The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2024 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth.
After starting with quarterbacks, it’s time to talk backfields. We’ve seen a rise in the committee approach to running back in recent years to the point that 144 running backs recorded fantasy points in 2023. Today, I finish with my look at AFC rooms with the Top Eight.
No. 8: Tennessee Titans
On the Roster: Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Hassan Haskins, Julius Chestnut, and Dillon Johnson
About: The Titans made a big change this off-season, letting Derrick Henry go to the Ravens. But he was replaced by Pollard, who spent the 2023 season playing under the Franchise Tag for the Dallas Cowboys. In 2022, Pollard exploded, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. That earned him the Franchise Tag and the featured role for the Cowboys. In 2023, he still had more than 1,000 yards and more receptions, but his yards per carry, yards per reception, and touchdowns all declined. Still, he gives the Titans a weapon, and he won’t have to carry the load alone.
Spears, as a rookie, contributed in support of Henry. He added 453 yards rushing and 52 receptions. That gives the Titans a great platoon with two backs that seem to offer a similar skill set. There isn’t a ton of depth behind them, which is why I didn’t push them higher, but that duo was good enough to land in the top half for me.
No. 7: Jacksonville Jaguars
On the Roster: Travis Etienne, D’Ernest Johnson, Tank Bigsby, and Keilan Robinson
About: The Jaguars come next, getting a boost just above the Titans for me because of Etienne. After missing his rookie year due to injury, we’ve seen him rush for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns, catching 93 passes the past two seasons. He’s been a beast in the offense and figures to be again in 2024.
Behind him, the Jaguars have a solid veteran in Johnson and an interesting prospect in Bigsby. While he didn’t do much as a rookie, I am still interested in Bigsby and seeing if he can take a step forward in 2024. That was enough for me to pull the Jaguars past the Titans.
No. 6: Houston Texans
On the Roster: Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, J.J. Taylor, and Jawhar Jordan
About: The Texans made a big move this off-season to acquire Mixon. He gives them a great feature back to lead this backfield. In seven seasons with the Bengals, he rushed for 6,412 yards and 49 touchdowns, catching 283 passes. He’s a top back and will fit well with this offense.
Behind him, the Texans have Pierce. He struggled in 2023 in the new offense after a good rookie season. Reports are he’s picked it up in year two. This isn’t a deep backfield, but I liked the addition of Mixon a lot.
No. 5: Pittsburgh Steelers
On the Roster: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, and La’Michel Perine
About: The Steelers have a good backfield and some good depth. It starts with Harris and Warren, who formed a good duo in 2023 and should do well with Arthur Smith in 2024. Combined, they rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns, catching 90 passes in 2023. It’s a great duo, and behind them, the team added Patterson, who has great experience with Smith from the Falcons. It should be a good and productive unit.
No. 4: Cleveland Browns
On the Roster: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman, Nyheim Hines, John Kelly, and Pierre Strong
About: I debated moving the Browns up higher because of the ceiling potential and the depth. But ultimately, I landed them here because there is something of a question about Chubb and his recovery. He had a major knee injury—which isn’t his first.
The Browns protected themselves in case he needs to ease back in by adding Foreman in addition to Ford, who held up well leading the backfield in 2023. And if Chubb is ready to go, this group could be even better than expected. In addition, the team has plenty of different depth options with Hines, Kelly, and Strong. It’s a good group on a run-first offense.
No. 3: Indianapolis Colts
On the Roster: Jonathan Taylor, Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, and Tyler Goodson
About: I waffled about whether to put the Colts below the Browns. This backfield doesn’t have the depth that the Browns do. But, in the end, I like Taylor enough to boost them up. Taylor has the potential to be RB1 overall. Last year, returning after a holdout that netted him a new, long-term deal, Taylor rushed for 741 yards and seven touchdowns in just seven starts. With a full season, I expect him to return to something closer to the numbers he had in his first two seasons.
There’s not a ton behind him—though Hull has some potential, and Sermon looked decent in his appearance last season. But Taylor is good enough to push this team to the Top 3 for me.
No. 2: Miami Dolphins
On the Roster: Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Salvon Ahmed, and Jeff Wilson
About: When it came to the Top two, it was a debate between star power and incredible depth. Star power won out for me. The Dolphins have some home-run hitters, for sure, but what makes this a great room is the incredible depth. The team had a great duo in Mostert and Achane in 2023.
Behind them, they added an intriguing rookie in Wright and veterans in Ahmed and Wilson. The fact Wilson is the team’s RB5 speaks to how deep this group is. The Dolphins have one of the best running back rooms in the NFL.
No. 1: New York Jets
On the Roster: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Israel Abanikanda, and Isaiah Davis
About: And we come to number one, where star power won out. Just as it did in the debate for me between three and four, I went with the Jets first because of Hall. He’s a top three running back in the NFL and capable of carrying a huge load. Returning from a knee injury in 2023 and lacking much of a passing offense at all, Hall rushed for 994 yards and caught 76 passes. Another year removed from injury and with a more efficient offense, I suspect he could surpass those numbers.
Behind him, the Jets added a couple of interesting rookies in Allen and Davis, to go with second-year player Abanikanda. I suspect Allen will become RB2 by the time the season starts. But it’s Hall that is the reason the Jets are on top.
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.
