Running Back Rankings And Tiers for Fantasy Football: All Systems Go for Bijan Robinson

This offseason, I dedicated countless hours to researching which data points matter for future fantasy performance. I embark upon this journey every offseason, but I have never felt more prepared for an activity like creating rankings and tiers than in 2024.

That doesn't mean I will get everything right. There will be misses. Football is a cruel game played with an elongated sphere that can bounce in the most unpredictable ways. The critical thing to remember is that we are playing a game of probabilities. 

If we can get more things right than wrong, we have a great chance of beating our opponents. I only know how to do that by following the data. 

So far, we have covered WR Tiers and TE Tiers. Today, it is time to tackle RBs.

Tier Methodology

This article will group players into tiers based on the following data criteria.

• Fantasy points: PPR points per game
• Volume profile: Snap, attempt and route shares
• Efficiency: Missed tackles forced and yards after contact
• Age: Rounded up based on Week 1
• Offensive rush quality: offensive quality and commitment to run game
• Competition for opportunities
• Player average draft position (ADP): Underdog

Fantasy points per game, volume and efficiency

Like other positions, historical fantasy points per game are the gold standard for predicting future fantasy production. However, unlike WRs and TEs, just getting on the field is a massive win for RBs. Targets don't always follow routes for receivers, but rushing attempts go hand-in-hand with snaps at the RB position, and previous-season volume is the strongest predictor of future volume.

If you have read my WR and TE Tier articles, you probably noticed that the correlation to future fantasy points at the RB position isn't as strong. Simply stated, predicting RB production is more complex than WRs and TEs. There is a ton of team context with these things, which will be my primary focus in the player write-ups.

Backs returning to the same team experienced greater stability than those changing teams — and we have plenty of them in 2024. Of course, many RBs don't change teams until they are past their prime, which is a factor.

There are efficiency stats that RBs own, but the impact on fantasy is negligible without the volume to go along with it.

Efficiency stats are great tiebreakers for backs with similar volume expectations. However, historical data tells us a couple of essential things to remember.

• Small-sample efficiency doesn't always stick as backs take on larger workloads.
• Prior-season efficiency doesn't correlate strongly with increased next-season utilization.

Coaches have their reasons for how they divide up volume and the data points we currently have don't tell the whole story.

When we put it all together, this is what RB1s, RB2s, etc., have looked like on average over the past three seasons.

Age

As players age, our data's year-over-year correlation decays. By comparing an RB's best three-year stretch (prime production) versus age buckets, we can see when RBs are at their max powers and fall off.

RB age takeaways:

• Ages 22 to 27 are the overall sweet spot.
• Pre-prime: Ages 21 to 22. Age 22 is often a leap year.
• Prime: Ages 23 to 25. The best years for RB production.
• Post-prime: Ages 26 to 27 are similar to age 22. Post-prime comes earlier for RBs.
• Post-prime: Age 28 represents the first year of drastic decline but is still close to age 21.
• Decline: Ages 29 to 32 aren't what they once were, but decline stabilizes.

Offensive rush quality and competition for opportunity (environment)

Team environment is a massive factor for fantasy production at the RB position. Getting 60% of the rushing volume on a high-scoring offense committed to running the ball is much different than 60% on a low-scoring offense forced to pass due to trailing game scripts.

To decipher this portion of our RB profiles, we will use Fantasy Life team rushing projections, which take team and coaching history into account.

Player average draft position (ADP)

Never before have we had such robust market data. Thanks to the explosion of best ball, thousands of real-money drafts have already occurred for 2024. We must leverage this data.

While one of the goals with the tiers is to unearth mispriced players, I want to respect ADP. It represents something much larger and infinitely more intelligent than one person. You should be highly skeptical if you see an analyst (including me) repeatedly pounding the table for a player moving opposite of ADP. 

In "The Logic of Sports Betting," Ed Miller and Matthew Davidow had this to say:

“Market resistance is a massive red flag that you're missing something, and the best thing you can do is stop betting into the resistance and instead try to figure out what you may have gotten wrong.”

Enough methodology talk. Let's talk tiers.

Tier 1 – Prime and efficient every-down backs

Christian McCaffrey averaged 23.3 points per game (PPG) with the 49ers over the last two seasons. Technically, he is entering the post-prime era at age 28, but even if CMC tumbles to 75% of his prime production, he will still be an RB1. The veteran has shown no signs of slowing down, with his average yards after contact (YCO) and missed tackles forced (MTF) reaching career highs of 3.4 and 22% last season. Oh yeah, the 49ers averaged 127, 139 and 141 yards rushing per game since 2021.

