The 2024 Season is in the books. While there’s still some playoff football to help us see how players do in the clutch, for dynasty players, it’s a time to sit back, take stock, and see how players fared. Over the next few months, I’ll look back at the 2024, 2023, and 2022 classes by position. I’ll be evaluating if their stock rose, remained the same, or dropped during the course of the season. Now could be the time to sell high, buy low, or hold on to a winning hand. Today, I continue with the 2022 Running Backs.
Stock Up: James Cook, Buffalo Bills
About: After his rookie year, the question was whether Cook could carry the full workload. Last season, he saw 237 carries and ran for more than 1,100 yards. In 2024, he followed it up with 207 carries for more than 1,000 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He moved to RB8 for the year and looks like the most startable fantasy asset in Buffalo not named Josh Allen. If you’ve got him, you’re feeling pretty good right now.
Stock Up: Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
About: Pierce had a good rookie year and faded to oblivion in year two. He didn’t have a great 2024, but he looked good when he got some chances filling in for Joe Mixon. He only saw 40 carries, but he turned it into 293 yards and two touchdowns. That’s an average of more than seven yards per carry. That moves him into a category where he’s worth a stash at the end of the bench again in the hopes he can parlay his success to end 2024 into a larger role again in 2025.
Stock Up: Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Haskins had no role at all in 2023 after showing up slightly as a rookie. He returned in 2024, given a big back role by Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers. It didn’t amount to much, and if he’s still not rostered in your league, it isn’t a shock. But his potential as a big back might make him an interesting stash, especially as the Chargers don’t have much going on in the backfield.
Stock Neutral: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
About: Williams followed up a great 2023 season by finishing as RB7 in 2024. He was again a great producer for the Rams and fantasy. Again, he figures to be a big part of the Rams attack in 2025. But the team still has Blake Corum on the roster, and we’ve seen young backs take a step up in year two. There are also still questions about Williams’s durability, and with him being a former Fifth Round draft pick, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Rams walk when his rookie deal ends. Williams still has value in Dynasty, but he’s a player I’d consider moving high this off-season.
Stock Neutral: Brian Robinson, Jr., Washington Commanders
About: The former Third Round pick continues to be a steady contributor to the Commanders. In each of his three seasons, he’s had 175 or more carries and gone for 730 or more yards. But he’s never cracked 800 yards as a runner. That leaves him in an RB3 range. Besides that, I don’t see Robinson getting a big extension from the Commanders or a more significant role. He heads into a contract season likely to put up another decent season and then hit the market. I’m moving on while I can still get something in return.
Stock Neutral: Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
About: Allgeier is probably the best RB2 in the league. When, as a rookie, he led the backfield, he ran for more than 1,000 yards. In two years behind Bijan Robinson, he’s rushed for more than 600 yards, a handful of touchdowns, and a few receptions each season. He’s a steady, low-end flex option…for now. My hope is Allgeier gets a shot elsewhere after his deal is up and can have a bigger share of the workload. For now, he’s a good stash if you have space.
Stock Neutral: Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
About: Ford is a decent contributing running back. In 2024, he struggled with injuries that limited his opportunities. He still can contribute to a backfield, but he will never be a featured back. At best, he’s a steady floor flex option. If he’s your RB5 or RB6, that’s probably great. If you’re relying on Ford to start each week, look elsewhere.
Stock Down: Breece Hall, New York Jets
About: It’s fair to say the last two years haven’t gone well for anyone on the Jets. It’s also fair to be concerned about Hall and his ability as a workhorse back after 2024. Rookie Braelon Allen ate into his workload, and often, when Hall was out there, he wasn’t efficient. He finished as RB16 despite appearing in 16 games. That’s not what you want to see from a player who was in the top 10 in the running back position. I think it’s a sign Hall is more of an RB2 with the Jets, and it’s an open question if next year is his last with the team. He could be a buy-low if you find someone ready to move on.
Stock Down: Ken Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
About: Another premier back who has had some good seasons and been a strong fantasy producer. He finished as RB27 due to missed games but averaged 16.5 points per game. The issue is two-fold. First, there is a new offensive coordinator in Seattle, and the offense, in general, has a lot of pieces entering their final year under contract, including Walker.
And second, he has some competition from Zach Charbonnet, who finished as RB25, is younger, and looked more explosive on his touches as a runner and receiver. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of an even split in 2025, leading to Walker being allowed to hit the market next off-season. I’d consider moving him this off-season.
Stock Down: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: White is another back who faced stiff competition that hurt his upside. White still finished as RB22 for fantasy, but Bucky Irving finished as RB13. Irving had more than 500 rushing yards and a nearly equal role in the passing game. As White heads into a contract year, he’s more of a contributor in the backfield, as Irving looks like a more capable workhorse. That leaves his value taking a big hit and his long-term outlook hazy. If you can move him for value this off-season, do it.
Stock Down: Isaih Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
About: Pacheco went from a nice story to a player who’s quickly becoming irrelevant. Yes, his broken leg hurt him and slowed down his production. But even when he returned, he didn’t carry much of a load and wasn’t efficient when he was in the game. Even in the Super Bowl, veteran Kareem Hunt was featured more often. I suspect the Chiefs will address their backfield this off-season, which could leave Pacheco as little more than a roster clogger.
Stock Down: Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
About: In 2024, White got a shot to be the lead back for the Raiders. It didn’t go well. He had 65 carries, rushing for 183 yards and a touchdown. He averaged less than three yards a carry and was displaced by others when he wasn’t injured. With a new regime in Las Vegas, he’s not likely to be more than a roster clogger for the Raiders and your fantasy team.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network
