As the 2023 NFL Draft rapidly approaches, fantasy football managers are left to decide what to do with their running back room. I rarely advocate for buying veteran running backs in the off-season, as the landscape of a team’s backfield can shift dramatically from now until Week 1. The draft, training camp, preseason and injuries can take a running back that seemingly held value, and turn him into waiver-wire fodder. This is an article in a series as I take a division-by-division look at the backfields around the league.
With that in mind, let’s look at each team’s running back situation and see who might be in the market to add or subtract a player from their backfield.
You can view my previous article in the series, highlighting the AFC East and AFC West, here. You can also view my AFC South and AFC North article here.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Pollard- Malik Davis- Ronald Jones
The hype all offseason was that the Dallas Cowboys were likely to draft Bijan Robinson. Since then, they have added Ronald Jones to their roster. Jones is unlikely to make this team out of training camp, and was likely brought in to push Malik Davis. I still expect Dallas to draft a running back. While it may not be in the first round, I expect someone to take touches away from Tony Pollard.
It seems to be common knowledge among the Dallas coaching staff that Pollard, while talented, is not likely to hold up to a workload like they gave Ezekiel Elliott in prior seasons. With Elliott now a free agent, they are going to bring someone in to ease his workload. As of now, the value in this backfield is Malik Davis – who looked to be talented in his limited playing time. I don’t expect this backfield to be the same come Week 1.
As crazy as it is to say, Pollard is a player I am unlikely to roster much in 2023. The cost is simply too high. He is being priced well above his ceiling and can do nothing but disappoint.
Philadelphia Eagles
Rashaad Penny- Kenneth Gainwell- Boston Scott
It may not fit the operating procedure of the Philadelphia Eagles, but surely they have no choice but to use high draft capital on a running back. Rashaad Penny has proven to be a very efficient and talented player. He has also proven that he can’t be relied upon to stay healthy for an entire season. A starting running back is a must for the Eagles in the first two rounds.
Kenneth Gainwell has shown that if he is given the chance he can be an electrifying and explosive running back, but he too does not profile to be a three-down running back. He would be an excellent complementary back behind a rookie bell cow though.
Boston Scott has shown little ceiling in his fantasy career and should not be on the radar of fantasy managers, unless he is playing the New York Giants, then play him and enjoy a 20-point explosion before dropping him back to the waiver wire.
Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson- Antonio Gibson- Jaret Patterson
Who knows what to make of the Washington Commanders running back room? Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson have both looked like potentially elite running backs at some point in their career, but the Commanders have given every indication that they don’t trust Gibson to stay healthy.
The Commanders figure to have Robinson as their starter come Week 1. He should be a solid value in fantasy football. Robinson was solid as a rookie, but never really got up to full speed due to missing six games after being shot in a robbery attempt. He is the running back I would want to have from this backfield in 2023; although Gibson could still produce results as a late-round flier.
This backfield and offense, in general, figures to be a puzzling one. With Sam Howell potentially starting for the Commanders it could be a long season for them. Points could be few and far between.
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley- Matt Breida- Gary Brightwell
The New York Giants and Saquon Barkley have been at odds all offseason, which is slightly concerning. Barkley is scheduled to play the 2023 season under the franchise tag. Reports indicate he may be a potential holdout candidate. Ultimately, I expect him to play; which could produce a brief buy-low window for him in fantasy football drafts.
Barkley has struggled with injuries the past few seasons and is certainly showing signs of the workload catching up with him. This, combined with concerns over him holding out, could cause him to drop in drafts with casual players. If this happens, use it as an opportunity to draft him at a discount. Ride him through what could be his last elite season as a fantasy running back.
Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell are not a duo to be feared. They are far below replacement-level players. A weak running back room, combined with an aging starter on the franchise tag would seem to indicate that the Giants should be using a Day 1 or 2 draft pick on their future starting running back.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
Ken Walker-Deejay Dallas
Kenneth Walker is a bonafide three-down workhorse. While he has never really contributed a lot of receptions, he has shown that he can do so when given the chance. In 2022, after Rashaad Penny went down to injury, Walker was one of the best running backs in the league. He hould easily finish as a high-end RB1 in 2023 fantasy football leagues.
Penny has moved on and the only competition in the Seattle Seahawks‘ backfield is oft-injured Deejay Dallas. This is a great situation for Walker on a solid Seahawks offense. He could produce an RB1 overall finish if he manages to stay healthy. I see little reason to avoid Walker and will be drafting him early and often. He is a young, fast, physical running back who should catapult into superstardom in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey- Elijah Mitchell- Jordan Mason
Christian McCaffrey is what he is. While he is getting deeper into his career there is little reason to believe he won’t be the RB1 when the season concludes. The obvious risk is his injury history in recent years, but if he manages to stay healthy he will once again be the best there is.
Elijah Mitchell showed he could be a star as a rookie, but has been relegated to backup duty behind McCaffrey. At some point he will get a chance to start when McCaffrey inevitably goes down to injury. Until then, he is nothing more than an Alexander Mattison-type handcuff. If you draft McCaffrey, you should be drafting Mitchell late in drafts. Otherwise, he can probably be left on waivers until he needs to be picked up when an injury happens.
Jordan Mason is the backup of the backup. He has some talent but barring some disastrous situations in San Francisco he will struggle to see touches. Leave him on waivers.
Los Angeles Rams
Cam Akers- Kyren Williams- Ronnie Rivers
Here is a situation to avoid entirely. Cam Akers is easily the most talented running back on the Los Angeles Rams; but can he be trusted after a 2022 clash with the coaches? He is likely to be a running back dead zone pick in fantasy football drafts. How long will he be the starter again before he finds himself back in the coaching doghouse?
The backup running backs don’t have much more shine on them than Akers. Kyren Williams is slow and profiles as nothing but a third-down pass-catching specialist. Ronnie Rivers will be a career backup and practice squad running back. Add in the fact that this Rams squad is thin in talent – and the talent they do have is aging and injury-plagued – and there is every reason to believe that a rebuild is necessary for Los Angeles. I want no part of this backfield in any fashion.
Arizona Cardinals
James Conner- Keaontay Ingram- Corey Clement
The Arizona Cardinals are sure to draft a running back at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft. James Conner should once again be a high-risk value in fantasy football drafts in the event he manages to hold onto the starting job for another season – but his days are surely numbered. Conner has always produced touchdowns at a solid rate; but on an offense that looks to be in a rebuild touchdown regression could set in quickly.
Keaontay Ingram showed potential and was on my radar coming out of college. If he gets his chance to see a significant rise in touches he could easily find his way onto the fantasy football radar. I don’t expect him to be a superstar, but he could easily be a useful bench piece.
Corey Clement is not the answer and further illustrates why the Cardinals need to draft the future running back.
