by
Justin Boone from
on
2021-07-13 13:40 (
#5M4RD )
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Given the rate at which injuries strike the running back position, knowing who's next in line for carries is critical for fantasy owners.
Not all backup rushers are created equal, and though the league-winning potential of players like Kareem Hunt and Tony Pollard may appear obvious, many second-string ball carriers aren't getting the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.
Here's how we're ranking the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers:
More than a backup
Rk Backup Team 1 Kareem Hunt CLE
Top-10 upside if Nick Chubb is injured Proven RB1 during time with Chiefs Could still provide RB2 production without starting Elite options
Rk Backup Team 2 Tony Pollard DAL 3 A.J. Dillon GB 4 Alexander Mattison MIN 5 James Robinson JAX 6 Darrell Henderson LAR 7 Gus Edwards BAL
RB1 upside if starter is injured Stuck behind a more talented back Will flirt with flex value some weeks, even as a backup May emerge as starter
Rk Backup Team 8 Trey Sermon SF 9 Michael Carter NYJ 10 James Conner ARI
Top-20 upside if starter is injured Could rise to the top of the depth chart during season Can provide flex value some weeks, even as a backup Hanging around
Rk Backup Team 11 Jamaal Williams DET 12 Latavius Murray NO 13 Kenyan Drake LV 14 Melvin Gordon DEN
Top-20 upside if starter is injured Currently in a committee with a more qualified teammate Can provide flex value most weeks, even as a backup Unproven upside
Rk Backup Team 15 Darrynton Evans TEN 16 Chuba Hubbard CAR 17 Kenneth Gainwell PHI
Top-24 upside if starter is injured Should have notable role behind a veteran lead back Can provide flex value some weeks, even as a backup Wild cards
Rk Backup Team 18 Leonard Fournette TB 19 Devin Singletary BUF 20 Phillip Lindsay HOU
Top-30 upside if starting at any point 2021 role yet to be determined Workload questions due to crowded backfield PPR specialists
Rk Backup Team 21 Nyheim Hines IND 22 James White NE 23 J.D.McKissic WAS 24 Tarik Cohen CHI
Limited upside as a fantasy insurance policy Unlikely to serve as workhorse if starter is injured Can offer flex value in PPR formats, even as a backup Volume-dependent veterans
Rk Backup Team 25 Samaje Perine CIN 26 Devontae Booker NYG
Veteran playing behind starters with an injury history Doubts surrounding hold on backup job or ability to produce if called upon Would need majority of touches to be fantasy relevant Unclear situations
Rk Backup Team 27 Salvon Ahmed/Malcolm Brown/Gerrid Doaks MIA 28 Darrel Williams/Jerick McKinnon KC 29 Rashaad Penny/Alex Collins SEA 30 Javian Hawkins/Qadree Ollison ATL 31 Joshua Kelley/Larry Roundtree LAC 32 Anthony McFarland Jr./Benny Snell/Kalen Ballage PIT
Upside in quality offenses if a clear backup emerges and starter is injured Value limited by possibility of committee replacement scenario Players to draft as bench stashes in final rounds Deep targets
Rk Backup Team 33 Damien Williams CHI 34 Rhamondre Stevenson NE 35 Wayne Gallman SF 36 Ty Johnson NYJ
Long shots with intriguing upside if injuries hit their backfield Have the skills to produce as lead back over short stretches Watchlist candidates who could turn into key waiver wire pickups Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
