Fantasy Football RB 2024: NFL Running Back Room Team-By-Team Breakdowns
Believe it or not, NFL teams don’t care about fantasy points. They care about three things: first downs, touchdowns and wins. That’s pretty much it. Sure, there are lots of nuances to the game. But offense is about first downs and touchdowns. Defense is about preventing those (or at least forcing you to kick a field goal). That’s how you win the game – not by racking up PPR points in fantasy football.
And that’s why we approach our process the way we do. When it comes to winning games, there are different roles a running back plays. And there are different moments in which they play them.
Fantasy Football RB 2024 Bell Cows & RBBC
For fantasy football purposes, not every moment is created equally either. Obviously, a goal-line carry is a much more high-leverage situation than a first down run to eat up clock in the fourth quarter. So, we do our best to identify those different roles and situations, to help figure out who will get those high-leverage touches for fantasy football.
Which is why we created this Running Back Questionnaire. We look at the five different roles a back might have in an NFL game. That helps us figure out who is dependable or not from week-to-week in fantasy. It also helps us know who the backup is – which is crucial information for the most injury-prone position in football. Here are the different roles.
2024 Fantasy RB Roles: First Down
This is your “starting running back”. That doesn’t mean they are the running back that gets all the high-leverage touches. But they are at the top of the depth chart and the most likely candidates to be sent out to start the drive on first and 10.
It’s an important distinction for this fact alone: the running back who “started” the most games led their team in carries for 30 of the 32 games. The two exceptions were Aaron Jones and Rhamondre Stevenson, both of whom got hurt. There are a limited number of plays in any given game, so getting first crack is always going to give you an advantage in that department.
2024 Fantasy RB Roles: Pass Down
The typical “pass down” is third down, but you’ve also got second and long or fourth down situations as well. This back usually specializes in pass blocking, route running or both. A guy like Christian McCaffrey is the best player in all phases, especially pass downs, so that’s an easy one to sort. With other teams, like the Lions, they bring in a specialist in Jahmyr Gibbs for those downs (including playoffs, Gibbs played 434 pass plays to 283 for David Montgomery).
We’ve known for years thanks to work done by analyst Scott Barrett that a target is more valuable than a carry in fantasy football. Not a reception – a target. And that goes for standard leagues as well. But obviously, it carries the most weight in full PPR. The hope is that these backs can take over the full role at some point like Austin Ekeler and Alvin Kamara did. But you can utilize these guys in PPR in a pinch.
2024 Fantasy RB Roles: Short Yardage/Goal Line
This is where the big money can be made. We’ve seen guys like Raheem Mostert, LeGarrette Blount and Jamaal Williams score 17+ touchdowns even in a limited role – in the right offenses. You have to ask yourself this question: if there is a pass interference in the end zone and the offense can send any player down to punch it in, who is that going to be?
In the era of the mobile quarterback and the “Tush Push”, that question isn’t as simple as it once was. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts both scored 15 rushing touchdowns last season. The starting running back for the Bills, James Cook, scored 2. So, you have to be wary about who is going to get those looks down in the red area.
2024 Fantasy RB Roles: Two Minute Drill
We separate this from “pass downs” because it’s a different beast entirely. In the two-minute drill, there is no time for substitutions. You need to know all the audibles. And you especially need to know all the pass-blocking schemes as a sack, in many cases, ends the game. Having this role can mean free receptions at the end of the first half or the end of the game.
Due to the nature of the job, it’s often given to a veteran player (or simply the best back on the team). But some crafty rookies have been able to prove their worth and weasel their way into this role. If you expect a team to be playing from behind often, this can be a valuable spot.
2024 Fantasy RB Roles: Late Lead
Eating clock and running the ball when everyone knows you are going to run it is crucial to winning games (ask the 2022 Chargers when they gave up a 16-point lead to the Jaguars in the playoffs). And at times, it really depends how close of a game it is as to whether a team uses their starting back or a backup. But some teams don’t differentiate.
For instance, the Cleveland Browns last year used Jerome Ford as their starting running back. Oddly, they had a tendency to switch over to “fresh legs” and use Kareem Hunt to close out games. This type of decision can mean the difference in upside for a guy like Ford (or relevancy for a guy like Hunt). It’s also interesting to keep in mind for NFL DFS – if you think the game will be a blowout, a backup running back could be well worth the price.
Fantasy Football RB 2024 Role Chart
Without further ado, here is the chart. We’ll do our best to update this with training camp news and additional notes as the summer rolls on. But alas, here’s the first look at our Running Back Questionnaire!
