The running back position can be approached in various ways in fantasy football leagues. Some fantasy managers still stick to what can be considered a tried and true method of addressing the need for running backs in a big way at the start of drafts, selecting two players in the first two rounds.
Other managers opt for a Zero-RB approach and find solid pass-catching options later in drafts to supplement a roster built around stud wide receivers.
One of the most popular options as of late is to build a roster using the Hero RB approach, outlined in this article by Bo McBrayer. In Hero RB builds, you’ll opt for one top-tier running back in the top two rounds and fill out your roster from there on. One thing is certain – for your fantasy roster to succeed in the most significant way and contend for a championship, you’ll need to extract value at the running back position outside of the top tier of players.
Here are four RB3 candidates to grab in the mid-late round of drafts who have RB1 potential if things go their way:
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)
The case of Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a curious one. He vaulted to the top of fantasy rankings following being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft. Since then, he’s yet to surpass 803 rushing yards in a season and has also not seen the usage in the passing game many hoped he would in the high-powered Chiefs offense.
Despite the addition of Ronald Jones in the Chiefs backfield, Kansas City could look to lean on Edwards-Helaire in a way that they have not to this point in his professional career. With Tyreek Hill now donning teal and orange for the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs figure to get creative with their offensive touches behind stalwart tight end Travis Kelce. It’s entirely within the range of realistic outcomes for Edwards-Helaire to finish with career highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards. If things begin clicking for him early in the NFL season, there’s a chance he realizes the potential fantasy managers have been chasing for multiple seasons.
Damien Harris (RB – NE) & Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)
The New England Patriots have a way of scaring fantasy managers away from their backfield. Bill Belichick has kept multiple running backs involved regularly, leading to fantasy managers opting to steer clear of the backfield instead of determining which of the backs makes sense to have on their roster.
Both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are regularly valued outside the top-24 running backs and offer significantly higher upside. Harris finished with 15 rushing scores a season ago, and a common talking point against him this season is that it may be tough for him to repeat the same feat.
The counterpoint is that while Mac Jones will be heading into his second season in this offense, the Patriots have no reason to abandon their formula of running the ball with regularity. There will be enough opportunity for both Stevenson and Harris to threaten for double-digit scores and 1,000-yard seasons in 2022. If one misses time, the other ascends to an even more valuable status in 2022. If Harris moves on from the Patriots in 2023, Stevenson could become one of the more coveted runners in fantasy football circles.
At first glance, it feels easy to put Tony Pollard in this category. Of course, he’d be in for a huge uptick in value if Ezekiel Elliott missed any time throughout the 2022 season. But there’s so much more to it than that.
While Pollard is an elite handcuff, he’s also a player who has standalone value even if Elliott stays healthy for the entire season. In 2021 he posted career highs in rushing yards, receiving yards, receptions and targets. There’s no reason for that usage to slow down in 2022 as he continually displayed eye-popping talent to go along with top-notch efficiency.
Pollard ranked second in yards per touch, first in yards per route run, third in breakaway run rate and sixth in yards created per touch, according to PlayerProfiler. He figures to be a more significant part of the game plan in 2022, even when Elliott is healthy. Should Elliott miss anytime, Pollard immediately slides in as someone with RB1 value.
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