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 East and West 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:
So, without further delay. Let’s take a look at how the AFC backfields look with their newly drafted rookies.
New York Giants
Returning Players: Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida
New Additions: Eric Gray
Saquon Barkley is returning on the franchise tag. Barring an unforeseen holdout, he will once again be the engine that runs the Giants’ offense. He is an elite fantasy football option and one of the few remaining workhorse backs.
Barkley is a three-down back with a massive pass-catching floor and is easily a top-5 running back for fantasy purposes. Any other running backs on this roster will serve as little more than injury handcuffs.
The aging Matt Breida saw the occasional action last season when Barkley was unable to go, but he isn’t even worth a handcuff draft pick.
Eric Gray was a solid prospect coming out of college. He’s worth a stash in deeper redraft leagues and dynasty leagues. Gray has the potential to be fantasy relevant should he get a chance to play – either due to injury this year or if Barkley moves on in free agency next year.
Philadelphia Eagles
Returning Players: D’Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, Trey Sermon
New Additions: None
There were no rookie running backs added to the Eagles’ backfield, but that’s not to say there wasn’t a fair amount of movement.
Miles Sanders is out and D’Andre Swift is in, creating a massive shakeup at the top of this depth chart.
Many fantasy football managers are all-in on Swift in his new high-profile landing spot, but I’m not convinced. Swift has the profile to be the lead back in this situation, but his past injury history is a cause for concern. Plus, the Lions gave him away to the Eagles which means there is no guarantee the Eagles will trust him with a heavy workload. Swift’s current ADP is way too high for me. I will be out until he cools off significantly.
Rashaad Penny is very similar to Swift – high draft capital and a history of injuries. The difference is that Penny is coming about 100 picks later in ADP. He is just as likely to carve out a role as Swift, and just as likely to stay healthy. Give me Penny at a significant discount over Swift all day.
Perhaps a third fantasy relevant running back could be looming in this backfield, as Kenneth Gainwell is beyond electric when he gets the ball. Gainwell is perhaps the cheapest of the three options. If he is thrust into action due to injury he could easily post RB2 numbers. Stash Gainwell in a deep fantasy football league where you can spare the bench space and wait for the injuries to pile up in front of him.
Boston Scott and Trey Sermon are on this roster. That’s about all I can say about the duo.
Scott will eventually score a handful of touchdowns against the New York Giants but offers little value outside of that.
Dallas Cowboys
Returning Players: Tony Pollard, Malik Davis, Ronald Jones
New Additions: Deuce Vaughn
The biggest issue I see with Tony Pollard‘s crowning as an elite running back isn’t a player on this roster, it’s a player that could be added to this roster. Pollard is more than talented enough to be an elite running back when healthy, but his current ADP leaves little room for error.
If you are correct and he is the only running back who touches the ball in Dallas, he will match his price tag. But he is simply not a player I am drafting this early in the offseason for fantasy football. If the preseason rolls around and Dallas has not signed a veteran free agent running back – namely Ezekiel Elliott – then I will be in on Pollard and happy to draft him.
Even though Elliott may not have much left in the tank, he will eat up enough goal-line touches to make it impossible for Pollard to match his ADP.
This backfield also sports Malik Davis and newly drafted rookie Deuce Vaughn. Davis flashed some talent in his limited touches in 2022 and is an adequate injury replacement but offers little more.
Deuce, while exciting and electric, is simply too small to be a relevant fantasy football producer. I sure hope he makes it in the NFL, but I’m not willing to invest any capital on such a long shot.
Washington Commanders
Returning Players: Antonio Gibson, Brian Robinson, Jaret Patterson, Jonathan Williams
New Additions: Chris Rodriguez
As if this backfield wasn’t confusing enough, the Washington Commanders drafted Chris Rodriguez – who profiles as a clone to Brian Robinson.
It’s unclear why the Commanders would bring in a player so similar to what they already have; and how it will affect Rodriguez and Robinson is a mystery.
The one player I am targeting in this situation is Antonio Gibson. He is going later in ADP than Robinson and is easily the most explosive back on this roster. If the Washington coaching staff ever decides to give him the workload he had as a rookie, he could easily be a top 12 running back again for fantasy football.
Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams are irrelevant in this crowded backfield. They are unlikely to ever see the field if they make the team at all.
