-2024 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2024 Draft Kit
Davis should already be considered the favorite for the RB2 job with the Bills. James Cook will still lead this backfield and likely gobble up most (possibly all) of the passing game work. Davis has a three-down skillset, but his pass-game chops are not on the same level as Cook's, which makes him worthy of a pick in the double-digit rounds of most redraft leagues. The rookie is a thick back with good speed and a variety of moves in the open field. He showed good receiving chops, catching 32 passes in his final year in college. If Davis' strength and elusiveness earns him a goal line role, it's possible he could become flexworthy in 2023. More likely, he's waiting on an injury to Cook to become Fantasy relevant. In Dynasty, Davis gets dinged because he's an older prospect and seems unlikely to take a starting job away from Cook any time soon. You can consider him as early as Round 3 in rookie drafts.
Wright got decent draft capital (fourth-round) in the NFL Draft, but he landed in a nightmare situation. Raheem Mostert is coming off arguably the best season of his career, and De’Von Achane is one of the league’s most explosive rushers. Wright looks to be on the outside looking in for rushing volume right now, but it only takes one injury to change that. Mostert and Achane haven’t exactly been pictures of health in the NFL. Wright is the perfect late-round high-upside draft pick to covet this year. The talented rookie, who ranked fifth in yards after contact per attempt and 13th in elusive rating (per PFF), is only one domino’s fall away from consistent RB2/3 production this year.
We expect Allen to win the RB2 job behind Breece Hall, making him worthy of a pick in the double-digit rounds of most redraft leagues. Allen was a true workhorse in college, amassing 3,769 yards from scrimmage and 35 touchdowns in three seasons at Wisconsin. He also won't turn 21 years old until January of 2025. That youth and proven three-down ability should make Allen a popular Dynasty stash even if he's likely stuck behind Breece Hall for the next two seasons. If Hall were to suffer an injury, Allen would have a chance to be a must-start Fantasy running back, assuming he beats out Israel Abanikanda as we expect him to. In rookie drafts you can start looking for Allen in Round 3.
Despite adding four-time Pro Bowler and two-time league rushing champion Derrick Henry during the initial wave of free agency, running back remained an underrated need for the Baltimore Ravens heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. The only player at the position under contract beyond the 2025 season is last year’s undrafted gem Keaton Mitchell, who will likely miss some time to start the season after suffering a torn ACL last December. That helps to explain why the Ravens selected Marshall's Rasheen Ali in the fifth round at the No. 165 overall. Ali is an explosive playmaker who can complement Henry well as a supplemental member of the backfield rotation. He also possesses potential to carve out a larger role on offense down the road. Ali has a similar build and skill set to veteran Justice Hill when it comes to just about everything but pass protection, where he can improve to be an any-down option moving forward. A leg injury limited him to just three games in 2022 but he bounced back with another explosive senior season in 2023, recording 1,135 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns along with 28 receptions for 213 receiving yards and a score. In addition to being a weapon out of the backfield, he could also have an impact as a rookie on special teams in the return game with the new kick return rules making the play more like a traditional running play. He is not worth consideration in re-draft leagues -- but he is certainly worthy of being a draft-and-stash option in dynasty formats.
The No. 167 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Robinson has 4.42 speed and the Jaguars envision an emphasis on returning responsibilities with their newest special teams-focused weapon. Robinson, a former four-star recruit, started his career at Alabama before transferring to Texas in 2021. In his college career, Robinson appeared in 45 games and started five, rushing 121 times for 796 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Robinson was a star returner for the Longhorns, averaging 23.6 yards per kick return with a 95-yard return touchdown in 2023. With rule changes for returners in 2024, Robinson could find a role early.
Audric Estime is a player that college football fans enjoyed watching in Notre Dame‘s blue and gold the last three years. Now the big-time back is off to Denver where he’s expected to compete for significant playing time with the Broncos this fall. The thick-bodied Estime was one of the few bona fide between-the-tackles runners in this year's draft class, so the Broncos were excited to land him in the 5th round. However, Estime tweaked his knee in OTAs this spring, so it will be worth watching to see if he is ready for training camp, and how he proceeds.
With the signing of Alex Mattison and the re-signing of Ameer Abdullah, the Raiders built their RB room around Zamir White. Fans figured they would draft a running back as well, and Tom Telesco waited until the sixth round to take Dylan Laube out of New Hampshire University. Laube had a great career at New Hampshire. His pass-catching ability out of the backfield stood out the most. He finished his career with 155 receptions and 1558 yards and used it as a weapon in the passing game. With Abdullah taking on the third-down role for now, expect to see Laube eat into his snaps as the season goes along as Laube's skillset is ready to go for the Raiders in 2024.
