Fantasy Football 2024: Ranking Every Team's Handcuff RB Ahead of NFL Season (2024)

A top handcuff running back can salvage your season and help you win a league championship. Don't forget about the position once you draft your starters—circle back later for high-upside backups.

Technically speaking, a handcuff running back is the projected backup, though in today's NFL, most teams feature at least two tailbacks.

So, for the sake of these handcuff rankings, we'll focus on each team's probable No. 2 running back who will have the most standalone value or see the biggest workload increase if his starting counterpart isn't available in any given week.

These rankings are based on reports out of training camp, snap counts from preseason action, play-calling trends and recent production.

In terms of production, we will factor in a running back's receiving numbers and potential contributions as a pass-catcher, which are crucial aspects for point-per-reception leagues.

Until Keaton Mitchell recovers from a torn ACL, Justice Hill will be the change-of-pace tailback to complement Derrick Henry.

Henry has averaged at least 16.5 carries per game for each of the last five seasons, and quarterback Lamar Jackson has shed weight, which will make him more elusive on the run. They'll likely lead the team's rushing attack, which leaves Hill with the scraps in a rotational role.

As a backup, Hill has yet to accumulate 600 scrimmage yards in a single season. Don't expect him to be a major factor with Henry ready to play.

Moreover, Mitchell flashed on the ground last season, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Once he returns to action, Hill will likely drop to third on the depth chart.

This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs re-signed Clyde Edwards-Helaire on a one-year deal. Because of his experience in head coach Andy Reid's offense, he should be favored to take on the primary backup role behind Isiah Pacheco.

However, Edwards-Helaire's number of touches and scrimmage yards have been on the decline since the team selected him in the first round of the 2020 draft.

Even if Pacheco goes down with an injury, Edwards-Helaire isn't likely to handle a big workload on the ground. Before Pacheco emerged as the Chiefs' lead ball-carrier in 2022, Edwards-Helaire averaged 13 carries per game in his first two seasons with the club. Over the last two years, he has averaged 9.9 carries in nine starts.

Edwards-Helaire can provide low-end flex value in PPR leagues if he fills Jerick McKinnon's role as the primary pass-catching running back, but managers can find much better options for their late-round flier picks.

The Buffalo Bills selected Ray Davis in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. He'll have an opportunity to solidify himself in the No. 2 spot.

Bills' lead running back James Cook has excelled in the passing game, recording 65 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns in 33 games. So don't expect Davis to eat into Cook's target share.

However, Cook fumbled four times and lost two of them last season. Davis had some ball-security issues of his own at camp, but if he holds on to the football in the preseason, the Bills may call his number in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

That being said, quarterback Josh Allen has a tendency to keep the ball in goal-line scenarios. He's scored 53 rushing touchdowns in six seasons. Davis may have limited chances to close drives, even if he has a nose for the end zone.

Kenneth Gainwell has posted modest numbers in a backup role for three seasons. He's accumulated between 409 and 547 scrimmage yards in each of those terms.

Now, Gainwell has to fend off rookie fourth-rounder Will Shipley for the primary reserve role.

In six seasons with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley played on all three downs as a workhorse running back. Therefore, the winner of the primary backup position may not be much of a factor, especially with quarterback Jalen Hurts' involvement in the ground attack.

Gainwell's experience gives him an edge over Shipley, though he likely needs Barkley to sit out in order to make an impact. Barkley missed 18 games between 2020 and 2021, but he's been mostly healthy over the last two years.

In the 2024 draft, the New York Jets selected running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively.

ESPN's Rich Cimini named Allen as his spring surprise through mandatory minicamp, and the 6'1", 235-pounder has continued to turn heads at training camp and in the preseason.

Allen, who racked up 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons at Wisconsin, may be more equipped to handle a sizeable workload than Davis who's coming out of an FCS program.

Nonetheless, Allen and any other backup running back on the Jets roster may barely see the field if Breece Hall maintains his workhorse role in another healthy campaign.

Alvin Kamara has skipped training camp in a holdout and logged two carries for three yards in the New Orleans Saints' first preseason game. Kendre Miller hasn't been able to stay healthy, which may be starting to frustrate head coach Dennis Allen.

Jamaal Williams is on track to start the upcoming campaign in the No. 2 spot if the Saints eventually resolve matters with Kamara.

