About a month ago I went division by division to take a look at each team’s backfield to get a better feel for how things would shake out for fantasy football. Since then, the 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone and we have some new rookie running backs to consider in these situations.
So let’s take a look at the NFC North and South teams to see what, if any changes need to be made to our backfield expectations since the draft.
If you would like to take a look at the original series, it can be found at:
Fantasy Football: Backfield Breakdown – NFC North, NFC South
Without further delay, let’s take a look at how the AFC backfields look with their newly drafted rookies.
Atlanta Falcons
Returning Players: Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson, Caleb Huntley
New Additions: Bijan Robinson
Here we see the fantasy football cautionary tale of why you should sell high on Day 3 running backs.
Tyler Allgeier was a breath of fresh air for the Falcons’ offense as a rookie. He was kindly repaid for his efforts by being buried behind the highest-profile rookie running back to come out of college football in five years.
Bijan Robinson is the new hotness in the NFL and figures to be the day-one starter. While the talent is there, his hype has gotten out of control.
I advocate taking Bijan as the RB1 in the dynasty, but to take him as a top-five running back in redraft is insanity in my opinion. He would have to have one of the most impressive rookie seasons of all time to return on his current ADP.
I will roster as much Robinson as I can in the dynasty, but at his current redraft cost, I would rather draft Christian McCaffrey or Austin Ekeler for safety.
What will happen to Allgeier and Patterson is a mystery. Perhaps Patterson will revert to his wide receiver role and will not be a factor in the passing game. But that would kill his value, as he was much more productive as a dual-threat running back.
Allgeier, on the other hand, now projects to be little more than an injury backup to Robinson. He has sadly has fallen completely off the table in fantasy football. He still has some late-round flex/injury value, but the NFL Draft certainly did not do him any favors.
Carolina Panthers
Returning Players: Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear
New Additions: None
The Carolina Panthers didn’t add anyone at running back in the NFL draft. Instead, they opted to bring in free agent running back Miles Sanders from Philadelphia.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m all in on Miles Sanders. I understand that this offense will be nowhere near as good as the Eagles – but his opportunity for touches in this offense is elite.
Aside from a few average receivers, there are few threats for opposing defenses to fear. Sanders should see a career-high in carries and targets. His efficiency is sure to see a dip, but a rookie quarterback is guaranteed to lean on Sanders early and often.
Sanders is going to finish as a top-10 running back if he stays healthy. The backup duo of Blackshear and Hubbard pose little threat to him.
Both backups are inefficient and are little more than injury handcuffs. If you need a late-round handcuff in deeper fantasy football leagues, Hubbard is serviceable – but I wouldn’t invest too much capital into him.
New Orleans Saints
Returning Players: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Dwayne Washington
New Additions: Kendre Miller
Alvin Kamara poses one of the more unique situations in recent memory. A six to eight-game suspension looms large after his arrest last season for assault. The case has been pushed back and has caused his value to be suppressed for the past year, but sooner or later this value is going to fall off the face of the earth in fantasy football.
For an aging back who has shown signs of losing a step, a lengthy suspension could be the final nail in the coffin to seal his fantasy football end.
The reason a suspension could be particularly bad for his role in this offense is the drafting of rookie Kendre Miller. Miller is fast and strong. If Kamara misses any length of time, he may never get this job back from Miller.
Miller is my favorite rookie in this draft class based on his cost. I am drafting him everywhere. I believe he is the Saints running back of the future.
Jamaal Williams was also added into the mix, but based on his increased ADP after leading the NFL in touchdowns last season, he is not a player I will be targeting.
He has no chance of repeating his touchdown luck and offers no real value or usage outside of being a touchdown vulture.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Returning Players: Rachaad White, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Chase Edmonds
New Additions: Sean Tucker
The only reason the ADP of Rachaad White has not shot through the roof is the anticipation that this offense is going to be terrible.
White has all the makings of a top-12 running back unless the Buccaneers bring in a free agent before the season starts. He profiles to be a three-down back with a great pass-catching upside.
Behind him is little to nothing. Vaughn and Edmonds have proven to be ineffective when given the ball and should have absolutely no impact on White this season.
Rachaad White is one of the best buys in fantasy football and should be rostered in all formats.
The lone threat to White on this depth chart is rookie Sean Tucker, who plummeted down draft boards due to a potentially life-threatening heart issue. If Tucker can get onto the field he is more than capable of producing for fantasy and is a great stash candidate. Until then, White is the guy in Tampa.
