Landing spot is typically a crucial component when determining the potential of a rookie running back to make an impact in fantasy football. In addition to being upstaged by their wide receiver counterparts, none of the rookie RBs in this year’s draft class has a surefire path to fantasy success out of the gates. True stardom may not be in the cards for any of them, but there are still a few rookie RBs worthy of consideration in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
Fantasy Football Rookie RBs Worth Drafting in 2024
Current ADP rankings from Fantasy Data
Jonathon Brooks | Carolina Panthers
ADP: 90 (RB33)
The rookie RB with what appears to be the clearest path to consistent touches in 2024 is Jonathon Brooks. The rebuilding Panthers spent a second-round pick on Brooks, making him the first running back taken. In just ten games played last year at Texas, Brooks piled up 1139 rushing yards. He has the potential to be a true RB1 at the next level for years to come.
As for Brooks’ 2024 fantasy football prospects, it will likely come down to how the Panthers distribute touches. Joining Brooks in Carolina’s backfield is 2021 draftee, Chubba Hubard. Fellow veteran Miles Sanders is also still on the depth chart, but figures to be further down the pecking order following a trainwreck 2023 campaign.
All signs would point to Brooks usurping Hubbard as the Panthers’ lead ball-carrier at some point. Now, whether that results in a 70-30 split as opposed to 55-45 remains to be seen. Brooks’ current RB33 status in the ADP seems about right, and he certainly has the chance to finish as a fantasy RB2-caliber player in his maiden NFL season.
Trey Benson | Arizona Cardinals
ADP: 113 (RB40)
Going into the 2024 NFL Draft, most viewed Trey Benson as the top running back prospect in the class. The Florida State product was selected 66th overall in the third round by the Cardinals, and figures to provide the team with much-needed depth and stability right away behind established veteran, James Conner.
Benson emerged as the top player in a competitive FSU backfield. His college stats weren’t necessarily mindblowing, but he rushed for over 900 yards in each of the last two seasons while working in a timeshare. He brings NFL-caliber size and skillsets to the table.
Fantasy football managers should expect Conner to start at RB for Arizona. However, his history of injuries and the fact that he is now 29 suggest that Benson could have a timeshare role right away with the possibility of said role expanding as the season progresses. In terms of potential, one could argue that Benson is a bit undervalued at his current ADP and RB40 ranking.
MarShawn Lloyd | Green Bay Packers
ADP: 170 (RB52)
For our final rookie RB to consider drafting in fantasy football this year, we are taking a value swing on MarShawn Lloyd. The fact that Los Angeles Rams’ rookie, Blake Corum, is listed over 10 spots higher than Lloyd in the current RB ADP is simply due to name-brand bias. Truthfully, both Lloyd and Corum will be playing the role of insurance policy to the starters on their respective teams.
Given that the path to any sort of consistent workload is similar for both players, Lloyd is the better value of the two. What’s more, if the Packers ultimately cut A.J. Dillon, Lloyd will be the clear-cut RB2 on the depth chart. In an effort to not ride Josh Jacobs into the ground, Green Bay might work Lloyd into games on the regular.
In his first and only season at USC, Lloyd averaged 7.1 yards per attempt for the explosive Trojans’ offense, finishing with 820 yards rushing. Managers shouldn’t expect too much from him, especially early on in his rookie season. However, he is a valuable handcuff to Jacobs and could be a FLEX option deeper into the year as the NFL’s running back depth inevitably gets thinned out by injuries.
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