However, Williams could have a volatile role.

Miller may eventually show his potential if he can stay healthy. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Saints are "leaning into the Taysom Hill experience."

Last season, Hill finished second on the team behind Kamara in rushing yards (401) and touchdowns (four) with 25 fewer carries than Williams.

After Williams' underwhelming first year in New Orleans, managers shouldn't trust him to be the unquestioned No. 2 option on the ground over Miller and Hill in the upcoming term.

Tank Bigsby has a bit of separation from the first six entries because the Jacksonville Jaguars want to see him spell Travis Etienne on the ground. Early in the offseason, Doug Pederson said, "We have to get Tank going, bottom line"

After a disappointing rookie year with 50 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns, Bigsby will have a chance to carve out a decent role with the coaching staff in his corner.

SI.com's John Shipley believes Bigsby has gained some momentum with a strong showing at training camp.

"He has broken off long runs in several practices, had an impressive showing in short-yardage and red-zone situations on Friday, and most importantly has not had any issues with drops or fumbles up to this point. He needs to show it in a real game as much as anyone, but it has been a good two weeks for the former third-round pick."

If Bigsby doesn't lose ground to D'Ernest Johnson and rookie fifth-rounder Keilan Robinson, he could steal carries from Etienne on early downs.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has fielded a top-eight rushing offense in four of the last five seasons. The lead skipper's ground attack has been a staple in his offense, which bodes well for the team's running backs.

The Athletic's Matt Barrows suggested that the 49ers could lighten Christian McCaffrey's load to preserve him. If so, the team's No. 2 running back could be a decent pickup this year.

Managers may have to wait until the end of the preseason to find out who spells McCaffrey though. Elijah Mitchell could be the guy, but he's not a slam-dunk candidate for the position.

The 49ers selected Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Shanahan also mentioned Mitchell and Jordan Mason as capable fill-in starters.

"I'd say, nothing against Elijah, there's been no fall off in Elijah at all, but JP (Mason) runs at a very high level. "I see in both of those guys, that if Christian is not in there, not going, I mean we always expect no matter who we've had in the past, that number two, number three, sometimes our fourth guy comes in. And if their number is called, we expect them to run like a starting back."

While Mitchell may hold on to the primary backup position, Mason and Guerendo could work their way into a platoon if McCaffrey isn't available.

The Indianapolis Colts need a reliable backup running back. Jonathan Taylor has missed 13 games over the previous two seasons. If he continues to struggle with injuries, managers should value the next man up in the Colts backfield.

Last year, Zack Moss filled in for Taylor in several games. In 14 contests (eight starts), he registered 183 carries for 794 yards and five touchdowns, all career-high numbers. Moss had his best games while on the field with dynamic quarterback Anthony Richardson in the first quarter of the season.

Because Richardson can pick up yards on the ground, opposing teams will use a spy defender to keep him in the pocket, which may create running lanes for the Colts tailbacks.

Moss signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. So, Trey Sermon could see a lot of action if Taylor misses time.

Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star believes Sermon is the front-runner for the No. 2 spot.

The Green Bay Packers could have a three-man rotation in their backfield. They signed Josh Jacobs, re-signed AJ Dillon and selected MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 draft.

Dillon could split early-down carries with Jacobs, though Lloyd may be the best pass-catcher of the trio. The rookie running back caught 31 passes for 408 yards and two touchdowns over his last two collegiate terms.

Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told reporters that he wants to see what Llyod can do with the ball in space.

"I would like to get him out there as much as possible. "He's got a skill set that's a little bit different than AJ's as far as his speed. He's not quite the bruiser that (Dillon) is obviously, but he's got a different type of skill set. So it'll be nice to get him the ball in space and just see what he can do. I think he's gonna add a good explosive element to the offense, for sure."

The Packers' interest in Lloyd's playmaking ability is bad news for Dillon's fantasy upside.

In four seasons, Dillon has hauled in 86 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns. If Lloyd takes on the third-down pass-catching role, the fourth-year veteran could lose significant appeal in PPR leagues.

However, Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury in the Packers' first preseason game, which may slow down his development within the offense. Dillon will undoubtedly have a role, but he must retain some involvement in the passing game to garner decent flex appeal.

In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled to run the ball, finishing last in rushing yards.