Breece Hall saw his rookie campaign cut short by a knee injury that also limited his early-season work in 2023. We have only seen Hall handle at least 50% of the Jets snaps in 16 career games, but when we have, it has been electric.

Last season, once the Jets unleashed Hall in Week 6, he handled 66% of the rushing attempts, notched a 55% route participation and posted an elite 19% target share. 

The Jets added depth to their RB room this offseason with Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, but based on their draft capital (Round 4 and Round 5), we shouldn't expect either to challenge for significant work.

Let's add Aaron Rodgers to this offense and see what happens.

Bijan Robinson fell just shy of the three-year average for a top 12 RB (15.0) with 14.8 PPG as a rookie. However, the former No. 8 NFL Draft selection did it despite being severely hampered by Arthur Smith – who limited him to only 45% of the team's attempts. Inside the five-yard line — where the majority of TDs are scored — things got even worse, with Robinson only procuring the rock 30% of the time.

However, Robinson's high-end receiving profile helped offset those challenges with an 18% target share. Since 2011, only three rookie backs have posted an 18% target share or higher.

• Alvin Kamara
• Christian McCaffrey
• Saquon Barkley

In 2024, former Rams assistant (OC) Zac Robinson will take over play-calling duties under new head coach Raheem Morris. Over the years, Robinson watched Sean McVay feed RB1-worthy talents, which is a great sign. Tyler Allgeier is a proven NFL back, so we shouldn't expect him to go away completely. Yet, we should expect his 38% rush share to come down from last season, with Bijan entering the age-22 leap year.

The Falcons are returning all five starting offensive linemen after ranking as PFF's number-five offensive line overall at the end of 2023. It's all systems go for Robinson in 2024.

Tier 2 – Prime volume hogs and part-time playmakers

This tier has choose your poison vibes. You can go with guys with safer projectable volume, like Taylor and Barkley, or swing for upside with Gibbs and Achane, who have more competition for touches.

Jahmyr Gibbs averaged an impressive 16.3 PPG in his first season, and his numbers weren't inflated due to games missed by Montgomery. From Week 10 through the NFC championship game, when both backs were healthy, Gibbs was equally impressive.

I have Gibbs projected for 14.9 PPG (RB5 overall), with 39% of the rushing attempts and a 12% target share. Many young backs take a significant step forward in Year 2. If Gibbs nudges those numbers to reasonable 50% and 14% marks, he surges to 18.5 PPG (RB2 overall).

Jonathan Taylor delivered 17.6 PPG in the eight games where he reached 50% of snaps or more in 2023. The departure of Zack Moss leaves Taylor as the clear-cut RB1 in a rushing offense that projects for the second-most yards in our model (134 per game). 

The fifth-year back is entering his post-prime era, but his underlying YCO (3.1) and MTF (17%) data remained RB1-worthy last season despite never looking 100%. Anthony Richardson is a threat to steal high-value touches inside the five-yard line, and his scrambling ability could further depress Taylor's already mediocre target-earning profile, keeping Taylor from Tier 1 status.

Saquon Barkley has delivered RB1-worthy numbers in four of five healthy seasons. His YCO and MTF numbers have never been the same since his season-ending knee injury in 2020, but the Eagles' offensive line offers a massive upgrade over the Giants. Philadelphia returns four starters after ranking as PFF's No. 1 unit in 2023 versus No. 30 for New York.

However, what Barkley gains in yardage efficiency, he could easily lose in high-leverage touches. Over the last two seasons, Jalen Hurts led all QBs with 45% and 47% of the Eagles attempts inside the five-yard line. While Barkley faces little competition for backfield touches, his role in the passing attack is also in question for two reasons.

• Hurts is willing to run instead of checking it down, ranking fourth and seventh in scramble rate in two full seasons.
• A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert are vastly better than the receiving options Barkley battled for looks in New York.

Barkley projects well, but I have concerns about his ceiling, which makes him someone I don't expect to draft often.

De'Von Achane took the league by storm last season, averaging 16.3 (PPG). If we remove Weeks 1 and 11, when he only played 8% and 4% of snaps due to injury, his average was 19.6. He doesn't offer the same projectable volume as Barkley and Taylor, but his price is closer to his floor than his ceiling.

