As fantasy football managers eagerly prepare for the upcoming season, it’s essential to stay informed about running backs who have the potential to make a significant impact on the field. In this article, we shine the spotlight on three promising running backs: Rhamondre Stevenson, Josh Jacobs, and JK Dobbins. These dynamic players possess unique skill sets and find themselves in situations that offer ample opportunities for fantasy success. Whether you’re seeking a breakout star or a reliable fantasy asset, delving into the potential of Stevenson, Jacobs, and Dobbins will provide valuable insights for your draft strategy.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Last season, Rhamondre Stevenson was a force in fantasy football. Stevenson finished as the PPR RB7 thanks to earning the third-most targets and fourth-most receptions at the position. A lot of this unexpected receiving work was a result of long-term injuries to James White, who subsequently retired – and Ty Montgomery. Additionally, Pierre Strong didn’t progress enough in his rookie campaign to garner more than 17 touches. That left just Stevenson to gobble up 69 receptions from check-down artist Mac Jones to go along with his 210 rushes for 1040 yards.
Rhamondre Stevenson in healthy games without Damien Harris last season:
68% rushing attempts
67% route participation
85% of short-yardage snaps 👀👀👀Seems unlikely that anyone on the roster forces this to change in 2023, but we are talking about the Patriots… lol
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) June 16, 2023
This season, Rhamondre may see his passing game workload decrease now that Montgomery and Strong are healthy. However, that’s not a guarantee. He was good as an outlet for Jones in the flat. Damien Harris and his 106 carries have also migrated to Buffalo. Dwain McFarland’s tweet above shows just how reliant the Patriots were on Stevenson when Harris wasn’t in the lineup. All that stands in the way of Stevenson’s path to an elite 300-plus touches is health, which hasn’t yet been a concern for him in his career. He already handled the rock as a runner and a receiver 279 times in 2022. Stevenson’s natural progression in the offense and his increased workload, especially around the goal line, should mean another impressive RB1 season is all-but assured.
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs has been nothing short of amazing as an NFL running back; and for some reason, it took a top 5 fantasy finish at his position in 2022 for everyone to realize that. Until his phenomenal 2022 season, Jacobs had been widely disrespected by NFL fans, fantasy players, and even his own team when they declined his fifth-year player option. Jacobs responded by coolly leading the NFL in scrimmage yards, beating out a star-studded field of runner-ups in Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Justin Jefferson.
.@Raiders @iAM_JoshJacobs lead the @NFL in rushing by a large margin over Henry & Chubb and it wasn’t close Busy making you miss or running through contact. What a great season. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/BCtK08sre7
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) June 20, 2023
The Raiders unfortunately made minimal additions to a shaky offensive line and it remains to be seen whether Jimmy Garoppolo will be an upgrade or even a lateral move over longtime starter Derek Carr, but Jacobs still has a lock on his backfield in a way that few NFL RBs do. Jacobs’ commanded an absurd 79% of the Raiders’ total team rush attempts in 2022, and he could have an opportunity to build on his career receiving season with Garoppolo under center, whose 3.7 air yards per pass attempt in 2022 was among the lowest of all NFL starting quarterbacks. If and when Jacobs signs his franchise tag, he will command one of the biggest RB workloads in the NFL.
JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
After injuring his ACL in 2021, JK Dobbins was finally able to play towards the end of the 2022 season. Most people only remember the run where Dobbins clearly limping. However, he ended his last four games with double-digit carries totaling 397 yards on 57 carries. That is a 6.97 YPA. He ended the season at 5.5 yards per rush attempt placing him 6th among all players including quarterbacks. Dobbins clearly needed time to test and get comfortable after his injury. Coming out of college, Dobbins showcased his elite vision and explosiveness in his rookie season.
WELCOME BACK @Jkdobbins22!!
TUNE IN ON CBS! pic.twitter.com/h1XvbxZcFm
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 11, 2022
Another case for Dobbins can be made in that he does not have much mileage on his legs. Numberfire did an article identifying the 1800-carry cliff for running backs. In 2023, Dobbins enters a contract year in a new offense. A lot of fantasy football running backs are followed by low volume and lack of receiving upside. However, due to the new scheme, the Baltimore Ravens will play at a faster pace resulting in more plays. Dobbins has only 226 carries since entering in 2020 NFL draft. A healthy Dobbins, in a new faster pace Ravens offense, can finish with 200+ rush attempts. At 5.5 yards an attempt, Dobbins can total 1100+ yards. If he gets back to his explosive self after another offseason of recovery, those numbers will be a conservative estimate. I am buying the floor and hoping for the ceiling case of 250+ carries & 1375+ yards.
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.