The Buccaneers may have fixed that issue by signing guard Ben Bredeson and selecting center Graham Barton in the first round of the 2024 draft.

With potential improvements on the interior of the offensive line, Rachaad White and rookie fourth-rounder Bucky Irving could be a viable backfield duo in new offensive coordinator Liam Coen's offense.

Even more encouraging for Irving, he told reporters that he's familiar with Coen's system.

"We did similar things with duo, outside zone, and inside zone but the majority of our runs were counters, and, in this league, you can't really do too much counters," Irving said. "You have to get guys moving and going but I feel like the offense fits what I do well."

Though White and Irving have overlapping qualities in their skill sets, Irving could see the field in obvious passing situations. The rookie caught 56 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns in his last collegiate term.

Managers in PPR leagues should stash Irving on their bench. He could be a solid flex option at some point this year.

The New York Giants signed Devin Singletary, who could be their three-down tailback.

Nonetheless, the Giants may get more explosive plays out of rookie fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Tracy played wide receiver in four collegiate terms at Iowa before he transferred to Purdue and switched to running back for two years.

As a recent convert to running back, Tracy may have some upside as a ball carrier, though his receiver experience could help him get on the field on third downs.

Singletary hasn't missed a game in the last four years, though he's yet to average more than 14.5 touches per contest in that stretch. Tracy has room to produce at the level of a solid flex option.

Tracy took the initial snaps over second-year running back Eric Gray in the Giants' first preseason game while Singletary rested with the surefire starters, which suggests that the rookie has a lead for the primary backup job.

Tyler Allgeier isn't a flashy running back, and he's not a dynamic pass-catcher.

That said, Allgeier ran for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie year. He followed up with 683 yards and four touchdowns as Bijan Robinson's backup last season.

If the Atlanta Falcons retained Arthur Smith, who operates run-heavy offenses, Allgeier would be higher on the handcuff list.

With a new coaching staff and the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Falcons could field a more balanced offensive attack, which caps the production ceiling of their No. 2 running back.

Keep in mind that new head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that he wants to feed Robinson the ball.

"It's 'get the ball to Bijan as much as you can in as many ideal situations that you possibly can,'" Morris said.

Allgeier is a reliable insurance policy for Robinson, but in a new offense, he may have limited standalone value.

The Las Vegas Raiders allowed Josh Jacobs to walk in free agency. Zamir White will probably lead the running back group in touches, but the team has a small sample size of him in a lead role (four games).

New Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy may not feature White in a workhorse role.

Last year in Chicago, Getsy rotated three running backs: Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson. He could create a similar backfield situation with White, Alexander Mattison and Dylan Laube, or Ameer Abdullah.

Mattison is coming off his most productive campaign, racking up 892 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage.

On the flip side, Mattison wasn't an efficient lead ball-carrier last season with the Minnesota Vikings, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

Mattison is a low-end handcuff option with some upside if he has the hot hand on early downs.

The New England Patriots don't have a clear-cut starting quarterback or a bona fide No. 1 wideout, and their offensive line is unsettled at both tackle spots.

Managers should be wary about anything associated with the Patriots offense.

However, whether Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye starts under center, Antonio Gibson could have standalone value because of his pass-catching ability.

Behind what may be a shaky offensive line, the starting quarterback may have to do his best to get the ball out before the pass rush crushes him. As a result, the Patriots' passing attack may be a lot of dink and dunk, especially early in the campaign as the wide receiver pecking order takes form.

Moreover, Rhamondre Stevenson has missed five games in two out of his three seasons. Regardless of his status, Gibson should be on your flex radar in PPR leagues.

Keep in mind that Gibson has rushed for 1,000-plus yards in a single season, and he's hauled in 172 passes for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns in four campaigns.

A lot of managers will write off Austin Ekler as a washed-up pass-catching running back. He may have one more decent fantasy year left in him though.

In 2023, Ekeler finished with 1,064 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns, which is a fall from fantasy grace by his standards. Now, he's likely to back up Brian Robinson Jr. in the Washington Commanders backfield.

Even though Robinson showed his receiving skills last season, hauling in 36 out of 43 targets for 368 yards and four touchdowns, Ekeler is only two years removed from a 107-catch season.

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has a history of feeding lead ball carriers. On his watch, Kenyan Drake and James Conner had highly productive years with the Arizona Cardinals.

