In identifying “must-have” fantasy football running backs, your view on the term “must-have” can be somewhat subjective. Realistically, I could have listed names like Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs, and called it a day. But let’s be realistic, we don’t always get what we want, and we may not have an opportunity to draft any of those running backs this season.
Must-Have Fantasy Football Running Backs
The list of names below are available to anybody in any given draft and are the running backs I’m targeting the most. Read along to find out who they are, and why I must have them.
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
Admittedly, De’Von Achane and his RB7 average draft position (ADP) carry some risk this season. At just 188 pounds, the third-year back’s slender build lends itself to potential injuries, but injuries are unpredictable, and all running backs come with injury risk.
Achane’s production, like the rest of the Dolphins’ offense, has been far more prolific with Tua Tagovailoa under center than without, and the quarterback carries his own injury risk. Again, this is generally true of any running back. Miami is also facing questions along the offensive line, especially on the heels of Terron Armstead’s retirement. With all of that said, you don’t win your league without taking on some risk and playing for upside, which Achane offers in abundance.
The fish added pieces on the offensive line via free agency and the draft, while swapping Jonnu Smith out for Darren Waller. Achane led the league in receptions and receiving yards among running backs last season, notching 78 grabs for 592 yards, and has a golden opportunity to do it again this year. His 85 targets were second only to Alvin Kamara, and the absence of Smith doesn’t hurt Achane’s bid to build upon that total.
Of course, one of the biggest appeals of the Dolphins’ offense is head coach Mike McDaniel’s play designs and use of speed and misdirection. Achane’s true yards per carry took a dramatic hit, dropping from 6.6 in 2023 to 4.1 in 2024. His efficiency was elite as a rookie, but the Dolphins’ offense was a hot mess last season, and the additions of Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers could help keep things afloat if Tagovailoa were to miss time again.
I’m a fan of Jaylen Wright, who may be undervalued in his own right, but Miami hasn’t prioritized a short-yardage back, unless you count Alexander Mattison. Last season, Achane led the league in red-zone targets and tied for 12th in carries inside the 5-yard line. He can make reservations for six points from anywhere on the field, but that kind of touchdown equity is ideal. The second round of fantasy drafts is stronger than last year, but Achane stands out among the group as a potential fantasy MVP.
Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)
Following his rookie season, Kenneth Walker has been drafted in the RB15-RB17 range each of the last three years, but his value feels lower than ever. It just might be the best buying window we have for a long time, as the stars could be aligning in Seattle for the fourth-year pro.
Injuries will be a concern with Walker until he proves he can stay healthy, particularly after battling injuries and experiencing a down season last year. Walker missed six games in 2024, but played many others while significantly limited. Not only were the injuries limiting, but Seattle’s offensive line was one of the worst in the league.
Considering the offensive line play, Walker’s performance may not have been as bad as you think. He forced 0.42 missed tackles per carry for the best mark of all time, with the next closest for a running back (150+ carries) at 0.31, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). That’s an incredible feat in itself, but even more so when factoring in his 1.7 yards per carry before contact, well behind the league average of 2.5. The closer a running back is hit to the line of scrimmage, the tougher it is to break tackles, but Walker still led the league in broken tackles with 34, despite missing six games.
While the offensive line remains a question mark, the Seahawks drafted Grey Zabel in the first round to start at guard, and Abraham Lucas will begin the season healthy after knee surgery kept him out the first half of last season. One of the most encouraging aspects of Walker’s game from last season was his boost in the passing game.
In past seasons, Walker has ceded passing work to Zach Charbonnet, but Walker led the league in two-minute drill receptions for a running back with 15 last season, per PFF. Additionally, he finished 13th in targets, 12th in receptions and 11th in routes run, while climbing up to fifth in route participation and fourth in target share. Of course, the offensive staff has since turned over, but there’s no reason to think new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak won’t utilize him as a receiver as well.
Speaking of Kubiak, the son of former head coach Gary Kubiak hails from the Shanahan tree, known for their outside zone running scheme. Over his career, Walker has averaged 4.4 yards per carry (YPC) in zone runs compared to 4.0 on gap runs. Walker’s ability to cut and explode up field makes him a perfect fit in Kubiak’s scheme. This scheme aided Alvin Kamara to an RB5 finish in points per game (PPG) last season while he led the league in running back targets per game.
