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 2024 Running Backs.
Stock Up: Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
About: I liked the pick of Irving when it was made. He started to look like a viable contributor early in the season. By the end of the season, he looked like one of the better starting options in the league. He finished as RB13 on the season and could go even bigger in 2025. He’s part of a good offense, and those who took him later in rookie drafts scored with Irving.
Stock Up: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
About: The Giants needed backfield production after Saquon Barkley left, but few expected a Fifth-Round rookie selection to step up so big. Tracy rushed for 839 yards and five touchdowns, catching 38 passes. I like Tracy and his upside, but I’m weary the Giants will make a move at the position. He’s returned value on his draft position, but he’s a player I’d consider moving for a haul prior to the draft.
Stock Up: Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
About: James Cook was the star in the Bills’ backfield, but Davis proved a worthy contributor. As a rookie, he rushed for 442 yards and three touchdowns. He looks like a good handcuff and a low-end flex option. That’s a decent return on his draft position in rookie drafts. If you’re a contender with Cook in the backfield, he’s a crucial handcuff.
Stock Up: Braelon Allen, New York Jets
About: Allen is an excellent handcuff to Breece Hall, but could he be more? At times, he looked better in the backfield. Sure, the Jets were dysfunctional in 2024 and cleaned house in the coaching ranks, but Allen let his play speak for him. With Hall going into a contract year, could there be an opening for more? I like Allen as a stash this year, and it has some more significant future upside.
Stock Up: Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
About: Being a back in a Kyle Shanahan offense is valuable. The higher you climb on the ladder, the more valuable you become. This off-season, the 49ers saw Elijah Mitchell sign with the Chiefs and traded Jordan Mason to the Vikings. That leaves Guerendo as the handcuff and primary backup to Christian McCaffrey. Will it stay that way? Ah, that’s the question. I suspect that the 49ers will draft a back, meaning I might look to move Guerendo now before his value becomes more of a question.
Stock Up: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Vidal is another player with a leg up thanks to his roster. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are gone. Najee Harris is in and figures to be fed heavily. But, for now, Vidal is the other guy on the depth chart. Will the Chargers take a back in the draft? Will they sign another veteran? I think both things are on the table. But, for now, the opportunity is there. There’s also an opportunity to sell if you want to hedge your bets.
Stock Neutral: Audric Estime, Denver Broncos
About: Does Sean Payton believe in Estime? He might. It’s been hard to tell what he thinks of his running backs or what he wants to do in the backfield the past two years. Javonte Williams is gone. Estime had a fine if unspectacular rookie year. He has a chance for an expanded role on a depth chart with a few pieces, but no clear carry leader. Could the Broncos take a back in the draft? I suspect they will, but how big a role will that make? That’s unclear. Estime doesn’t have considerable trade value, so I’d hold. But I’m weary of his role in the future.
Stock Neutral: Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles
About: Shipley toiled as a special teams player and third back for the Eagles. He looks to be in that role again with Barkley back and A.J. Dillion on the roster. He could slip even lower if the Eagles draft another back. At this point, he has a limited ceiling and might not be worth a roster position.
Stock Down: Jonathan Brooks, Carolina Panthers
About: There are bad rookie years, then there is what happened to Brooks. Coming off a knee injury, he was the highest back drafted in 2024. He went to a promising spot with the Panthers, but we had to wait a long time for him to be ready to get on the field. When he hit the field, he did little before tearing his ACL again. He’s likely out all of 2025 with a very uncertain future. He’s a sunk asset at this point.
Stock Down: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
About: Benson was drafted as a potential future for the Cardinals. We thought he might even ascend by mid-season. Instead, the Cardinals extended veteran James Conner mid-season as Benson looked like a low-end contributor at best. He rushed for just 291 yards as a rookie. Could he take a step up in 2025? I sure hope so, but it doesn’t feel like a lock. And while we wait, he’s not a lineup option.
Stock Down: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
About: Corum was another player that we had some hopes for after he was taken in the draft. He had a quiet rookie season while Kyren Williams proved more durable than expected. Could he be in line for a bigger workload in year two? That’s the hope, but it’s far from a lock. Right now, he’s another prospect you can’t cut, and you can’t play in your lineup each week.
Stock Down: MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
About: Lloyd is another player who had no impact as a rookie. He seemed in a good position to contribute to a Packers’ team that wants to run, but he ended up missing the season due to injury. Meanwhile, Josh Jacobs looks like a three-down stud for the team, and Emanuel Wilson was a decent contributor. What is Lloyd’s place on the depth chart? That remains a question as he remains little more than a stash.
Stock Down: Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins
About: Could 2025 be the year we see Wright make a big step forward? Perhaps, but it’s hard to tell after his rookie year. De’Von Achane was great as the lead back in 2024. Raheem Mostert is gone, but the team added Alexander Mattison, which muddies the waters. Wright is a stash at this point, but his value could go either way.
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