On the other hand, Kingsbury had Chase Edmonds on the fantasy map in PPR leagues between 2020 and 2021. Ekeler is a way more established version of Edmonds, and he's still one of the league's best pass-catching running backs.

Ekeler isn't likely to handle a ton of carries, though he can finish second or third on the team in multiple receiving categories.

As a third-round pick, Trey Benson will have a chance to make contributions in the run and short passing game.

Arizona Cardinals' lead running back James Conner can handle a three-down role, but he's also missed four games in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. At 29, Conner may begin to see a notable decline in his touch volume, which makes Benson an intriguing handcuff option.

Managers should monitor Cardinals running backs throughout the preseason. Emari Demercado and Michael Carter will be in the mix out of the backfield.

Nonetheless, Benson started in the Cardinals' first preseason contest as the team rested Conner, which is good news for the rookie in his push for the No. 2 running back job. Demercado, who's battling a shoulder injury, didn't log a carry in the game.

Benson could immediately spell Conner on the ground. He has the size (6'1", 223 lbs) and speed (4.39) to gain chunk yardage on fresh legs.

Over the last three years, Khalil Herbert has proven to be an asset on early downs. In 42 games (12 starts), he has rushed for 1,775 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Last year, Herbert led the Bears running backs in rushing, though the club signed D'Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal, which suggests he'll have the lead role.

Still, Herbert can see enough touches to be a midrange handcuff option.

Even though Swift suited up for 16 outings last season, he missed 10 games in his first three years. Johnson has been dealing with an injury that kept him out of practice last week.

Herbert has a pathway to the primary backup role, and he could handle a decent number of carries on first and second downs as well.

Chicago's No. 2 running back will have standalone value if the team wants to keep Swift fresh in games and healthy for a full season.

After an impressive rookie campaign with 1,104 yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage, Dameon Pierce took a step back last year.

In 2023, Pierce took a backseat to Devin Singletary and finished with 517 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage.

This offseason, Singletary signed with the New York Giants, and the Texans acquired Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mixon is a three-down tailback who's logged 210-plus carries in five out of seven seasons, but Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans believes the incoming ball-carrier and Pierce will be a "one-two punch" out of the backfield.

The Texans may not feature Mixon like the Bengals did if Pierce produces at a level comparable to his rookie campaign.

Managers will have to play the guessing game with the Seattle Seahawks' ground attack under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

As a rookie under the previous coaching staff, Zach Charbonnet showed that he could be the 1B option alongside Kenneth Walker III rather than the No. 2 option behind him.

Charbonnet racked up 671 (462 rushing and 209 receiving) scrimmage yards and logged a rushing score. At 6'1", 214 pounds, he could take over short-yardage and goal-line opportunities, but that remains to be seen in Grubb's system.

Because of Charbonnet's ability to play on all three downs, he could have some standout weeks if the Seahawks rely on him a bit more than last year.

For now, Charbonnet is a middling handcuff option with an intriguing upside if he can consistently get 12-plus touches per game.

Between Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler, the Minnesota Vikings couldn't get much going on the ground last season. The team finished 29th in rushing with the third-fewest rushing scores.

Chandler started in the last four weeks of the 2023 campaign and finished fourth in overall fantasy scoring for PPR leagues in Week 15.

Aaron Jones, who turns 30 in December, will lead the Vikings' backfield this year. However, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano, he'll be 1A to Chandler's 1B role.

"Based on the conversations I had when I was there, I expect the Vikings to try to get Jones 15-18 touches per game and use Ty Chandler as kind of a 1B to Jones' 1A," Graziano wrote.

Jones missed six games last season, so expect the team to be careful with his workload.

Chandler ranks one spot higher than Charbonnet because he's backing up an older running back with a recent injury history.

The Los Angeles Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 draft, and they've made it clear that the rookie is there to help preserve Kyren Williams.

In two seasons, Williams has missed 12 games. So, the Rams made the logical move to add some insurance to the backfield.

Williams will likely maintain a big workload, and he should after leading the league in rushing yards per game last season. Yet Corum could vulture some touchdowns and help bleed the clock when the Rams have leads.

In four out of seven seasons as Rams head coach and offensive play-caller, Sean McVay has fielded an offense that ranked within the top 12 in rushing attempts. He's done that with Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford under center, so his team's total carries aren't inflated with quarterback-designed runs.