Tier 3 – High-end RB1 picks with question marks

Kyren Williams was a league-winning waiver wire addition in 2023, with a whopping 21.4 PPG. The question is whether the former Round 5 pick can hold onto the elite volume that made him a fantasy darling. Since 2011, we have seen six RBs taken after Round 3 in the NFL Draft deliver an RB1-worthy season (15-plus PPG) in Year 1 or 2. The results in their next season haven't been ideal.

• Devonta Freeman: 18% reduction (21.8 to 17.9)
• Jordan Howard: 19% reduction (15.5 to 12.6)
• Alfred Morris: 28% reduction in PPG (16.1 to 11.6)
• James Robinson: 29% reduction (17.9 to 12.7)
• Myles Gaskin: 39% reduction (16.8 to 10.3)
• Andre Ellington: 49% reduction (15.2 to 7.7)

We may have the next Freeman on our hands, but the Rams added Blake Corum in Round 3 of the NFL Draft, leaving the door open for Williams to tumble. It is worth noting that Williams notched a 3.3 YCO and 22% MTF — both RB1 material. There is a world where Williams keeps on trucking, and his draft price looks like a massive value in hindsight.

Williams is a boom-bust selection with an ADP in the middle of Round 2 in ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Derrick Henry tallied only 14 PPG in 2023, his lowest mark since taking over the lead role in 2019. In the four seasons prior, he averaged 20.8. His efficiency didn't decline, aligning with three-year averages.

The biggest reason for Henry's decline was the falloff of the Titans' offense, including an offensive line that ranked 32nd in the NFL. It is hard to imagine King Henry being worse in 2024, with teams worrying about Lamar Jackson. The Ravens were PFF's No. 5 ranked offensive line at the end of last season but are only returning two of five starters.

At age 30, we shouldn't expect a bounce-back to 20-plus PPG, but Gus Edwards scored 13 rushing TDs last season. Henry could top that in an attack where Jackson isn't the same type of factor as Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen inside the five-yard line.

Tier 4 – Prime RB1s with projected volume

Travis Etienne Jr. registered his first RB1 finish (16.4 PPG), but his utilization profile offered 20-point per-game upside. His yards per carry fell from 5.1 to 3.8, but his MTF and YCO numbers remained in RB1 and RB3 territory.

The Jaguars' offensive line ranked 27th in the league, working through trades, injuries and suspensions. Per PFF, nine players registered more than 150 snaps. A healthier group with continuity could go a long way. If the Jaguars offense clicks, the former first-rounder offers a top-six upside and is the most complete option in this tier.

Isiah Pacheco took complete control of the Chiefs backfield starting in Week 9 of last season, averaging a juicy 17.4 PPG. During that stretch, he bogarted 77% of the rushing attempts and posted a 56% route participation, with Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire missing time.

The Chiefs are a pass-first offense, and Pacheco doesn't come with the draft capital (Round 7) that gives us confidence, but the competition is low, with only CEH returning. Essentially, Pacheco is an arbitrage play on Kyren Williams.

Josh Jacobs delivered RB1 (15.3), RB1 (19.4) and RB2 (14.1) PPG finishes over the last three campaigns. Now, he finds himself on an ascending offense in Green Bay. Still, the coaching staff has a long history of rotating their backfield, and Jacobs' efficiency has been a roller coaster over the last three seasons, creating multiple red flags.

• Matt LaFleur hinted this will remain a platoon backfield with two to three guys.
• The Packers drafted Marshawn Lloyd in the third round.
• Jacobs' YCO: 2.8, 3.4, 2.4
• Jacobs' MTF: 26%, 26%, 12%

If Jacobs gets 60% of the work in this backfield and his woes last year were a product of holding out, he will offer value behind an offensive line that ranked 10th last season per PFF and added a first-round guard in Jordan Morgan.

Rachaad White notched his first RB1 finish with 16 PPG in his second season. He has been one of the most inefficient backs in the NFL over his first two seasons, but he enjoyed a massive utilization edge over most in 2023. His 78% snap share was second behind Christian McCaffrey (79%).

The Buccaneers added first-rounder Graham Barton to PFF's 11th-ranked offensive line, but the team also grabbed Bucky Irving in the fourth round. Historically, the hit rates on Round 4 backs aren't great, but Irving is a decisive back who offers the team something different than White's wait-and-jump-cut style of play.

