One of the biggest fantasy football surprises of the year was Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White finishing the year as a top-five fantasy back in full-PPR formats.
After the team brought back both Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans while addressing the interior of the offensive line this offseason, what can fantasy managers expect from White in 2024?
Should You Select Rachaad White at His Current ADP?
PPR Industry Consensus ADP: 34th Overall (RB13)
- Volume-Driven Success: White finished as the RB4 in 2023, largely due to his volume. Despite averaging just 3.64 yards per carry, he totaled 1,539 yards and nine touchdowns, making him a valuable fantasy asset on the back of 272 rushes and 64 receptions.
- Elite Pass-Catching Role: White’s pass-catching ability is his most significant fantasy asset. In 2023, he ranked inside the top 10 among RBs in targets (ninth), receptions (fourth), and receiving yards (third), with 64 receptions for 549 yards.
- Efficiency Concerns: White’s efficiency metrics, including 1.4 yards after contact per attempt and just 17 broken tackles, raise concerns. However, his low yards-before-contact-per-attempt (2.2) highlights the struggles of Tampa Bay’s offensive line, which was addressed with the selection of standout center Graham Barton in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- Impact of Bucky Irving: The addition of fourth-round draft pick Bucky Irving could slightly lower White’s fantasy floor, particularly in the passing game, where Irving excelled in college. However, Irving’s smaller size and slower speed make him more of a complementary piece than a threat to White’s feature role.
- ADP Analysis: White is currently being drafted as the RB13 at No. 34 overall. His late third-round value in full-PPR formats is justified by his high floor and projected volume. His pass-catching prowess and potential for increased efficiency behind a retooled offensive line make him a strong value pick.
- Final Verdict: White’s high floor in PPR formats, combined with his expected volume and potential for improved efficiency, makes him a solid pick at his current ADP. While concerns about his rushing efficiency and the addition of Irving are valid, White’s upside in an improved offense could make him a steal in the late third round.
PFN Consensus PPR Fantasy Ranking for Rachaad White
Note that these rankings are the PFN Consensus Rankings and may not fully match my analysis.
21) Drake London, WR | Atlanta Falcons
22) De’Von Achane, RB | Miami Dolphins
23) Isiah Pacheco, RB | Kansas City Chiefs
24) Michael Pittman Jr., WR | Indianapolis Colts
25) Josh Jacobs, RB | Green Bay Packers
26) Rachaad White, RB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27) Mike Evans, WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28) Joe Mixon, RB | Houston Texans
29) Davante Adams, WR | Las Vegas Raiders
30) Jaylen Waddle, WR | Miami Dolphins
31) Nico Collins, WR | Houston Texans
Rachaad White’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
After becoming the 14th running back since the turn of the millennium to rush for over 400 yards and catch 50 passes in their rookie season, White followed up his productive rookie campaign with an RB4 fantasy finish in his second year in the NFL.
Rachaad White gets LOOSE to extend the #Buccaneers lead! 💨#GoBucs
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 10, 2023
Admittedly, volume was a huge catalyst for White’s fantasy production in 2023. He averaged just 3.64 yards per carry — which was lower than his disappointing mark of 3.73 during his rookie season — over his 272 rushes for 990 yards on the ground, which definitely suggests he was more of a volume producer than a pure runner.
In 2023, his fantasy points per opportunity (0.78), yards per carry (3.64), and yards per touch (4.6) all ranked outside the top 30 at the RB position.
Yet, White’s pass-catching role continues to be his most valuable asset as a producer in PPR formats. White hauled in 64 passes for 549 receiving yards over his 70 targets in 2023. For some context, White ranked inside the top 10 at the running back position in targets (ninth), receptions (fourth), and receiving yards (third). This also marks the second straight season in which White finished with 50+ receptions.
Sure, the low yards per rushing attempt continues to be concerning, but White’s 1,539 total yards and nine TDs while playing all 17 games last season as the Bucs’ feature back make him a valuable fantasy asset on pure volume alone.
If there is one way a back could steal some work from White, it would be due to his lack of efficiency as a ball carrier. His yards after contact per attempt (1.4) and low amount of broken tackles (17) in 2023 don’t exactly suggest he is creating a ton of extra yardage off of his own creativity as a runner.
Yet, White’s low yards-before-contact-per-attempt mark (2.2) could speak to many of the issues the interior of Tampa Bay’s offensive line had last season, which was properly addressed this offseason when the Bucs selected standout center prospect Graham Barton at No. 26 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Barton’s impact as both a pass protector and road grader in the running game should instantly improve some of White’s efficiency issues on the ground. If he retains a similar feature role in 2024, that could actually raise White’s fantasy ceiling a bit.
On the flip side, the addition of Bucky Irving, whom the Bucs selected in the fourth round of the draft, could lower White’s fantasy floor this upcoming season.
Irving is a great pass-catching back in his own right. He has the burst, lateral agility, vision, and contact balance to be an efficient runner and contributor to an NFL passing game. Irving actually led all FCS backs with 55 receptions in 2023, which does make him a potential threat to the engine that is White’s fantasy value, which is his high PPR floor.
Ultimately, though, Irving is a smaller and slower prospect than White, and he doesn’t provide enough power to threaten him in goal-line situations.
Irving projects as a nice spell option to White and perhaps carries some handcuff value, but he is unlikely to be a threat to steal the backfield altogether or take a significant amount of work away from White in 2024.
Is White a Good Value in Fantasy Drafts?
The opinions on White are likely still going to be a bit polarizing.
His exceptionally high pass-catching floor, elite volume of total touches, and RB4 overall finish last season are sure to make some very high on the third-year back.
Those who are a bit more pessimistic about White’s outlook are sure to quickly point out his poor efficiency numbers on the ground and Irving’s possible role in the passing game as a complementary player.
White’s current ADP has settled in at No. 34 overall, which makes him the RB13 off the board. His late third-round value in full-PPR formats feels appropriately priced given his floor and projected volume. His fantasy floor is tough to ignore in the late third round of fantasy drafts.
Yet, a retooled interior offensive line and lack of a power back to steal short-yardage or goal-line work away means if the Bucs’ offense gets even marginally better next year, White’s upside represents a great value in relation to his ADP.