The 2024 NFL Draft class is on the rise. The first month of the season solidified the strength at the top of the class with standout performances by future top selections Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
The 2024 class has justifiably been criticized for the running back position. The top backs in the class have had a slow start to the season, leading me to conclude we won’t see a rusher go on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Yet, Week 5 of the college football season sparked excitement for the depth of the RB class.
If fantasy football managers choose not to draft a running back with their first-round selection, there are a few guys who stand out as mid or late-round targets.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Dynasty Fantasy Football Risers | Week 5
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
In an offense full of stars, former four-star prospect MarShawn Lloyd (5’9″, 210 pounds) has found a way to stand out. He is a patient runner who reads gaps well before shooting into to the second level with power and explosiveness. Lloyd ran for an efficient 84 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries against the Colorado Buffalos in Week 5. He is averaging over eight yards per carry on his 52 attempts this season.
MORE: Week 5 Dynasty WR Rankings
Lloyd will be a popular prospect once we enter the pre-draft process. He will enter his rookie season with a great recruiting profile and a highlight reel of USC tape and should perform well in athletic testing during the NFL Combine. I project him to be a late second-round to early third-round rookie fantasy pick, but that could rise quickly if he sneaks into Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
Ray Davis (5’10 “, 216) put his play strength and athleticism on full display in Week 5 while rushing for 280 yards and three touchdowns against the Florida Gators. Davis has leaned on his lower body strength, clear vision, and smooth speed to pile up stats throughout his collegiate career.
Prior to landing in Lexington, Davis put together a 1,042-yard season for Vanderbilt in 2022 and a 936-yard campaign while playing as a true freshman for Temple.
Davis won’t be a flashy prospect, but his skill set and career production should lead to a Senior Bowl selection. I project him to be a Day 3 NFL Draft pick with an exciting enough skill set to earn a late-third to mid-fourth-round fantasy rookie draft ADP.
Jonathan Brooks, RB, Texas
Jonathan Brooks (6’0 “, 207) has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his past three games. That includes a massive 218 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries against the Kansas Jayhawks in Week 5.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
Brooks was an NFL Draft afterthought heading into the season, having played in the shadow of both Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. The shifty running style and consistent contact balance he has put on tape this year have changed that. Brooks is on his way to being a Day 3 NFL Draft selection and a late-round fantasy rookie draft target.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Blake Corum (5’8 “, 213) has put together an impressive first five games of his senior campaign. There was concern that the knee injury that ended his 2022 season could linger into the start of this year.
Corum looks explosive and displays the same play strength and tenacious running style that drew national attention before his injury. He has rushed for 425 yards on 74 carries (5.7 yards per carry) this season. Corum is a proven goal-line threat, generating nine rushing touchdowns so far in 2023, bringing his career total to 40.
He has a clear NFL Draft path in front of him: lead Michigan to the College Football Playoff, go to the Senior Bowl, pass medicals at the NFL Combine, and then hear his name called on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. If Corum stays on that path, he will be a consensus second-round fantasy rookie selection.