In the last three years, Kubiak’s running backs have been in the top-three in routes run per game. He likes to throw his running backs the football and put them in advantageous matchups, which will further benefit Walker. If we can get a healthy season from Walker, he has a chance to go to the moon this season.
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
After being largely overlooked as a prospect, Chase Brown posted an efficient rookie season on limited touches in 2023. Following the departure of Joe Mixon last offseason, Brown was the second Bengals running back drafted behind Zack Moss as we prepared for a committee approach in Cincinnati. Instead, Brown began to take over the backfield in Week 4, pushing Moss aside before a neck injury sidelined the latter from Week 9 through the end of the season.
Brown finished the season sixth in targets among running backs and fifth in receptions, despite averaging just 30% of the team’s offensive snaps over the first five weeks of the season. Brown finished as the RB14 in PPR points per game but was RB6 from Week 4 onward. He was the RB4 in Weeks 9 through 18 following Moss’ injury, while averaging 86% of the offensive snaps.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher recently spoke about Brown, calling him a “focal point” of the offense. Pitcher went on to suggest that Brown will be utilized in varying roles to create mismatches, explaining that he’s been working out with the wide receivers.
When identifying elite fantasy running backs, three things stand out, beyond the specific talent of the player. An elite running back generally comes from a good offense, has touchdown equity in that offense and projects to have a role in the passing game. Brown checks each of those boxes emphatically.
The Bengals scored the fourth-most touchdowns last season, finishing seventh in points scored, and are projected to be in the same range again this season. As important as it is to be involved in a good offense, we want our running backs involved around the goal line. Brown carried the ball 45 times in the red zone last year, good for the 12th-highest mark, while his 14 targets inside the 20 were tied for the most.
Brown’s 28 carries inside the 10 were seventh-most while his seven targets in that area were first, all the more impressive when you consider he didn’t hit a 50% snap share until Week 6 and didn’t top 70% until Week 9. Among the eight games he played with a 70% or better snap share, Brown finished as a top-10 scoring running back in six of those eight games.
Moss will return this season, though he’s currently on the non-football injury (NFI) list as he works his way back from last season’s neck injury. The only additions the Bengals made to the backfield came in the form of sixth-round draft pick Tahj Brooks and bringing back Samaje Perine. The rookie offers some intriguing traits, but there’s no reason to believe he, Perine or Moss will threaten Brown’s workload. Brown is being drafted as the RB12 despite that very workload leading to his RB4 in PPG standing last season.
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
I’ve written about D’Andre Swift once already this offseason, which marked the first time I ever advised buying stock in the running back. Let’s double down, because he’s still among my favorite running backs to draft this year. Once drafted as an RB1, Swift has now settled into the RB2/RB3 range, currently going as the RB23, despite what may be his best opportunity yet.
Swift reunites with Ben Johnson, whom he worked with in Detroit. As a passing game coordinator in 2021, Johnson helped Swift to 62 receptions and 452 receiving yards. As the offensive coordinator in 2022, Johnson facilitated Swift’s most efficient season on the ground with 5.5 YPC.
In Philadelphia in 2023, Swift ran outside zone on 71.4% of his rushing attempts and averaged 4.6 YPC, but in Chicago in 2024, his outside zone run rate fell to 47% and he averaged just 3.8 YPC. Johnson’s arrival will result in a shift back to outside zone schemes for Swift, which should allow the efficiency to return as well.
Even if you’re not sold on the talent, and trust me when I tell you I haven’t always been sold either, his success in an outside zone scheme aligns with the past questions regarding his vision. His standing atop the depth chart should at least catch your attention.
Swift posted the 10th-highest snap share last season. Despite a new coaching staff in town, the Bears’ only investment in the position in the offseason was Kyle Monangai, a seventh-round draft pick. While Roschon Johnson doesn’t have any clear deficiencies, his upside is likely capped as a backup running back.
With a seemingly strong hold on the No. 1 RB role, a clear schematic upgrade and an offense everybody and their mother is projecting to take a big leap forward this year, Swift has an opportunity to smash his fantasy football ADP and return significant value this season.
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