Most running backs who project to receive substantial playing time are viable options at some point in fantasy football drafts. However, the following two running backs should be avoided anywhere near their present average draft position (ADP) in Underdog best ball drafts.
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Fantasy Football Running Backs to Avoid
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA) | Underdog ADP: 14.2/RB7
De’Von Achane is unquestionably one of the NFL’s most dynamic players, and his dynamism has led to fantasy football success through his first three years in the NFL. Miami’s lead running back was the RB24 in half-PPR scoring (177.2) and the RB4 in half-PPR points per game (16.1) as a rookie in 2023. In 2024, he was the RB6 in half-PPR total points (260.9) and the RB11 in half-PPR points per game (15.3). Achane was the RB5 in half-PPR total points (289.3) and the RB5 in half-PPR points per game (18.1) last season.
Achane’s ADP and ranking among running backs don’t immediately seem outlandish based on his track record. However, 2026 will be a season of sizable changes for Achane, as Malik Willis is the new starting quarterback after Tua Tagovailoa was the club’s starter for most of Achane’s career.
Willis is an entirely different quarterback from the pocket-passing-only Tagovailoa. Miami’s new starting quarterback is a threat to run, which can cut into Achane’s checkdowns when plays break down, as Willis might opt to scramble instead of dump it off. Willis’ mobility could also cut into Achane’s rushing touchdown upside, and his touchdown outlook is already rough because Miami’s offense is a dumpster fire at the skill positions after trading away Jaylen Waddle.
While Willis should be better than any of the non-Tagovailoa quarterbacks Achane played with during his first three seasons in the NFL, Achane’s production in eight games without Tagovailoa the previous two years was notably worse, as evidenced by the following table with data from the Fantasy Points data suite.
Achane also has a new head coach and play-caller after Mike McDaniel was fired. The Dolphins hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. Bobby Slowik is the team’s new offensive coordinator. The Texans fired him after serving in that position for them in 2023 and 2024. Slowik was promoted from Miami’s senior passing coordinator last year to his new position as their offensive coordinator.
McDaniel wasn’t a faultless head coach. Still, he knew how to utilize Achane. The moving parts and likely futility of the Dolphins’ offense are reasons to avoid Achane in the early second round. Unless Achane falls into the late second round or the third round, he’s an ill-advised click in fantasy football drafts.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE) | Underdog ADP: 47.4/RB20
Allow me to start by saying that young players can improve with more experience and NFL coaching, and a rookie season doesn’t define a player’s entire career. Having gotten that caveat out of the way, Rhamondre Stevenson was a better running back than TreVeyon Henderson in the latter’s rookie campaign.
Henderson’s dreadful pass blocking might be the most discouraging part of his rookie season. Among 80 running backs with at least 40 pass-blocking snaps in the 2025 regular season and playoffs, Henderson’s 27.8 Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass-blocking grade was a not-so-nice 69th, and Stevenson’s 69.9 grade was 12th.
The second-year running back must make a huge leap in pass protection to siphon passing-down work from Stevenson. Stevenson’s quality pass-blocking ability and receiving chops could prevent a full-blown overtaking, even if Henderson makes massive strides.
Stevenson also had a decided advantage in the rate of carries inside the 5-yard line over Henderson. The veteran running back is bigger than his speedy running mate, and he recorded 2.64 yards after contact per attempt compared to 1.86 yards after contact per attempt for Henderson.
Given the difference in size between the running backs, it’s unsurprising that Stevenson gained more yards after contact than Henderson, and the Patriots shouldn’t have any sense of urgency to remove Stevenson from goal-line duties.
What is left for Henderson if Stevenson remains New England’s preferred passing-down and goal-line back? Unfortunately, it would leave Henderson with lower-value opportunities in a shared backfield.
The playoff usage for Stevenson and Henderson was also eye-catching. In four games in the 2025 postseason, Stevenson had 58 rush attempts and 100% of the team’s rush attempts inside the 5-yard line, plus a 51% route participation rate versus 30 rush attempts and a 22.6% route participation rate for Henderson.
Gamers who always wait to see the breakout from a young player will never gain the advantage of getting ahead of the breakout. Nevertheless, blindly wishcasting role changes leads to disappointment and underachieving picks relative to their ADP. Drafters should tread carefully with Henderson, and drafting him as the RB20 is too rich.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.