*LAST UPDATED: 10/30/24
Key | 3 Down | Run Down Specialist | Pass Down Specialist | Uncertain |
Injury Benefit | ||||||||
1st Down | Pass Down | Short/Goal Line | 2 Minute Drill | Late Lead | Run Down | Pass Down | NOTES | |
Cardinals | James Conner | James Conner | James Conner | James Connor | Emari Demercado/Trey Benson | Trey Benson | Emari Demercado | |
Falcons | Bijan Robinson | Bijan Robinson | Bijan Robinson | Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Tyler Allgeier | Jase McClennan | |
Ravens | Derrick Henry | Justice Hill | Derrick Henry | Derrick Henry | Derrick Henry | Justice Hill | Justice Hill | Henry is a beast. Keaton Mitchell's practice window was opened over the past week but he was not active for Week 8. |
Bills | James Cook | James Cook | James Cook | James Cook | Ray Davis | Ray Davis | Ty Johnson | Cook was the lead back in Week 8 |
Panthers | Chuba Hubbard | Chuba Hubbard | Chuba Hubbard | Chuba Hubbard | Miles Sanders | Miles Sanders | Raheem Blackshear | Jonathon Brooks has been practicing in full this week. |
Bears | D'Andre Swift | Roschon Johnson | D'Andre Swift | D'Andre Swift | Roschon Johnson | Khalil Herbert | Roschon Johnson | Swift has had several productive weeks. Clearly the lead back with Johnson as his handcuff. Travis Homer activated from the IR but didn't play a snap. |
Bengals | Chase Brown | Zack Moss | Chase Brown | Zack Moss | Chase Brown | Trayveon Williams | Trayveon Williams | Brown continued to work as the early down back in Week 8 with Moss playing most of the passing downs. |
Browns | Nick Chubb | Nick Chubb/Pierre Strong Jr. | Nick Chubb | Nick Chubb | Pierre Strong Jr. | D'Onta Foreman | Pierre Strong Jr. | Nick Chubb workload increased in Week 8. Ford was out due to a hamstring injury. Strong Jr. also was active in passing downs. |
Cowboys | Rico Dowdle | Ezekiell Elliott/Rico Dowdle | Rico Dowdle | Ezekiell Elliott/Rico Dowdle | Dalvin Cook | Dalvin Cook | Deuce Vaughn | Dowdle was out in Week 8 due to an illness. Elliott led the backfield with a little Dalvin Cook sprinkled in. Dowdle will almost certainly be active in Week 9. |
Broncos | Javonte Williams | Javonte Williams | Javonte Williams | Javonte Williams | Audric Estime/Jaleel McLaughlin | Jaleel McLaughlin | Jaleel McLaughlin | Williams continues to be the Broncos' lead back |
Lions | David Montgomery | Jamhyr Gibbs | David Montgomery | Jamhyr Gibbs | Craig Reynolds | Craig Reynolds | Craig Reynolds | Backfield continues to be close to a 50/50 split on a weekly basis. Montgomery and Gibbs are both fantasy viable just about every week. |
Packers | Josh Jacobs | Josh Jacobs | Josh Jacobs | Josh Jacobs | Emanuel Wilson/Chris Brooks | Chris Brooks/MarShawn Lloyd | Emanuel Wilson | Lloyd was inactive. Chris Brooks played his highest number of snaps of the season. |
Texans | Joe Mixon | Joe Mixon/Dare Ogunbawale | Joe Mixon | Joe Mixon | Dameon Pierce | Dameon Pierce | Dare Ogunbawale | Mixon snap count back to pre-injury levels. Ogunbawale still played on passing downs but Mixon led Texans RBs in catches. |
Colts | Jonathan Taylor | Jonathan Taylor | Jonathan Taylor | Jonathan Taylor | Trey Sermon/Tyler Goodson | Trey Sermon | Tyler Goodson | Taylor returned to action in Week 8 and is a bell cow back. |
Jaguars | Travis Etienne/Tank Bigsby | Travis Etienne/D'Ernest Johnson | Travis Etienne/Tank Bigsby | Travis Etienne | Tank Bigsby/D'Ernest Johnson | Tank Bigsby | D'Ernest Johnson | Etienne missed his second straight game due to a hamstring injury. Bigsby was the early down back and he and Johnson split snaps on passing downs. |
Chiefs | Kareem Hunt | Kareem Hunt/Samaje Perine | Kareem Hunt | Kareem Hunt | Carson Steele | Keaontay Ingram | Samaje Perine | Hunt has been the lead back for the Chiefs. Clyde Edwards Helaire was a healthy scratch in Week 8 |
Chargers | JK Dobbins | JK Dobbins | JK Dobbins | JK Dobbins | Kimani Vidal | Kimani Vidal | Hassan Haskins | Dobbins clear cut primary back. Gus Edwards on the IR, Vidal the handcuff. |
