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🏃🏾‍♂️ Ideal Rookie RB Landing Spots

Plus News & Dynasty Info of the Week

Author

Jen of Deep Dive Fantasy
April 10, 2024

In today’s newsletter, I address the mediocre RB draft class, plus we’ll hear from Ryan McDowell at DLF on some pertinent dynasty info.

This year’s RB class is sub-par compared to what we’ve seen in recent seasons. There’s no Bijan Robinson to shake up the first round of fantasy drafts or a Jahmyr Gibbs to draft and hope on in the second. We’re dealing with a cluster of backs who may be fantasy-relevant right away or possibly not at all.

We also just had an epic free-agent RB class that saw most juicy fantasy spots taken away from the newbies. However, rookie backs are great late-round picks in both best ball and redraft formats as they tend to come on later in the season when injuries start to take their toll and fresh legs are needed down the stretch of the regular season.

Here are some of the best prospects in the 2024 class paired with the top landing spots based on available carries and opportunity, competition or lack thereof, and the team’s overall offense.

Jonathan Brooks, Texas (Underdog ADP: 10.10, RB37)

He was behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson at Texans so only had one season as the lead back. In 11 games in 2023, Brooks posted over 1,400 all-purpose yards with 11 combined touchdowns. Sadly, a torn ACL derailed his season in November so no workouts or testing has been done ahead of the draft.

Best Landing Spot: 🪺 Arizona Cardinals 

While many want Brooks in Dallas, Arizona makes more sense. James Conner is still their guy and is perennially underrated as a fantasy RB, but he does turn 29 before this season and is entering the final year of his contract. Since the rookie is still recovering, Brooks coming on later this season when Conner may break down a bit could be juicy for fantasy purposes. There are no available carries from 2023 for the Cardinals, but it could be a gold mine for Brooks in 2025.

Post-Draft ADP: Right now Brooks boasts a 4for4 rank of RB43, and is being drafted as the RB37 in early best ball formats. He may rise a bit if he becomes a Cardinal but Brooks likely will remain in RB3/4 territory.

Trey Benson, FSU (Underdog ADP: 9.07, RB31)

He has size, speed, and breakaway ability, and averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per carry in his two years at FSU. Benson was also one of the top RBs in the country at forced missed tackles according to PFF with 77 in 2022.

Best Landing Spot: 🤠 Dallas Cowboys 

The Cowboys have 339 RB carries up for grabs in 2024 with the departure of Tony Pollard, along with a total of 428 RB opportunities. Competition is minimal even if they decide to bring back Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys’ O-line should still be solid despite losing a few players to free agency. Dallas needs a Day 1 starter and after an impressive NFL Combine and collegiate history, Benson appears to be able to fit the bill.

Post-Draft ADP: If Benson lands in Dallas his ADP should spike above guys like Austin Ekeler and Rhamondre Stevenson based on possible volume, so now is a great time to buy and draft the rookie.

Blake Corum, Michigan (Underdog ADP: 11.11, RB40)

While at Michigan, Corum racked up plenty of stats, posting 1,245 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns just last season. He did well in drills at the NFL Combine and projects as an all-around back.

Best Landing Spot: ⚡️ Los Angeles Chargers

The team did sign Gus Edwards during free agency, but that shouldn’t stop new HC Jim Harbaugh from picking his former RB. With the departure of Austin Ekeler, 87.9% of the carries from 2023 are available and Corum is used to splitting the backfield work.

Post-Draft ADP: Corum is currently RB48 in 4for4’s early ranks and is coming off best ball boards as RB40. If he lands in LA, expect a rise in ADP considering he has fantasy RB2 potential in this revamped offense devoid of major stars.

Honorable Mention Fits

  • Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (Underdog ADP: 14.04, RB48) - NYG

  • Jaylen Wright, Tenn (Underdog ADP: 12.04, RB42) - ARI, TEN

  • MarShawn Lloyd, USC (Underdog ADP: 13.10, RB46) - NO, CAR

  • Audric Estime, Notre Dame (Underdog ADP: 16.12, RB58) - CLE

  • Bucky Irving, Oregon (Underdog ADP: 16.05, RB56) - CIN, LV

Welcome to DLF Roundup. Each week, Ryan McDowell brings you a quick look at some of the dynasty happenings taking place over at Dynasty League Football.

After an excellent rookie season in which he became a Super Bowl Champion, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been in the new for all of the wrong reasons. As you know by now, Rice was reportedly involved in a high-speed road race that resulted in a six-car pile up and minor injuries to some involved. To make matters worse, Rice reportedly fled the scene before authorities arrived.

When dynasty managers see news like this, reactions vary greatly. Many vocal fantasy players are ready to give up on the player altogether, suggesting his career is virtually over. Others see any sign of danger as an opportunity to buy low and start sending out trade offers. No matter which side you are on, it is important to gather as much information as possible and make a judgment call. You’re not judging the person or even his actions, but rather his new dynasty value, deciding how and if you can take advantage of what are sometimes serious situations.

In his latest DLF Dynasty Mailbag, Eric Hardter discusses how dynasty managers should factor in off-field concerns when it comes to dynasty value. Here’s a snippet of his response…

This is a nuanced question that to me breaks down into two distinct parts:

  • Are you worried about a player’s fantasy viability due to the potential of them running afoul of the law, or of league protocol?

  • Does it bother you to roster players with questionable moral fiber?

I’ll start with the second bullet, as I think it might be the more important one. At the end of the day, playing in a fantasy football league is a hobby that you’re supposed to derive enjoyment from. I always say to my wife that a worst-case scenario means I spent money to stay engaged for a minimum of 14 regular season games. Of course, I want to win and it’s frustrating to not reach the mountaintop, but I find it imperative to stop and smell the roses every once in a while, which is to say I try to enjoy the ride and not just the destination.

I mention this because there exists a spectrum of the level of tolerability we as dynasty owners have for bad apples. For some, it’s less fun to roster those types of players. Others couldn’t care less as long as the fantasy returns are plentiful. Most likely, the majority of us fall somewhere in the middle. You need to determine your own preferences here, and ask yourself if it cheapens the fun you’re having to score points on the backs of low-character individuals.

To the first bullet, I’m of the belief that I don’t know nearly as much as the NFL decision-makers do. They’re interviewing the players before the NFL Draft, talking with folks who know the players well, and just doing a deeper dive than you or I could possibly do. So when it comes time for these players to be selected, it’s my interpretation that some of the risk has already been baked into the draft capital.

It’s not an exact science. Consider as a semi-recent example quarterback Johnny Manziel, known warts and all, going 22nd overall in the NFL Draft. Much as none of us are perfect, the NFL gets it wrong too.

  • Josh Allen (not that one) is set to become one of the highest-paid defensive ends in the NFL, negotiating a five-year, $150 million contract that includes $88 million guaranteed. After a franchise record 17.5 sacks in 2023, Allen got that bag. 🤑

  • The No Fun League strikes again. Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts wanted to swap numbers in Atlanta but the NFL told them they would have to shell out over 100K each to buy each other’s lot of jerseys already out there in circulation. They both understandably decided they were good as is.

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