As is the case every season, numerous top tier running backs in the NFL this year have either disappointed, sustained injuries, or have otherwise seen their workload eaten into by a secondary running back. This season, a solid group of secondary running backs has emerged. There could be a good size wave of relatively unappealing running backs who finish this season strong and end up as 2024 fantasy football sleepers.
Jerome Ford – RB, Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford has been Zero RB gold this season after Nick Chubb‘s unfortunate knee injury early in the year. Ford is a top 20 PPR running back after 14 weeks of football. With Chubb coming off of injury in 2024 at the age of 28, the Cleveland Browns‘ 2024 backfield situation could be a little unclear.
Ford entered the league as just a fifth round draft pick, but in today’s NFL Draft economy, that doesn’t matter much. Ford posted a prolific senior season in college at Cincinnati with over 1,500 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns. He spent most of his rookie season on the bench as Chubb was having a prime season. With major opportunity presenting itself in 2023, Ford hasn’t disappointed, even with a shaky quarterback situation.
Ford is on pace for well over 1,000 scrimmage yards this season. His 50 targets is good for 14th in the NFL at the running back position. If he was in a better offensive environment (he has just six total touchdowns and two goal line carries), Ford may have had an RB1 ceiling in 2023. The latest news on Chubb’s recovery is that the Browns expect him to return “sometime during the 2024 season.” Ford will be discounted when we reach the offseason. He’s the emerging asset in the Browns backfield, and I expect him to be very relevant in 2024.
Chuba Hubbard – RB, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers tried to buy wins this offseason by surrounding No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young with an offense built through free agent spending. That plan not only failed, but the Panthers sit with the worst record in the league at 1-12. Among the team’s acquisitions was RB Miles Sanders, who has been completely supplanted by RB Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard will be on the last year of his rookie contract in 2024, and the team has already made a significant financial investment in Sanders. They won’t likely be spending much capital at the position at all this offseason.
In the two games since the team fired head coach Frank Reich, Hubbard has recorded 48 carries for 191 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sanders has recorded 18 carries for 97 yards in those games. If Hubbard’s workload continues at this rate for the rest of the season, he’ll make a push for 1,000 scrimmage yards on the year.
Hubbard has seemingly won the job from Sanders, who appears to be on the decline in year five after four productive years with the Philadelphia Eagles. When the Panthers bring in a new regime, they may open the door for Sanders to regain ground over Hubbard in the backfield. But at the very least, Hubbard should have the inside track to being the team’s RB1 in 2024. If the offense improves around Young and Hubbard, his productivity and efficiency could spike and lead to a career year. He’s one of my favorite running backs to watch for in 2024 fantasy football.
Chase Brown – RB, Cincinnati Bengals
One of these things is not like the other on this list. Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown has had very limited opportunities this season. But he’s really flashed in the last two weeks. Starting running back Joe Mixon is in the middle of yet another productive season. But he’s been in a “will they, won’t they” with the Bengals for multiple years in a row. The salary cap is going to become a problem for the Bengals pretty quickly with WRs Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins due for paydays. Mixon will turn 28 this offseason. He’s a potential cap casualty with just one year left on his deal. The team owes him $8.5 million and a post June 1 release saves the team $5.75 million against the cap.
Whether or not the Bengals move on from Mixon may not stop Brown’s ascendance. He’s far from a lock to take over the backfield or post anything close to a top 24 season at the position, but the Bengals’ RB1 role is very valuable. If Brown doesn’t win the job outright, he could at least earn a committee role. Sometimes in the NFL, a late season push makes a huge difference in regards to your standing on a team’s roster heading into an offseason of evaluation. Brown is in good shape to make his case to the Bengals front office. Mixon’s decline will come eventually. Brown is a good, cheap candidate for extra opportunity when that happens.
Elijah Southwick
Elijah Southwick is a professional writer, editor and content creator covering sports news and fantasy football. He is a contributing writer for The League Winners and Lead Sports Content Writer at Degen Magazine.