Running Backs You Need To Target At The End Of EVERY Rookie Draft

Rookie Running Backs You Need To Draft In Dynasty

Stop drafting Troy Franklin, Stop drafting Malachi Corley. Stop drafting Luke McCaffrey, Jalen McMillan, and Devontez Walker. You’re burning draft picks. The third, fourth, and fifth rounds of rookie drafts are for running backs. Heck, even the back half of round two. And, yes, I know once in a while you find a Puka Nacua or Tank Dell in those rounds, but for every one of those guys, you get 10 Jonathan Mingos, or Cedric Tillmans, Jalin Hyatt, or Tyler Scott. I can keep going if you want? If you just draft running backs on principle in the later rounds of rookie drafts, you’re going to come out on top in the long run. It’s such a more efficient way of spending draft capital.

All it takes is one week where the starter gets hurt and one of these rookies is thrust into a starting job. You can flip that guy for profit and continue to increase the value of your dynasty franchise over the long term. And you still get your hits like Pacheco, Tyjae Spears, Kyren Williams, Jaylen Warren—Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler were once one of these guys.

So the purpose of this article is to help steer you towards a few running backs that are going in the late rounds of rookie drafts but are in position to make an impact in 2024. These guys could very likely crack your lineup at some point this season or at least increase their dynasty value. These are the guys you need to be targeting in rounds three, four, and five.

For more 2024 rookie draft content, check out our FREE Rookie Guide!

Kimani Vidal, Chargers 

Kimani Vidal joins a Chargers backfield that consists of only Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins, who is coming off multiple serious lower body injuries, and Isaiah Spiller. Vidal has the size to be an NFL workhorse with impressive size-adjusted speed and burst. He is a between-the-tackles runner with the explosive traits to break off chunk plays. He follows his blockers well and is rarely tackled for loss yardage. Once he’s in the open field with a head of steam, Vidal is difficult to bring down. And even when you get hands on him, Vidal is always driving his legs and pushing forward to squeeze out one extra yard or two. That probably reminded Jim Harbaugh of Blake Corum

It’s not hard to see Vidal ascending up the Chargers depth chart quickly and leading this backfield in touches as a rookie. And We know the Chargers want to run the ball a ton. That has been made clear with every move they have made this offseason, so there will be plenty of touches to be had. And with Justin Herbert leading the offense, the touchdown opportunities will be plentiful.

Out of all the players drafted on Day 3, Vidal is one of the top targets for dynasty rookie drafts. He becomes a realistic option as early as the late second round.

Isaac Guerendo, 49ers

Isaac Guerendo is a fantastic fit in the Kyle Shanahan offense. His 4.33 speed and incredible explosiveness will pair well with the 49ers outside zone rushing scheme. Of course, Guerendo will begin his career behind Christian McCaffrey but he has a legitimate chance of overtaking Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason as the team’s No. 2 running back. Guerendo is everything the Niners have been looking for at running back for years. He has the speed and explosion of a Raheem Mostert with the 220-lb size and power that they tried to capture with the Trey Sermon pick. Guerendo has game-breaking ability and it will be fun to see what happens when he gets his opportunity. At minimum, he can become a high-end handcuff to McCaffrey. Guerendo should be a priority pick in the third round of every rookie draft.

Ray Davis, Bills

The Bills were a favorite to land a running back at some point during the draft and they chose Ray Davis to be the guy. Davis will fill a role the team has been trying to solve for a few seasons now. They brought in a number of big-bodied backs last year like Damien Harris, Latavius Murray, and Leonard Fournette. Murray had moderate success but Davis is 10 years younger and ready to take over. He will pair well with James Cook as the team’s RB2. 

Davis will also project as the team’s top running back at the goal line. Even with quarterback Josh Allen stealing some of those looks, the Bills offense is good enough to provide plenty of touchdown scoring opportunities for a guy like Davis. We could see some opportunities in the passing game for Davis as well. James Cook is an overrated receiver and Davis caught 94 balls at Kentucky with a solid receiving skill set. There’s a chance he at least eats into Cook’s work on passing downs.

This is quietly a really strong landing spot for Ray Davis. Continue drafting him in the third round of your rookie drafts. He may not have the ceiling of some of the other backs around his ADP, but he has an opportunity in one of the league’s best offenses and the skill set to be fantasy relevant right away.

Dylan Laube, Raiders

Dylan Laube is the best receiving back in the 2024 class and he landed in a spot that will allow him to utilize that skill set. Right now it’s Zamir White and Alexander Mattison atop the Raiders running back depth chart—Neither of which are known for their pass-catching chops. 

Only a 31-year old Ameer Abdullah stands in the way of passing downs work. Laube has a chance to impress coaches during training camp enough for them to cut Abdullah and turn the receiving work over to him. Considering Laube caught 117 passes and averaged 10 yards per reception over the last two seasons at New Hampshire, it’s not hard to see him beating out Abdullah. That means we could get an RB3/4 season from him as a rookie. Laube was a top target at the end of rookie drafts before the NFL Draft. Despite sliding a bit further than we had hoped, he continues to be a late round dynasty target. 

Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants

Tyrone Tracy was one of the more interesting prospects in the 2024 class heading into the draft. He’s a converted wide receiver with limited running back experience. Yet, he proved to be a quality runner in 2023 when he ran for over six yards per carry and eight touchdowns. He runs with a good combination of speed and power with open-field elusiveness and impressive balance. 

Landing with the Giants is a great spot for Tyrone Tracy Jr. The backfield is devoid of talent after losing Saquon Barkley in free agency, only to replace him with Devin Singletary. While Singletary did an adequate job in Houston last season, he is not exactly immune to some competition. The other running backs on the roster are Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell, Jashaun Corbin, and Deon Jackson. It’s not hard to see a world where Tracy winds up with a significant opportunity as a rookie. As a converted wide receiver, Tracy can jump right into a pass-catching role out of the backfield with a chance to expand that role over the course of the season. He is going to fly under the radar in rookie drafts but Tracy should be high on your list of priorities to target in the third or fourth round.

Rasheen Ali, Ravens

Rasheen Ali has been an underrated running back throughout the process. He runs with good patience but is decisive when a lane becomes available. His lateral agility makes for an effective vertical cut up the field, particularly on outside concepts. He has above average receiving skills and was one of the more productive running backs in the passing game among the 2024 class. He can catch passes out of the backfield as well as line up in the slot or even out wide. 

Rasheen Ali joins what is suddenly looking like a crowded Ravens running back room. With Derrick Henry entrenched as the starter, Ali will compete with Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell for change-of-pace duties. Mitchell is 170 pounds and coming off a major late-season knee injury and Hill is the definition of a “JAG.” That opens the door for RB2 duties as a rookie. And with his receiving skills and Henry’s lack of, Ali will have a chance to earn a third down role as early as 2024.

RANKINGS  | DYNASTY | ROOKIES