Tier 5 – Prime RB2s without full-time roles

These two players don't project as well as some of their older counterparts below, but their age keeps them ahead in my rankings. Once the NFL season kicks off, all sorts of weird things will happen, and I want to prioritize talented young backs over aging options. However, you can use the tiers interchangeably based on your preference.

James Cook delivered an RB2-worthy 13.9 PPG in Year 2 of his NFL career. He has averaged 5.7 and 4.7 yards per carry and notched yards per route run (YPRR) marks of 1.43 and 1.45. He is the kind of playmaker we want to believe in — especially in a passing attack now missing Stefon Diggs. 

Over the past two seasons, Cook was targeted on 31% of routes without Stefon Diggs — more than any other Bill. Cook frustrated fantasy managers and Bills fans alike with some huge drops, but he remains one of the only backs in the league who can put himself in position to make these sorts of plays.

Josh Allen provides heavy competition near the goalline. In 2023, Cook only handled 21% of the carries inside the five-yard line. The Bills also added Ray Davis in Round 4 of the NFL Draft.

Kenneth Walker notched 13.5 and 13.3 PPG in his first two seasons, putting him squarely in the RB2 conversation. He offers the upside as a rusher to do more damage, but he is rarely used in the passing game. Walker might rank as high as Tier 2 in an alternate universe where the Seahawks didn't draft Zach Charbonnet in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Charbonnet doesn't have the same make-you-miss ability as Walker, but he was the preferred option on passing downs. With a new coaching staff, knowing how these roles will divide is complex, making Charbonnet my preferred choice at cost, but this ranking respects the market on Underdog.

Tier 6 – Aging former RB1s projected to lead their backfields

RB is a young person's game, but we have reached the point in the ranks where we can consider taking older options in the right builds. We don't want to rely on multiple options from this group.

Joe Mixon posted 18.1, 17.1 and 15.6 PPG, steadily declining over the last three campaigns. His efficiency followed a similar pattern.

• 2021: 14% MTF, 3.1 YCO
• 2022: 11%, 2.6
• 2023: 12%, 2.5

The eighth-year veteran isn't what he once was, but the Texans backfield offers little competition. Still, the history of aging RBs changing teams should keep us from getting overly optimistic about his outlook. Consider Mixon an RB2 option with the upside to reach RB1 status if he runs hot in the TD department.

Alvin Kamara delivered 18.1, 14.6 and 17.5 PPG over the last three years. While his efficiency numbers took a massive dip in 2023, his target-earning ability remains elite. The Saints will run a new offense under Klint Kubiak, which could include more snaps from under center for Derek Carr. The Vikings ran the most plays from under center (55%), with Kubiak as the OC in 2021. 

Look for Kamara to remain the top passing-down back on the team, but cede touches on Kendre Miller during the early downs. Kamara is still the favorite to lead the backfield in snaps. Still, he could also shift back into a role similar to early in his career if Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams become the favored options inside the five-yard line.

Aaron Jones is the oldest option with the lowest previous-season fantasy production in the tier. However, his efficiency was on par with RB1 and RB2 producers. In Green Bay, Jones flashed RB1 upside when given the opportunity over the last two years, including the playoffs.

• Games with 50%-plus snaps: 16.6 PPG 
• Games with 60%-plus snaps: 17.8 PPG

I expect the Vikings' offense to take a step back with the loss of Kirk Cousins, but the team should lean more on the run game to help their QBs. Jones has the dual-threat upside we love from our backs, but he will need to fend off father time—the eighth-year vet has missed eight contests over the last three seasons.

James Conner averaged 16.4 points per game, excluding Week 5, when he left early with a knee injury. He has posted RB1-worthy PPG totals in each of the last three seasons. However, he has missed two, four and four games in those seasons. 

The coaching staff has remained vocally steadfast in its commitment to Conner, but their actions in the draft weren't congruent. The Cardinals added Trey Benson in Round 3, representing the most competition Conner has faced in Arizona. If the veteran goes down and Benson shines, he might play a lesser role upon return.

Tier 7 – RB2s behind ascending talents in good offenses

David Montgomery and Raheem Mostert face stiff competition from ascending talents in Gibbs and Achane. While their roles could shrink with their teammates stepping into their prime, both should remain involved. Regression in the TD department is a risk for both, but the Dolphins and Lions project as two of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL. Montgomery and Mostert also offer big-time contingency upside should Gibbs or Achane miss time.

