Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White went from dead zone mid-round pick to a fantasy football hero in 2023. Last year, the 25-year-old was a common 7th-round pick in his first year as a starter for fantasy football drafts.
The former 3rd-round pick from Arizona State took a big step forward last season and will look to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in 2024. For fantasy, if he reaches that goal, White would be worthy of his late-round 2 or early-round 3 ADP and could be a solid running back starter in PPR.
Rachaad White 2023 Stats and Production
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Despite not rushing for over 1,000 yards, Rachaad White finished as a top-5 fantasy running back in PPR ranked 4th right behind Travis Etienne, according to FantasyPros.
He finished as a consistent floor, potentially high ceiling option, with 13 weeks over double-digit points in fantasy and hit over 20 or close enough 6 different weeks. White had a few slumps in 2023, but it was mostly due to rushing inefficiency or lack of enough receptions and/or touchdowns in general, according to FantasyPros.
The 6’0″ and 214-pound rusher was 10 yards short of hitting the 1,000-yard mark on the ground, with 990, and had 6 rushing touchdowns on 272 carries. The Tampa Bay offense fed him plenty of times as one of the rare, true 3-down backs but it didn’t always result in production due to their porous run blocking.
As a receiver, Rachaad White made his mark for the Buccaneers, catching 64 passes for 570 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving. It wasn’t just the total yards, it was more the consistent, weekly average of touches he was getting in that offense as a feature piece with bigger names involved, like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at wide receiver.
Rachaad White 2024 Fantasy Outlook
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Rachaad White was a trusted target for Baker Mayfield, and even with the change at offensive coordinator from Dave Canales, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, to Liam Coen, I wouldn’t see why production would dip for their top running back.
With a hopefully more healthy and improved offensive line in 2024, the young talented runner should be able to take another step forward with not much proven competition in the backfield. In 2022, the Bucs had Leonard Fournette as their starter initially before White took over the last 8 games of that season.
Tampa Bay did draft Oregon running back Bucky Irving in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL Draft and still has Chase Edmonds from last year, but I don’t think either player will do anything more than spell White. Both Irving and Edmonds are also pass-catching backs that could be used on occasionally 3rd downs but that would be as change of pace role players.
As of now, Rachaad White is being drafted around 34th overall as the 9th running back taken in PPR for fantasy drafts, according to FantasyPros. I would argue he should be taken closer to the top-5 among running backs in PPR, even in the 2nd round, with the 2nd easiest schedule for running backs in 2024, according to FantasyPros.
Final Thoughts on Rachaad White
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While he might not be as good in standard formats, Rachaad White in PPR is a different player, as the Bucs rusher gets most of his points as a check-down target and gets enough volume to be touchdown-viable.
As an every-down back for the Bucs, the starter for Tampa Bay is on the verge of a true breakout year in his 3rd season. The ceiling and upside for him to have an even more productive season is way up for 2024.
Even among talented backs like Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs, who are ranked ahead of White as the 5th and 6th rated backs for PPR, I think I would prefer grabbing the Bucs rusher a round later potentially.
About the Author
Previously wrote for Fansided NFL Mocks, Pro Football Network, uInterview/ uSports, the Daily Culture, and Ironiq Media. Recent Journalism/ Media Studies Grad and wrote for Impact News, the award-winning news publication of Mercy College, now Mercy University.
Now writing for Total Apex Sports about the NFL, NFL draft, and fantasy football, along with Total Apex E&G about movies, shows, anime, and gaming. You can follow me on Instagram @kimandrew1357 and Twitter (aka X) @kookykim1357.
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