Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.
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 Alexander Mattison and AJ Dillon appears obvious, many second-string ball carriers don't get the respect they deserve in fantasy drafts.
Here's how we rank the top reserve tailbacks, broken down into tiers and based on their fantasy value:
Co-starter/Overqualified backup
Rk
Backup
Team
1
David Montgomery
DET
Top-10 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Shares backfield with a more talented back
Will offer RB2 value/flex value while splitting touches
Elite backup options
Rk
Backup
Team
2
Alexander Mattison
MIN
3
Jamaal Williams
NO
4
AJ Dillon
GB
5
Samaje Perine
DEN
6
Elijah Mitchell
SF
7
Antonio Gibson
WAS
Top-15 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Stuck behind a more talented back
Will offer RB2/flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Could win starting job this season
Rk
Backup
Team
8
Rashaad Penny
PHI
9
Devon Achane
MIA
Top-20 fantasy upside if they become starter at any point
Landed on new depth chart with an equally talented running back
Durability concerns could limit their playing time
Chance to carve out significant role
Rk
Backup
Team
10
Zach Charbonnet
SEA
11
Kendre Miller
NO
12
Chase Edmonds
TB
Top-20 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Should offer flex value in complementary role
Outside chance they could emerge as starter in 2023
Proven short-term starters when needed
Rk
Backup
Team
13
D'Onta Foreman
CHI
14
Damien Harris
BUF
15
Devin Singletary
HOU
16
Jerick McKinnon
KC
Top-25 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Stuck behind a more talented back
Unlikely to offer enough production unless lead back gets injured
Underrated second options
Rk
Backup
Team
17
Jaylen Warren
PIT
18
Tyler Allgeier
ATL
19
Chuba Hubbard
CAR
Top-25 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Behind a RB who the team is more invested in
Can provide flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Unproven but enticing
Rk
Backup
Team
20
Tank Bigsby
JAX
21
Tyjae Spears
TEN
22
Jerome Ford
CLE
23
Roschon Johnson
CHI
24
Zamir White
LV
25
Keaontay Ingram
ARI
26
Pierre Strong Jr.
NE
27
Chase Brown
CIN
28
Zach Evans
LAR
2023 role yet to be determined
Top-30 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Workload questions due to crowded backfields
Upside if/when healthy
Rk
Backup
Team
29
Gus Edwards
BAL
30
James Robinson
NE
Currently recovering from an injury
Should have a notable role behind lead back if healthy
Can provide flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Unclear situations
Rk
Backup
Team
31
Michael Carter/Israel Abanikanda/Zonovan Knight
NYJ
32
Joshua Kelley/Isaiah Spiller
LAC
33
Malik Davis/Ronald Jones/Deuce Vaughn
DAL
34
Evan Hull/Zack Moss/Deon Jackson
IND
35
Eric Gray/Matt Breida/Gary Brightwell
NYG
Upside if a clear backup emerges and the starter is injured
Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
Players to draft as bench stashes in final rounds
Volume-dependent veterans
Rk
Backup
Team
36
Jeff Wilson Jr.
MIA
37
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
KC
38
Latavius Murray
BUF
Veteran backup
Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
Would need the majority of touches to be fantasy relevant
Deep-league targets
Backup
Team
Kenneth Gainwell
PHI
Sean Tucker
TB
Trayveon Williams
CIN
Jordan Mason
SF
D'Ernest Johnson
JAX
Craig Reynolds
DET
Ty Chandler/DeWayne McBride
MIN
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
WAS
Kyren Williams
LAR
Corey Clement
ARI
Keaton Mitchell
BAL
Deneric Prince
KC
Ameer Abdullah
LV
Long shots with intriguing upside if injuries hit their backfield
Have the skills to produce over short stretches
Watchlist candidates who could turn into key waiver-wire pickups
Free agents who could still be a factor
Backup
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Kareem Hunt
Darrell Henderson
Kenyan Drake
Dontrell Hilliard
Melvin Gordon
Justin Jackson
Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