Tier 8 – Lead RB2s in shaky offenses

Rhamondre Stevenson regressed in multiple aspects of his game from 2022 to 2023.

• PPG: 14.8 to 12.3
• TPRR: 26% to 19%
• YCO: 3.8 to 2.8

Still, the Patriots gave him a new contract, and Stevenson should easily lead the team in early-down work again in 2024. The question is how much Antonio Gibson's arrival impacts passing-down snaps. Stevenson is a low-end RB2 with a chance to improve his status if he retains the two-minute offense.

Zamir White took over the starting role for the season's final four games, averaging 15.5 PPG.

With Josh Jacobs gone to the Packers, White's only job is to fend off Alexander Mattison for touches. While White isn't an electrifying playmaker, that doesn't feel like an unreasonable task.

Tier 9 – Sky-high upside RB3s

Jonathon Brooks was hands-down the best RB prospect in the 2024 draft class. Historically, RBs that scored in his range of the Super Model have faired exceptionally well in their first two seasons.

• Top 12 finishes: 48%
• Top 24 finishes: 71%

Brooks is coming off a late-season ACL, so the Panthers could slowly bring him along. However, Brooks should ascend the depth chart quickly once he is ready. Carolina beefed up the interior of its offensive line this offseason with the additions of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, creating the potential for a surprise improvement in its rushing attack in 2024.

Build your roster accordingly to account for a slow start, but Brooks could be an essential ingredient for championship runs in December.

Jaylen Warren almost reached RB2-scoring territory despite a limited role in 2023. He is a high-end pass-catching option out of the backfield and a more dynamic runner than Najee Harris. Arthur Smith is a complete wild card, but if Warren somehow finds himself in the lead role, he could break fantasy football. He is one of my most drafted backs in 2024.

Tier 10 – Prime or near-prime lead committee RB3s

Najee Harris registered 17.7 PPG in his rookie season, but his scoring has been downhill since then, with 13.4 and 11.6 PPG campaigns. Warren has taken over much of the passing down work, a key component of Harris' rookie campaign. Still, the Steelers should be one of the top rushing teams, with Arthur Smith taking over as the playcaller.

D'Andre Swift has never lived up to the hype, but he has flashed every-down potential in the past, and the Bears depth chart is wide open. Earning targets could be tough in an offense boasting D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, but those names could also unlock scoring upside.

Zack Moss did the most with his touches last season, averaging 17.2 PPG in contests where he was the clear-cut No. 1 option. Moss isn't a flashy back, but he is the early favorite to lead the Bengals in touches, with Chase Brown vying for a rotational role.

Tony Pollard got the utilization fantasy managers hoped for, but his 13.1 PPG was a major letdown. There is a chance that Pollard's tightrope ankle surgery in the 2023 offseason was a major contributing factor, which could make him a value. However, he must battle Tyjae Spears to hold the No. 1 role.

Brian Robinson Jr. dominated the rushing attempts but gave way on passing downs, a trend that should continue with the arrival of Austin Ekeler. Still, Kliff Kingsbury has shown a willingness to ride one back, so there is a chance Robinson will push for a full-time role if Ekeler struggles. With former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach, we could also see a run-focuses offense with Jayden Daniels creating havoc on read-option looks.

Javonte Williams had a terrible season coming off of a 2022 season-ending ACL/LCL knee injury. However, he will only be 24 this season and Williams. That feels young to write off an RB that posted a 31% MTF and 3.4 YCO in 2021. In a Sean Payton offense, committees are often the norm, but Williams should lead this group if his knee rebounds. This is a situation we will have to monitor this preseason.

Devin Singletary is the poster boy for volume remaining king at RB. Last season, he took over the starting role in Week 9 for the Texans and parlayed it into 13.6 PPG. The Giants offense is less potent than what we saw in Houston, but Singletary has the chance to lead another backfield in touches.

Tier 11 – High-end RB4 handcuffs and rotational backs

Many of the names I will cover the rest of the way are rookies or have small sample sizes, so I won't include the tables. However, you can find the data for non-rookies in our Advanced RB Stats table and for the rookies, you can check out the RB Super Model.