Arizona Cardinals
Returning Players: James Conner, Keaontay Ingram, Corey Clement, Ty’Son Williams
New Additions: None
The Cardinals did not draft a running back – they should have. The Cardinals are a team soon to be in a rebuild. But for 2022, they will run it back with James Conner – who has been held together by duct tape and crazy glue for more years than I can remember.
Will Conner hold up for another season? Nobody knows. The only certain thing is that if he stays healthy for the majority of the season he will be an enormous value in fantasy football.
Every year he goes in the running back dead zone, and every year he finishes as an RB2 (at worst). If you need a running back on a roster where you went Zero or Hero RB, take a shot on Conner and pray his health holds up for one more year.
Keaontay Ingram is the only backup of interest in Arizona. He was impressive in college; and if Conner goes down to injury he could be a solid replacement running back.
If you draft Conner in any leagues, I highly recommend handcuffing him and drafting Ingram with your final pick. It could serve to save your season in the event of a disaster.
Ty’Son Williams and Corey Clement are of little value, even as handcuffs. They can be safely left on the waiver wire.
Seattle Seahawks
Returning Players: Ken Walker, Deejay Dallas
New Additions: Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh
What the Seahawks are doing remains a mystery. They had an impressive young rookie in Ken Walker, who was projected to be a truly elite running back. As only Pete Carroll could do, he screwed it up for fantasy football managers everywhere.
The Seahawks went on to draft not just Zach Charbonnet, but also Kenny McIntosh in the 2023 NFL Draft. They appear to be stockpiling running backs. Maybe Seattle has finally had enough of losing five running backs per year to injury and drafted insurance.
Charbonnet and McIntosh combined do not have the talent that Walker has. Neither should be of any real threat to Walker as a lead back. Walker should start the season as the workhorse in Seattle. The two rookies should serve as nothing more than injury depth and change of pace to give Walker a breather.
This draft insanity by Seattle has provided a brief ADP dip for fantasy managers who still believe in Walker and are not panicking.
San Francisco 49ers
Returning Players: Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price
New Additions: None
Thankfully, the 49ers opted not to draft a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft – despite normally doing so. It would have killed even more talented running backs.
This is Christian McCaffrey’s backfield for as long as he stays healthy. He is the RB1 in fantasy football redraft leagues and should be elite once more. For as long as he has been in the NFL, he has been the best option when healthy. I don’t expect that to change at all.
The 49ers tend to burn through running backs like they are going out of style. This rushing system lends itself to running back injuries making one of these backups a prime handcuff target.
Elijah Mitchell profiles to be the best option should McCaffrey go down, since he was the lead back before McCaffrey arrived. He would be my choice for a late-round handcuff, but unfortunately, he is going to take more draft capital than I would like to spend on a handcuff.
Jordan Mason was good last year when thrust into action. He could be a value should the 49ers cycle through running backs as they usually do; but it will take a series of unfortunate events for him to get that chance.
Tyrion Davis-Price, though talented appears to be a wasted pick. He can stay safely on waiver wires everywhere.
Los Angeles Rams
Returning Players: Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers
New Additions: Zach Evans, Tiyon Evans
This backfield is a total mess. The number one back on the depth chart is a guy who at one point in 2022 was almost cut completely due to off-the-field behaviour. Cam Akers goes into 2023 as the apparent lead back and everything seems to be repaired in the relationship.
If Akers can regain his pre-injury form, there is a massive opportunity here for fantasy football managers.
Akers saw an eight-game stretch in his rookie season where he showed the potential to be an elite running back for years to come. I wouldn’t want to trust him as my only reliable running back, but at his current ADP he is someone I will be taking a chance on. The risk vs reward in fantasy football is there for him to be a home run swing.
The Rams added two young, talented backs in the draft. Both Zach Evans and Tiyon Evans have the size and speed to supplant Akers in the lead role. Whether or not either of them will get the opportunity is unclear.
Tiyon Evans can be left on waiver wires until he proves he is going to play, but Zach Evans is a great late-round stash. He could pay dividends in the event Akers goes down to injury – or his relationship with the team sours yet again.
Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers have both done little to nothing thus far in their careers. They are both likely behind Zach Evans on the depth chart if they make the roster at all.
