There are well over 100 days until the NFL season officially kicks off on Sept. 5, but it’s never too early to start your fantasy football draft prep! We have plenty of depth chart battles to watch, and perhaps no position has more fluidity than running back.
Let’s take a look at the most intriguing running back battles to monitor and the potential fantasy football impact, following the outcomes of the 2024 NFL Draft and Free Agency.
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Fantasy Football Running Back Battles To Monitor
Here are running back position battles to monitor over the summer to see where you can mine some fantasy football draft value.
Tennessee Titans
- Tony Pollard | ECR: RB25
- Tyjae Spears | ECR: RB34
After ascending to the Cowboys’ lead back in 2023, Tony Pollard broke our hearts and underperformed. His overall finish of the PPR RB14 was misleading. Pollard averaged just 13.1 fantasy points per game and exceeded 15 fantasy points just twice in the entire season. Pollard also struggled at the goal line with the second-most attempts at running back inside the 20, yielding just four touchdowns. It’s possible Pollard’s struggles were due to him recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in the 2022 playoffs, but operating as a lead back simply might be too much for him.
The signing of Pollard crushed Tyjae Spears’ fantasy value, but don’t count Spears out of this backfield. Pollard’s signing was peculiar because they have similar skill sets rather than complementary roles. But the fact that they aren’t complementary might benefit Spears. This backfield will likely operate as a 1A/1B situation, with the best man earning the stronger workload.
Spears had strong statistics behind a poor Titans’ offensive line. He had 52 receptions on 70 targets for 385 yards and was graded as a top-10 back in PFF’s Elusive Rating. If Spears continues to perform at a high level, he could outshine Pollard and win the lead-back role outright.
Monitor this backfield closely throughout the offseason. With the Titans’ upgraded offensive line and coaching changes, the run game will see an uptick in efficiency. The lead back has top-12 potential.
More Fantasy Football Draft Advice
- Erickson’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- Fitz’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- DBro’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- Hoppen’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
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