GB |
Eric Gray | NYG |
Sione Vaki | DET |
- 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
Free agents who could still be a factor
Backup |
---|
Jerick McKinnon |
Kareem Hunt |
Michael Carter |
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