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 a player like Zach Charbonnet 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
2
Raheem Mostert
MIA
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
High-end backup options
Rk
Backup
Team
3
Jaylen Warren
PIT
4
Tyjae Spears
TEN
5
Trey Benson
ARI
6
Zach Charbonnet
SEA
7
Austin Ekeler
WAS
8
Ty Chandler
MIN
Top-20 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Talent level is comparable to the current lead-back
Will offer RB2/flex value some weeks, even as a backup
Early-season injury replacement
Rk
Backup
Team
9
Jerome Ford
CLE
Top-25 fantasy upside while the starter is sidelined
Unclear when starter will be healthy
Will offer flex production when lead back returns
Chance to carve out significant role
Rk
Backup
Team
10
MarShawn Lloyd
GB
11
Kendre Miller
NO
Top-25 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Stuck behind an older talented back
Will offer flex value in a complementary role
Unproven but enticing
Rk
Backup
Team
12
Blake Corum
LAR
13
Ray Davis
BUF
14
Roschon Johnson
CHI
2024 role yet to be determined
Top-25 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
Unlikely to offer enough production unless lead back gets injured
Proven short-term starters when needed
Rk
Backup
Team
15
Antonio Gibson
NE
16
Tyler Allgeier
ATL
17
Chuba Hubbard
CAR
18
Elijah Mitchell
SF
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
Explosive complementary backs
Rk
Backup
Team
19
Chase Brown
CIN
20
Jaleel McLaughlin
DEN
21
Rico Dowdle
DAL
Will offer flex value in a complementary role
Top-30 fantasy upside if the starter is sidelined
Workload questions due to their profile and crowded backfields
Upside late-round rookies
Rk
Backup
Team
22
Jaylen Wright
MIA
23
Kimani Vidal
LAC
24
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
NYG
Stuck behind a veteran RB who isn't a long-term starter
Top-30 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
Still has a lot to prove due to Day 3 draft capital
Volume-dependent veterans
Rk
Backup
Team
25
Khalil Herbert
CHI
26
D'Onta Foreman
CLE
27
Alexander Mattison
LV
28
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
KC
29
Dameon Pierce
HOU
Veteran backup
Value limited by the possibility of a committee replacement scenario
Would need the majority of touches to be a fantasy starter
Rookie backups
Rk
Backup
Team
30
Braelon Allen
NYJ
31
Will Shipley
PHI
32
Bucky Irving
TB
33
Audric Estime
DEN
Will likely require an injury to starter to have value
Top-30 fantasy upside if the path to volume clears
Still has a lot to prove due to Day 3 draft capital
Unclear situations
Rk
Backup
Team
34
Tank Bigsby/D'Ernest Johnson
JAX
35
Keaton Mitchell/Rasheen Ali/Justice Hill
BAL
36
Evan Hull/Trey Sermon/Tyler Goodson
IND
37
Michael Carter/Emari Demercado/DeeJay Dallas
ARI
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
Deep-league stashes
Backup
Team
Isaac Guerendo
SF
Dylan Laube
LV
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
WAS
Eric Gray
NYG
Jordan Mason
SF
Isaiah Spiller
LAC
Sean Tucker
TB
Blake Watson
DEN
Cody Schrader
SF
Jawhar Jordan
HOU
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
Dalvin Cook
Jerick McKinnon
Kareem Hunt
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