Welcome to the NFL Playoffs!

With the fantasy season behind us, hopefully you can sit back and enjoy watching the games just as a fan. As we head into the playoffs, dynasty managers should be on the lookout for potential movement in market value. Here are four players I would be looking to acquire (for the right price) as we head into the fantasy offseason.

The running back position has become a bit of an enigma for fantasy managers over the years, especially as teams have adapted to implementing more than one player at the position. Gone are the days of the “workhorse” running back. While it’s been fun for managers who rode with Derrick Henry over the years, he seems to be the last of a dying breed.

A growing trend in dynasty circles concerning RBs is their relatively short shelf-life. We know it’s a punishing position to play and a variety of methods for constructing your roster have appeared as a result: Zero RB, Hero RB, Robust RB, etc.

Regardless of your approach, the general premise is the same: RBs tend to have their highest value relatively early in their career, during their rookie contract. It continues to be a tough market for RBs who are seeking a second (or third) contract as the position is relatively “replaceable” for lack of a better term.

RBs don’t matter…or do they?

One way I’ve tried to zig while the general masses zag is by buying back veteran RBs in dynasty. There’s usually a general profile of player I’m looking for:

  • Good offense
  • History of production
  • Pass-catching upside
  • On a second contract

These players don’t have to be purely pass-catching specialists. In fact, I don’t want them to be.

I want older players on good offense who can offer me, as a dynasty manager, a one or two-year window of productivity (usually somewhere in their age 27-30 seasons).

It can be a fun, relatively inexpensive, way to get solid production at the position without breaking the bank on high-end rookies / younger players. For dynasty managers, here are a handful of aging RBs who you can land this offseason for less than market value.

Aaron Jones, RB - Packers

Veteran Aaron Jones just turned 29 years old and, for the first time in his career, he posted three consecutive 100+ rushing yard games. The Green Bay Packers are back in the playoffs after defeating the Bears in a “win and in” Week 18 matchup and Jones certainly did his part to make that happen.

The scriptwriters made it tough on Jones this season.

He opened the season against Chicago with a bang when he turned 11 touches into 127 yards and two TDs. However, hamstring and knee injuries plagued much of the middle part of his season. In the end, he was able to return to form when the team needed him most.

So what does this mean for dynasty managers moving forward?

Jones will play essentially all of next season at 29 years old. This was the first season since 2018 where he did not appear in at least 14 games so the years may be catching up with him. Still, it’s important to recognize his role with this team and what it could look like next season.

Jones has one year remaining on his contract and he’s made it clear he wants to be in Green Bay. That’s excellent news for fantasy managers. As Jordan Love put the league on notice this season by carrying the youngest offense in football into the postseason, the steady presence of an experienced veteran like Jones cannot be overstated.

Over the final three weeks of the season, Jones averaged:

  • 21 rushing attempts
  • 119 rushing yards
  • 15.9 PPG

<a target=

Certainly the presence of AJ Dillon caps Jones’ upside a bit but as we’ve seen over the last few weeks, when given the chance to assume lead-back duties, Jones is more than capable of handling 20+ carries and 25+ opportunities on one of the league's most exciting, young offenses.

Jones currently carries a dynasty ADP of RB40. Keep an eye on that mark throughout the postseason and beyond and don’t be afraid to send a late future-2nd-round pick (or something in that range) to land Jones on a competing dynasty roster.

You can also target Jones in the short term on Underdog Fantasy this weekend, where you can get a 100% deposit match of up to $100 when you sign up below with promo code LIFE!

Joe Mixon, RB - Bengals

Similar to Jones, Joe Mixon fits the profile of a veteran back I want to target this offseason. He’s a year younger than Jones and will play next season at 28-years old.

With Joe Burrow healthy, we know this offense is solid. Mixon has been productive, having finished as a Top-13 RB in five of the last six seasons. He also has a significant involvement in the passing game as shown by his average of 62+ targets over the last three years.

After Burrow (wrist) went down for the season, Mixon stepped up in a big way. Over his final six games, he averaged:

  • 19 total touches
  • 93 total yards
  • 7 total TDs

<a target=

Despite getting up there in career touches and age, he’s proven that he can shoulder the offensive load in the ground game while also serving as the primary pass-catching option out of the backfield.

Mixon has a year remaining on his contract and this is going to be an interesting offseason for the Bengals. The future of Tee Higgins remains up in the air while Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase appear locked in as the cornerstone pieces of the franchise. Mixon has demonstrated more than enough to warrant consideration on your competing dynasty teams.

Mixon is currently the dynasty RB29. He’s certainly a bit pricer than Jones and being a full year younger doesn’t hurt. RB years almost have to be measured in dog years. If you can get younger at the position, every year matters that much more.

James Conner, RB - Cardinals

Everyone loves a feel-good story and a player to root for. If you don’t know the challenges James Conner has overcome in his life, make sure to check them out.

The best part about Conner is he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon. He just set a new career-high mark in rushing yards (1,040) and yards per carry (5.0) in his seventh season in the league.

Despite the Cardinals’ struggles this season, Conner, for the most part, has been a mainstay and a key component of their offense.

James Conner

Jan 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) stiff arms Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After a promising start to the season that saw him score twice through Week 3, a knee injury landed him on injured reserve from Weeks 6-9. He slowly worked himself back onto the field and finished with incredibly strong averages over his final five games:

  • 21 rushing attempts
  • 103 rushing yards
  • 7 total TDs
  • 23.8 PPG

<a target=

Conner will play next season at 29-years old but appears ready to take on Father Time. Are his best years still ahead of him? If that’s the case, dynasty managers should take notice.

Conner carries a dynasty ADP of RB31. He falls right in line with a few of the other RBs in this section as their recent production and age are similar. Dynasty managers covet the shiny new toys and the “what ifs” of unproven draft picks. Use that to your advantage, scoop up Conner this offseason, and enjoy what should be another strong year in 2024.

Austin Ekeler, RB - Chargers

I recently wrote about Austin Ekeler in my quarterly Dynasty Stock Watch and noted that Father Time, and lack of fantasy production, was starting to quickly erode his fantasy value. This one hurts me a bit more because he’s been so open and supportive of the fantasy community over the years and appreciated the impact it has.

After consecutive top-2 RB finishes in 2021 & 2022, the fantasy-loving veteran came crashing down to earth this season. His 26-point outburst in Week 1 seems like a distant memory after he went on to miss Weeks 2-5 with an injury.

While he had a brief resurgence from Weeks 8-10 where he averaged north of 21 points per game, his most recent stretch of games has left much to be desired. From Weeks 11-18, he finished higher than RB20 just once.
 

<a target=

While all good things must come to an end, I believe we could see a soft bounce-back from Ekeler next season. He’ll be 29 years old and is likely heading to a new team.

In what has been a down year for Ekeler, the new GM/HC regime could seek to overhaul the roster around Justin Herbert as Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Ekeler are all aging.

Despite the downward trend of his ADP (dynasty RB32), this might be a situation where I buy the dip. Assuming Ekeler doesn’t return to Los Angeles, he’s going to sign with a team that he thinks can best utilize his skill set. He’s proven to be one of the most efficient pass-catchers at the position and has a nose for the end zone.

If the dynasty manager in your league is looking to cash out on Ekeler, see what the asking price is. He could be a post-hype sleeper who can provide a one/two-year window of RB2/Flex production for competing dynasty teams.

Dynasty Breakout Watch