Vidal might have tumbled down the NFL draft board, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that he lacks the talent profile to take over the Bolts’ backfield. His competition (Gus Edwards & J.K. Dobbins) isn’t exactly overwhelming. Last year, Vidal ranked 21st in PFF’s elusive rating while proving that he can handle volume with at least 23 carries in 57% of his games. With Greg Roman at the controls, there will be plenty of rushing volume to chew on, even if he doesn’t claim the workhorse role. From 2019-2022 with Baltimore, Roman coordinated an offense that ranked first in neutral rushing rate. Vidal could be a flex play in Week 1 with the upside to grow into more (RB2) as the season moves along.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is an intriguing prospect. Tracy began his collegiate career at Iowa where he played wide receiver for four seasons before transferring to Purdue. He then switched to the running back position, where he enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign. Chosen by the Giants with the 166th overall selection in the 2024 draft, Tracy's versatility could easily lead to early opportunities for the Giants, especially given the team's thin backfield behind new starter Devin Singletary. Tracy ran for eight TDs last season and could be very much a part of the team's expected RBBC approach after the departure of Saquan Barkley.
For those who place a lot of stock in the RAS methodology, Will Shipley was the highest rated RB in this year's draft with a score of 9.61, which places him in the top 96% of all RBs who have come out of the draft since 1987. The Clemson product has great hands out of the backfield as a receiver and good short-area quickness. Some scouts have compared him favorably to Christian McCaffrey -- but we will have to hold our horses on such hyperbole for the time being as ball security is a definite issue (4 fumbles last season), and he lacks the home run explosion to take it the distance regularly at the next level. The Eagles have a run-friendly scheme that should continue to thrive under OC Kellen Moore, but there are plenty of mouths to feed starting with big-time free agent Saquan Barkley. Shipley is not likely to unseat the Eagles' RB2 Kenny Gainwell, who is a pretty solid back. Shipley could end up as the Eagles' RB3 this season who could also play on special teams.
Marshawn Lloyd's landing spot has turned many off, but we are not too worried about it. Will Josh Jacobs be heavily involved weekly? Sure, but that doesn't mean that Lloyd is a zero or change-of-pace option only. Lloyd crushed every part of the predraft process after jumping off the stat sheet during his final two collegiate seasons. In each of those two years, he finished in the top 20 in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway percentage, and PFF elusive rating. Lloyd will quickly be a major factor in this backfield, with his main competition for touches (Josh Jacobs) hoping for a bounceback year. Last year, Jacobs struggled mightily to break tackles and create big plays as he ranked (among 49 qualifying backs last season per Fantasy Points Data) 41st in explosive run rate, 37th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 44th in yards after contact per attempt. Lloyd is an RB3/4 who can easily out-kick his ADP this season.
Brooks lands in CAR with second-round NFL Draft capital in a wide-open backfield, with his toughest competition being Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. Yes, he's recovering from an ACL tear, but as soon as he's ready to shoulder most of the load for this backfield, it should be his job. Brooks displayed a three-down skillset last year at Texas, ranking 21st in yards after contact per attempt and yards per route run while also finishing ninth in PFF elusive rating. Brooks could begin the season as an RB3/flex but finish it as a stretch run hero.
Irving becomes a Tampa Bay Buccaneer with mildly surprising fourth-round draft capital, considering his meh-level athletic testing (2.22 RAS). Irving should face some resistance from Chase Edmonds to become the direct backup to the team's workhorse in Rachaad White. If Irving can win the RB2 job, he should be on the handcuff radar. Last year, he ranked 17th in yards after contact per attempt and eighth in elusive rating (per PFF).
Benson will have to contend with a still-spry James Conner for touches all season. Yes, Conner hasn't played more than 13 games in a season over the last two years, so Benson could get some run as the team's starter in 2024. It's impossible to project that with the uncertainty of injuries, but it has to be mentioned. Even in a 1B role to Conner, Benson could make some noise with big plays. Over the last two collegiate seasons, Benson has ranked 10th and third in breakaway percentage and 42nd and first in elusive rating (per PFF). With an offense that ranked fourth in neutral script rushing rate last year, there should be enough rushing volume weekly for Benson to have flex viability. He's a priority handcuff this season with some standalone value.
I have my worries about Corum, but the Rams investing third-round draft capital in him was interesting. Corum's yards after contact per attempt, breakaway percentage, and elusive ratings fell in each of his final three collegiate seasons (per PFF). That's not exactly the trend line that you want to have entering the NFL, but the Rams' third-round investment in the Michigan product is a decent vote of confidence that Corum can possibly get back to his 2021 form (24th in yards after contact per attempt per PFF). I doubt Corum is taking passing down snaps away from Kyren Williams, but he could help spell him on early downs and salt away the clock late in games. Corum is a high-end handcuff only right now.