• Tyjae Spears: Spears was an electric rookie, boasting 26% MTF and 3.2 YCO marks. He was also handy in the passing game, with a 14% target share. Pollard and Spears offer interchangeable skills, and the Titans want to pass the ball more in 2024, opening the door for more of a 1A/1B scenario.
• Blake Corum: The Rams selected Corum in Round 3 of the draft, and he will try to carve out a role behind Williams. If Williams goes down, Corum will offer immediate RB1 upside.
• Trey Benson: Benson was the No. 2 RB in the Rookie Super Model, and Conner has a lengthy injury history. If Benson gets on the field, the Conner could struggle to regain his job. Additionally, if the Cardinals aren't winning, we could see the coaching staff opt to see what they have in Benson.
• Zach Charbonnet: Charbonnet isn't the favorite to lead this backfield in touches but has an every-down skillset and a new coaching staff, which gives him a chance. The ADP gap between Charbonnet and Walker is too wide, making Charbonnet one of my favorite picks.

Tier 12 – Aging committee RB4s

• Ezekiel Elliott: Elliott isn't the back he once was, but he has a chance to lead a prolific offense in rushing attempts. He averaged 16.6 PPG in five games without Stevenson last year for the Patriots.
• Gus Edwards: The Chargers are going to run the ball with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman now calling the shots. While Edwards might not be able to handle all that work, even 40 to 50% could lead to significant volume.
• Austin Ekeler: Ekeler will be 29 this season, but pass-catching RBs have a way of aging with more grace. The real question is if Ekeler's injuries were at the root of his dramatic dropoff last season or if Father Time is already at the doorstep. Ekeler is an excellent complement to Robinson as the passing-down option, and if Robinson falters, Ekeler offers contingent upside.
• Nick Chubb: The injury news on Chubb continues to trend in a positive direction, making him an RB whom I am now willing to target in the later rounds. However, we should keep our early-season expectations in check. Consider him more of a long-term play to provide RB2 upside by midseason.

Tier 13 – Various RB4 & RB5 options

Group A: Chance to challenge for the starting role

• Chase Brown: He hasn't shown much yet but offers more pure speed than Moss, who looked like a replacement level back until last year.
• Rico Dowdle: Elliott has been inefficient and leads all active backs with 2,421 career touches. The coaching staff has said this will be a committee.
• Kendre Miller: Alvin Kamara is 29, and his rushing efficiency has slipped. Kubiak and his under-center run offense could unlock the Saints' 2023 Round 3 pick. 

Group B: Chance to carve out significant touches and offer contingent upside

• MarShawn Lloyd: LaFleur loves to rotate backs and Jacobs was inefficient last year.
• Jerome Ford: A Chubb setback would catapult Ford up the ranks. He also offers early-season potential while Chubb works his way back.
• Ray Davis: The Bills have yet to trust Cook with a full workload.
• Ty Chandler: Aaron Jones will be 30 this season.
• Kimani Vidal: Gus Edwards is 29, and J.K. Dobbins is recovering from an Achilles.

Group C: Handcuffs

• Tyler Allgeier: Allgeier has already proven he can post RB1-worthy numbers when given the full-time role. If something happened to Robinson, Allgeier would immediately challenge for a top-12 rank.
• Jaylen Wright: Wright might need two injuries to land in a role like Allgeier, but if either Mostert or Achane were to miss time, he could step into one of the more prolific part-time roles in the league. Wright has speed to burn.

Group D: Passing-down roles with contingent upside?

• Antonio Gibson
• Jaleel McLaughlin

Tier 14 – RB5 and RB6 options for deep leagues

Many of these names have similarities to Tier 13, but their ADP is lower on Underdog.

• Bucky Irving: White has been inefficient. He might belong in 12B.
• Chuba Hubbard: Early-season help while Brooks recovers from ACL.
• Khalil Herbert: Could force a time-share with Swift.
• Braelon Allen: Top backup to Breece Hall.
• Tyrone Tracy Jr.: Explosive weapon that could complement Singletary.
• Elijah Mitchell: New challengers but still the favorite for the No. 2 role behind CMC.
• Audric Estime: Likely the early-down option if Williams struggles again.
• Dameon Pierce: There is little competition for the RB2 role, and Mixon is aging.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Not much else on the depth chart if Pacheco goes down.
• J.K. Dobbins: Need to monitor Achilles recovery, but run-heavy Chargers need bodies.
• Roschon Johnson: Could work on passing downs.
• Tank Bigsby: Terrible rookie season, but could be the No. 2 to Etienne.