None of these are bad players. What our analysts are flagging is the gap between where each name is currently going in fantasy football drafts and what they’re actually likely to produce this season. As they put it, it’s not about hating the player, it’s about hating the price. Here are seven running backs worth fading at their current cost.
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Do Not Draft These 7 Running Backs: Fantasy Football Busts to Avoid
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
Going as a mid-range RB1 despite real red flags, Achane’s team is likely to have one of the worst offenses in the league this year, capping his touchdown ceiling. His receiving volume is also in real question, since his current starting quarterback has a track record of rarely targeting his running backs, posting one of the lowest checkdown rates in the league last year and an even more extreme mark two years before that. Last year’s big fantasy season leaned heavily on 12 touchdowns and a receiving workload that may not repeat. Both analysts agree this is a real fade at current cost, even while acknowledging real talent and the possibility of a top-15 finish based on volume alone.
Jadarian Price (RB – SEA)
Going as the RB26 overall, the appeal is obvious: a first-round pick on a run-needy team. But that same coaching staff already showed last year it’s comfortable running a committee even with a clearly good, better-pedigreed back on the roster. Price was blocked by a college teammate and never got to prove he could handle a true feature role, has shown limited receiving aptitude so far, and has dealt with fumbling issues. Real competition looms too, with the incumbent starter expected back from injury early in the season and multiple other backs added to the room this offseason. Most egregious of all, he’s currently going ahead of several proven, quality wide receivers that our analysts would rather have at the same draft slot.
Jeremiyah Love (RB – ARI)
Going as the RB13, 27th overall, one analyst doesn’t hate the player at all, viewing him as a truly special talent, but hates the price given the real quarterback uncertainty on his team and a crowded group of established pass catchers already commanding volume in that offense. Real questions remain about whether he gets enough targets, touchdowns, or red zone work to justify a near-RB1 price even with elite talent. The other analyst pushes back hard, citing historical data showing that running backs drafted with top-12 overall picks have produced strong rookie seasons even on bad teams, arguing situation matters less than talent at this level of prospect. The middle ground reached: the ceiling probably isn’t top-five, but a real receiving floor could still make him a reasonable pick a round or two later than his current cost.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)
Going as the RB28, 72nd overall, one analyst views this as too aggressive given a highly explosive teammate sharing the backfield. That teammate posted multiple 50-plus-yard runs last season alone, while Stevenson has managed far fewer long runs across his entire career, raising real questions about whether the coaching staff shifts the workload further toward the more explosive option this year. The other analyst is more pro-Stevenson, noting he actually graded ahead of his teammate in most efficiency metrics last year and has earned real trust from the coaching staff despite past fumbling issues, while still conceding the team’s stated desire to play faster this year could favor his teammate’s skill set.
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – NO)
Going as the RB19, 42nd overall, one analyst is avoiding him specifically because a teammate remains on the roster and is viewed as a clearly better passing-down option even in his current form. Etienne’s own efficiency last year was genuinely poor, ranking in the bottom third of qualifying backs in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, and yards after contact per attempt, a profile that fits a dead-zone archetype more than public perception credits. The other analyst agrees, cautioning against confusing a good overall team outlook with a specific back’s individual fantasy value, especially since Etienne himself has expressed comfort sharing the workload rather than pushing for a true feature role.
Rico Dowdle (RB – PIT)
Going around the seventh or eighth round turn, one analyst generally avoids putting mid-round backs on bust lists but makes an exception here, worried he could become a cut candidate at some point this season. A direct comparison to a teammate favors that teammate across nearly every meaningful category, including broken tackle rate, receiving production, and pass-blocking grade, a real problem given the team’s aging, limited-mobility starting quarterback needs a back who can protect him and catch checkdowns. The other analyst fully agrees, framing the teammate as someone who’s flashed elite per-touch efficiency in a smaller role for years, while Dowdle’s own big fantasy seasons have historically depended on receiving a massive workload that isn’t guaranteed this year.
Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)
Going as the RB21, 49th overall, all three analysts agree in fading him. Over a large chunk of games last year, he was actually just a top-26 running back in fantasy points per game despite ranking better in expected fantasy points, a distinction that doesn’t put real points on a scoreboard. His efficiency metrics were concerning too, ranking in the bottom third of qualifying backs in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, and yards after contact per attempt. His team’s completely remade offensive line will likely need real time to gel given a total lack of continuity, and touchdown upside looks limited in an offense that may not score much. Adding to the uncertainty, his team’s quarterback competition remains genuinely chaotic heading into the season, with conflicting reports about who will even be under center.
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