In McVay's offense, Corum will have room to make a weekly impact. When you consider Williams' injury history, the rookie gets a boost, which leaves him right outside the top 10 among handcuff options.

At 29, with eight years of tread on his legs, Ezekiel Elliott isn't an exciting option. He's coming off a year with career lows in rushing yards (642), rushing scores (three) and yards per carry (3.5).

However, Elliott will run behind a better offensive line compared to the New England Patriots' unit from last year.

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line may not be as dominant as the groups from years past, though seven-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin can still play at a high level, and Tyler Smith, who can play guard and tackle, is coming off a Pro Bowl year.

Elliott will likely split touches with Rico Dowdle, who's made a push for the lead job. Regardless, Elliott may be in line for a sizeable role because he's still a trusted tailback, especially in pass protection.

Also worthy of note, Elliott caught 51 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns last season. He's not dynamic in that phase of the game, but he can stay on the field for all three downs if Dowdle struggles with pass protection.

Elliott's "feed Zeke" years are behind him, though he may need to fill in a lot of gaps for a mostly unproven group of tailbacks.

J.K. Dobbins is the best handcuff option among running backs without much of a track record in catching the ball.

The Los Angeles Chargers signed Gus Edwards to a two-year deal and inked Dobbins to a one-year contract.

Nonetheless, Dobbins may interchange 1A and 1B roles with Edwards.

If Dobbins stays healthy, which has been his biggest issue over the last three seasons, he could be the Chargers' lead rusher this year.

In 24 career games, Dobbins has averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

Last year, Edwards ran for a career-high 810 yards but averaged a career-low 4.1 yards per carry. Entering his age-29 term, his run efficiency may continue to go on a decline.

Though he's an injury-prone 25-year-old, Dobbins still has some upside if he can stay on the field.

Both Edwards and Dobbins are familiar with offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system, which makes it more likely that they could be co-starters for the entire season.

Without a bona fide lead receiver on the roster and quarterback Justin Herbert already dealing with a foot injury, the Chargers' top two running backs could get a lot of work on the ground this year.

The Denver Broncos backfield may scare some managers away with Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie fifth-rounder Audric Estime all in the mix for touches.

Assuming Estime makes the roster, Perine may be the odd man out because last season, Jaleel McLaughlin made a case to stick around as the primary change-of-pace tailback.

Last year, as an undrafted rookie out of Youngstown State, McLaughlin accumulated 570 scrimmage yards and scored three touchdowns.

Williams is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry. Head coach Sean Payton may call McLaughlin's number to provide a spark on the ground or in the short passing game as Estime finds his footing in the pros.

If rookie quarterback Bo Nix earns the starting job, McLaughlin could see a bigger role in the short passing game. Nix flourished in an offense that featured short passes and screens at Oregon.

Chase Brown is a trendy name among running backs, and he could work his way into the lead role.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. believes that the pecking order at running back could evolve throughout the season, suggesting that both Brown and Zack Moss will have opportunities to lead the backfield. He listed Moss as the starter in his most recent depth chart predictions though.

This offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Moss to a two-year deal. He's coming off his most productive campaign. Last year, Brown accumulated 335 scrimmage yards and scored one touchdown.

Moss has the momentum, though Brown possesses an intriguing upside.

Brown finished his last year at Illinois with 1,883 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns. He had some flashes as a rookie last season, registering nine carries for 61 yards in Week 13 and hauling in three passes for 80 yards in Week 14.

With a bigger role in an unsettled backfield, Brown could have a breakout year or at least have a near-even touch split with Moss in a fluid rotation.

Because Brown could be the 1A running back by the end of the season, he's one spot higher than Jaleel McLaughlin in the rankings.

The Tennessee Titans will have to find a new identity after allowing workhorse running back Derrick Henry to walk in free agency.

This year, the Titans have a dynamic duo in the backfield. They signed Tony Pollard to a notable three-year, $21.8 million deal, which is an indication that he's 1A and Tyjae Spears, who's going into his second season, is 1B in the rotation.

In his last year with the Dallas Cowboys, Pollard didn't make the most of his increased touch volume. He actually had a slightly more productive 2022 campaign with fewer touches.

The Titans may operate with the thought that less volume could result in more production for Pollard.

