The margin for error when determining which running backs to invest within the dynasty format is microscopic, often responsible for the derailment of seasons and the parting with of assets willfully given away for fool’s gold. The career of an NFL running back is often very brief. Their prime is, no doubt, even smaller. This is why it’s critical for dynasty managers to identify ascendant talents at the running back position who could be in line for increased workloads or whose talents make them acutely effective in the offense they currently inhabit.
Buying stock in these players, either by way of utilizing FAAB or engaging in low-cost, low-risk trades, can accelerate a rebuilding team’s timeframe or turn a bubble dynasty team into a championship contender. Let’s take a deep dive into the trio set to sure up your running back room for the foreseeable future.
Three Running Backs to Buy in Dynasty
Roschon Johnson (Chicago Bears)
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After a mostly uneventful rookie season in the Windy City, the University of Texas’ own, Roschon Johnson, should see an expanded role in a vastly reworked Chicago Bears offense. After the acquisition of De’Andre Swift this offseason, the large majority of Johnson shareholders were left chagrined to see competition at the position walk into the Bears’ locker room. However, the dynasty fantasy community has a distinct tendency to overreact and may have missed the fact that Swift himself hasn’t been the most healthy or consistent fantasy option, despite having a bit of a renaissance in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Additionally, Swift will be walking into a foreign situation in Chicago, while Johnson will have the advantage of consistency entering his second season at Soldier Field. The coaching staff who scouted and drafted Johnson in 2023 are still mostly intact and they have not forgotten the flash and potential he showed at Texas, despite being behind the all-world talent of Bijan Robinson. Another factor to consider, is just how often the Bears opted to run in 2023. This increased the number of stacked boxes the running backs faced and likely affected how often the defense anticipated the ground game.
With Caleb Williams and a slew of new weapons in tow in the passing game, defenses could tip their hand against Chicago and aim to disrupt the passing game, opening up running lanes for the foreseeable future for Johnson. The cherry on top comes in the form of the second-year back’s asking price which, according to KeepTradeCut, is comparable to a 2024 Early 3rd Round draft pick. A sneaky trade or stash for the former Longhorn could pay dividends.
Jaleel McLaughlin (Denver Broncos)
One of the quiet, smoldering stories of fantasy football in 2023 was the eye-opening explosivity of then rookie running back, Jaleel McLaughlin. The Youngstown State product carried the rock a modest 76 times in 2023, but it’s what he did with those carries that was so eye-opening. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry within an offense that mostly sputtered through the majority of the season. On average (5.4 YPR), he far exceeded the rushing output generated by his teammates Javonte Williams (3.6 YPR) and Samaje Perine (4.5 YPR). Conversely, he can be acquired at much more of a bargain than the incumbent RB1 in Denver’s offense, as McLaughlin is RB47 on KeepTradeCut in half-PPR/Superflex formats.
Not enough has been said about McLaughlin’s upside in PPR leagues as Sean Payton’s offenses have historically peppered the running back position with targets while Denver led the NFL in that very same metric in 2023. While Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine will no doubt benefit from this as well, their long-term viability in Denver’s offense is very much in doubt, with Williams still trying to find his pre-injury form and Perine fast approaching the production cliff of 30 years of age for NFL ball carriers.
Finally, you may be able to add McLaughlin in most leagues without sacrificing any assets for the opportunity given that the back is rostered in only 15% of ESPN leagues and 9% of Yahoo leagues.
Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals)
If you haven’t noticed by now, second-year running backs You could say that Chase Brown is the low-hanging fruit of this list, as his offseason hype precedes him. Brown is rocketing up draft boards and dynasty rankings and the “buy” window is quickly closing on the second-year man out of Illinois. With the Bengals having moved on from Joe Mixon, their backfield is in a state of flux and may even be up for grabs in terms of workload supremacy.
Brown doesn’t necessarily profile as a “bell-cow” back. That role is more suited to Zack Moss, Cincinnati’s newest member of the running back rotation. Despite the arrival of Moss, the untapped upside the Chase Brown offers is tantalizing and given that Moss has been a career backup for the majority of his career, a true committee backfield is looking more and more likely.
Early reports out of Bengals training camp are very positive for Brown’s 2024 outlook, as he has been taking most of the snaps with the first-team offense. Additionally, the shifty athlete also projects to be the beneficiary of most of the passing volume out of the backfield this season, furthering his appeal in PPR leagues. It wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Brown lead the Bengals backfield in fantasy output in 2024, making him a surefire RB1 from 2025 onward. Right now, Chase Brown is listed as the RB34 on KeepTradeCut.
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