Rams | Kyren Williams | Kyren Williams | Kyren Williams | Kyren Williams | Blake Corum | Blake Corum | Ronnie Rivers | |
Raiders | Alexander Mattison | Alexander Mattison/Ameer Abdullah | Alexander Mattison | Alexander Mattsion/Ameer Abdullah | Ameer Abdullah | Alexander Mattison | Ameer Abdullah | Mattison looks like he's emerged as the lead back at this point but he's not providing much fantasy production. |
Dolphins | De'Von Achane/Raheem Mostert | De'Von Achane | Raheem Mostert | De'Von Achane | Jaylen Wright | Jeff Wilson Jr. | Jaylen Wright | Achane and Mostert split carries. Achane had six catches compared to one for Mostert. played majority of snaps but carries were split: Achane: 15, Mostert: 11, Wright:5, Achane and Mostert both startable. Wright has made the most of his limited play. Role could expand by season's end. Wilson Jr. healthy scratch in Wk 7 |
Vikings | Aaron Jones | Aaron Jones | Aaron Jones | Aaron Jones | Ty Chandler | Ty Chandler | Cam Akers | Jones solidly in the primary back role, no residual affects from his previous injuries. |
Patriots | Rhamondre Stevenson | Rhamondre Stevenson | Rhamondre Stevenson | Rhamondre Stevenson | Antonio Gibson | Jamycal Hasty | Antonio Gibson | Stevenson 55 snaps, Gibson 12 snaps in Week 8. |
Saints | Alvin Kamara | Alvin Kamara | Alvin Kamara | Alvin Kamara | Jamaal Williams | Kendre Miller | Kendre Miller | Kendre Miller left the game in Week 8 due to a hamstring injury |
Giants | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | Tyrone Tracy Jr./Devin Singletary | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | Tyron Tracy Jr. | Devin Singletary | Eric Gray | Tyron Tracy Jr. | Tracy Jr. is in concussion protocol. He dominated snaps played in Week 8 and had 20 carries compared to two for Singletary. |
Jets | Breece Hall | Breece Hall | Breece Hall | Breece Hall | Braelon Allen | Braelon Allen | Braelon Allen/Israel Abanikanda | Allen, Hall's handcuff, had 12 carries, his most since Week 3. |
Eagles | Saquon Barkley | Saquon Barkley | Saquon Barkley | Saquon Barkley | Kenneth Gainwell | Will Shipley | Kenneth Gainwell | The NY Giants sure do miss Barkley |
Steelers | Najee Harris | Jaylen Warren | Najee Harris | Jaylen Warren | Jaylen Warren | Jonathan Ward | Cordarrelle Patterson | Patterson (ankle) was out again in Week 8. Steelers cut Aaron Shampklin and added Jonathan Ward to their roster. |
49ers | Christian McCaffrey | Christian McCaffrey | Christian McCaffrey | Christian McCaffrey | Jordan Mason/Isaac Guerendo | Jordan Mason | Isaac Guerendo | CMC is expected to be activated for Week 10. 49ers have Week 9 bye. Jordan Mason missed most of Week 8's game due to a shoulder injury. |
Seahawks | Kenny Walker III | Kenny Walker III | Kenny Walker III | Zach Charbonnet | Zach Charbonnet | Zach Charbonnett | Kenny McIntosh | |
Buccaneers | Rashaad White/Bucky Irving | Rashaad White | Rashaad White/Bucky Irving | Rashaad White | Bucky Irving | Bucky Irving | Sean Tucker | Backfield went from being a three headed monster to a two headed monster. Irving split carries and White playing on third downs. |
Titans | Tony Pollard | Tyjae Spears | Tony Pollard | Tyjae Spears | Tyjae Spears | Julius Chestnut | Tyjae Spears | Spears left Week 6 game due to a hamstring injury and missed Week 7 & 8. Julius Chestnut has been Pollard's handcuff with Spears out. |
Commanders | Brian Robinson Jr. | Austin Ekeler | Brian Robinson Jr. | Brian Robinson Jr. | Jeremy McNichols | Austin Ekeler | Jeremy McNichols | Robinson was fully healthy in Week 8, taking the early down work with Ekeler playing on passing downs. |
2024 Fantasy Football: Related Draft Guide Articles
Dive deeper into your fantasy football journey with our other exclusive draft guide articles, packed with additional insights and guidance for the upcoming 2024 season:
- Fantasy Football RB Rankings
- NFL Offensive Line Rankings
- Dynasty Fantasy Football
- Fantasy Football Cheat Sheat