Pollard and Spears have similar skill sets. So, they can match each other in rushing and pass-catching roles.

Last year, Spears finished with 838 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns as the Titans' No. 2 tailback behind Henry. In a potential even split with Pollard, he could easily eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards and score more than a handful of touchdowns.

Though Chuba Hubbard will be the Carolina Panthers' starting running back in Week 1 while Jonathon Brooks recovers from a torn ACL, he's likely to fall into the backup position once the rookie is in action three to four weeks into the season.

Keep in mind the Panthers selected Brooks in the second round as the top running back in the 2024 class. They have an immediate plan for him.

Nonetheless, Hubbard will be a key playmaker in carrying out head coach Dave Canales' plan to establish the ground attack for at least the first month of the campaign.

Managers probably won't have to worry about Miles Sanders stealing a large portion of Hubbard's touches after his abysmal first year in Carolina.

Last season, Hubbard led the Panthers in rushing with 902 yards and five touchdowns. He also tacked on 39 receptions for 233 yards.

Carolina will likely ease Brooks into the rotation when he's ready, but Hubbard should be able to get a good headstart as the lead tailback in Canales' offense. Because of his experience, he'll likely maintain a decent role as Brooks ramps up to a full workload in the second half of the season.

Like Chuba Hubbard, Jerome Ford will open the 2024 season as his team's starting running back but will likely finish as a backup.

Ford may have the job a little longer though, and he's more of an asset than Hubbard in passing situations.

The Cleveland Browns haven't provided a timetable for four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb's return from a torn ACL.

The Browns aren't going to rush Chubb back to action in his age-29 term coming off a serious injury.

By the way, Ford had a standout 2023 term in Chubb's absence, accumulating 1,132 scrimmage yards and scoring nine touchdowns.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski can trust Ford to lead his backfield in a run-heavy scheme.

Of course, Chubb is the team's star running back who will eventually reclaim the lead position. Though don't be surprised if Ford remains viable in the offense when Chubb returns, specifically in a pass-catching role.

The top three handcuff running backs aren't dependent on the starter's health to maintain their sizeable workloads, which separates them from the rest.

Furthermore, Jaylen Warren hasn't started a game in his career. Yet he finished with 1,154 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns last season.

Even with some chatter about a bubbling quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will likely emphasize the ground game regardless of who starts Week 1, which is in his play-calling track record.

Aside from George Pickens, Pittsburgh doesn't have a dynamic perimeter pass-catching group. Warren, who's been a more productive receiver than starting running back Najee Harris, could continue to see a high number of targets.

Last season, Warren caught 61 of 74 targets for 370 yards. He should have a secure role in the Steelers offense and substantial standalone value in PPR leagues.

As a rookie, De'Von Achane burst onto the scene with blazing speed and explosive plays, which resulted in gaudy rushing numbers.

Achane had three consecutive top-five finishes in fantasy points for PPR leagues between Weeks 3 and 5. He had another in Week 13.

In 11 games (four starts), Achane racked up 997 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

Achane's durability is a concern, though. He battled a shoulder injury going into the 2023 term and missed five outings between Weeks 6 and 12 because of a knee injury.

Also, the Dolphins selected Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, and he put together an impressive performance in the team's preseason opener.

Even though the Dolphins may have a three-man backfield (Raheem Mostert included), Achane is too explosive to overlook even though he's prone to injury.

The Detroit Lions hit a home run when they picked Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall in the 2024 draft. At the time of the selection, the Lions were criticized for taking a running back in the top half of the first round.

Now, fantasy managers absolutely love Gibbs' fit with the Lions.

Last season, Gibbs finished within the top three in fantasy points for PPR leagues six times.

The Lions list David Montgomery as the starting running back, but he only had one more touch than Gibbs last season.

Because of the way Detroit deploys its top two running backs, both Montgomery and Gibbs are high-end weekly starters.

Managers need to monitor Gibbs' status leading up to the regular season. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, he strained his hamstring. But if Gibbs is ready to play Week 1, lock him into your starting lineups.

As a handcuff running back, Gibbs is in an ideal situation this year. He's the primary pass-catching option out of the backfield and averaged 12.1 rush attempts per game in 2023.

In the same offensive system under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Gibbs will probably outpace most starting running backs with his production from scrimmage.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

PPR scoring statistics are provided by FantasyPros.